Apparatus and method for controlling LED light strings

• US 9,374,857 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2014
• Issued: 06/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Christmas Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Michael Mcrae
• Inventors: McRae, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Owens, Douglas W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kaiser, Syed M
• Application Number:
  US14/558,211
• Publication Number:
  US 20150108910A1
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 315/307, 315/186, 315/291, 315/362, 315/193
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/31 Phase-control circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/37 Converter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/46 having LEDs disposed in parallel lines
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/48 having LEDs organised in strings and incorporating parallel shunting devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

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.

Claims

1. A light control system comprising:

a first electrical connection,

a second electrical connection,

a rectifier circuit electrically having an input side coupled directly to said first electrical connection,

a primary switching circuit electrically coupled between said rectifier circuit and said second electrical connection, said primary switching circuit having a plurality of switch states comprising;

a first switch state providing an output from said rectifier circuit in a forward voltage bias,

a second switch state providing an output from said rectifier circuit in a reverse voltage bias, and

a third switch state providing a pass-through from said first electrical connection to said second electrical connection thereby bypassing said rectifier circuit.

2. The light control system of claim 1 further comprising:

an LED light string configured to electrically connect to said second electrical connection, said LED light string comprising a plurality of LED pairs, each pair having a first color LED and a second color LED connected to each other in parallel, anode to cathode.

3. The light control system of claim 2 further comprising an additional LED light string configured to receive the output from said primary switching circuit.

4. The light control system of claim 2 further comprising:

an additional LED light string, and

an additional switching circuit configured to be electrically connected to the light control system, said additional switching circuit having a plurality of switch states comprising;

a first switch state providing a pass-through of an input signal to said additional LED light string, and

a second switch state.

5. The light control system of claim 4 wherein said second switch state of said additional switching circuit provides a reverse of said input signal to said additional LED light string.

6. The light control system of claim 4 wherein said second switch state of said additional switching circuit provides no voltage output to said additional LED light string.

7. The light control system of claim 1 wherein said switch states further comprise at least one additional switch state which provides at least one of the variable effects selected from the group comprising:

flashing,

fading,

sequential following, and

strobing.

8. The light control system of claim 1 wherein said switch states further comprise a fourth switch state which provides no voltage output to said second electrical connection.

9. The light control system of claim 1 wherein said switch circuit is an electronically controlled switch circuit.

18. The light control system of claim 1 wherein said first electrical connection forms part of a male two prong plug that mechanically and electrically engages an electrical outlet or receptacle of an AC power source.

10. A light control system comprising:

a first electrical connection,

a second electrical connection,

a first LED light string configured to be connected to said second electrical connection,

a first switching circuit electrically coupled between said first electrical connection and said second electrical connection, said switching circuit having a plurality of switch states comprising;

a first switch state providing an output as a forward voltage bias to said second electrical connection,

a second switch state providing an output as a reverse voltage bias to said second electrical connection, and

a third switch state simultaneously providing said forward voltage bias and said reverse voltage bias to said second electrical connection.

11. The light control system of claim 10 further comprising:

a second LED light string,

a second switching circuit configured to be electrically coupled to the light control system, said second switching circuit having a plurality of switch states comprising;

a first switch state providing a pass-through of an input signal to said second LED light string,

a second switch state.

12. The light control system of claim 11 wherein said second switch state provides a reverse of said input signal to said second LED light string.

13. The light control system of claim 11 wherein said second switch state provides no signal to said second LED light string.

14. The light control system of claim 10 further comprising a second LED light string configured to connect to said first LED light string and receive said output provided by said first switching circuit.

15. The light control system of claim 10 wherein said switch states further comprise at least one additional switch state which provides at least one of the variable effects selected from the group comprising:

flashing,

fading,

sequential following, and

strobing.

16. The light control system of claim 10 wherein said switch states further comprise a fourth switch state which provides no output voltage to said second electrical connection.

17. The light control system of claim 10 wherein said switch circuit is an electronically controlled switch circuit.