Abstract:
The present invention is directed to an LED light system that comprises a control circuit that operates on a pair of 1.5 volt batteries but which generates an operational voltage in excess of 3.0 volts. The lighting system includes a boost circuit that raises the operational voltage of the system to 5.0 volts, and an output circuit connected to a plurality of LEDs that controls their function.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/980,001 filed on Oct. 15, 2007. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention described herein relates to lighting systems, and more particularly to apparatus for supplying power and controlling various light sources that may be coupled together. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are semiconductor-based light sources often employed in low-power instrumentation and appliance applications as indicators. LEDs are available in a variety of colors (e.g. red, green, blue) based on the types of materials used in their fabrication. LEDs are becoming increasingly popular in decorative applications such as Christmas tree lights and outdoor decorative lighting. In these applications, LEDs are favored devices due to their ability to emit a wide range of dazzling colors and produce light of high intensity. LED lighting systems are commonly configured to run on AC or DC (battery) power. Due to their high efficiency and low power requirements, LED Christmas lights, for example, are commonly configured to operate utilizing a pair of 1.5 volt batteries as a power supply. When the lights have a flashing capability however, up to 4.5 volts is required to power them. Accordingly, Christmas lights of this type require at least three 1.5 volt batteries to operate. 
         [0004]    Housing three batteries requires a larger battery pack which occupies more space than a two-battery assembly thus making the light assembly less compact. It would be advantageous, therefore, to have a decorative LED light system that can provide an operational voltage in excess of 3.0 volts, which requires only a pair of 1.5 volt batteries to operate. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention is directed to an LED light system that comprises a control circuit that operates on a pair of 1.5 volt batteries but which generates an operational voltage in excess of 3.0 volts. 
         [0006]    Aspects of the present invention are generally directed to an LED lighting system. In one aspect of a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lighting control system comprises a boost circuit that includes a first integrated circuit operatively connected to an output circuit, which includes a second integrated circuit, and a plurality of LEDs. The boost circuit is powered by a pair of 1.5 volt batteries which collectively supply an input voltage of 3.0 volts to the boost circuit. In the preferred embodiment, the boost circuit raises the input voltage to 5.0 volts. The higher voltage is provided to an output circuit which includes a second integrated circuit which distributes the power to the plurality of LEDs. The second integrated circuit includes a pair of triodes that independently power two groups of LEDs connected to the second integrated circuit. 
         [0007]    In another aspect of the invention, a second embodiment comprises a boost circuit that includes a first integrated circuit operatively connected to an output circuit which includes a second integrated circuit, and a plurality of LEDs. The boost circuit is powered by a pair of 1.5 volt batteries which collectively supply an input voltage of 3.0 volts to the boost circuit. In the second embodiment the boost circuit raises the input voltage to 5 volts. The higher voltage is provided to the second integrated circuit which distributes the power to a single group of LEDs. 
         [0008]    In another aspect of the invention, a third embodiment of the invention comprises a boost circuit that includes a first integrated circuit operatively connected to a second integrated circuit and a plurality of LEDs. The boost circuit is powered by a pair of 1.5 volt batteries which collectively supply an input voltage of 3.0 volts to the boost circuit. In the third embodiment, the boost circuit raises the input voltage to 5 volts. The higher voltage is provided to the second integrated circuit which distributes the power to a plurality of LEDs. The second integrated circuit includes a pair of triodes that independently power two groups of LEDs connected to the second integrated circuit. The third embodiment further comprises a timer operatively connected to at least one of the first and second integrated circuits to permit automatic initiation of the operation of the lighting system at a predetermined time and termination of the operation after a predetermined interval, thereby conserving battery consumption and permitting the recovery of battery charge during operational cycles. 
         [0009]    In a fourth embodiment, the invention comprises a boost circuit that includes a first integrated circuit operatively connected to a second integrated circuit and a plurality LEDs. The boost circuit is powered by a pair of 1.5 volt batteries which collectively supply an input voltage of 3.0 volts to the boost circuit. In the second embodiment the boost circuit raises the input voltage to 5 volts. The higher voltage is provided to the second integrated circuit which distributes the power to a single group of LEDs. The fourth embodiment further comprises a timer operatively connected to at least one of the first and second integrated circuits to permit automatic initiation of the operation of the lighting system at a predetermined time and termination of the operation after a predetermined interval, thereby conserving battery consumption and permitting the recovery of battery charge during operational cycles. 
         [0010]    The pair of batteries used in the above described embodiments of the invention can be housed in a battery housing that is adapted for the serial connection of a plurality of battery housings to permit the synchronized operation of a plurality of LEDs provided in individually powered lighting strings. The battery housing of the present invention can also be connected to an LED light module to permit the illumination of objects adjacent to the lighting system being powered by the battery housing to which the LED lighting module is connected. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a circuit diagram of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a circuit diagram of a second embodiment in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a high level block diagram depicting a third embodiment of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a high level block diagram depicting a fourth embodiment of the invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a depiction of a battery housing in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a depiction of three battery housings in accordance with the present invention connected in series; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a depiction of a battery housing in accordance with the present invention with an LED lighting module attached; 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    An apparatus in accordance with the present invention may be generally understood from  FIG. 1 . As is depicted therein, a lighting circuit in accordance with the present invention comprises a boost circuit  100  which includes a pair of 1.5 volt batteries connected in series  102  that supply power to the lighting circuit. As shown, the positive pole of batteries  102  is connected to both an input capacitor  123  and an integrated circuit  106 . In this arrangement, the negative pole of the input capacitor is connected to ground. An inductor  103  is connected between the positive pole of batteries  102  and the drain of N-channel MOS tube  104 . MOS tube  104  in turn is connected to ground and pin  5  of integrated circuit  106  respectively. Pin  1  of integrated circuit  106  is connected to resistor  108  as shown, while the poles of resistor  107  are connected to pins  1  and  2  of integrated circuit  106  as shown. The grid of MOS tube  104  is connected to the positive pole of zener diode  105 . The negative pole of zener diode  105  is connected to pin  2  of integrated circuit  106 . The boost circuit  100  also includes an output capacitor  109  with its negative pole connected to ground. 
         [0019]    The lighting circuit further comprises an output circuit  101  that includes an integrated circuit  124  as shown. The positive pole of output capacitor  109  of boost circuit  100  is connected to pins  1  and  2  of integrated circuit  124  as shown. Pins  9  and  10  of integrated circuit  124  are connected to ground in this embodiment. Resistor  110  is connected between pins  2  and  3  of integrated circuit  124  while pin  16  of integrated circuit  124  is connected to the collector of triode  111  as shown. The emitter of triode  111  is connected to pin  1  of integrated circuit  124 , while resistor  112  is connected between the emitter and base of triode  111 . Resistor  113  is connected between the base of triode  111  and ground. Reset button  125  is located at pin  13  of integrated circuit  124 . 
         [0020]    In the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , pins  17  and  18  correspond to the output of integrated circuit  124 . The output of pins  17  and  18  are connected to resistors  116  and  114  respectively and respectively connected to triode  117  and  115 . Capacitor  126  is located between triodes  115  and  117 . In this circuit, the collectors of triodes  117  and  115  are connected to resistors  118  and  119  respectively and also connected to the bases of triodes  120  and  121  respectively. The collector of triode  120  is connected to the collector of triode  115  and the collector of triode  119  is connected to the collector of triode  117 . Between the collectors of triodes  115  and  117  are connected two groups of LED lighting load  122  consisting of a plurality of LEDs. 
         [0021]    In this circuit arrangement, the supplied battery voltage of 3.0 volts is boosted by the boost circuit  100  to 5.0 volts. The boosted voltage is supplied to integrated circuit  124  where it is supplied to two groupings of LED lighting load  122 . The lighting function of the LED lighting load  122  is controlled by integrated circuit  124  to perform a plurality of functions such as controlling LED color, flashing and the like. 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , depicted therein is a circuit in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention. In the second embodiment, a lighting circuit in accordance with the present invention comprises a boost circuit  100  which includes a pair of 1.5 volt batteries connected in series  102  that supply power to the lighting circuit. As shown, the positive pole of batteries  102  is connected to both an input capacitor  123  and an integrated circuit  106 . In this arrangement, the negative pole of the input capacitor  123  is connected to ground. An inductor  103  is connected between the positive pole of batteries  102  and the drain of N-channel MOS tube  104 . MOS tube  104  in turn is connected to ground and pin  5  of integrated circuit  106  respectively. Pin  1  of integrated circuit  106  is connected to resistor  108  as shown, while poles of resistor  107  are connected to pins  1  and  2  of integrated circuit  106  as shown. The grid of MOS tube  104  is connected to the positive pole of zener diode  105 . The negative pole of zener diode  105  is connected to pin  2  of integrated circuit  106 . The boost circuit also includes an output capacitor  109  with its negative pole connected to ground. 
         [0023]    The lighting circuit further comprises an output circuit  201  that includes an integrated circuit  124  as shown. The positive pole of output capacitor  109  of boost circuit  100  is connected to pins  1  and  2  of integrated circuit  124  as shown. Pins  9  and  10  of integrated circuit  124  are connected to ground in this embodiment. In this embodiment, pin  17  of integrated circuit  124  is the output pin which supplies current through resistor  214  and connects to the base of triode  215 . In this embodiment, the emitter of triode  215  is connected to ground and resistor  214  is connected to the negative pole of zener diode  105  (5.0 volts at this point). Between resistor  216  and triode  215 , an LED light set load  217  consisting of a plurality of LEDs is connected. The lighting function of the LEDs is controlled by integrated circuit  124  to permit flashing etc. of the LEDs. 
         [0024]    A third embodiment of the invention comprises a timer integrated into the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is a high-level block diagram that depicts a lighting system in accordance with the third embodiment. As is depicted therein, the third embodiment comprises a boost circuit  100  in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention described above. The boost circuit is operatively connected to an out put circuit  101  in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention described above. In the third embodiment, the lighting system further comprises a timer  301  operatively connected to the output circuit  101 . This arrangement permits automatic initiation of the operation of the lighting system at a predetermined time and termination of the operation after a predetermined interval. The timer can be implemented as an integrated circuit or by other conventional means to permit automatic initiation of the operation of the lighting system at a predetermined time and termination of the operation after a predetermined interval, thereby conserving battery consumption and permitting the recovery of battery charge during operational cycles. 
         [0025]    A fourth embodiment of the invention comprises a timer integrated into the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 4  is a high-level block diagram that depicts a lighting system in accordance with the fourth embodiment. As is depicted therein, the fourth embodiment comprises a boost circuit  100  in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention described above. The boost circuit  100  is operatively connected to an output circuit  201  in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention described above. In the fourth embodiment, the lighting system further comprises a timer  301  operatively connected to the output circuit  201 . This arrangement permits automatic initiation of the operation of the lighting system at a predetermined time and termination of the operation after a predetermined interval. The timer can be implemented as an integrated circuit or by other conventional means to permit automatic initiation of the operation of the lighting system at a predetermined time and termination of the operation after a predetermined interval, thereby conserving battery consumption and permitting the recovery of battery charge during operational cycles. 
         [0026]    The pair of batteries used in the above described embodiments of the invention can be housed in a battery housing that is adapted for the serial connection of a plurality of battery housings to permit the synchronized operation of a plurality of LEDs provided in individually powered lighting strings. The battery housing of the present invention can also be connected to an LED light module to permit the illumination of objects adjacent to the lighting system being powered by the battery housing to which the LED lighting module is connected. A battery housing in accordance with the present invention is depicted in  FIG. 5 . As depicted therein, a battery housing in accordance with the present invention comprises a housing  500  adapted to be weather-resistant and contain a pair of “D” size batteries and having a cover portion  503  and a body portion  502 . The batteries housed within housing  500  are electrically connected via battery contacts within housing  500  to external contacts  501  located in cover portion  503 . 
         [0027]    The external contacts  503  are configured to permit the electrical connection of a plurality of battery housings  500 . This configuration is depicted in  FIG. 6 . As shown therein, three battery housings  500  are connected in series to provide power to drive additional lighting strings comprising LEDs. 
         [0028]    The battery housing  500  of the present invention can also be used to illuminate objects adjacent to the battery housing  500  by connecting the battery housing  500  to an LED module. This configuration is depicted in  FIG. 7 . As depicted therein, an LED module  600  can be affixed to battery housing  500  via external contacts  501 . 
         [0029]    It should be noted that the embodiments described above are presented as several possible approaches that may be used to embody the invention. It should be understood that the details presented above do not limit the scope of the invention in any way; rather, the appended claims, construed broadly, completely define the scope of the invention.