Apparatus and method for controlling LED light strings
First Claim
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1. A lighting system comprising:
- a voltage conversion module for converting a high voltage AC electric power source to a low voltage AC electric power source;
a controller electrically coupled to said low voltage AC power source at a first connection and electrically coupled to a plurality of light strings at a second connection, said second connection being polarized, said plurality of light strings having a polarized connector at one end for connection to said second connection of said controller, said light strings having a plurality of bulbs containing a first color LED and a second color LED, said LEDs within said bulbs electrically coupled so that a first voltage phase applied to said light string provides a turn-on bias to said first color LEDs within said bulbs and a second voltage phase applied to said light string provides a turn-on bias to said second color LEDs within said bulbs, said controller having a rectifier for accepting said input low voltage AC electrical power source and providing an output DC electrical power, said controller having a switch with a plurality of switch positions including;
a first switch position for providing said output DC electrical power at said second connection to said light string in said first voltage phase according to a first rectification provided by said rectifier within said controller;
a second switch position for providing said output DC electrical power at said second connection to said light string in said second voltage phase according to a second rectification provided by said rectifier within said controller, anda third switch position for providing said electrical power source input to said connector directly as said output DC electrical power at said second connection and to said light string.
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Abstract
An enhanced control mechanism for an LED light string system is provided for switching between one of two DC output phases or polarities so as to actuate one or the other of two LEDs within the bulbs on the light string. The control mechanism is further configured to allow switching so as to pass through the input power provided by a high-to-low voltage converter that is plugged into its electrical power feeding end. The control mechanism may then provide rectified AC voltage, or DC voltage, of various switched values to the LED string according to the particular needs of the LED bulbs.
76 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A lighting system comprising:
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a voltage conversion module for converting a high voltage AC electric power source to a low voltage AC electric power source; a controller electrically coupled to said low voltage AC power source at a first connection and electrically coupled to a plurality of light strings at a second connection, said second connection being polarized, said plurality of light strings having a polarized connector at one end for connection to said second connection of said controller, said light strings having a plurality of bulbs containing a first color LED and a second color LED, said LEDs within said bulbs electrically coupled so that a first voltage phase applied to said light string provides a turn-on bias to said first color LEDs within said bulbs and a second voltage phase applied to said light string provides a turn-on bias to said second color LEDs within said bulbs, said controller having a rectifier for accepting said input low voltage AC electrical power source and providing an output DC electrical power, said controller having a switch with a plurality of switch positions including; a first switch position for providing said output DC electrical power at said second connection to said light string in said first voltage phase according to a first rectification provided by said rectifier within said controller; a second switch position for providing said output DC electrical power at said second connection to said light string in said second voltage phase according to a second rectification provided by said rectifier within said controller, and a third switch position for providing said electrical power source input to said connector directly as said output DC electrical power at said second connection and to said light string. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of providing switched control to a lighting system comprising:
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coupling a first connection of a voltage conversion module to a high voltage AC electric power source, said voltage conversion module converting said high voltage AC electric power to a low voltage AC electric power source and providing said low voltage AC electric power to a second connection of said voltage conversion module; coupling said second connection of said voltage conversion module to a first connection of a controller, said controller rectifying said low voltage AC electric power to a low voltage DC power source, said controller providing a switching function among a first voltage phase, a second voltage phase and a pass-through; and coupling said second connection of said controller to an LED light string so as to provide said low voltage DC power source to said LED light string. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A lighting system comprising:
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a voltage conversion module for converting a high voltage AC electric power source to a low voltage AC electric power source; a controller electrically coupled to said low voltage AC power source at a first connection and electrically coupled to a plurality of light strings at a second connection, said second connection being polarized, said plurality of light strings having a polarized connector at one end for connection to said second connection of said controller, said light strings having a plurality of bulbs containing a first color LED and a second color LED, said LEDs within said bulbs electrically coupled so that a first voltage phase applied to said light string provides a turn-on bias to said first color LEDs within said bulbs and a second voltage phase applied to said light string provides a turn-on bias to said second color LEDs within said bulbs, said controller having a rectifier for accepting said input low voltage AC electrical power source and providing an output DC electrical power, said controller having a switch with a plurality of switch positions including; a first switch position for providing said output DC electrical power at said second connection to said light string in said first voltage phase according to a first rectification provided by said rectifier within said controller; and a second switch position for providing said output DC electrical power at said second connection to said light string in said second voltage phase according to a second rectification provided by said rectifier within said controller. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification