Induction rechargeable electronic candle system with motion sensor

• US 8,454,190 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2012
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L&L Candle Company, LLC
• Original Assignee: Smart Candle LLC
• Inventors: Hau, Daniel, Cowley, Tim, Vail, Shane
• Primary Examiner(s): Negron, Ismael
• Application Number:
  US13/526,067
• Publication Number:
  US 20120287612A1
• Time in Patent Office: 351 Days
• Field of Search: 362/183, 362/249.02, 362/184, 362/810, 320/108
• US Class Current: 362/183
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 2/00 Systems of electric lighting devices systems employing both electric and non-electric light sources or exchangeable light sources F21L27/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/08 characterised by means for in situ recharging of the batteries or cells
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/04 simulating flames
• 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 23/026 Fastening of transformers or ballasts
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/02 characterised by the shape
• 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 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/325 Pulse-width modulation [PWM]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/50 responsive to malfunctions or undesirable behaviour of LEDs; responsive to LED life; Protective circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/81 Imitation candle

Abstract

A large plurality of artificial, battery-operated, electronic candles are arranged to be simultaneously recharged upon placement on a series of interconnected charging trays that include a transformer primary winding at defined locations thereon. The primary windings are driven by an AC signal whose duty cycle is controlled by a pulse width modulator IC to induce a voltage across secondary windings contained within the candle housing. This induced signal is rectified to produce the battery charging current and the delivery of the charging current to the rechargeable batteries is controlled by a microprocessor IC.

Claims

1. An electronic candle system comprising:

a plurality of artificial candles, each candle comprising;

a candle housing having at its base, a generally cylindrical bore structure;

an LED light source;

a rechargeable DC battery for energizing the LED light source; and

a secondary winding at least partially surrounding the bore structure and electrically connected with the rechargeable DC battery;

wherein one or more of the plurality of artificial candles further comprises a motion sensor for sensing when the artificial candle is not in an upright position; and

a charging tray comprising;

a tray housing defining a plurality of sockets, each dimensioned to receive the base of one of the plurality of artificial candles, and each comprising a generally cylindrical post dimensioned to fit within the generally cylindrical bore structure of the artificial candle received by the socket;

a plurality of magnetic cores, such that a magnetic core is provided within each of the generally cylindrical posts; and

a plurality of primary windings, such that a primary winding at least partially surrounds each magnetic core;

wherein when one of the plurality of artificial candles is received within a socket of the charging tray, and the generally cylindrical post of the socket is positioned within the generally cylindrical bore structure of the artificial candle, the primary winding of the socket and the secondary winding of the artificial candle are inductively coupled so as to provide a charging current to the DC battery.

2. The electronic candle system of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor comprises a tubular structure having a conductive ball that is free to move between electrical contacts disposed at opposed ends of the tube.

3. The electronic candle system of claim 1, wherein the one or more artificial candles further comprise an audible alarm configured to sound if the candle remains in a non-upright position for a predetermined amount of time.

4. The electronic candle system of claim 1, wherein the charging tray further comprises an electrical plug member and an electrical socket member, the electrical plug member configured to receive the electrical socket member of an adjacent charging tray so as to electrically couple adjacent charging trays.

5. The electronic candle system of claim 1, wherein each artificial candle further comprises a first transistor designed to cut off a charging current to the DC battery when the battery reaches a predetermined charge.

6. The electronic candle system of claim 5, wherein each artificial candle further comprises a microprocessor configured to vary the on/off state of a second transistor operably connected with the LED light source so as to cause the LED light source to flicker.

7. An artificial candle comprising:

a housing having at its base, a generally cylindrical bore structure;

an LED light source;

a rechargeable DC battery for energizing the LED light source;

a secondary winding at least partially surrounding the bore structure and electrically connected with the rechargeable DC battery; and

a motion sensor for sensing when the artificial candle is not in an upright position;

wherein the generally cylindrical bore structure is dimensioned for receiving a generally cylindrical post structure of a charging tray, the generally cylindrical post structure of the charging tray at least partially housing a magnetic core having a primary winding at least partially surrounding the magnetic core, such that the primary winding and secondary windings are inductively coupled when the generally cylindrical post structure is received by the generally cylindrically bore structure and a charging current is provided to the DC battery.

8. The artificial candle of claim 7, wherein the motion sensor comprises a tubular structure having a conductive ball that is free to move between electrical contacts disposed at opposed ends of the tube.

9. The artificial candle of claim 7, further comprising an audible alarm configured to sound if the candle remains in a non-upright position for a predetermined amount of time.

10. The artificial candle of claim 7, further comprising a first transistor designed to cut off a charging current to the DC battery when the battery reaches a predetermined charge.

11. The artificial candle of claim 7, further comprising a microprocessor configured to vary the on/off state of a second transistor operably connected with the LED light source so as to cause the LED light source to flicker.

12. A method for simultaneously recharging a plurality of artificial votive candles, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of artificial votive candles, each candle comprising;

a candle housing having at its base, a generally cylindrical bore structure;

an LED light source;

a rechargeable DC battery for energizing the LED light source; and

a secondary winding at least partially surrounding the bore structure and electrically connected with the rechargeable DC battery,

wherein one or more of the plurality of artificial candles further comprises a motion sensor for sensing when the artificial candle is not in an upright position;

adjacently and electrically interconnecting two or more artificial candle charging trays, each charging tray comprising;

a tray housing defining a plurality of sockets, each dimensioned to receive the base of one of the plurality of artificial votive candles, and each comprising a generally cylindrical post dimensioned to fit within the generally cylindrical bore structure of the artificial votive candle received by the socket;

a plurality of magnetic cores, such that a magnetic core is provided within each of the generally cylindrical posts;

a plurality of primary windings, such that a primary winding at least partially surrounds each magnetic core; and

an electrical plug member and an electrical socket member, the electrical plug member configured to receive the electrical socket member of an adjacent charging tray so as to electrically couple adjacent charging trays; and

positioning a plurality of artificial votive candles on the plurality of interconnected charging trays for simultaneous charging by positioning each candle in an open socket of the charging trays with the generally cylindrical bore structure of the candle fit over the generally cylindrical post of the socket.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of charging trays interconnect laterally.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein each artificial votive candle further comprises a first transistor designed to individually cut off a charging current to the DC battery when the battery reaches a predetermined charge.