Electronic candle having tilt sensor and blow sensors

• US 9,689,538 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2016
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L&L Candle Company, LLC
• Original Assignee: Shenzhen Liown Electronics Company Limited
• Inventors: Cowley, Tim, Vail, Shane, Hau, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Negron, Ismael
• Application Number:
  US15/355,408
• Publication Number:
  US 20170067606A1
• Time in Patent Office: 221 Days
• 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

An electronic candle includes a housing, an LED light source, a battery, and one or more sensors to detect a blow of air or a tilt of the electronic candle. The electronic candle further includes a microprocessor that is coupled to the LED light source, to the blow sensor and to the tilt sensor. The microprocessor is programmed to control illumination produced by the LED light source, to receive signals indicative of the detection of a blow, and to detect a tilt of the electronic candle.

Claims

1. An electronic candle, comprising:

a housing;

an LED light source positioned at least partially within the housing;

a battery for energizing the LED light source;

a microprocessor coupled to the LED light source and programmed to control illumination produced by the LED light source;

a sensor positioned inside the housing to detect a blow of air directed at the electronic candle, the sensor coupled to the microprocessor and including a two-stage electronic circuit that includes one or more transistors and one or more resistors configured to generate a signal in response to detection of the blow and to provide the signal to the microprocessor; and

an additional sensor coupled to the microprocessor and configured to detect a tilt of the electronic candle.

2. The electronic candle of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a pyroelectric or a piezoelectric transducer coupled to the two-stage electronic circuit.

3. The electronic candle of claim 1, wherein the sensor is capable of converting one or both of a temperature change or a pressure wave into an electrical signal.

4. The electronic candle of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is programmed to cause the LED light source to produce illumination in a blinking pattern or a steady pattern.

5. The electronic candle of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is programmed to turn off the LED light source upon detection of the signal indicative of the blow.

6. The electronic candle of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is programmed to vary an electrical signal provided to the LED light source to cause flickering of the LED light source.

7. The electronic candle of claim 1, wherein the LED light source is coupled to the microprocessor through a semiconductor switch, and the microprocessor is configured to extinguish the LED light source upon detection of the signal indicative of the blow by turning off the semiconductor switch.

8. The electronic candle of claim 1, further comprising an translucent flame-shaped component projecting outward from the top portion of the housing that is configured to diffuse light that emanates therethrough.

9. The electronic candle of claim 1, further comprising an additional LED light source, wherein the microprocessor is programmed to cause the additional LED light source to blink upon detection of a signal from the additional sensor indicative of the tilt of the electronic candle.

10. The electronic candle of claim 1, wherein the additional sensor is a motion sensor.

11. The electronic candle of claim 1, wherein the battery is a lithium ion battery.

12. The electronic candle of claim 1, further comprising a base that includes a bore, wherein the bore is adapted to mate with a post of a charging device.

13. The electronic candle of claim 1, wherein the housing is cylindrical in shape.

14. The electronic candle of claim 1, wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery and the electronic candle further includes an electric coil that is electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery and is configured to supply charge to the rechargeable battery.

15. The electronic candle of claim 14, wherein the electric coil is configured to supply the charge to the rechargeable battery due to induction coupling with a magnetic element of a charging base.

16. The electronic candle of claim 1, further including a switch positioned at a bottom section of the electronic candle, the switch configured to (a) turn the electronic candle on or off, or (b) to select a particular mode of operation of the electronic candle.

17. The electronic candle of claim 16, wherein the particular mode is one of a blinking mode or a steady illumination mode.

18. The electronic candle of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is programmed to activate a buzzer upon detection of a signal from the additional sensor indicative of the tilt of the electronic candle.

19. The electronic candle of claim 18, wherein the microprocessor is programmed to activate the buzzer upon detection of the signal indicative of the tilt of the electronic candle for a predetermined period of time.