Lighting

• US 9,655,211 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2014
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seasonal Specialties LLC (Seasonal Specialties)
• Original Assignee: Seasonal Specialties LLC (Seasonal Specialties)
• Inventors: Altamura, Steven J., Anderson, Derek Dean, Werner, Christine, Guse, Matthew, Miller, Carmen
• Primary Examiner(s): Owens, Douglas W
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHO, JAMES HYONCHOL
• Application Number:
  US14/516,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20150102731A1
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2033/0827 illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 33/08 Christmas tree decorations
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 33/0836 comprising means for attaching to a lamp or candle holder, e.g. reflectors, lamp shades
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/10 with light sources attached to loose electric cables, e.g. Christmas tree lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/003 the elements being electronics drivers or controllers for operating the light source, e.g. for a LED array
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/045 the sensor receiving a signal from a remote controller
• 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: F21V 23/0478 by means of an image recording device, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• 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: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/40 Details of LED load circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/1965 using handheld communication devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 : Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

Enhancements to ornamental or holiday lighting are disclosed including remote control ornamental illumination with color pallet control whereby a user can vary the color/intensity/appearance of an individual bulb or entire light string by selecting the electronic address of the bulb and selecting its attribute. Further disclosures include: motion responsive lights which respond to sensed movement, gesture controlled lights, adjustable white color/white led sets, connectable multi-function lights, controller to sequence lights to music or other input source, rotating projection led light/tree top/table top unit, and remote controlled sequencing icicle lights and ornament lighting system.

Claims

1. A system for configuring the display of lights in a lights string comprising:

a. a plurality of lamps wired into a slave string of lights;

b. said slave string having at least one address and a processor controller for responding to commands sent to that address;

c. a controller connected to said slave string to provide power and address signals to said slave string;

d. a device connected to said controller for transmitting the commands to said controller;

e. said device including a display screen and running software including;

i. a display including a visual indication said slave string and the count of the lamps connected;

ii. a touch responsive interface for accessing each of said displayed slave string;

iii. in response to access of a displayed slave string, displaying a color pallet for assigning a color to said slave string;

iv. a transmitter for transmitting said assigned color from said device to said controller and to said slave string by address;

v. in response to access of a displayed slave string, displaying a selection of non-color light display characteristics assignable to said slave string;

vi. a transmitter for transmitting said selected display characteristics from said device to said controller and to said slave string by address,

so that when said slave string are illuminated, said slave string will display whatever color and non color characteristics have been transmitted to them from said device; and

wherein said system further includes motion sensing controls on said device for hands free control of said slave string.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said motion sensing controls include motions drawing from the group of:

a. pinching fingers to dim lights;

b. spreading fingers to brighten lights;

c. tapping to turn on or off;

d. flicking finger left to right or vice versa to change function;

e. moving hand towards sensor to turn on or off; and

f. moving hand left to right or right to left over sensor.

3. The system of claim 2 further including an input in said controller for audio files, and wherein said color and/or non-color characteristics of said lamps are modulated in response to said audio file.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein said slave string includes individual addressable bulbs and wherein color and non-color characteristics of each bulb may be selected, displayed and transmitted to the bulbs.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the non-color characteristics are selected from the group of flashing, fading, and jumping.

6. The system according to claim 2 wherein said assigned color is saved to a color matrix display screen capable of saving multiple colors and wherein a color matrix screen includes a non-color transitional characteristic selector which allows a user selectable input to select a non color characteristic to transition from each indicated on the color matrix display;

so that when the colors and non-color characteristics are selected and transmitted to the address slave strings, they will display a sequence of previously saved colors and non-color transition characteristics between colors.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said device is configured to save a plurality of color matrices and non color transitional characteristics wherein a user can and select from said saved color matrices to be transmitted to said controller.

8. The system of claim 1 including a plurality preprogrammed color and non color characteristics are stored on the device for user selection.

9. A system for configuring the display of lights in a lights string comprising:

a. a plurality of lamps wired into a slave string of lights;

b. each of said slave string having at least one address and a processor controller for responding to commands sent to that address;

c. a controller connected to said slave string to provide power and address signals to the slave string;

d. a device wirelessly connected to said controller for transmitting commands to said controller;

e. said device including a display screen and running software including;

i. a display including a visual indication said slave string and the count of the lamps connected;

ii. a touch responsive interface for accessing each of said displayed slave string;

iii. in response to access of a displayed slave strings, displaying a color pallet for assigning a color to said slave string;

iv. a transmitter for transmitting said assigned color from said device to said controller and to said slave string by address;

v. in response to access of a displayed slave string, displaying a selection of non-color light display characteristics assignable to said slave string;

vi. a transmitter for transmitting said selected display characteristics from said device to said controller and to said slave string by address,

vii. wherein the display includes a virtual presentation of lamps corresponding to lamps on said slave strings and wherein said selected color and non-color characteristics are virtually displayed on said display screen before transmission to said controller;

so that when said slave string of lights are illuminated, they will display whatever color and non-color characteristics have been transmitted to them from said device.

10. The system of claim 9 further including a plurality of light strings;

a receiver in said display screen for receiving polling information from said controller to determine which slave strings have reachable addresses.

11. A system for configuring the display of lights in a lights string comprising:

a. a plurality of lamps wired into a slave string of lights;

b. said slave string having at least one address and a processor controller for responding to commands sent to that address;

c. a controller connected to said slave string to provide power and address signals to the slave string;

d. a device connected to said controller for transmitting commands to said controller;

e. said device including a display screen and running software including;

i. a display including a visual indication said slave string and the count of the lamps connected;

ii. a touch responsive interface for accessing each of said displayed slave string;

iii. in response to access of a displayed slave strings, displaying a color pallet for assigning a color to said slave string;

iv. a transmitter for transmitting said assigned color from said device to said controller and to said slave string by address;

v. in response to access of a displayed slave string, displaying a selection of non-color light display characteristics assignable to said slave string;

vi. a transmitter for transmitting said selected display characteristics from said device to said controller and to said slave string by address,

vii. further including a function to replicating the color and non-color characteristics of one slave string to another slave string.