System for controlling LED light strings

• US 9,510,406 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2014
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Christmas Products LLC
• Original Assignee: NCP Corporation
• Inventors: McRae, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Owens, Douglas W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kaiser, Syed M
• Application Number:
  US14/565,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20150091454A1
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 315/186, 315/193, 315/291, 315/362
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

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. An LED light control system comprising:

a first electrical connection,

a second electrical connection,

a multi-function generator having an output, and

a primary switching circuit having a plurality of switch states comprising;

a first switch state providing a pass-through from said first electrical connection to said second electrical connection,

a second switch state providing said output of said multi-function generator to said second electrical connection; and

a second switching circuit configured to electrically connect to said LED light control system, said second switching circuit having a second plurality of switch states comprising;

a first switch state providing a pass-through of an input signal,

a second switch state providing a reverse pass-through of said input signal.

3. The LED 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.

4. The LED light control system of claim 1 further comprising:

an LED light string, 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.

2. An LED light control system comprising:

a first electrical connection,

a second electrical connection,

a multi-function generator having an output, and

a primary switching circuit having a plurality of switch states comprising;

a first switch state providing a pass-through from said first electrical connection to said second electrical connection,

a second switch state providing said output of said multi-function generator to said second electrical connection;

a third switch state providing a reverse pass-through from said first electrical connection to said second electrical connection.

5. An LED light control system further comprising:

a first electrical connection,

a second electrical connection,

a multi-function generator having an output, and

a primary switching circuit having a plurality of switch states comprising;

a first switch state providing a pass-through from said first electrical connection to said second electrical connection,

a second switch state providing said output of said multi-function generator to said second electrical connection;

a third electrical connection,

an LED light string, 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;

a rectifier, and

a second switching circuit electrically connected to said rectifier, said second switching circuit having a second plurality of switch states comprising;

a first switch state providing a forward voltage bias from said rectifier to said third electrical connection, and

a second switch state providing a reverse voltage bias from said rectifier to said third electrical connection.

6. The LED light control system of claim of claim 5 wherein said second plurality of switch states further comprise:

a third switch state providing a pass-through to said third electrical connection, bypassing said rectifier.

7. An LED light control system further comprising:

a first electrical connection,

a second electrical connection,

a multi-function generator having an output, and

a primary switching circuit having a plurality of switch states comprising;

a first switch state providing a pass-through from said first electrical connection to said second electrical connection,

a second switch state providing said output of said multi-function generator to said second electrical connection;

an LED light string, 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;

a rectifier,

a second multi-function generator electrically connected to said rectifier, and

a second switching circuit electrically connected to said rectifier and electrically connected to said second multi-function generator, said second switching circuit having a second plurality of switch states comprising;

a first switch state providing an output from said multi-function generator,

a second switch state providing a pass-through of an input signal, bypassing said rectifier and said multi-function generator.

8. An LED light control system comprising:

a first electrical connection,

a second electrical connection,

a rectifier electrically connected to said first electrical connection,

a multifunction generator electrically connected to said rectifier,

a primary switching circuit having a plurality of switch states comprising;

a first switch state providing an output of said multifunction generator to said second electrical connection

a second switch state providing an operating output to said second electrical connection other than from said multifunction generator;

a second switching circuit having a plurality of switch states comprising;

a first switch state providing a pass-through of an input signal,

a second switch state providing a reverse pass-through of said input signal.

9. The LED light control system of claim 8 wherein said second switch state provides an output from said rectifier.

10. The LED light control system of claim 8 wherein said second switch state provides a pass-through from said first electrical connection to said second electrical connection, bypassing said rectifier.

11. The LED light control system of claim 10 wherein said multi-function generator is configured to generate a DC output.

12. The LED light control system of claim 8 further comprising an LED light string, 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.

13. The LED light control system of claim 8 further comprising:

an LED light string, 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.

14. The LED light control system of claim 8 further comprising:

a second rectifier,

a second switching circuit having a second plurality of switch states comprising;

a first switch state providing a forward voltage bias from said additional rectifier,

a second switch state providing a reverse voltage bias from said additional rectifier.

15. The LED light control system of claim 14 wherein said second plurality of switch states further comprise:

a third switch state providing a pass-through, bypassing said additional rectifier.

16. The LED light control system of claim 8 further comprising:

a second rectifier,

a second multi-function generator,

a second switching circuit having a second plurality of switch states comprising;

a first switch state providing an output of said multi-function generator,

a second switch state providing a pass-through, bypassing said rectifier and said multi-function generator.

17. An LED light control system comprising:

a first electrical connection,

a second electrical connection,

a multifunction generator connected to said second electrical connection, and said multi-function generator is configured to generate at least a forward voltage bias in a first operation mode and a reverse voltage bias in a second operation mode,

a rectifier electrically connected between said first electrical connection and said multi-function generator,

a second rectifier electrically connected to said second electrical connection through said LED light string,

a second multi-function generator electrically connected to said second rectifier, and

a second LED light string electrically connected to said second multi-function generator.

18. The LED light control system of claim 17 further comprising an LED light string, 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.

19. The LED light control system of claim 17 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;

a switching circuit which receives an input signal provided by said multi-function generator through said LED light string, said switching circuit having a plurality of switch states comprising;

a first switch state providing a pass-through of said input signal, bypassing said multi-function generator,

a second switch state providing a reverse pass-through of said input signal, bypassing said multi-function generator.

20. The LED light control system of claim 17 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.