Ornamental light display apparatus

• US 5,008,595 A
• Filed: 02/23/1989
• Issued: 04/16/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Laser LIPO Limited, William K. Wells
• Original Assignee: Laser LIPO Limited, William K. Wells
• Inventors: Kazar, Dennis M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pascal, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US07/315,450
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 315/178, 315/182, 315/183, 315/210, 315/250, 315/312, 315/323, 315/324, 362/231, 362/800, 362/803, 362/806, 340/700, 340/701, 340/702, 340/800
• US Class Current: 315/178
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/32 Pulse-control circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/325 Pulse-width modulation [PWM]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/39 Circuits containing inverter bridges
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources

Abstract

Ornamental and decorative light display utilizing LEDs constructed of two or more individual diodes. Each diode or portion of a diode is alternately selected and energized at a sufficient frequency that colors can blend to produce another color. The system provides for an extremely large configuration of LEDs to be driven at a low average power and at the same time to allow the user to select individual lights to be constantly illuminated or flash in response on oscillating voltage source or allow multicolored patterns to be generated using bicolor LEDs.

Claims

1. A light display comprising:

electrically conductive primary source connector, a ground connector and a secondary source connector constituting a first electrically conducting string, a number of LEDs, means for connecting the LEDs in parallel across the ground connector and one of the primary and secondary source connectors; and

at least one of said LEDs including a set of bicolor diodes and means for controlling the color of said set by oscillating the current between portions of the diodes at preselected rates; and

said means for controlling the color including oscillating current between portions of said bicolor diodes at such a rate to produce a color different than that of either color of said bicolor diodes.

2. The display according to claim 1 further comprising an electronic switching mechanism alternating between on and off positions to connect and disconnect LEDs and energize said LEDs at a rate imperceptible to the human eye.

3. The display according to claim 2 wherein the said electronic switching mechanism oscillates between on and off positions at a rate of 1,250 HZ.

4. The light display according to claim 2 and a second electrically conducting string comprising a second primary source connector, a second secondary source connector and a second ground connector wherein said electronic switching mechanism oscillating between an on and off position for each of said ground connectors alternates between each string so that the first and second string are not on at the same time.

5. The light display according to claim 1 wherein said secondary source connector is connected to a pulsing mechanism, for pulsing the LEDs at a rate visible to the human eye.

6. The light display according to claim 5 wherein the said pulse mechanism has a pulse frequency of 0.2 HZ.

7. The light display according to claim 6 wherein said strings are flexible current carrying wires and said ground connector being coupled to a low side conductor of said wires, and said primary and secondary sources being coupled to a positive side conductor of said wires.

8. The light display according to claim 7 wherein said electronic switch mechanism includes a transistor having a gate to connect the low side to ground when in the "on" position and disconnecting the low side to ground when in the "off" position.

9. The light display according to claim 8 wherein said transistor is driven by an oscillator.

10. The display according to claim 9 wherein said oscillator drives each transistor between an open and closed position at a frequency of 1,250 HZ.

11. The light display according to claim 10 comprising four strings with each string having a ground connector, a primary source connector and a secondary source connector, said oscillator oscillating between each one of said four strings in a regular fashion so that only one string is "on" at any time.

12. The light display according to claim 11 further comprising four transistors where each transistor is oscillated at a rate of 1,250 HZ between an open and closed position in a regular fashion so that only one string is on at a time.

13. The light display according to claim 5 wherein said pulsing mechanism is connected to said secondary connector and is connected to a common source for said primary connector.

14. The light display according to claim 13 wherein said pulsing mechanism includes a second timer connected to an oscillator of said common source to produce pulsing signals at a rate visible to the human eye.

15. The light display according to claim 14 wherein said secondary timer produces a regular signal oscillating between on and off position to produce said visibly perceptible flashing light signal for the LED.

16. The light display according to claim 15 wherein said frequency of said secondary timer is 0.2 HZ.

17. The light display according to claim 15 wherein said means for connecting the LEDs in parallel between the primary source and ground connectors and the secondary source and ground connectors includes a member for electrical connection to each of said connectors and having means for connecting LEDS in parallel between the ground connector and any of the source connectors.

18. The light display according to claim 17 wherein said member for connecting said LEDs including a socket for electrical connection to said ground connector, said primary source connector and said secondary source connector, said LED having first and second connectors cooperating with said socket for mechanical engagement of said first and second connectors with said ground connector and said primary source connector or said ground connector and said secondary source connector.

19. The display according to claim 18, wherein said socket includes a ground socket, a primary socket, and a secondary socket, an electrical connection with the corresponding ground connector, primary source connector and secondary source connector, said LED having two connections to fit in any two of said ground and primary and secondary source connectors.

21. The light display according to claim 17 wherein said member for connecting the LEDs includes three space connectors, said LED having first and second complementary connectors cooperating with said spaced connectors for mechanical engagement of said first and second connectors with said ground connector and said primary source connector or ground connector and said secondary source connector.

22. The display according to claim 21, wherein said member is a socket member having a ground socket, a primary socket, and a secondary socket, each having an electrical connection with the corresponding ground connector, primary source connector and secondary source connector, said LED having said two complementary connectors configured to fit in any two of said ground and primary source connectors and said ground and secondary source connectors.

23. The display according to claim 22, wherein said electrical connection of said socket member includes insulation piercing contacts to expose within each said socket, said ground connector, said primary source connector, said secondary source connector.

20. A light display comprising:

electrically conductive primary source connector, a ground connector and a secondary source connector constituting a first electrically conducting string, a number of LEDs, means for connecting the LEDs in parallel across the ground connector and one of the primary and secondary source connectors;

said means for connecting the LEDs in parallel between the primary source and ground connectors and the secondary source and ground connectors includes a member for electrical connection to each of said connectors and having means for connecting LEDs in parallel between the ground connectors and any of the source connectors.

24. A light display comprising:

electrically conductive primary source connector, a ground connector and a secondary source connector constituting a first electrically conducting string, a number of LEDs, means for connecting the LEDs in parallel across the ground connector and one of the primary and secondary source connectors wherein at least one of said connectors includes an electronic switching mechanism alternating between on and off positions to connect and disconnect LEDs and energize said LEDs at a predetermined rate;

means for connecting a second electrically conducting string comprising a second primary source connector, a second secondary source connector and a second ground connector wherein said electronic switching mechanism includes means for oscillating between an on and off position for each of said ground connectors alternating between each string so that the first and second string are not on at the same time;

said switching mechanism connected to said connectors and having a selection means for selecting a pulse rate for pulsing the LEDs at a rate visible to the human eye; and

means for connecting said LEDs including a member for electrical connection to said ground connector, said primary source connector and said secondary source connector, said LED having first and second connectors cooperating with said member for mechanical engagement of said first and second connectors with said ground connector and any of said primary source connector and said secondary source connector.

25. The display according to claim 24, wherein said member is a socket member including a ground socket, a primary socket, and a secondary socket, for electrical connection with the corresponding ground connector, primary source connector and secondary source connector, said LED having two connections to fit in any two of said ground and primary source connectors and said ground and said secondary source connectors.

26. The display according to claim 25 wherein said switching mechanism is programmable.

27. A method for producing a yellow light with LED comprising:

(a) fabricating a bicolor LED in red and green;

(b) alternately energizing the bicolors at a sufficient rate to produce the color yellow to the human eye.

28. The method according to claim 27 further comprising controlling the proportion of energizing between red and green to produce other colors including orange and amber.

29. An apparatus for producing varying colors of light comprising:

(a) an LED of at least a bicolor configuration in red and green; and

(b) means for alternately energizing said red LED and said green LED to produce a color other than red and green.

30. The apparatus according to claim 29 wherein the means for alternately energizing said red LED and said green LED includes alternately energizing at a rate to produce the color yellow.

31. The apparatus according to claim 30 wherein said means for alternately energizing said LEDs including means for generating a signal for driving the LEDs and modulating the pulse width of said signal.

32. The apparatus according to claim 31 wherein said means for alternately energizing said LEDs includes:

(a) a comparator;

(b) a first signal source for charging the comparator with a first input signal at a constant rate of change for preselected time period;

(c) a second signal source providing a second input signal;

(d) said comparator also connected to said second signal source;

(e) said comparator generating an output signal as a function of said signals from said first and second signal sources;

(f) said output being connected through control means to control the timing of the delivery of signals to said LEDs; and

(g) means for controlling the amplitude of said second signal source to control the ratio of conduction to said LEDs.