Interactive shoe light device

• US 7,207,688 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2005
• Issued: 04/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cheerine Development Limited
• Original Assignee: Cheerine Development Limited
• Inventors: Hang, Wong Kui, Yuen, Wong Wai
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea; Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): MACCHIAROLO, LEAH SIMONE
• Application Number:
  US11/208,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20070041193A1
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 362/103, 315/200.A, 315/360, 315/323
• US Class Current: 362/103
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/36 with light sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

An interactive shoe light device includes at least one power source, at least one motion switch to generate an activation signal in response to an electrical engagement within the motion switch, the activation signal indicating at least duration of electrical engagement within the motion switch, an integrated circuit functioning as a controller, the integrated circuit electrically connected to the motion switch to receive the activation signal, and lighting elements electrically connected to the integrated circuit. The lighting elements are selectively actuated by the integrated circuit to illuminate the lighting elements in one or more predetermined illumination patterns depending on the duration of electrical engagement indicated by the activation signal. For a short duration, all lighting elements flash in a flashing pattern for a pre-determined period. For a long duration, only one lighting element lights up and continues for a few seconds after the switch is opened.

Claims

1. An interactive shoe light device comprising:

at least one power source;

at least one motion switch to generate an activation signal in response to an electrical engagement within the at least one motion switch, the activation signal indicating a duration of electrical engagement within the at least one motion switch, the at least one motion switch including a reed switch actuatable by an external magnet;

an integrated circuit functioning as a controller, the integrated circuit electrically connected to the at least one motion switch to receive the activation signal, the integrated circuit including a trigger circuit, an oscillator, a time-base, a short contact signal circuit and a long contact signal circuit, the trigger circuit configured to actuate the oscillator and pass the activation signal to the short contact circuit and the long contact circuit for analysis, the time-base configured to signal the short contact signal circuit and the long contact signal circuit, the short contact signal circuit configured to produce the short contact signal, and the long contact signal circuit configured to produce the long contact signal; and

lighting elements electrically connected to the integrated circuit, the lighting elements selectively actuated by the integrated circuit to illuminate the lighting elements in one or more predetermined illumination patterns dependant on the duration of electrical engagement indicated by the activation signal;

wherein for a relatively short duration of electrical engagement, all lighting elements flash in a flashing pattern for a pre-determined period and for a relatively long duration of electrical engagement, only one lighting element lights up or flashes and continue for a predetermined duration after the switch is opened.

2. The interactive shoe light device of claim 1, wherein the oscillator comprises an oscillator resistor electronically connected to the oscillator, the oscillator configured to create a frequency signal with a time period dependent on the oscillator resistor and to pass the frequency signal to the time-base.

3. An interactive shoe light device comprising:

at least one power source;

at least one motion switch to generate an activation signal in response to an electrical engagement within the at least one motion switch, the activation signal indicating a duration of electrical engagement within the at least one motion switch;

an integrated circuit functioning as a controller, the integrated circuit electrically connected to the at least one motion switch to receive the activation signal, the controller including a signal analysis system configured to analyze the activation signal, and a pattern generator system configured to receive signals from the signal analysis system and generate a dependant illumination pattern in response thereto, the pattern generator system including a pattern generator, a first LED driver to actuate one or more of first, second and third lighting elements and a second LED driver to actuate a fourth lighting element; and

lighting elements electrically connected to the integrated circuit, the lighting elements selectively actuated by the integrated circuit to illuminate the lighting elements in one or more predetermined illumination patterns dependant on the duration of electrical engagement indicated by the activation signal;

wherein for a relatively short duration of electrical engagement, all lighting elements flash in a flashing pattern for a pre-determined period and for a relatively long duration of electrical engagement, only one lighting element lights up or flashes and continue for a predetermined duration after the switch is opened.