Programmable lighting control system for controlling illumination duration and intensity levels of lamps in multiple lighting strings
First Claim
1. A lighting control device programmable by a user for the control of a plurality of lighting strings, each lighting string including a plurality of lamps, the device providing selection of individual lighting conditions of illumination duration and intensity level for each of the lamps, the device comprising:
- energizing means connected to the plurality of lighting strings for energizing each of the lighting strings independent of each other for selectively controlling the illumination duration and intensity level of the plurality of lamps of each of the lighting strings;
control means for selectively controlling said energizing means to control the illumination duration and intensity level of each of the plurality of lamps in each of the lighting strings, said control means including a single controller for generating control signals which independently determine, for each of the plurality of lighting strings, illumination duration and intensity levels for each of the plurality of lamps in each of the plurality of lighting strings and simultaneously control the lighting conditions of all of the plurality of lighting strings; and
user input means for generating programmable control signals applied to said control means for activating said control means, said programmable control signals determining illumination duration and intensity levels of each of the plurality of lamps in each of the lighting strings and being programmable by the user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A programmable lighting control system for advertising, decorative, artistic, and Christmas lighting applications, consists of a standalone controller, an optional power booster device, and a personal computer compatible software program. The controller receives power via a standard AC outlet receptacle and includes: a plurality of AC output receptacles for connection to either series or parallel connected Christmas tree type lights or the like; a micro-controller to provide timing and control signals that are applied to solid state switching devices to drive the outlet receptacles; a non volatile memory to store custom user defined lighting sequences; a rotary, switch to enable the selection of either pre-programmed sequences or user defined sequences; and a serial communication port. The personal computer compatible software program enables the user to create custom lighting sequences, which can be downloaded to the light controller non volatile memory via the serial port. The optional power booster device can be used to increase the output power capability of each of the individual controller output circuits.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A lighting control device programmable by a user for the control of a plurality of lighting strings, each lighting string including a plurality of lamps, the device providing selection of individual lighting conditions of illumination duration and intensity level for each of the lamps, the device comprising:
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energizing means connected to the plurality of lighting strings for energizing each of the lighting strings independent of each other for selectively controlling the illumination duration and intensity level of the plurality of lamps of each of the lighting strings; control means for selectively controlling said energizing means to control the illumination duration and intensity level of each of the plurality of lamps in each of the lighting strings, said control means including a single controller for generating control signals which independently determine, for each of the plurality of lighting strings, illumination duration and intensity levels for each of the plurality of lamps in each of the plurality of lighting strings and simultaneously control the lighting conditions of all of the plurality of lighting strings; and user input means for generating programmable control signals applied to said control means for activating said control means, said programmable control signals determining illumination duration and intensity levels of each of the plurality of lamps in each of the lighting strings and being programmable by the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A lighting control device programmable by a user for the control of a plurality of lighting strings, each lighting string including a plurality of lamps, the device providing selection of individual lighting conditions of illumination duration and intensity level for each of the lamps, the device comprising:
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energizing means connected to the plurality of lighting strings for energizing each of the lighting strings independent of each other for selectively controlling the illumination duration and intensity level of the plurality of lamps of each of the lighting strings; control means for selectively controlling said energizing means to control the illumination duration and intensity level of each of the plurality of lamps in each of the lighting strings, said control means including a single controller for generating control signals which independently determine, for each of the plurality of lighting strings, illumination duration and intensity levels for each of the plurality of lamps in each of the plurality of lighting strings and simultaneously control the lighting conditions of all of the plurality of lighting strings; user input means for generating programmable control signals applied to said control means for activating said control means, said programmable control signals determining illumination duration and intensity levels of each of the plurality of lamps in each of the lighting strings and being programmable by the user; means for storing said programmable control signals arranged in a plurality of program unique sequences for creating a unique lighting condition of illumination duration and intensity levels for a lighting string over a time period; and means for storing predetermined control signals for determining illumination duration and intensity levels of each of the plurality of lamps in each of the lighting strings and being nonprogrammable by the user, said predetermined control signals being stored in a plurality of nonprogrammed unique sequences for creating a unique lighting condition of illumination duration and intensity levels for a lighting string over a time period. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A lighting control device programmable by a user for the control of a plurality of lighting strings, each lighting string including a plurality of lamps, the device providing selection of individual lighting conditions of intensity level for each of the lamps, the device comprising:
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energizing means connected to the plurality of lighting strings for energizing each of the lighting strings independent of each other for selectively controlling the intensity level of the plurality of lamps of each of the lighting strings; control means for selectively controlling said energizing means to control the intensity level of each of the plurality of lamps in each of the lighting strings; user input means for generating programmable control signals applied to said control means for activating said control means, said programmable control signals determining intensity level of each of the plurality of lamps in each of the lighting strings and being programmable by the user; and means interconnected to said energizing means for increasing power available to a lighting string including means for sensing the voltage phase of said energizing means. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification