Multi-dimensional control of arrayed lights to produce synchronized dynamic decorative patterns of display, particularly for festival and Christmas lights
First Claim
1. An electrical system electrically connected between a system voltage and a system ground for producing decorative patterns of display in a multiplicity of lights, the system comprising;
- a multiplicity of arrayed lights each for emitting illumination when electrically connected between the system voltage and the system ground;
a plurality of voltage distribution buses, each connected to an associated plurality of the arrayed lights, and each selectively electrically connected to the system voltage so as to carry the system voltage to the arrayed lights of the associated plurality;
a plurality of ground buses, each connected to an associated plurality of the arrayed lights, and each selectively electrically connected to the system ground so as to carry the system ground to the arrayed lights of the associated plurality;
means for selectively electrically connecting one or more of the plurality of voltage buses to the system voltage, and also for selectively electrically connecting one or more of the plurality of ground buses to the system ground, so that those individual ones of all the multiplicity of lights that are electrically connected between both a system-voltage-connected one of the plurality of voltage busses, and also to a system-ground-connected one of the plurality of ground buses, will emit illumination while other individual ones of the multiplicity of lights not then so connected will not then illuminate;
wherein selected ones of the multiplicity of arrayed lights are illuminated, producing a display.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A number of voltage and ground buses--normally four or more each of which respectively connects to groups of lights within a large number of lights that are typically both multicolored and regularly geometrically arrayed in two and three dimensions--are separately simultaneously selectively energized in order to produce dynamic decorative patterns of display, particularly for use as Christmas lights. Buses are preferably selectively enabled and energized in at least four major and ten or more minor combinations in order to, along with differences in sequencing and phasing and timing, produce great numbers of different display patterns, typically at least ten such patterns that are recognizable to an observer. The progressive displays of a great number of individual light arrays may be coordinated in both (i) synchronization, and (ii) repetition rate, by the simple expedients of (i) applying a.c. line power to all light arrays in common at the same time, and (ii) selecting by wire jumpers a fundamental repetition rate at each light array.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. An electrical system electrically connected between a system voltage and a system ground for producing decorative patterns of display in a multiplicity of lights, the system comprising;
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a multiplicity of arrayed lights each for emitting illumination when electrically connected between the system voltage and the system ground; a plurality of voltage distribution buses, each connected to an associated plurality of the arrayed lights, and each selectively electrically connected to the system voltage so as to carry the system voltage to the arrayed lights of the associated plurality; a plurality of ground buses, each connected to an associated plurality of the arrayed lights, and each selectively electrically connected to the system ground so as to carry the system ground to the arrayed lights of the associated plurality; means for selectively electrically connecting one or more of the plurality of voltage buses to the system voltage, and also for selectively electrically connecting one or more of the plurality of ground buses to the system ground, so that those individual ones of all the multiplicity of lights that are electrically connected between both a system-voltage-connected one of the plurality of voltage busses, and also to a system-ground-connected one of the plurality of ground buses, will emit illumination while other individual ones of the multiplicity of lights not then so connected will not then illuminate; wherein selected ones of the multiplicity of arrayed lights are illuminated, producing a display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of selectively electrically energizing an arrayed multiplicity of lights to display patterns, the method comprising;
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partitioning the arrayed multiplicity of lights among a plurality of voltage distribution buses each of which voltage distribution buses connects to an associated plurality of the arrayed lights, and each of which voltage distribution buses is selectively electrically connected to a system voltage so as to carry the system voltage to the arrayed lights of the associated plurality; further partitioning the same arrayed multiplicity of lights among a plurality of ground buses, each of which ground buses connects to an associated plurality of the arrayed lights, and each of which ground buses is selectively electrically connected to the system ground so as to carry a system ground to the arrayed lights of the associated plurality; first selectively electrically connecting one or more of the plurality of voltage buses to the system voltage; and second selectively electrically connecting one or more of the plurality of ground buses to the system ground; wherein those individual ones of all the multiplicity of lights that are electrically connected between both a system-voltage-connected one of the plurality of voltage busses, and also to a system-ground-connected one of the plurality of ground buses, will emit illumination; wherein other individual ones of the multiplicity of lights not then so connected to both a system-voltage-connected one of the plurality of voltage busses, and also to a system-ground-connected one of the plurality of ground buses, will not then illuminate; wherein selected ones of the multiplicity of arrayed lights are illuminated, producing a display.
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23. A light display comprising:
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an arrayed multiplicity of lights; a plurality of voltage distribution buses, each connected to an associated plurality of the arrayed lights; a plurality of ground buses, each connected to an associated plurality of the arrayed lights; means for selectively successively electrically connecting one or more of the plurality of voltage buses to a system voltage, and also for selectively successively electrically connecting one or more of the plurality of ground buses to a system ground, in at least the following four combinations (1) all the plurality of ground buses are connected to the system ground, and, concurrently, all the plurality of voltage buses are connected to the system voltage; (2) all the plurality of ground buses are connected to the system ground, and, concurrently, successive ones of the plurality of voltage buses are successively connected to the system voltage; (3) successive ones of all the plurality of ground buses are successively connected to the system ground, and, concurrently, all the plurality of voltage buses are connected to the system voltage; (4) successive ones of all the plurality of ground buses are successively connected to the system ground, and, concurrently, successive ones of the plurality of voltage buses are successively connected to the system voltage; wherein selected ones of the multiplicity of arrayed lights are illuminated, producing a display.
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24. A system of a plurality of groups of decorative lights each group comprising:
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a multiplicity of lights; an independent sequencing means sufficient in of itself without outside control for independently sequencing individual ones of the multiplicity of lights to light in succession so as to produce a stepwise sequential light display; and a means for synchronizing the independent sequencing means with the independent sequencing means of others of the plurality of groups when electrically connected thereto so that a succession of light displays as is produced by each and by all groups commences at the same time, the synchronizing means not interfering with the sequencing that is independently performed by the sequencing means should no other groups be so electrically connected. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. Decorative lights comprising;
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a matrix of an arbitrary number W of sub-groups of arrayed lights in a first spatial dimension, and of an arbitrary number X of sub-groups of arrayed lights in a second spatial dimension, for a total of WX sub-groups of arrayed lights; each sub-group of arrayed lights being of an arbitrary number Y of lights in the first spatial dimension by an arbitrary number Z of lights in the second spatial dimension; each of the YZ lights of each sub-group being uniquely electrically connected between one of a total number Y of first-type electrical busses and one of a total number Z of second-type electrical buses, where the number of lights Y in a one, first, spatial dimension of each sub-group is thus the same as the total number Y of first-type electrical busses, while the number of lights Z in the other, remaining second, spatial dimension of each sub-group is thus the same as the total number Z of second-type electrical buses, each of the YZ lights so connected illuminating when an associated one of the Y first-type electrical busses is connected to one of an electrical voltage and an electrical ground while the associated one of the Z second-type electrical busses is also connected to a remaining one of the electrical voltage and the electrical ground, and not illuminating otherwise; where the Y first-type electrical busses of each sub-group are electrically common with the Y first-type electrical busses of every other sub-group, and are thus called Y matrix first-type electrical busses; where the Z second-type electrical busses of each sub-group are electrically common with the Z second-type electrical busses of every other sub-group, and are thus called Z matrix second-type electrical busses; first means for selectively electrically connecting one or more of the Y matrix first-type electrical busses to one of the electrical voltage and the electrical ground; and second means for selectively electrically connecting one or more of the Z matrix second-type electrical busses to a remaining one of the electrical voltage and the electrical ground; wherein those YZ lights that are within each of the WX sub-groups of arrayed lights that are electrically connected to both the selectively-electrically-connected one or more of the Y matrix first-type electrical busses, and also (ii) the (i) the selectively-electrically-connected one or more of the Z matrix second-type electrical busses, will illuminate while no others of the lights will so illuminate; wherein if the YZ lights of each sub-group are in the same relative spatial positions relative to their electrical connections to the Y matrix first-type electrical busses, and relative to the Z matrix second-type electrical busses, then those particular lights that are at any one time illuminating in each of the WX sub-groups of arrayed lights that are within the matrix will be spatially related, and will form a co-ordinated decorative display of lights not just from a single sub-group, but rather from a matrix consisting of the W sub-groups of arrayed lights in a first dimension, and the X sub-groups of arrayed lights in a second dimension; wherein co-ordination of light illuminations in a matrix of sub-groups of arrayed lights is realized. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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35. To a method of selectively activating decorative lights distributed among and between a number of voltage buses and a ground by selectively sequentially powering one and then another voltage bus so as to cause the lights associated with each voltage bus to selectively sequentially illuminate, an improvement directed to enhancing the sophistication of the selective sequential illuminations of the decorative lights, the improvement method further comprising:
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distributing the same decorative lights that are distributed among the number of voltage buses among and between these voltage buses and a number of ground buses; and selectively sequentially grounding one and then another ground bus so as to cause those of the lights that are associated with each ground bus, and that are also associated with a voltage bus that is concurrently powered, to selectively illuminate, all those lights not connected between a ground bus that is grounded and a voltage bus that is concurrently powered failing to illuminate. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37)
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Specification