Electronic lighting device and method for manufacturing same

• US 9,371,973 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2015
• Issued: 06/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L&L Candle Company, LLC
• Original Assignee: Shenzhen Liown Electronics Company Limited
• Inventors: Li, Xiaofeng
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, LAURA K
• Application Number:
  US14/927,213
• Publication Number:
  US 20160109083A1
• Time in Patent Office: 236 Days
• Field of Search: 362161-163, 362392-393, 362/447, 362/810, 362/277
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/00 Light sources using semiconductor devices as light-generating elements, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED] or lasers
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/04 simulating flames
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/043 by selectively switching fixed light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/046 by movement of parts, e.g. by movement of reflectors or light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 6/001 being candle-shaped with varying lighting effect of simulating flames F21S10/04; string of light sources F21S4/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/02 the power supply being a battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/001 the elements being electrical wires or cables
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/009 the casing being inside the housing of the lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0407 for flashing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0028 Decorative household equipment, e.g. plant holders or food dummies
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/30 Elements containing photoluminescent material distinct from or spaced from the light source shades F21V1/17; globes, bowls or cover glasses F21V3/08, F21V3/12; refractors F21V5/10; reflectors F21V7/26, F21V7/30; elements with provision for controlling the spectral properties or intensity F21V9/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/40 with provision for controlling spectral properties, e.g. colour, or intensity
• 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: F21Y 2101/00 Point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/064 Circuit arrangements for actuating electromagnets circuit arrangements for obtaining special operating characteristics H01F7/18; driving circuits for electromagnets making use of a switching regulator H01H47/325
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/38 using boost topology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 : by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 : Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/81 : Imitation candle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 : Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4902 : Electromagnet, transformer or inductor

Abstract

An electronic lighting device and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The electronic lighting device may comprise a core, which may comprises an enclosure, a light-emitting element, a flame sheet and a swing mechanism. The flame sheet is movably supported or suspended on the enclosure, and may comprise an upper sheet which is of a flame-like shape. The upper sheet is configured to expose above the top of the enclosure. The light-emitting element may be installed on the enclosure. A light outgoing direction of the light-emitting element may be intersected with the surface of the upper sheet so that the light of the light-emitting element is projected on the surface of the upper sheet. The swing mechanism is disposed beneath the flame sheet and can apply a force on the flame sheet to actuate the flame sheet to sway or swing. By the present application, a visual experience of true fire can be achieved and an interestedness and appreciation can be improved.

Claims

1. An electronic lighting device for simulating a true candle, comprising:

an outer shell having a shape to resemble a true candle, the outer shell structured to form an opening at a top surface;

a core contained within the outer shell, the core shaped to form an opening at a top surface leading to an internal cavity, wherein the opening of the core is aligned with the opening of the outer shell;

a flame component structured to include a top portion, middle portion, and bottom portion, wherein the top portion is shaped to resemble a true flame, wherein a surface of the top portion includes a plurality of regions, wherein each of at least two of the plurality of regions is covered with a corresponding light converting material converts light incident thereupon into a different color light;

two or more light emitting elements contained entirely within the outer shell and disposed at least partially in a lighting element installation cradle on the core to emit light from within the outer shell onto the flame component through the opening of the core at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the light emitting elements and a longitudinal axis of the electronic lighting device; and

a control circuit to control the two or more lighting elements to blink at a predetermined rate, to drive the light emitting elements to produce light that is directed to the plurality of regions of the top portion of the flame component, and to produce at least two different colored regions on the top portion of the flame component upon interaction with the light converting material.

2. The electronic lighting device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to control the two or more lighting elements to blink at different rates.

3. The electronic lighting device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to control the two or more lighting elements to blink out of phase with each other.

4. The electronic lighting device of claim 1, wherein each of the two or more light emitting elements are configured to emit same colored light.

5. The electronic lighting device of claim 1, wherein the two or more light emitting elements are configured to emit different color lights.

6. The electronic lighting device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to change a color of light emitted by at least one of the two or more light emitting elements.

7. The electronic lighting device of claim 1, comprising:

a light converting material disposed on a surface of at least one of the two or more light emitting lights.

8. The electronic lighting device of claim 7, wherein the light converting material includes phosphor particles.

9. The electronic lighting device of claim 1, wherein the light converting material disposed on the surface the flame component includes phosphor particles.

10. The electronic lighting device of claim 1, wherein the light converting material disposed on the surface of the flame component includes different types of light converting materials on different regions of the top portion of the surface of the flame component.

11. The electronic lighting device of claim 1, wherein the light converting material disposed on the surface of the flame component includes different concentrations of the light converting material on different regions of the top portion of the surface of the flame component.

26. The electronic lighting device of claim 1, wherein one of at least two of the plurality of regions includes an outer region in the periphery of the top portion of the flame component.

12. An electronic lighting device for simulating a true candle, comprising:

an outer shell having a shape to resemble a true candle, the outer shell structured to form an opening at a top surface;

a core contained within the outer shell, the core shaped to form an opening at a top surface leading to an internal cavity, wherein the opening of the core is aligned with the opening of the outer shell;

a flame component structured to include a top portion, middle portion, and bottom portion, wherein the top portion is shaped to resemble a true flame, the middle portion includes a hole, and the bottom portion includes a magnet;

a support element extending from a surface of the core to suspend the flame component via the hole in the middle portion such that the bottom portion of the flame component is contained within the internal cavity of the core and the top portion of the flame component projects out of the opening, wherein suspension of the flame component by the support element allows movement of the flame component about the support element;

multiple light emitting elements contained entirely within the outer shell and disposed at least partially in a cradle on the core to emit light from within the outer shell onto the flame component through the opening of the core at an angle;

a coil to produce a magnetic field to interact with the magnet to cause movement of the flame component; and

a control circuit electrically coupled to the coil and the multiple light emitting elements to choreograph control of the coil and the multiple light emitting elements together that includes adjustment of a property of the light emitting elements in synchronization with a movement of the flame component as caused by an electromagnetic signal produced by the coil.

13. The electronic lighting device of claim 12, wherein control circuit is configured to choreograph control of the coil and the multiple light emitting elements together including adjusting at least one of brightness, color, or blinking of the multiple light emitting elements to correspond to a movement of the flame component caused by controlling the coil.

14. The electronic lighting device of claim 12, wherein the control circuit is configured to control the two or more lighting elements to blink at different rates.

15. The electronic lighting device of claim 12, wherein the control circuit is configured to control the two or more lighting elements to blink out of phase with each other.

16. The electronic lighting device of claim 12, wherein each of the two or more light emitting elements are configured to emit same colored light.

17. The electronic lighting device of claim 12, wherein the two or more light emitting elements are configured to emit different color lights.

18. The electronic lighting device of claim 12, wherein the control circuitry is configured to change a color of light emitted by at least one of the two or more light emitting elements.

19. The electronic lighting device of claim 12, comprising:

a light converting material disposed on a surface of at least one of the two or more light emitting lights.

20. The electronic lighting device of claim 19, wherein the light converting material includes phosphor particles.

21. The electronic lighting device of claim 12, comprising:

a light converting material disposed on a surface the flame component.

22. The electronic lighting device of claim 21, wherein the light converting material disposed on the surface the flame component includes phosphor particles.

23. The electronic lighting device of claim 12, wherein the light converting material is disposed on a portion of the surface the flame component.

24. The electronic lighting device of claim 12, wherein the light converting material disposed on the surface of the flame component includes different types of light converting materials on different portions of the surface of the flame component.

25. The electronic lighting device of claim 12, wherein the light converting material disposed on the surface of the flame component includes different concentrations of the light converting material on different portions of the surface of the flame component.

27. The electronic lighting device of claim 12, wherein adjustment of the property of the light emitting elements in synchronization with the movement of the flame component includes adjusting the brightness of at least one of the light emitting elements in response to the movement of the flame component that changes a distance and an angle of the flame component with respect to the at least one of the light emitting elements.

28. The electronic lighting device of claim 12, wherein adjustment of the property of the light emitting elements in synchronization with the movement of the flame component includes adjusting the movement of the flame component that changes a distance and an angle of the flame component with respect to the at least one of the light emitting elements in response to a particular brightness level of at least one of the light emitting elements.

29. The electronic lighting device of claim 12, wherein adjustment of the property of the light emitting elements in synchronization with the movement of the flame component includes adjustment of the property of a first light emitting element incident on a first section of the flame component a different amount than adjustment of the property of a second light emitting element incident on a second section of the flame component.

30. The electronic lighting device of claim 29, wherein the first section of the flame component has a spatial relationship with the first light emitting element that is different from a spatial relationship of the second section of the flame component with the second light emitting element.