Light flashing system

• US 5,969,479 A
• Filed: 03/10/1998
• Issued: 10/19/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cheerine Development Limited
• Original Assignee: Cheerine Development Limited
• Inventors: Wong, Wai Kai
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): VO, TUYET THI
• Application Number:
  US09/037,336
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 315/200 A, 315/76, 315/261, 315/224, 315/360, 315/312, 315/323, 362/103, 36/137, 340/573
• US Class Current: 315/200.00A
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/20 Nails, pegs, pins, clamps, or tacks, for footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/36 with light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light sources in general, i.e. where the type of light source is not relevant
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A light-flashing system for flashing lights on and off and for generating a pattern of illumination for a plurality of lights in response to intermittent switch closures. The system includes a battery, a plurality of light-emitting elements, a plurality of transistors which enable the illumination of the light-emitting elements, a switch, a capacitor, and a pattern-generation circuit. The battery powers the light-emitting elements and the pattern-generation circuit. The switch intermittently clocks the pattern-generation circuit and enables the flow of current in certain of the transistors, allowing illumination of certain of the light-emitting elements in response to changes in inertial forces caused by movement of the flashing light system. The capacitor is connected in parallel to the battery such that the capacitor stores electrical charge when the switch is closed and continues to enable the flow of current through certain of the transistors after the switch is opened. The pattern-generation circuit then causes at least one, but not necessarily all, of the plurality of light-emitting elements to illuminate by enabling the flow of current through certain of the transistors. As the switch intermittently opens and closes, the pattern-generation circuit is clocked through various states, and the outputs of the pattern-generation circuit enable the flow of current through certain of the transistors, allowing illumination of at least one, but not necessarily all, of the light-emitting elements in a pattern.

Claims

1. A lighting system to be incorporated into footwear, comprising:

a power source for energizing the lighting system;

a pulse-generation means connected with the power source;

a flash driver circuit connected with the power source and the pulse-generation means, said flash driver circuit generating a plurality of output signals to the pulse-generation means;

a triggering means connected with the power source, the flash driver circuit, and the pulse-generation means, said triggering means providing a contact signal to the flash driver circuit and the pulse-generation means;

a primary gate connected with the pulse-generation means, the power source and a plurality of secondary gates, said primary gate controlling operation of the plurality of secondary gates;

a means for generating a pattern of signals connected with the pulse-generation means for selectively energizing each of the plurality of secondary gates while the primary gate is energized;

a plurality of light-emitting elements connected with the power source and a respective one of the plurality of secondary gates for allowing the means for generating a pattern of signals to selectively energize each of the plurality of light-emitting elements.

2. The lighting system of claim 1, further comprising a timing circuit connected with the triggering means and the pulse-generation means for controlling operation of the pulse-generation means when the contact signals from the triggering means reaches a predetermined time interval.

3. The lighting system of claim 2, wherein said timing circuit remains inactive when the triggering means provides the contact signals at below the predetermined time interval.

4. The lighting system of claim 2, wherein the timing circuit comprises a resistor in series with a capacitor.

5. A lighting system to be incorporated into footwear comprising:

a power source;

a triggering means connected with the power source for supplying a contact signal to a flash driver circuit thereby generating a plurality of output signals;

a pulse-generation means connected with the triggering means and the plurality of output signals from the flash driver circuit;

means for generating a pattern of signals connected with the pulse-generation means and a plurality of secondary gates;

a timing circuit connected with the triggering means and the pulse-generation means for controlling operation of the pulse-generation means after the contact signals from the triggering means reach a predetermined time interval;

a primary gate connected with the pulse-generation means for controlling operation of the plurality of secondary gates; and

a plurality of light-emitting elements connected with the secondary gates and the power source.

6. The lighting system of claim 5, wherein the timing circuit stops the pulse-generation means from delivering drive signals to the means for generating a pattern of signals when the contact signals reach a predetermined time interval.

7. The lighting system of claim 6, wherein the timing circuit allows only one of the plurality of light-emitting elements to energize in response to each of the contact signals received by the triggering means once the contact signal rate reaches a predetermined time interval.

8. Footwear containing a lighting system comprising:

a shoe having a sole;

a power source disposed in the sole of the shoe;

a flash driver circuit for generating a plurality of drive signals disposed in the sole of the shoe connected with the power source and a triggering means, said triggering means providing a contact signal to the flash driver circuit;

a pulse-generation means disposed in the sole of the shoe connected with the flash driver circuit and the triggering means;

a means for generating a pattern of signals connected with the pulse-generation means and the power source disposed in the sole of the shoe;

a primary gate connected with the pulse-generation means for controlling operation of a plurality of secondary gates disposed in the sole of the shoe; and

a plurality of light-emitting elements connected with the power source and a respective one of the plurality of secondary gates disposed on a visible portion of the shoe.