Intelligent decorative displays with ambient electromagnetic field switching

• US 8,841,844 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2013
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seasonal Specialties LLC (Seasonal Specialties)
• Original Assignee: Seasonal Specialties LLC (Seasonal Specialties)
• Inventors: Neuman, Robert C., Lasky, Michael B.
• Primary Examiner(s): A, Minh D
• Application Number:
  US13/924,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20130285557A1
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 315/185.S, 315/185.R, 315 34- 36, 315/129, 315/130, 315/131, 315/132, 315/133, 362/605, 362/565, 362/653, 362/654, 362/249.16, 362/249.19, 362/806
• US Class Current: 315/34
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 33/06 Artificial Christmas trees
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/10 with light sources attached to loose electric cables, e.g. Christmas tree lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/02 the power supply being a battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/08 Devices for easy attachment to any desired place, e.g. clip, clamp, magnet
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0471 the sensor detecting the proximity, the presence or the movement of an object or a person
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for decorative purposes, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/04 for Christmas trees
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 65/042 by an external electromagnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/165 following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/17 Operational modes, e.g. switching from manual to automatic mode or prohibiting specific operations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A system and method of controlling self powered decorative devices using EMF emanating from, for example, a light string on a Christmas tree. The decorative devices sense the presence of EFM from the light string and actuate in response thereto and turn off when the field disappears, thereby saving energy. In an alternate embodiment, the EMF source is capable of modulation and the slave decorations are coded and tuned to specific EMF characteristics, such as frequency. The master EMF source transmits the EMF of different characteristic thereby causing the coded slave decorations to operate in a synchronized matter. The system may also be responsive to music or other inputs to create special decorative effects.

Claims

1. A system for remotely controlling the actuation of self powered decoration which is proximate a separately powered master source of EMF energy, such as a light string, comprising

a. a decorative element having an integral power supply separate from said master source,

b. an EMF receiver powered by said power supply,

c. an antenna capable of receiving EMF energy;

d. a detector responsive to EMF energy; and

e. a switch operated by said detector which actuates the element when EMF energy detected by said receiver is present and deactivates said element when not present.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said detector includes a rectifier circuit coupled to a bandpass filter.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said detector includes a tuned R-C network.

4. An illumination system for an ornament having a switchable source of EMF energy running therethrough powered by a first power supply, and emitting EMF energy, comprising

a. at least one illuminated decorative elements having an integral and a second power supply independent of said first power supply,

b. an EMF receiver powered by said power supply and integral to said element,

c. an antenna for receiving EMF energy;

d. a tuned detector turned to be responsive to the EMF energy emitted by said ornament, and

e. a switch operated by said detector which operates the actuation of the ornament in response to EMF wirelessly transmitted from said switchable source.

5. A intelligent control system for remotely controlling the switching of at plurality of slave decorations by a master source generator of EMF energy, comprising

a. a plurality of decorative self powered slave elements,

b. an EMF receiver associated with each element and receiving power therefrom,

c. an antenna capable of receiving EMF energy;

d. a tuned detector responsive to EMF energy of a predetermined characteristic; and

e. a switch operated by said detector which operates the element in a predetermined pattern when EMF energy of said desired characteristic is detected by said receiver and operates the element in a second predetermined pattern when not present and wherein said plurality of slave elements each includes a selection of switchable EMF frequency responsive filters allow a user to select which EMF frequency and wherein the source generator of EMF energy generator includes a plurality of EMF transmission frequencies matched to the selection of slave frequencies.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein one of said predetermined patterns is a sleep mode, wherein said receiver is flash actuated periodically and then returns to an off mode.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein said plurality of slave decorations each include a selection of switchable EMF frequency responsive filters allowing the user to select which EMF frequency the element will be responsive response to and wherein the source generator includes a plurality of EMF transmission frequencies matched to the selection of slave frequencies.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein said plurality of slave decorations each include a selection of switchable EMF frequency responsive filters allowing the user to select which EMF modulations the element will be responsive to and wherein the source generator includes a plurality of EMF transmission modulations matched to the selection of slave modulations.

9. A system of improved EMF responsive decorative lighting having a source of EMF and a plurality of wireless illuminated slave decorative elements having self contained power supplies independent of said source EMF, comprising:

a. the EMF source including the capability of generating a plurality of coded EMF signals

b. the slave elements including a coded receiver capable of selectively receiving a plurality of EMF signals from the source.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said slave elements including switchable tuning capable of receiving at least some of said coded EMF signals.

11. An intelligent control system for remotely controlling the switching of at plurality of slave decorations by a master source generator of EMF energy, comprising:

a. a plurality of decorative powered elements,

b. an EMF receiver associated with each element and receiving power therefrom independent of said master source generator,

c. an antenna capable of receiving EMF energy;

d. a tuned detector responsive to EMF energy of a predetermined characteristic; and

e. a switch operated by said detector which operates the element in a predetermined pattern when EMF energy of said desired characteristic is detected by said receiver and operates the element in a second predetermined way when not present.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said plurality of slave decorations each include a selection of switchable EMF frequency responsive filters allowing user to select which EMF frequency the decorative self-powered element will respond to and wherein a source generator includes a plurality of EMF transmission frequencies matched to selection of slave frequencies.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein at least one of the slaves functions as a re-transmitter to other slaves.