Programmable lighting effect device and system

A programmable lighting effect device and system includes a main body having a plug secured to the first end, a socket secured to the second end, and a controller secured within a middle portion. The controller utilizes the alternating current frequency of the supplied electricity as a common clock and further instructs a light bulb installed within the socket to perform a predetermined illumination effect based on stored operating instructions.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to lighting control devices, and more particularly to a programmable lighting effect and control device capable of utilizing the alternating current frequency of a power source as a clock for synchronizing and creating various lighting effects.

Many businesses across the globe use illuminated strands of lights and/or lighted signs to display goods and to attract the attention of potential customers. One common device employed by restaurants, movie theatres, casinos and other such establishments utilize marquee signs having multiple lights acting in unison to form visual effects.

A typical example of such a sign is illustrated inFIG. 1. As shown, the marquee sign1utilizes multiple incandescent bulbs operating as a four-channel (i.e. circuit) chase to give the illusion of motion. In order to create this visual effect, four discrete electrical circuits are used. As shown, every fourth bulb socket is wired to a common circuit, so that sockets S1, 5, 9, 13, etc., are on the first circuit, sockets S2, 6, 10, 14, etc., are on the second circuit, sockets S3, 7, 11, 15, etc., are on the third circuit, and sockets S4, 8, 12, 16, etc., are on the fourth circuit.

To this end, each circuit must then be routed back to a central controller2, which provides the timing and sequence switching required to produce the desired effect. For more complex effects, the number of channels increases, requiring separate electrical circuits for each channel. Complex effects also require controllers capable of handling the required number of channels. These controllers are often custom-built at great expense, and repair or replacement is often impractical or impossible. As a result, traditional animated signs are extremely expensive, difficult to maintain, and labor-intensive to produce. Moreover, as each channel controls many different bulbs, failure of any one channel results in a substantial loss of functionality to the entire system.

Accordingly, there remains a need for a device and system capable of controlling individual lighting instruments while working in unison to create various lighting effects without the drawbacks described above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a programmable lighting effect device and system. One embodiment of the present invention can include a main body having a plug secured to the first end, a socket secured to the second end, and a controller secured within a middle portion. The controller being configured to cause a light bulb installed within the socket to perform a predetermined illumination effect.

Another embodiment of the present invention can include a clock signal converter configured to convert the alternating current frequency of the supplied electricity into a clock for use by the controller.

Another embodiment of the present invention can include a system having a plurality of programmable lighting effect devices connected to a common power source and configured to perform a synchronized lighting effect.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the description in conjunction with the drawings. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the inventive arrangements in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Additionally, commonly known articles such as connecting wires, mounting clips and the like may be omitted from the drawings for the sake of clarity. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of the invention.

As described herein, computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of the present invention may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. Programming can also be accomplished in the processor's native machine language. For purposes of this description, the terms “upper,” “bottom,” “right,” “left,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented inFIG. 2a.

FIGS. 2aand2billustrate one embodiment of a programmable lighting effect device10that is useful for understanding the inventive concepts disclosed herein. As shown, the device can include a main body/shell11having a plug12at one end and a light bulb socket13at the other end. Positioned within the main body can include a controller20for coordinating the functions of the device.

The main body11can act to securely position the controller20, the plug12and the socket13in a conventional manner, so as to create a single integrated device. To this end, the body itself can take any number of distinct shapes, and can be constructed from any number of known materials and methods. In one preferred embodiment, body11can be constructed from two removably connected opposing plastic halves11aand11beach having a hollow interior space forming a cavernous interior into which the controller20can be located. Of course, other embodiments in which the main body is of unitary construction and other known construction materials are also contemplated.

The plug12can act as a power input unit capable of connecting the device to a conventional A/C power source and to conduct the electrical energy into the controller20via one or more cables (not shown). In one embodiment, the connector12can include a metallic sleeve having a plurality of threads12aconfigured to be screwed into a conventional incandescent light bulb socket. Such a feature can allow the device10to be serially connected along a string of conventional lights as will be described below.

Although described above as for use with an incandescent light socket, this is for illustrative purposes only, as the plug12can take any number of distinct shapes and sizes in order to be secured to other types of light bulb fixtures. Moreover, the plug12can include any number of known devices capable of receiving electrical power, such as a conventional plug or metallic terminals, for example.

The socket13can act to receive a light bulb and provide power to the same in a conventional manner. Accordingly, the socket13, according to one embodiment can include a plurality of internal threads13aconfigured to allow an incandescent light bulb to be connected to the device.

Although described above as utilizing an incandescent bulb and socket, this is for illustrative purposes only, as one of skill in the art will recognize that virtually any type of lighting instrument such as LED, neon, fluorescent, and the like, along with the accompanying socket, can be utilized herein.

FIG. 3aillustrates a block diagram of a controller for regulating the operation of the device, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. As shown, the controller20can include a processor21that is conventionally connected to an internal memory22, a power input unit23, a clock signal converter24, a power output unit25an input/output unit26and a processor power supply unit27.

The processor21can act to execute program code stored in the memory22in order to allow the device to perform the functionality described herein. One non-limiting example of a suitable processor for the device includes PIC12F629/675 commercially available by Microchip® brand products. Of course many other known processors can also be utilized herein. As the design and functionality of processors are extremely well known in the art, no further description will be provided.

Memory22can act to store operating instructions in the form of program code for the processor21to execute. These operating instructions can be pre-programmed into the memory at the time of installation or can be introduced at a later time via the input/output unit26. Although illustrated inFIG. 3aas a single component, memory22can include one or more physical memory devices such as, for example, local memory and/or one or more bulk storage devices. As used herein, local memory can refer to random access memory or other memory device(s) generally used during actual execution of program code, whereas a bulk storage device can be implemented as a persistent data storage device. Additionally, memory22can also include one or more cache memories that provide temporary storage of at least some program code in order to reduce the number of times program code must be retrieved from a bulk storage device during execution. Each of these devices are well known in the art.

FIG. 3billustrates an exemplary method300for understanding the functionality of the device. As such, method300can begin at step305where the processor21can retrieve the lighting effect playback data (state and duration data) from any means including, but not limited to programmed loops, nested loops, lookup tables and algorithm-derived data.

Once the data has been retrieved, the method can proceed to step310where the device can adjust the output of the socket according to the state data, and then move to step315where the duration can be measured by counting power line-derived clock pulses.

Next, the method will proceed to step320where a determination as to the completion of the duration will be made. If the duration is complete, the method will return to step305. If the duration is not complete, the method will return to step315.

Returning toFIG. 3a, the power input unit23can act to receive the A/C electrical power from the plug12and convert the same to a suitable voltage for operating other elements of the device.

The processor power supply unit27can act to provide power for the processor and/or memory elements. In one embodiment, the processor power supply unit27can include a conventional step down transformer and rectifier circuit capable of outputting an appropriate DC voltage. Of course any number of other known devices capable of producing the required voltage can also be utilized herein.

The clock signal converter24can act to utilize the alternating current frequency (typically 50-60 Hz) of a conventional alternating current power source as a clock signal for the device, and transmit the same to the processor. As will be described below in detail, when a plurality of lighting effect devices10are connected to the same power source, each device can operate independently while also being synchronized to a common clock signal.

In one embodiment, the clock signal converter24can include a resistor and diode conventionally connected to the output of the step down transformer (preferably before entering the rectifier) in order to protect the processor. Of course any number of other devices capable of sensing the current frequency of a power source and relaying the same to the processor as a clock signal can also be utilized.

Although described above as utilizing the main power line frequency for synchronization, the invention is not so limited. For example in an alternate embodiment (not illustrated) the device may utilize conditioned power waveforms from a main controller. These waveforms may include, but are not limited to, variable-frequency alternating current, variable-frequency pulsed direct current, or any other form of power containing a detectable periodic signal which can be used for synchronization.

The power output unit25can act to transmit the received A/C power (or DC if utilizing a DC powered bulb) directly to the socket13when instructed by the processor. To this end, the power output unit can include a conventional electrical switch or other known device that is interposed between the socket13and plug12. In one embodiment, the processor21can instruct the power output unit to activate or terminate the power flowing to the socket based on the supplied program code.

The input/output unit26can act to accept user inputs and/or programming code for the processor to execute. To this end, the input/output unit can include any number of conventional devices capable of receiving program instructions for the processor to execute, such as an in-circuit serial programming port, for example. In one preferred embodiment, the input/output unit26can include a conventional USB serial port and connector26afor communicating with an external device. In one alternate embodiment, the input/output unit can include one or more push buttons (not illustrated) that are connected to the processor21so as to activate different programmatic functions. For example, pushing the button once could activate a first program and pushing the button twice could activate a second program. Further, some embodiments of the present invention may be further configured to receive instructions directly through the provided electricity (e.g., power line communication).

Although described above as utilizing fixed components for receiving program instructions, alternate embodiments of the invention include the ability to receive wireless instructions in a conventional manner. To this end, wireless instructions may be in the form of infrared, Bluetooth, cellular, and other known mediums.

In accordance with one preferred embodiment, the operating instructions stored in the memory22can instruct the processor to activate the power output unit25at a specified time and for a specified duration, thereby causing an installed light bulb5to perform an illumination effect (such as blinking, for example). As described above, the clock signal converter24can act to translate the alternating current frequency of the power source into a clock signal for use by the processor. To this end, when multiple devices10are arranged across a common power source, it becomes possible to coordinate the illumination effects of each device by utilizing the installed operating instructions and the common clock.

For example, a simple chase pattern can be achieved by connecting a series of devices10in a straight line across a common power source (seeFIG. 6below). Prior to installation, each of the devices can include operating instructions to blink at a specified time T. In order to achieve a chase pattern, the T for each device can be incrementally delayed in order to illuminate each device in order, thus creating the appearance of a chase pattern. To this end, one of skill in the art will readily understand that the inventive concepts disclosed herein can act to create any number of unique lighting effects, such as timed blinking, chasing, spelling, scintillating, fading, and many others.

Moreover, owing to the fact that each device10is independently controlled, the failure of one device will not adversely affect the operation of the remaining devices. To this end, each device can be reset by simply cycling the power to the device.

FIG. 4illustrates an alternate embodiment of a programmable lighting effect device that further includes a plurality of sockets40, each configured to house a lighting instrument. In one embodiment, each of the sockets40can be configured to house identical lighting instruments (such as incandescent, for example). In an alternate embodiment, each of the sockets40can be configured to house different lighting instruments (e.g., LED and CFL). As described herein, each socket40can be virtually identical to socket13described above, and can be secured to the main body11so as to allow multiple lighting instruments to be independently controlled by the device.

FIG. 5illustrates another alternate embodiment of a programmable lighting effect device10that is integrated into the construction of a lighting instrument. As illustrated, the lighting instrument5aof the light bulb5can be connected directly to the socket13, and the plug12of the device can function as the plug for the light bulb. Of course, this is but one embodiment illustrating how the device10can be incorporated into the bulb itself, as one of skill in the art will recognize that any number of alternative layouts are also contemplated.

FIG. 6illustrates one embodiment of a synchronized lighting effect system100that includes a plurality of programmable lighting devices101,102. . .10x, each having an installed bulb5, that are connected to a light string60. As shown, light string60can include a conventional power plug61connected to an elongated cord62supplying power to a plurality of sockets63. In this embodiment, each of the lighting devices10can be conventionally connected to one of the sockets63. Accordingly, when the light string is plugged in to a conventional A/C power source, the processor contained within each of the lighting devices101,102. . .10xwill begin performing an illumination effect according to the operating instructions contained within the internal memory.

Although described as including a light string60, one of skill in the art will recognize that a plurality of devices10can be installed into an existing light string in order to achieve the inventive concepts disclosed herein. Moreover, as further illustrated inFIG. 7, one or more of the programmable lighting effect devices can be also be utilized to transform a conventional non-animated sign70into a dynamic sign capable of displaying a plurality of lighting effects.

As described above, the device10can take any number of distinct shapes and sizes. In one alternate embodiment, the device10can take the shape of a button that is interposed between a socket and a light bulb. This concept is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,030,890 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,818,263, the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.