Decorative lamp and lighting system for vehicles

• US 7,276,854 B1
• Filed: 10/13/2005
• Issued: 10/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Theory3 Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Theory3 Incorporated
• Inventors: Barber, Jason, Deutsch, Daniel, Rothan, Russell
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen; Shih-Chao
• Assistant Examiner(s): A, MINH D
• Application Number:
  US11/249,754
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 315/77, 315/78, 315/82, 362/555, 362/558, 362/582, 362/546, 362/36, 362/84, 362/800, 362/806, 362/27, 362/613, 362/629, 362/616, 362/565
• US Class Current: 315/77
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/20 for lighting specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments; mounted on specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments lighting for dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/68 using ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/82 Switches specially adapted for vehicle interior lighting, e.g. switching by tilting the lens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/00 Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0264 for control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/00 Elements for body-finishing, identifying, or decorating; Arrangements or adaptations for advertising purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0063 using adhesive means, e.g. hook and loop fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0075 using a containment or docking space

Abstract

A decorative lighting system for a vehicle comprises a microprocessor controller; an integrated circuit having the microcontroller connected therein and connectable to a power source; a plurality of light-emitting diodes connected in the circuit; a housing hermetically enclosing the microcontroller, integrated circuit, and plurality of light-emitting diodes, the housing including one or more layers of resin material containing a fluorescent compound responsive to light selected from ultraviolet, near ultraviolet and combinations thereof; and an adhesive connector positioned on an exterior surface of the decorative light. The plurality of light-emitting diodes is capable of generating light containing one or more visible wavelengths, ultraviolet light, near ultraviolet light and combinations thereof responsive to a control signal from the microcontroller.

Claims

1. A decorative lighting fixture for a vehicle, comprising:

a microprocessor controller;

an integrated circuit having said controller connected therein and connectable to a power source;

a plurality of light-emitting diodes connected in said circuit;

a housing hermetically enclosing said microprocessor controller, integrated circuit, and plurality of light-emitting diodes, said housing including one or more layers of resin material containing a fluorescent compound responsive to light selected from ultraviolet, near ultraviolet and combinations thereof; and

an adhesive connector positioned on an exterior surface of said decorative lighting fixture;

wherein said plurality of light-emitting diodes is capable of generating light containing one or more visible wavelengths, ultraviolet, near ultraviolet and combinations thereof responsive to a control signal from said microprocessor controller.

2. A decorative lighting system for a motor vehicle, comprising in combination:

a hand-held remote control unit having an input keyboard and a rotatable control whereby commands are generated and transmitted from said remote control unit in a wireless signal;

a sensor capable of recognizing the wireless signal and generating a sensor signal responsive thereto;

a central processing unit having a first microcontroller and connected to said sensor to thereby generate a control signal responsive to said sensor signal, said central processing unit having an input connectable to a sound system positioned in the motor vehicle to thereby receive a signal containing sound information, said central processing unit being capable of coordinating the control signal with the sound information;

a light stick having an approximately cylindrical and at least partially translucent weather resistant housing containing a plurality of light-emitting diodes operatively connected to said central processing unit, said plurality of light-emitting diodes being capable of generating visible light having variable intensity and duration, and containing one or more colors responsive to the control signal from said central processing unit; and

a decorative lamp having a second microcontroller, an integrated circuit having said microcontroller connected therein and connectable to a power source, having a plurality of light-emitting diodes connected in said circuit, and having a housing hermetically enclosing said microcontroller, integrated circuit, and plurality of light-emitting diodes, said housing including one or more layers of resin material containing a fluorescent compound responsive to light selected from ultraviolet, near ultraviolet and combinations thereof, and having an adhesive connector positioned on an exterior surface of said decorative lamp, wherein said plurality of light-emitting diodes is capable of generating light containing one or more visible wavelengths, ultraviolet light, near ultraviolet light and combinations thereof responsive to a control signal from said microprocessor controller.