Flashing light system with multiple voltages

• US 7,029,140 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2003
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cheerine Development Limited
• Original Assignee: Cheerine Development Limited
• Inventors: Wong, Wai Kai, Mak, Lai Cheong
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Shih-Chao
• Assistant Examiner(s): AL NAZER, LEITH A
• Application Number:
  US10/744,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20050134191A1
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 315/160, 315/209.R, 315/312, 315/200.A, 315/360, 315/362, 362/800, 362/802, 362/103, 362/227
• US Class Current: 362/103
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0036 with fluorescent or phosphorescent parts
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/36 with light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/30 Driver circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/802 Position or condition responsive switch

Abstract

Flashing lights may be added to footwear or other objects worn by persons. Flashing light systems are necessarily compact, consisting primarily of flashing lights and a power-and-control circuit that controls and enables the flashing of the lights. The lights may be illuminated by differing voltage levels, so that lights will flash brighter or dimmer depending on whether the light receives a higher voltage or a lower voltage. The voltages may be achieved by using batteries in series. A unique flashing effect is achieved by the use of differing voltages in sequence on the same lamps or LEDs. A battery charger may also be included to restore battery life.

Claims

1. A flashing light system, comprising:

a controller, the controller further comprising a memory, the memory storing data defining at least two sequences for flashing the light sources;

an inertia switch connected to the controller;

a first power source connected to the controller;

a second power source connected in series to the first power source;

at least one first light source connected with the controller to receive power from the first power source; and

at least one second light source connected with the controller to receive power alternately from the first and second power sources.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller comprises at least one of an integrated circuit, an application specific integrated circuit, and a CMOS circuit.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first power source is a 3V battery and the second power source is a 1.5V battery.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one light source connected to the first power source comprises at least one LED selected from the group consisting of low voltage LEDS, 2.7V LEDs, 3V LEDs, red LEDs, green LEDs, and yellow LEDs.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one light source connected to the second power source comprises at least one LED selected from the group consisting of medium voltage LEDS, 4.5V LEDs, 4.9V LEDs, blue LEDs, white LEDs, pink LEDs, bright green LEDs, and bright yellow LEDs.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the light sources connected to the first power source and the second power source is connected to receive power from the first power source and is also connected to receive power from the series-connected first and second power sources.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a third power source connected in series with the first power source, and at least one light source connected with the controller to receive power from the first and third power sources.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a battery charging circuit connected to at least one of the voltage sources.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising an item selected from the group consisting of footwear, an article of clothing, and a personal accessory.

10. A flashing light system for footwear, the system comprising:

a first power source connected to supply power to at least a first light source;

a second power source connected in series with the first power source to supply power alternately from the first and second power sources to at least one second light source;

a battery charging circuit connected to at least one of the first and second power sources;

a controller configured to receive power from at least one of the power sources; and

at least one inertia switch connected to the controller, wherein the switch and the controller are configured to control application of power from the power sources to the light sources.

11. The flashing light system of claim 10, further comprising a third light source, and a third power source connected in series with the first power source to supply power to the third light source.

12. The flashing light system of claim 10 wherein the controller comprises at least one of an integrated circuit, an application specific integrated circuit, and a CMOS circuit.

13. The flashing light system of claim 10, wherein the first power source is a 3V battery and the second power source is a 1.5V battery.

14. The flashing light system of claim 10, wherein the at least one light source connected to the first power source comprises at least one LED selected from the group consisting of low voltage LEDS, 2.7V LEDs, 3V LEDs, red LEDs, green LEDs, and yellow LEDs.

15. The flashing light system of claim 10, wherein the at least one light source connected to the second power source comprises at least one LED selected from the group consisting of medium voltage LEDS, 4.5V LEDs, 4.9V LEDs, blue LEDs, white LEDs, pink LEDs, bright green LEDs, and bright yellow LEDs.

16. The flashing light system of claim 10, further comprising at least one transistor connected between the light sources and the controller.

17. The flashing light system of claim 10, further comprising a capacitor connected to the controller for illuminating at least one light source after the inertia switch opens.

18. The system of claim 10, further comprising footwear assembled with the flashing light system.

19. A method for illuminating footwear with a flashing light system, the method comprising:

connecting a first voltage source to at least one first light source;

connecting a second voltage source to at least one second light source;

illuminating the at least one first light source;

illuminating the at least one second light source; and

controlling a timing and at least two patterns of illumination of the light sources with an inertia switch and a controller comprising a memory with at least two sequences for flashing the light sources, wherein at least the second light source is connected alternately first to the second voltage source and then to the first voltage source.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising connecting the first and second voltage sources in series.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising connecting a third voltage source in series with the first voltage source, and illuminating at least one third light source with the third voltage source in series with the first voltage source.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising changing the pattern of illumination with sequential pulsing of the inertia switch.

23. A flashing light system, comprising:

a controller comprising a memory with at least two sequences for flashing the light sources;

an inertia switch connected to the controller;

a first power source connected to the controller;

a second power source connected in series to the first power source;

a low-voltage light source connected with the controller to receive power from the first power source; and

a medium voltage or a high-voltage light source connected with the controller to receive power alternately from the first and second power sources.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the first power source is 3V and the second power source is 1.5V.

25. The system of claim 23, further comprising an item selected from the group consisting of footwear, an article of clothing, and a personal accessory.

26. The system of claim 23, further comprising a third voltage source in series with the first voltage source, connected to at least one additional light source.

27. A method of making a flashing light system, the method comprising:

connecting an inertia switch to a controller, the controller further comprising a memory with at least two sequences for flashing the light sources;

connecting the controller to at least two light sources;

connecting a first power source to the controller and at least one of the light sources; and

connecting a second power source to at least one of the light sources, wherein the controller is capable of alternately connecting the first power source and the second power source to at least one of the at least two light sources.