Audio controlled light formed christmas tree

• US 8,476,835 B1
• Filed: 01/27/2010
• Issued: 07/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joseph Parisi, Joseph Salvatore Parisi
• Original Assignee: Joseph Salvatore Parisi
• Inventors: Parisi, Joseph Salvatore, Parisi, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): A, Minh D
• Application Number:
  US12/695,118
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 315/185.R, 315/185.S, 315/291, 315/186, 315191-193, 315292-295, 315297-298, 315/306, 315/312, 362/806, 362/605, 362/644, 362/653
• US Class Current: 315/185.S
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

A Christmas tree decorative enhancing system provides a lighting display that is choreographed to an audio file and respective output. Each of a series of light strands are in signal communication with a respective output port on a controller. The controller integrates a storage device reader, a digital audio decoding integrated circuit, an operational controller data file decoding circuit, an output controller circuit, and a power regulation circuit. An audio data file is merged with an operational controller data file and stored in a portable digital data storage device. The controller decodes the merged file, generates an audio output signal, and drives the output controller circuit to illuminate one or more light strands in a choreographed manner in concert with the audio output. Two or more systems can be in wireless, signal communication to operate in tandem. The system can be provided using the light strands to form a tree-shape, or the lights can be placed into an existing tree.

Claims

1. An entertainment device for use with a Christmas tree, the entertainment device comprising:

a plurality of lighting strings to be positioned on the Christmas tree, each lighting string comprising a power input plug and a string of lights coupled thereto;

a plurality of electrical power connectors receiving respective power input plugs of said plurality of said lighting strings;

an audio output device;

a portable file storage device having stored thereon a plurality of audio files and a plurality of associated choreographed lighting sequence files, each choreographed lighting sequence file comprising data representative of different channels for the plurality of lighting strings;

at least one decoder cooperating with said portable file storage device to decode a selected audio file and associated choreographed lighting sequence file from among the pluralities thereof;

audio output circuitry coupled between said at least one decoder and said audio output device to play the decoded selected audio file through said audio output device; and

lighting sequence output circuitry coupled between said at least one decoder and said plurality of electrical connectors to control power output to each lighting string based upon the decoded selected choreographed sequence file and in synchronism with the playing of the decoded selected audio file.

2. The entertainment device according to claim 1 further comprising a housing carrying said plurality of electrical connectors, said at least one decoder, said audio output circuitry, and said lighting sequence output circuitry.

3. The entertainment device according to claim 2 wherein said housing further carries said audio output device.

4. The entertainment device according to claim 2 wherein said housing is configured to be positioned at a top of the Christmas tree.

5. The entertainment device according to claim 2 wherein said housing is configured to be positioned at a base of the Christmas tree.

6. The entertainment device according to claim 1 wherein said at least one decoder comprises an MP3 decoder.

7. The entertainment device according to claim 1 wherein said portable file storage device comprises a SIM card.

8. The entertainment device according to claim 1 wherein at least some of said plurality of light strings have different colors.

9. The entertainment device according to claim 1 further comprising a wireless transmitter coupled to said audio output circuitry.

10. The entertainment device according to claim 1 wherein said audio output circuitry comprises an audio amplifier.

11. The entertainment device according to claim 1 further comprising:

a wireless receiver coupled to said at least one decoder, said audio output circuitry and said lighting sequence output device; and

a remote controller in wireless communication with said wireless receiver.

12. The entertainment device according to claim 1 further comprising a power regulation circuit coupled to said lighting sequence output circuitry.

13. An entertainment device for use with a Christmas tree, the entertainment device comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of electrical power connectors carried by said housing to receive respective power input plugs for a plurality of said lighting strings, the plurality of lighting strings to be positioned on the Christmas tree;

an interface carried by said housing to receive a portable file storage device, the portable file storage device having stored thereon a plurality of audio files and a plurality of associated choreographed lighting sequence files, each choreographed lighting sequence file comprising data representative of different channels for the plurality of lighting strings;

an audio output device carried by said housing;

at least one decoder carried by said housing and cooperating with said portable file storage device to decode a selected audio file and associated choreographed lighting sequence file from among the pluralities thereof;

audio output circuitry carried by said housing and coupled between said at least one decoder and said audio output device to play the decoded selected audio file through said audio output device; and

lighting sequence output circuitry carried by said housing and coupled between said at least one decoder and said plurality of electrical connectors to control power output to each lighting string based upon the decoded selected choreographed sequence file.

14. The entertainment device according to claim 13 wherein said housing is configured to be positioned at a top of the Christmas tree.

15. The entertainment device according to claim 13 wherein said housing is configured to be positioned at a base of the Christmas tree.

16. The entertainment device according to claim 13 wherein said at least one decoder comprises an MP3 decoder.

17. The entertainment device according to claim 13 wherein said portable file storage device comprises a SIM card.

18. An entertainment device for use with a Christmas tree, the entertainment device comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of electrical power connectors carried by said housing to receive respective power input plugs for a plurality of said lighting strings, the plurality of lighting strings to be positioned on the Christmas tree;

an interface carried by said housing to receive a portable file storage device, the portable file storage device having stored thereon a plurality of audio files and a plurality of associated choreographed lighting sequence files, each choreographed lighting sequence file comprising data representative of different channels for the plurality of lighting strings;

an audio output device carried by said housing;

at least one decoder carried by said housing and cooperating with said portable file storage device to decode a selected audio file and associated choreographed lighting sequence file from among the pluralities thereof, said at least one decoder comprising an MP3 decoder;

audio output circuitry carried by said housing and coupled between said at least one decoder and said audio output device to play the decoded selected audio file through said audio output device; and

lighting sequence output circuitry carried by said housing and coupled between said at least one decoder and said plurality of electrical connectors to control power output to each lighting string based upon the decoded selected choreographed sequence file.

19. The entertainment device according to claim 18 wherein said housing is configured to be positioned at a top of the Christmas tree.

20. The entertainment device according to claim 18 wherein said housing is configured to be positioned at a base of the Christmas tree.