Christmas tree ornamental lighting system

A Christmas tree ornamental lighting system is provided having a light strand combining primary lights and secondary lights, which illuminate in unison. A first illuminating component, represents a prearranged decorative pattern object and is coupled to a primary light and is illuminated, when the primary light is in a not illuminated state, and does not illuminate, when the primary light illuminates. A temperature switching function of the primary light is used to switch between the illuminate and non-illuminate states. A second illumination component, which also represents a prearranged pattern, is coupled to a secondary light and illuminates in synchronism with a respective secondary light. The lighting system achieves an enriched visual effect by taking advantage of the illuminate and non-illuminate states of the primary and secondary lights and first and second illuminating components, and various transitions between them.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Animated decorations that present an attractive evening display are 
generally available today in the form of Christmas lights or other light 
bulbs and lighting tubes which are utilized to produce various images. Of 
these, Christmas lights having flashing effects are perhaps the most 
common. However, as is well known, flashing Christmas lights typically 
include several groups of primary lights and other light bulbs (secondary 
lights) constituting a string of lights, such that when the Christmas 
light strand is powered, the bulbs of the primary lights instantly 
illuminate and the temperature of the primary lights begins to rise. When 
the temperature reaches a set value, the primary lights are switched off, 
thereby extinguishing the illumination of the primary lights, which then 
causes the extinguishing of the remaining secondary lights. Furthermore, 
when the primary lights are not illuminated, the temperature of the 
primary lights decreases and when the temperature returns to a certain set 
value, the illumination operation is restored, with the secondary lights 
in the same group also resuming illumination. Undeniably, this type of 
directly utilized flashing illumination of Christmas light strands creates 
a bright and attractive visual effect to people. 
The conventional animated Christmas decorations available now, and even the 
seasonal holiday decorations, utilize the most ordinary of methods, and 
the flashing effects of Christmas light strands mainly consist of light 
bulbs that are directly triggered in intermittent pattern of illumination 
and non-illumination. Although having certain attractiveness, the mere 
operation of bringing light bulbs into illumination and non-illumination 
state, thereby opposing the extreme brightness during illumination to the 
extreme darkness during non-illumination, was not impressive enough. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
As can be realized by the foregoing discussion, the structures of the 
conventional Christmas light decorations, in terms of actual application 
and utilization, were obviously replete with shortcomings that needed 
improvement. 
Therefore, the major object of the present invention is to provide a 
Christmas tree ornamental lighting system, wherein cold light panels of 
arrays of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are utilized as the illumination 
components that can be directly formed or prearranged into various 
ornaments, words and pictures, or patterned into images. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a Christmas tree 
ornamental lighting system, wherein the illumination component units of 
two types are integrated to the primary lights (first type illumination 
component unit) and the secondary lights (second type illumination 
component unit) of Christmas light strands, wherein, when the primary 
lights are "not illuminated," the secondary lights can be triggered into 
the "illuminated" state to produce light of the lower intensity, thereby 
diversify visual effect generated by the lighting system, and wherein the 
first type illumination component unit illuminates when the primary light 
in its "non-illuminate" state and the second type illumination component 
unit illuminates in unison with the secondary light. 
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a Christmas 
tree ornamental lighting system, wherein the first type illumination 
component units take advantage of the temperature switching function of 
the primary lights, and the second type illumination component units 
include a resistance having a value that is equivalent to the resistance 
of the secondary lights on the Christmas light strands. 
According to the teachings of the present invention, a Christmas tree 
ornamental lighting system includes a light strand which has primary 
lights and secondary lights associated with said primary lights. The 
primary lights and secondary lights illuminate in synchronism, as well as 
do not illuminate in substantial synchronism. 
Each primary light includes a primary light bulb and a primary light socket 
at the light strand; as well as each secondary light includes a secondary 
light bulb and a secondary light socket at the light strand. 
It is an essential feature of the present invention, that the Christmas 
tree ornamental lighting system includes a first illumination component 
unit and a second illumination component unit. The first illumination 
component unit is coupled to a primary light, so that when the primary 
light illuminates, the first illumination component unit does not 
illuminate. The second illumination component unit, being coupled to the 
secondary light, illuminates in synchronism with the secondary light, and 
does not illuminate in synchronism with the non-illuminate state of the 
secondary light. 
The first illumination component unit comprises a first illumination 
component (which may be a cold light panel or a plurality of LEDs 
prearranged in an array thereof), a primary light socket at the first 
illumination component unit, and a first socket coupled to the primary 
light socket at the light strand. Preferably, the primary light bulb is 
coupled to the primary light socket at the first illumination component 
unit. 
When the first illumination component is a cold light panel, the first 
illumination component unit further comprises a voltage amplifier and 
frequency converter circuit coupled to the input of the first illumination 
component, and a voltage dropper and a regulator circuit coupled to the 
input for the first voltage amplifier and frequency converter circuit. 
When the first illumination component is a plurality of LEDs, the first 
illumination component unit includes a current limiting resistor coupled 
between the primary light socket at the first illumination component unit 
and the first illumination component. 
Preferably, the plurality of LEDs includes at least one leg comprising a 
group of first LEDs connected in series and in like orientation thereof, 
and a second LED connected in series with and inversely to the first LEDs. 
At least two said legs may be connected in parallel, with the LEDs in one 
leg being in inverse orientation with respect to the LEDs in adjacent leg. 
The second illumination component unit comprises a second illumination 
component, a resistor coupled to the input of the second illumination 
component, and a second socket coupled to said secondary light socket at 
said light strand. When the second illumination component is a cold light 
panel, the second illumination component unit further includes a voltage 
amplifier and frequency converter circuit coupled to an input of the 
second illumination component, and a second voltage dropper and regulator 
circuit coupled to the input of the voltage amplifier and frequency 
converter circuit. Also, this resistor is a shunt resistor, coupled to the 
input of the voltage dropper and regulator circuit and providing for 
matching between the overall resistance of the second illumination 
component unit and a resistance of the secondary light. 
Preferably, when the second illumination component includes a plurality of 
LEDs, they are arranged in a plurality of parallely connected legs, each 
of which includes a pair of similarly oriented serially connected diodes, 
with the orientation of diodes in adjacent legs being inverse. 
These and other novel features and advantages of the invention will be 
fully understood from the following detailed description and the 
accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to FIG. 1, the Christmas tree ornamental lighting system includes 
illumination components constituting prearranged pictures, words or 
patterns. A cold light panel or array of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) 
presenting these prearranged patterns and driving circuitry constitute 
illumination component units that are directly integrated to conventional 
Christmas light strands which enables Christmas light decorations to be 
more spectacular, to have richer variation, better attractiveness and a 
more animated appearance in the darkness. The main methods of integrating 
the illumination components (including the respective driver circuits) to 
the Christmas lighting strands (6) consists of two approaches: integration 
to the primary lights (62) and integration to the secondary lights (63). 
The integration of the illumination components (including the respective 
driver circuits) to the primary lights assumes utilization of the 
temperature switching effect of the primary lights (62). When the primary 
light (62) is in the "illuminated" state, the voltage at the two terminals 
thereof is extremely low (approximately 6 VAC or 12 VAC) and this low 
current is incapable of driving the associated illumination component. 
However, when the temperature rises to a predetermined value and the 
internal switch of the primary light automatically becomes an "open 
circuit," thereby rapidly switching the primary light (62) to the 
"non-illuminated" state, the voltage at the two terminals thereof is 
nearly equal to the higher magnitude of the input voltage (110 VAC or 220 
VAC), which is supplied to the illumination component such that the 
illumination component is driven to emit light presenting a predetermined 
decorating pattern. The integration of the illumination components with 
the secondary light (63) mainly consists of utilization of the Christmas 
light strand in the "illuminated" state, such that when the current flow 
is established, illumination components associated with the secondary 
light, emit light due to the resistance of the secondary light being equal 
to the resistance of the driver circuit of the illumination components. 
The illumination components, therefore, "illuminate" and "do not 
illuminate" in a synchronism with each secondary light bulb of the 
Christmas light strand. 
Referring to FIG. 1, a first type illumination component unit is shown, in 
which a cold light panel (1) is the part of the illumination component 
unit integrated to the primary light (62) of the Christmas light strand 
(6). In the illumination component unit, the cold light panel (1) is 
coupled to a voltage amplifier and frequency converter circuit (2), a 
voltage dropper and regulator circuit (3), a primary light socket (4) at 
the illumination component unit and a socket (5). The bulb of the primary 
light (62) is directly coupled at the primary light socket (4) position at 
the illumination component unit, with the socket (5) directly connected to 
the primary light socket (61) position at the Christmas light strand (6). 
The primary light (62) utilized for the Christmas tree ornamental lighting 
system of the present invention, essentially serves as a temperature 
switch (as discussed above). When the cold light panel (1) is subjected to 
the appropriate voltage (more than 100V), frequency (approximately 460 to 
800 Hz), and thereby driven, an extremely low intensity illumination is 
automatically produced as a characteristic, and then when the Christmas 
light strand (6) is connected to current and the secondary lights (63) 
associated with the primary lights (62) "illuminate," the voltage 
established at the two terminals through the primary lights (62) is very 
low (6V or 12V) and insufficient to drive the cold light panel (1) into 
illumination state. Conversely, when the primary lights (62) are open 
circuited and the secondary lights (63) are in a state of "no 
illumination," then voltage at the two terminals is nearly equal to the 
higher magnitude of the input voltage. Being supplied to the illumination 
component unit, higher voltage drives the cold light panel (1) (including 
the driver circuit) into illumination state. 
Referring to FIG. 2, the first type illumination component unit includes 
LEDs to be integrated with the primary light (62) of the Christmas light 
strand (6). The LEDs array consists of two groups having a predetermined 
number of LEDs (7) distributed to support one LED (8), interconnected 
first in a series orientation in each leg (both legs being connected in 
parallel), and then coupled to the resistor (9), the primary light socket 
(4), and the socket (5). The method of coupling the elements in FIG. 2 to 
the Christmas light strand (6) is identical to that of the cold light 
panel illumination component installation method shown in FIG. 1, and 
consists of placing the bulb of the primary light (62) in the primary 
light socket (4) position of the LED illumination component unit, and 
connecting the socket (5) of the LED unit directly to the primary light 
socket (61) of the Christmas light strand (6) causing, when the primary 
light (62) is "illuminated," that the aforesaid in-series LEDs do not emit 
light, and when the primary light (62) is "not illuminated," the in-series 
LEDs can flash into "illumination." The selection of the resistor (9) 
value is determined by the voltage consumed when the in-series LEDs are 
driven into "illumination," which mainly consists of the voltage enabling 
the in-series LEDs at the current resistor (9) to limit the current and 
lower the voltage, such that when the primary light (62) is "illuminated," 
the LEDs cannot be driven into illumination, and when the primary light 
(62) is in the "non-illuminated" state, and until the primary light (62) 
is driven into illumination, then the primary light (62) prevents surge 
damage and effectively stops burnout. The installation of the two diodes 
(8) is determined by the LEDs (7) and work as a half-wave bridge 
preventing breakdown due to excessive voltage application. Since the 
diodes (8) are connected in series with the LEDs (7), a direct saving of 
electricity is achieved. 
Referring to FIG. 3, when the number of LEDs is smaller than the surface 
area of the picture or words and the illumination component includes a 
diffuser to enable the production of a picture or words formed by 
illumination components integrated to the primary light of the Christmas 
light strand, then the aforesaid LEDs (7) and diodes (8), and the resistor 
(9) can be directly connected in series (through the half-wave bridge), 
thereby enabling the diffuser and the aforesaid smaller number of LEDs 
(7), as shown in FIG. 3, to display the picture or words. 
Referring to FIG. 4, showing the second type illumination component unit, 
in which the cold light panels are the desired illumination components to 
be integrated to the secondary light (63) of the Christmas light strand 
(6), the cold light panel (1) is first connected to the voltage amplifier 
and frequency converter circuit (2), the voltage regulator circuit (3), 
the shunt resistor (10) and the socket (5), thereby constituting an 
illumination component unit, which is connected to any secondary light 
(63) on the light strand (6), by coupling the socket (5) to the secondary 
light socket (64) at the light strand. The shunt circuit resistor (10) of 
the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, reduces the overall resistance of the 
illumination component unit and, thereby, enables the overall resistance 
to become equal to the resistance of the secondary light (63) on the 
Christmas light strand (6), i.e., the current flowing through the 
illumination component unit of FIG. 4 is the same as the current flowing 
through the secondary light (63). Thus, when the Christmas light strand 
(6) is in the "illuminated" state, the current flowing through Christmas 
light strand (6) is fixed, and after the second type illumination 
component unit is assembled to a secondary light socket (64), the current 
flowing through the secondary light socket (64) and the secondary light 
(63) is identical and, therefore, the illumination component unit operates 
with each light of the Christmas light strand (6) synchronously flashing 
between the "illuminated" and "non-illuminated" states. Since the cold 
light panel (1) illumination components require a relatively higher 
frequency voltage to be driven into illumination, the illumination 
component unit only requires the supportive operation of the voltage 
regulator circuit (3) along with the voltage amplifier and frequency 
converter circuit (2) to achieve illumination. 
Referring to FIG. 5, when the LEDs (7) of the second type illumination 
component unit are the desired illumination components to be integrated to 
the secondary light (63) of the Christmas light strand (6), then LEDs (7) 
are first formed into a number of small groups and then two small groups 
are formed into a number of larger groups, and then connected to the 
resistor (9) and socket (5). As shown in FIG. 5, two small groups of the 
larger group of LEDs (7) are interconnected in series, with LEDs in 
adjacent groups being arranged in inverse orientation with respect to each 
other. 
Selecting any secondary light (63), similar to that previously described, 
the socket (5) of the circuit is directly connected to the secondary light 
socket (64) at the strand. The two small groups of LEDs (7) in the 
aforesaid large groups are first interconnected in series in the same 
orientation in the same leg and then inversely in adjacent legs, thereby 
constituting a half-wave bridge, and thereby directly supplying 
alternating current through. The total current consumed by the 
illumination components is equal to the electricity consumed by the 
predetermined number of secondary lights (63), therefore, after the socket 
(5) of the illumination component unit is connected to the secondary light 
socket (64) at the strand (6), the current limiting resistor (9) limits 
the current in support, and the illumination components of the aforesaid 
LED array are enabled, with the primary light (62) of the Christmas light 
strand (6) and the secondary light (63) driven into operation by flashing 
synchronously between being "illuminated" and "non-illuminated." The 
current flow through the illumination component unit is the same as that 
of the secondary light (63) and, therefore, the illumination components 
(as pictures or words, etc.) of the illumination component unit can be 
installed on any secondary light socket (64) of the Christmas light strand 
(6), thereby enabling the Christmas light strand to display a variety of 
animated and attractive shapes. 
It is readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, that the 
configuration of the present invention is simple and does not require 
subjecting a typical Christmas light strand to substantial design changes, 
except when the socket (5) of the present invention is connected to the 
primary light socket (61) or any secondary light socket (64) of the 
typical Christmas light strand (6), that results is a genuine Christmas 
tree light decoration that is animated, beautiful and rich in variation 
for additional night viewing attractiveness.