Decorative lights with at least one commonly controlled set of color-controllable multi-color LEDs for selectable holiday color schemes
First Claim
1. A decorative lighting apparatus, comprising:
- a light strand having a plurality of lights including a first commonly-controlled set of color-controllable multi-color light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and a second set of commonly-controlled LEDs;
a decorating selector comprising a switch which provides a plurality of user-selectable settings;
logic which controls the plurality of lights including the first commonly-controlled set of color-controllable multi-color LEDs and the second set of commonly-controlled LEDs;
the logic being configured to selectively illuminate the plurality of lights with a different holiday color scheme for each user-selectable setting of the switch, such that at least some of the different holiday color schemes comprise at least two colors in the first and the second sets of LEDs which are simultaneously illuminated along the light strand.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A decorative light strand has user-selectable color schemes corresponding to several holidays for year-round use. The light strand has a plurality of lights including at least one commonly-controlled set of color-controllable multi-color LEDs; a decorating selector comprising a switch which provides a plurality of user-selectable settings; and logic coupled to the switch and the plurality of lights to provide different holiday color schemes in response to the user-selectable settings. Preferably, a plurality of commonly-controlled sets of color-controllable multi-color LEDs exist along the strand, where LEDs of each set are interleaved with LEDs of other sets along the light strand. Advantageously, this light strand may be hung permanently and utilized year-round for major holidays and other suitable occasions. In a color-scheme-controllable light strand, the use of such LEDs as described reduces the number of (or eliminates) non-lit bulbs for at least some color schemes, reduces the number of wired lines to the lights, and provides the light strand with a long-life which is especially desirable in a year-round application.
83 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A decorative lighting apparatus, comprising:
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a light strand having a plurality of lights including a first commonly-controlled set of color-controllable multi-color light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and a second set of commonly-controlled LEDs;
a decorating selector comprising a switch which provides a plurality of user-selectable settings;
logic which controls the plurality of lights including the first commonly-controlled set of color-controllable multi-color LEDs and the second set of commonly-controlled LEDs;
the logic being configured to selectively illuminate the plurality of lights with a different holiday color scheme for each user-selectable setting of the switch, such that at least some of the different holiday color schemes comprise at least two colors in the first and the second sets of LEDs which are simultaneously illuminated along the light strand. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of providing a decorative lighting apparatus with a plurality of different U.S. holiday color schemes, comprising the acts of:
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providing the decorative lighting apparatus with a first commonly controlled set of color-controllable light emitting diodes (LEDs);
providing the decorative lighting apparatus with a second commonly controlled set of LEDs adjacent the first commonly controlled set of color-controllable LEDs;
providing for a selective illumination of light colors in the decorative lighting apparatus in accordance with a first U.S. holiday color scheme, in response to a first user switch setting of the decorative lighting apparatus;
providing for a selective illumination of light colors in the decorating lighting apparatus in accordance with a second U.S. holiday color scheme, in response to a second user switch setting of the decorative lighting apparatus;
wherein the first commonly controlled set of color-controllable LEDs is illuminated with a first color in the first U.S. holiday color scheme and the second commonly controlled set of LEDs is illuminated with a second color in the first U.S. holiday color scheme, such that the first and the second colors are simultaneously illuminated for the first U.S. holiday color scheme; and
wherein the first commonly controlled set of color-controllable LEDs is illuminated with a third color in the second U.S. holiday color scheme which is different from the first color in the first U.S. holiday color scheme and the second commonly controllable set of LEDs is illuminated with the second color in the second U.S. holiday color scheme, such that the second an the third colors are simultaneously illuminated for the second U.S. holiday color scheme. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A decorative lighting apparatus, comprising:
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an alternating current (AC) plug for use in supplying electrical power to the decorative lighting apparatus;
at least two light strands including;
a first light strand having a first set of lights in the form of a first commonly-controlled set of color-controllable light-emitting diodes (LEDs);
a second light strand having a second set of lights in the form of a second commonly-controlled set of LEDs;
a decorating selector comprising a switch which provides a plurality of user-selectable settings for the decorative lighting apparatus;
logic which controls the at least two light strands via control lines;
the logic being configured to selectively illuminate the light strands with a different color scheme for each user-selectable setting of the switch, such that;
a first holiday color scheme has a first color illuminated in the first commonly-controlled set of color-controllable LEDs and a second color illuminated in the second commonly-controlled set of LEDs which is simultaneously illuminated with the first color; and
a second holiday color scheme has a third color illuminated in the first commonly-controlled set of color-controllable LEDs and the second color illuminated in the second commonly-controlled set of LEDs which is simultaneously illuminated with the third color. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A decorative lighting apparatus, comprising:
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a decorative light strand having a plurality of commonly-controllable sets of color-controllable multi-color light-emitting diodes (LEDs);
a decorating selector comprising a switch which provides a plurality of user-selectable settings for the decorative lighting apparatus;
logic comprising a controller;
the controller being operative in accordance with software instructions to illuminate the decorative light strand with a different color scheme for each user-selectable setting of the switch, such that;
a first holiday color scheme has a first color illuminated in the plurality of commonly-controlled sets of color-controllable multi-color LEDs and corresponds to one of the following holidays;
Christmas, St. Valentine'"'"'s Day, St. Patrick'"'"'s Day, Independence Day, and Easter;
a second holiday color scheme has a second color illuminated in the plurality of commonly-controlled sets of color-controllable multi-color LEDs and corresponds to one of the following holidays;
Christmas, St. Valentine'"'"'s Day, St. Patrick'"'"'s Day, Independence Day, and Easter; and
a third holiday color scheme has a third color illuminated in the plurality of commonly-controlled sets of color-controllable multi-color LEDs and corresponds to one of the following holidays;
Christmas, St. Valentine'"'"'s Day, St. Patrick'"'"'s Day, Independence Day, and Easter. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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Specification