Flexible light track for signage

• US 6,394,626 B1
• Filed: 04/11/2000
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Signify North America Corporation (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Lumileds Lighting US LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: McColloch, Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): CARIASO, ALAN B
• Application Number:
  US09/547,380
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 362/219,226,227,235,236,249,251,800,250,230,231 313/500,510 257/88,92
• US Class Current: 362/231
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/005 of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/22 flexible or deformable, e.g. into a curved shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/0404 the light source being enclosed in a box forming the character of the sign
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/33 being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

The invention is an outdoor lighting display using light emitting devices. A flexible light track is secured at the bottom of a channel, e.g. a letter or symbol. A top corresponding to the shape of the channel covers the channel to protect the flexible light track from weather changes. The flexible light track includes a plurality of plastic modules having electrical connectors and respective tracks. Light emitting devices (LEDs) are inserted in the plastic modules. Electrical wires are positioned in the tracks of the plastic modules such that the LEDs are electrically connected in parallel.

Claims

1. A flexible light assembly comprising:

a bendable frame wherein the bendable frame is bendable into a desired shape;

a plurality of modules, each of the modules being a separate piece and mechanically connected to the bendable frame, wherein each of the modules comprises;

a positive connector;

a negative connector;

a light emitting device electrically connected to the positive connector and to the negative connector;

a positive track; and

a negative track;

a positive electrical wire running along said bendable frame, wherein the positive electrical wire is positioned in the positive track of each of the modules and is electrically connected to the positive connector of each of the modules; and

a negative electrical wire running along the bendable frame, wherein the negative electrical wire is positioned in the negative track of each of the modules and is electrically connected to the negative connector of each of the modules.

2. The flexible light assembly of claim 1, wherein the light emitting device is a light emitting diode.

3. The flexible light assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the modules further comprises a clip, and wherein each of the modules is mechanically connected to the bendable frame with the clip.

4. The flexible light assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the modules fiber comprises an adhesive, and wherein each of the modules is mechanically connected to the bendable frame with the adhesive.

5. The flexible light assembly of claim 1 further comprising a controller for all light emitting devices, the controller being electrically connected to the positive electrical wire and the negative electrical wire.

6. The flexible light assembly of claim 5 further comprising a reference circuit electrically connected to the controller, the reference circuit comprising a photodetector receiving light from a reference light emitting device and generating a signal corresponding to a brightness of the reference light emitting device, wherein the controller receives the signal and adjusts the brightness of other light emitting devices based on the signal.

7. The flexible light assembly of claim 6, wherein each module contains light emitting devices that emit a plurality of colors, the reference circuit generating a separate signal for each color light.

8. The flexible light assembly of claim 1, wherein each module contains light emitting devices that emit a plurality of colors.

9. The flexible light assembly of claim 8 further comprising a controller for all light emitting devices, the controller being electrically connected to the positive electrical wire and the negative electrical wire as well as other wires connected to different color light emitting devices in the modules, the controller controlling a brightness level of each color in the plurality of colors so as to generate a variable mixture of colors.

10. The flexible light assembly of claim 8 wherein said plurality of colors comprises red, green, and blue.

11. The flexible light assembly of claim 1 further comprising a channel in which the bendable frame is positioned.