Frequency controlled lighting system
First Claim
1. A frequency controlled lighting system comprising:
- a motion switch to generate an activation signal in response to movement of the motion switch, the activation signal indicating at least one of duration and frequency of electrical engagement within the motion switch;
a controller electrically connected to the motion switch to receive the activation signal; and
lighting elements, electrically connected to the controller, the lighting elements selectively actuated by the controller to illuminate the lighting elements in one or more predetermined illumination patterns dependant on the duration and frequency of electrical engagement indicated by the activation signal;
wherein the controller comprises;
a triggering circuit electrically connected to the motion switch to receive the activation signal, the triggering circuit creating a triggering signal upon reception of the activation signal;
an oscillator, electrically connected to the triggering means to receive the triggering signal, the oscillator creating a frequency signal upon reception of the triggering signal;
a time-base, electrically connected to the oscillator to receive the frequency signal, the time-base creating a timing signal upon reception of the frequency signal;
a short contact circuit, electrically connected to the time-base for receiving the timing signal and electrically connected to the triggering circuit to receive the activation signal, the short contact circuit generating a short contact signal when the duration of electrical engagement is less than or equal to the predetermined duration level;
a long contact circuit, electrically connected to the time-base to receive the timing signal and electrically connected to the triggering circuit to receive the activation signal, the long contact circuit generating a long contact signal when the duration of electrical engagement exceeds the predetermined duration level;
a fast frequency circuit, electrically connected to the time-base to receive the timing signal and electrically connected to the triggering circuit to receive the activation signal, the fast frequency circuit responsive to the activation signal and the timing signal to compare the frequency of electrical engagement to a predetermined frequency threshold and generating a fast frequency signal when the frequency of electrical engagement is above the predetermined frequency threshold; and
a pattern generator, electrically connected to the time-base to receive the frequency signal, electrically connected to the short contact circuit to receive the short contact signal, electrically connected to the long contact circuit to receive the long contact signal, electrically connected to the fast frequency circuit to receive the fast frequency signal, and electrically connected to the lighting elements to selectively actuate the lighting elements in one or more of a series of predetermined patterns upon reception of the short contact signal, long contact signal, or fast frequency signal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for illuminating lighting elements in one or more predetermined patterns. A preferred frequency controlled lighting system implementing this method includes a motion switch, a controller, and lighting elements. The motion switch creates an activation signal in response to movement of the motions switch, the activation signal indicating at least one of duration of electrical engagement or frequency of electrical engagement within the motion switch. The controller detects the activation signal generation and uses a signal analysis system to analyze the activation signal. Preferably, a short signal circuit within the signal analysis system detects when the duration of electrical engagement is less than or equal to a predetermined duration level, a long duration circuit within the signal analysis system detects when the duration of electrical engagement is greater than the predetermined duration level, and a fast frequency circuit detects when the frequency of electrical engagement is greater than a predetermined frequency threshold. In response to properties of the activation signal, the signal analysis system commands a pattern generator to illuminate the lighting elements in one or more predetermined patterns.
195 Citations
63 Claims
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1. A frequency controlled lighting system comprising:
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a motion switch to generate an activation signal in response to movement of the motion switch, the activation signal indicating at least one of duration and frequency of electrical engagement within the motion switch; a controller electrically connected to the motion switch to receive the activation signal; and lighting elements, electrically connected to the controller, the lighting elements selectively actuated by the controller to illuminate the lighting elements in one or more predetermined illumination patterns dependant on the duration and frequency of electrical engagement indicated by the activation signal; wherein the controller comprises; a triggering circuit electrically connected to the motion switch to receive the activation signal, the triggering circuit creating a triggering signal upon reception of the activation signal; an oscillator, electrically connected to the triggering means to receive the triggering signal, the oscillator creating a frequency signal upon reception of the triggering signal; a time-base, electrically connected to the oscillator to receive the frequency signal, the time-base creating a timing signal upon reception of the frequency signal; a short contact circuit, electrically connected to the time-base for receiving the timing signal and electrically connected to the triggering circuit to receive the activation signal, the short contact circuit generating a short contact signal when the duration of electrical engagement is less than or equal to the predetermined duration level; a long contact circuit, electrically connected to the time-base to receive the timing signal and electrically connected to the triggering circuit to receive the activation signal, the long contact circuit generating a long contact signal when the duration of electrical engagement exceeds the predetermined duration level; a fast frequency circuit, electrically connected to the time-base to receive the timing signal and electrically connected to the triggering circuit to receive the activation signal, the fast frequency circuit responsive to the activation signal and the timing signal to compare the frequency of electrical engagement to a predetermined frequency threshold and generating a fast frequency signal when the frequency of electrical engagement is above the predetermined frequency threshold; and a pattern generator, electrically connected to the time-base to receive the frequency signal, electrically connected to the short contact circuit to receive the short contact signal, electrically connected to the long contact circuit to receive the long contact signal, electrically connected to the fast frequency circuit to receive the fast frequency signal, and electrically connected to the lighting elements to selectively actuate the lighting elements in one or more of a series of predetermined patterns upon reception of the short contact signal, long contact signal, or fast frequency signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A frequency controlled lighting system comprising:
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a motion switch to generate an activation signal in response to movement of the motion switch, the activation signal indicating at least one of duration and frequency of electrical engagement within the motion switch; a signal analysis system electrically coupled to the motion switch to receive the activation signal and generate commands based on the activation signal; a pattern generator electrically coupled to the signal analysis system to receive the commands from the signal analysis system and generate a dependant illumination pattern; and lighting elements electrically connected to the pattern generator, the lighting elements selectively actuated by the pattern generator to illuminate the lighting elements; wherein the signal analysis system detects when the duration of electrical engagement within the motion switch is less than or equal to a predetermined duration level, when the duration of electrical engagement within the motion switch is greater than the predetermined duration level, and when the frequency of electrical engagement is greater than a predetermined frequency level, and generates commands based on the duration and frequency of electrical engagement.
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21. A method for illuminating a series of lighting elements comprising:
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creating an activation signal based on the movement of a motion switch; based on the activation signal, determining a duration of electrical engagement and a frequency of electrical engagement within the motion switch for a period of time; illuminating at least one of a series of lighting elements in response to activation of the motion switch; comparing the duration of electrical engagement to a predetermined duration level to determine an illumination pattern for the series of lighting elements; illuminating the series of lighting elements in one or more of a series of flashing patterns when the duration of electrical engagement is less than or equal to the predetermined duration level; freezing any current flashing pattern and illuminating a single lighting element when the duration of electrical engagement is greater than the predetermined duration level; and comparing the frequency of electrical engagement within the motion switch to a predetermined frequency threshold to adjust the illumination pattern of the series of lighting elements. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A frequency controlled lighting system comprising:
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a motion switch to generate an activation signal in response to movement of the motion switch, the activation signal indicating at least one of duration and frequency of electrical engagement within the motion switch; a controller electrically connected to the motion switch to receive the activation signal; and lighting elements, electrically connected to the controller, the lighting elements selectively actuated by the controller to illuminate the lighting elements in one or more predetermined illumination patterns dependant on the duration and frequency of electrical engagement indicated by the activation signal; wherein the controller comprises; a short contact circuit configured to generate a signal indicating the duration of an electrical engagement of the motion switch is less than or equal to a predetermined duration level; a long contact circuit configured to generate a signal indicating the duration of the electrical engagement of the motion switch is greater than the predetermined duration level; and a fast frequency circuit configured to generate a signal indicating the frequency of electrical engagement of the motion switch is greater than a predetermined frequency threshold.
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30. A frequency controlled lighting system comprising:
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a motion switch comprising; a spring having a fixed end and a free end, and a metal contact positioned proximate the free end of the spring for electrical engagement by the free end of the spring, wherein the motion switch generates an activation signal in response to motion of the motion switch, the activation signal indicating at least a duration of time that the spring electrically engages the metal contact; a controller electrically connected to the motion switch to receive the activation signal, the controller comprising; a signal analysis system to analyze the activation signal, and a pattern generator to receive commands from the signal analysis system and generate a dependant illumination pattern; and lighting elements electrically connected to said controller, the lighting elements selectively actuated by the pattern generator to illuminate the lighting elements in one or more of a series of predetermined illumination patterns dependant upon commands from the signal analysis system; wherein the signal analysis system comprises; a short contact circuit configured to signal the pattern generator when the duration of an electrical engagement between the spring and the metal contact is less than or equal to a predetermined duration level; a long contact circuit configured to signal the pattern generator when the duration of the electrical engagement between the spring and the metal contact is greater than the predetermined duration level; and a fast frequency circuit configured to signal the pattern generator when the frequency of electrical engagement between the spring and the metal contact is greater than a predetermined frequency threshold. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. Footwear including a controlled lighting system comprising:
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a motion switch to generate an activation signal in response to movement of the motion switch, the activation signal indicating at least one of duration and frequency of electrical engagement within the motion switch; a controller electrically connected to the motion switch to receive the activation signal; and lighting elements, electrically connected to the controller, the lighting elements selectively actuated by the controller to illuminate the lighting elements in one or more predetermined illumination patterns dependant on the duration and frequency of electrical engagement indicated by the activation signal; wherein the controller comprises; a triggering circuit electrically connected to the motion switch to receive the activation signal, the triggering circuit creating a triggering signal upon reception of the activation signal; an oscillator, electrically connected to the triggering means to receive the triggering signal, the oscillator creating a frequency signal upon reception of the triggering signal; a time-base, electrically connected to the oscillator to receive the frequency signal, the time-base creating a timing signal upon reception of the frequency signal; a short contact circuit, electrically connected to the time-base for receiving the timing signal and electrically connected to the triggering circuit to receive the activation signal, the short contact circuit generating a short contact signal when the duration of electrical engagement is less than or equal to the predetermined duration level; a long contact circuit, electrically connected to the time-base to receive the timing signal and electrically connected to the triggering circuit to receive the activation signal, the long contact circuit generating a long contact signal when the duration of electrical engagement exceeds the predetermined duration level; a fast frequency circuit, electrically connected to the time-base to receive the timing signal and electrically connected to the triggering circuit to receive the activation signal, the fast frequency circuit responsive to the activation signal and the timing signal to compare the frequency of electrical engagement to a predetermined frequency threshold and generating a fast frequency signal when the frequency of electrical engagement is greater than the predetermined frequency threshold; and a pattern generator, electrically connected to the time-base to receive the frequency signal, electrically connected to the short contact circuit to receive the short contact signal, electrically connected to the long contact circuit to receive the long contact signal, electrically connected to the fast frequency circuit to receive the fast frequency signal, and electrically connected to the lighting elements to selectively actuate the lighting elements in one or more of a series of predetermined patterns upon reception of the short contact signal, long contact signal, or fast frequency signal. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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Specification