Abstract:
A light string power module is provided for providing power to light strings while replicating a lighting pattern from a first light string in providing said power. The illumination pattern of the first light string, which is not powered by the light string power module, is detected by examining the voltage polarities presented on the leads of a first connector to which the first light string is attached. These detected polarities are replicated by a switching module at matching leads on a second connector to which a second light string is attached. A power processing module accepts input power and provides output DC power to the switching module such that the second light string is powered by said output DC power in concert with the replicated voltage polarities so as to replicate the light pattern presented by the first light string on the second light string.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/685,965 filed Mar. 28, 2012 titled “Method and Apparatus for Providing Power to Light Strings” which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0003]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0004]    The invention is directed to a system and method for providing a power boosting function to a light string. A first light string is used to provide color signaling to a second light string which follows the lighting pattern of the first light string. The power booster provides a connection to the first light string to receive the color signaling information but does not provide power to the first light string. The power booster contains electric circuitry and/or software to allow the input color signaling to be replicated on the second light string while also providing power to the second light string. The power booster may support multiple light strings connections so that a plurality of light strings maybe powered through the booster which simultaneously provides the input color signaling from the first light string to all of or a portion of the powered light strings. 
         [0005]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0006]    Low voltage, low power LED light strings are becoming increasingly popular in holiday decorations. These light strings are powered by a power module that has two critical limitations: 1) the maximum power capable of being supplied by the module, and 2) a finite number of connections on the module at which the light strings to be powered may be attached. With respect to the first limitation, a power module may be provided with only one connection to power a single light string. That light string, however, may be connected in series with additional light strings. At some point, after a certain number of series-connected light strings have been coupled, the powering capability of the one power port or the entire power module itself will be exceeded. At this point additional power modules have to be added in order to expand the lighting system. With respect to the second limitation, there are simply a finite number of light string power outputs connections that can be provided on any one power module regardless of that module&#39;s total power output capacity. Thus, due to both limitations, a need exists for extending the powering capability of light string systems. 
         [0007]    The need for expandable powering introduces an additional consideration when synchronized lighting is desired. In a two-color LED system for example, a first light string may be lit according to a particular lighting pattern. The lighting pattern may be defined by either one or both of spatial and temporal characteristics. If the overall light string system is to be visually consistent, then the additional light strings would desirously have the same lighting pattern. This may be easily achieved by a single controller attached to a single power module. If however, additional power modules are introduced to the light string system, as a consequence of above-recited limitations for example, then synchronizing the separately powered sub-portions of the overall lighting system becomes an issue. 
         [0008]    To date, no commercially available light string power module has been provided that mirrors a lighting pattern provided on a first light string, not powered by the power module, to one or more additional light strings powered by the power module. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, a light string power module coupled to a first light string and a second light string is provided and the power module includes: a power processing module for receiving input AC power and providing output DC power; a first connector used to provide a connection to the first light string, a second connector used to provide a connection to the second light string, each of the first and second connectors having a plurality of leads, each of the leads of the first connector having a matching lead in the second connector; a switching module coupled to the power processing module and the first and second connectors, the switching module having a high impedance input section for detecting a voltage polarity at the leads of the first connector, a switching section for accepting the detected voltage polarity of the leads of the first connector and providing the same voltage polarity to each of the matching leads of the second connector thereby passing the output DC power provided by the power processing module to the second light string. 
         [0010]    In various aspects of this embodiment, the power processing module includes a high voltage to low voltage converter; the input power is AC power and the power processing module includes an AC-to-DC rectifier; the coupling between the high impedance input section and the switching section includes an optical coupler; or the optical coupler is included within a bulb harness disposed external to a housing of the light string power module, the optical coupler coupled to the leads of the first connector. In yet other variations, the optical coupler is a photo-transistor; the first and second connectors are polarized; the switching section includes discrete electronic components including resistors and silicon controlled rectifiers; or the switching module includes an integrated circuit. In still other aspects, the integrated circuit includes a microprocessor and associated memory, the microprocessor executing a program stored in the associated memory to provide the detected voltage polarity at the leads of the first connector to the matching leads in the second connector; the invention further includes a pattern control switching module for generating an independent light color pattern and a switch for selecting one of the switching module or the pattern control switching module, the voltage polarities presented to the leads of the second connector being provided by the pattern control switching module instead of the switching module when the switch is set to select the pattern control switching module; or further includes a wireless controller for controlling the pattern control switching module and the switch. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The embodiments illustrated herein are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  shows a block and partial circuit diagram of light string power module according to one embodiment of the system and method of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  shows an external view of the light string power module of  FIG. 1  according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  shows a block and partial circuit diagram of light string power module according to another embodiment of the system and method of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  shows an external view of the light string power module of  FIG. 3  according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIGS. 5-7  show three light string systems in which the power module of the present invention may be used in connection with various arrangements of system components; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  shows an external view of a light harness according to one aspect of the invention; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  shows a light string system in which the light harness of  FIG. 8  may be included. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    To facilitate a clear understanding of the present invention, illustrative examples are provided herein which describe certain aspects of the invention. However, it is to be appreciated that these illustrations are not meant to limit the scope of the invention, and are provided herein to illustrate certain concepts associated with the invention. 
         [0020]    It is also to be understood that the present invention may be implemented in various forms of hardware, software, firmware, special purpose processors, or a combination thereof. Preferably, the present invention is implemented in hardware possibly containing software as a program tangibly embodied on a program storage device. The program may be uploaded to, and executed by, a machine comprising any suitable architecture. Preferably, the machine is implemented on a computer platform having hardware such as one or more central processing units (CPU), a random access memory (RAM), and input/output (I/O) interface(s). The computer platform also includes an operating system and microinstruction code. The various processes and functions described herein may either be part of the microinstruction code or part of the program (or combination thereof) which is executed via the operating system. In addition, various other peripheral devices may be connected to the computer platform such as an additional data storage device and a printing device. 
         [0021]    It is to be understood that, because some of the constituent system components and method steps depicted in the accompanying figures are preferably implemented in software, the actual connections between the system components (or the process steps) may differ depending upon the manner in which the present invention is programmed. Specifically, any of the computers or devices may be interconnected using any existing or later-discovered networking technology and may also all be connected through a lager network system, such as a corporate network, metropolitan network or a global network, such as the internet. 
         [0022]    Those of skill in the art will appreciate that while the description provided below specifically recites LED light strings and power modules, the general teachings of the invention are applicable to other light string systems using other types of light strings, such as incandescent bulbs, phosphorescent bulbs, luminescent bulbs, and other electric bulbs. It is understood that other light bulb types and lighting technologies may require modification so as to function properly in connection with the present invention. Further, those of skill in the art will also appreciate that in the descriptions below a particular power polarity applied across any pair of leads operates to bias one or more LEDs on the attached light strings and therefore also functions as a color control signal. This arrangement may be replaced by the equivalent structure of a switched power module operated under the control of a more sophisticated control module, either or both being constructed in hardware or software, such that the powering and control functions are separated. 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  provides a block and partial circuit diagram of the power module of the present invention according to one preferred embodiment. Power module  10  is provided typical 120 V AC power from a residential power outlet at blades  15  and  17 . Input AC power is converted from high voltage to low voltage within optional voltage conversion module  20 . Low voltage power is then provided to AC-DC conversion module  30  which converts the low voltage AC power to low voltage DC power. These two modules  20  and  30  may be unitary or distinct. DC power is then provided to the switching module  40  at points  45  and  47 . AC-DC conversion module  30  may be omitted if DC power is provided directly to the power module  10  at blades  15  and  17 . 
         [0024]    Switching module  40  has at least two light string connectors  70  and  90 . The light string attached at connector  90  is the input light string, or first light string (not shown). The first light string provides the lighting pattern to be mimicked but does not receive power from power module  10 . First light string provides its color control signals to the power module  10  at leads  95  and  97 . The powered light string, or second light string (also not shown), is attached at connector  70  and receives its color and/or power signals at leads  75  and  77  respectively. 
         [0025]    The remaining structure of the switching module will be described in connection with the operation of the circuitry that implements the switching function as presented in  FIG. 1 . Section  46  of switching module  40  provides a high impedance input section for the first light string coupled to connector  90 . When the first light string provides a positive polarity signal at lead  95  (with reference to lead  97 ) the top diode  41  in optical coupler  55  is forward biased and turns on. Low voltage power from the first light string flows through that upper diode  41  and out through resistor R 2  to lead  97  thereby completing the circuit at the high impedance section  46  at connector  90  into which the first light string is plugged. The forward biasing of upper diode  41 , in turn provides a forward bias to lower diode  42  in optical coupler  55  which allows power provided at point  45  to flow through the lower diode  42  and on to two additional components: the gates of silicon controlled rectifiers SCR 2  and SCR 4 . A gate bias voltage is provided directly to the gate of SCR 4  thereby turning it on and providing power from point  45  to lead  75  on connector  70  and out to the second light string. A gate bias voltage is also provided to the gate of SCR 2  through resistive network R 4  and R 6  which are properly sized to provide the proper turn-on gate voltage to SCR  2 . The activation of SCR 2  allows power to flow back from the second light string at lead  77  of connector  70  and on to point  47  thereby completing the circuit for the second light string. In this manner, power is provided to the second light string by power module  10  while at the same time matching the relative polarity of leads  95  and  97  at leads  75  and  77  respectively. 
         [0026]    When the polarity of the first light string leads  95  and  97  are reversed, i.e. lead  97  is positively polarized with respect to lead  95 , then complementary circuitry is employed to match the polarity at leads  77  and  75  which are simultaneously powered by power module  10 . In particular, when the first light string provides a positive polarity signal at lead  97  (with reference to lead  95 ) the top diode  43  in optical coupler  57  is forward biased and turns on. Low voltage power from the first light string flows through that upper diode  43  and out through resistor R 1  to lead  95  thereby completing the circuit at the end connection of the first light string that is plugged into connector  90 . The forward biasing of upper diode  43 , in turn provides a forward bias to lower diode  44  in optical coupler  57  which allows power provided at point  45  to flow through the lower diode  44  and on to two additional components: the gates of silicon controlled rectifiers SCR 1  and SCR 3 . Turn on gate voltage is provided directly to the gate of SCR 3  thereby turning it on and providing power from point  45  to lead  77  on connector  70  and out to the second light string. Activation gate voltage is also provided to the gate of SCR 1  through resistive network R 3  and R 5  which are properly sized to provide the proper turn-on gate voltage to SCR  1 . The activation of SCR 1  allows power to flow back from the second light string to lead  75  at connector  70  and on to point  47  thereby completing the circuit for the second light string. In this manner, power is provided to the second light string by power module  10  while at the same time matching the relative polarity of leads  95  and  97  at leads  75  and  77  respectively. 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  shows an external view of the power module  10  including the first and second light strings (uncoupled to the power module). First light string  192  has polarized connector  194  that mateably engages with polarized connector  190  on the power module  110 . The two leads  195  and  197  that make electrical connection with the first light string leads (not shown) are shown within connector  190 . Blades  105  and  107  are sized according to the appropriate electrical building standards and are provided for plugging into a residential electrical outlet for supplying power to the power module  110 . Second light string  172  has polarized connector  174  that mateably engages with polarized connector  170  on the power module  110 . The two leads  175  and  177  within the second light string are provided and make electrical connection with the leads within connector  170  (not shown). Foot petal  179  is provided on the second light string so as to provide independent power switching capability for that light string. 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  provides a partial circuit diagram of the power module of the present invention according to another preferred embodiment. In this embodiment, three color control signals,  295 ,  296  and  297 , are input at connector  290  from a first light string (not shown). With three color control signals, eight different powering patterns may be replicated with the circuitry presented within power module  210  at second light string connector  270 . Power module  210  is provided typical 120 V AC power from a typical residential power outlet at blades  215  and  217 . Input AC power is converted from high voltage to low voltage within optional voltage conversion module  220 . Low voltage power is then provided to AC-DC conversion module  230  which converts the low voltage AC power to low voltage DC power. These two modules may be unitary or distinct. DC power is then provided to the switching module  240  at points  245  and  247 . 
         [0029]    Switching module  240  has at least two light string connectors  270  and  290 . The light string attached at connector  290  is the input light string, or first light string (not shown). The first light string provides the lighting pattern to be mimicked but does not receive power from power module  210  and is connected at high impedance circuitry  246 . The first light string provides its color control signals to the power module  210  at leads  295 ,  296  and  297 . The powered light string or second light string (also not shown), is attached at connector  270  and receives its color and/or power signals at leads  275 ,  276  and  277  respectively. 
         [0030]    The remaining structure of the switching module will be described in connection with the operation of the circuitry that implements the switching function as presented in  FIG. 3 . When the first light string provides a positive polarity signal at lead  295  (with reference to lead  296  and  297 ) and no polarity difference between leads  296  and  297 , i.e. neither one is “driven,” the diode of optical transistor  258  is forward biased and turns on. Low voltage power from the first light string flows through that upper diode  41  and out through resistor R 2  to lead  97  thereby completing the circuit at the end connection of the first light string that is plugged into connector  90 . The activation of optical transistor  258  in turn activates the lower transistor in that element which allows power provided at point  245  to flow through the transistor and on to lead  275  at output connector  270 . The activation of optical transistor  258  also in turn results in a turn on voltage being applied at the gate of silicon controlled rectifier SCR 3  through resistive network R 5  &amp; R 11 . Activation of SCR 3  results and allows for lead  276  on connector  270  to be low. Since SCR  2  is not activated (optical transistor  259  is off) there is no driven low at lead  277  on connector  270 . The activation of SCR 3  allows power to flow back from lead  276  at connector  270  connected to the second light string and on to point  247 , thereby completing the circuit for the second light string. In this manner, power is provided to the second light string by power module  210  while at the same time matching the relative polarity of leads  295  and  297  at leads  275  and  277 . 
         [0031]    The replication at outputs  275 ,  276  and  277  of other combinations of input light string color signals at leads  295 ,  296  and  297  respectively is provided through the operation of the circuitry of  FIG. 3  according to the following table: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Relative 
                   
                   
                   
                 Relative 
               
               
                 voltage 
                   
                   
                   
                 voltage 
               
               
                 (H or L) at 
                   
                   
                   
                 (H or L) at 
               
               
                 connector 
                 Optical 
                   
                 Resistive 
                 connector 
               
               
                 leads 
                 couplers 
                 SCRs 
                 networks 
                 leads 
               
               
                 295/296/297 
                 activated 
                 triggered 
                 employed 
                 275/276/277 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 LLL 
                 NONE 
                 NONE 
                 NONE 
                 LLL 
               
               
                 LLH 
                 259 
                 SCR4 
                 R6/R12 
                 LLH 
               
               
                 LHL 
                 255, 257 
                 SCR1 &amp; 
                 R7/R8 &amp; 
                 LHL 
               
               
                   
                   
                 SCR2 
                 R9/R10 
               
               
                 LHH 
                 255 
                 SCR1 
                 R7/R8 
                 LHH 
               
               
                 HLL 
                 258 
                 SCR3 
                 R5/R11 
                 HLL 
               
               
                 HLH 
                 258, 259 
                 SCR3 &amp; 
                 R5/R11 &amp; 
                 HLH 
               
               
                   
                   
                 SCR4 
                 R6/R12 
               
               
                 HHL 
                 257 
                 SCR2 
                 R9/R10 
                 HHL 
               
               
                 HHH 
                 NONE 
                 NONE 
                 NONE 
                 HHH 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0032]    Those of skill in the art will recognize several features with respect to  FIGS. 1 and 3 . First, any of a variety of optical couplers (alternatively named opto-isolator, optocoupler, photocoupler, or optical isolator) may be used as the coupling mechanism between the high impedance input section and the actual switching portion of the switch module. That is, any of a variety of coupling mechanisms may be used to accept the input color signaling at input  90 / 290  and activate appropriate circuitry within the power modules  10  and  210 . Second, as with all transistor circuitry, not every application of a “low” is actually a low driven signal. If certain component circuitry within  FIG. 3  is not activated, then any of leads  295 - 297  and  275 - 277  can “float.” However, in order to turn on an LED disposed between any two signal leads, a high bias signal as between two leads is required to activate that LEDs. 
         [0033]      FIG. 4  shows an external view of the power module  310  including the first and second light strings (uncoupled to the power module). First light string  392  has polarized connector  394  that mateably engages with polarized connector  390  on the power module  310 . The three leads  395 ,  396  and  397  that make electrical connection with the first light string leads (not shown) are shown within connector  390 . Blades  105  and  107  are sized according to the appropriate electrical building standards and are provided for plugging into a residential electrical outlet for supplying power to the power module  110 . Second light string  372  has polarized connector  374  that mateably engages with polarized connector  370  on the power module  310 . The three leads  375 ,  376  and  377  within the second light string are provided and make electrical connection with the leads within connector  370  (not shown). 
         [0034]      FIG. 5  shows the application of the present invention as used within a complete lighting system  403 . Typical power module  409  and the power module of the present invention  410  are shown as providing power to pattern control switch modules  435  and  439  respectively. The pattern control switching modules perform one of several functions, such as “bypass” (input color pattern signaling being driven to the output color pattern signaling), or active color scheme selection. In the active color scheme selection mode, the pattern control switch module is set to one of a plurality of color patterns through either a mechanical, electrical or electro-mechanical means such that the coupled output light strings achieve the desired color patterns. So in  FIG. 5 , pattern control switching module  435  is the lead pattern control switching module which is, in turn, used to drive the color signals to pattern control switching module  437 . It should be noted that pattern control switching modules  435  and  437  are powered by typical power module  409  and that repetitive extension of the system through the addition of light strings and pattern control switching modules will quickly consume the power budget of the typical power module  409 . Thus, at some point in the system expansion, the “booster” power module  410  of the present invention is added such that the input light color pattern provided at connector  490  provided by bridging leads/wiring  489  is replicated at the output connector  470  all downstream elements of which are powered by the independent power module  410 . 
         [0035]    It should be noted that the bypass and switching modules described herein may be of the type found in commercial use, or alternatively, those found within applications filed by the applicant of the present invention, such as the All Holidays Lighting System described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/694,754 entitled Apparatus and Method for Controlling LED Light Strings, filed Dec. 31, 2012; the Bypass Switch System described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/930,892 entitled Apparatus and Method for Controlling LED Light Strings, filed Jan. 19, 2011; or the Rotary Switch System described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/______ entitled Apparatus and Method for Controlling Multicolored Light Strings, filed Mar. 28, 2013. Any such light pattern selection system may be used as provided in this application. 
         [0036]    In this regard,  FIG. 6  illustrates a more heterogeneous light string system that employs different pattern control switching modules. Electronic pattern control switching module  535  is shown in the top and bottom portions of the system while mechanical pattern control switching module  531  is shown in the middle portion of the system. Bottom portion of the lighting system and associated light strings  533  are shown with booster power module  510  providing the power for those strings. Feeder leads or wiring  589  provides the input color control signaling at connector  590  as replicated by power module  510  at output connector  570 . The output, in turn, is provided to yet another pattern control switching module  535  which may, itself have its own bypass/active switching mechanisms for selecting the color patterns to be displayed on the downstream powered light strings. Switch  501  may be provided on any of the pattern control switching modules so as to select between the pass-through/bypass and active color pattern control functions. 
         [0037]      FIG. 7  shows an embodiment of the present invention in which the pattern control switching module  635  is included as part of the power module  610 . This particular pattern control switching module selects a color pattern signaling from among any of a number of preprogrammed color patterns by repetitively pushing the pattern selector button  631 —each push of the button advancing to the next color pattern in a cyclical fashion. As with  FIG. 5 , switch  601  may be provided and coupled with the pattern control switching module  635  so as to select the output provided at output connector  670  to be either the pass-through/bypass as provided at the connector  690  or the active color pattern provided by the pattern control switching module  635 . 
         [0038]    In yet another embodiment of the invention, the optical coupling function is removed from the power module as provided in  FIGS. 8 &amp; 9 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , a bulb harness  751  is provided and is composed of a clip portion  752  and optical detection or coupling sensors  753  that provide signaling through wiring or lead  754 . Clip portion  752  is configured to be clipped onto a bulb of a physically proximate light string to be mimicked. Sensors  753  may be color filter optical sensors that detect either or both of the state of the bulb being on and the color being displayed. Alternatively, the bulb harness may contain wireless transmission capabilities so as to convey the same information to the power module without the need for physical lead or hard wire  754 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 9  shows an exemplary system in which the harness of  FIG. 8  may be used. As shown in the lighting system  803  in  FIG. 9 , the power module  810  is broken down into a more modular interconnectivity arrangement in which separate high-to-low voltage converter  820  and AC-DC rectification  830  are separated from the pattern control switching module  835  by coupling  804 . The coupling  804  is, in turn, coupled to full-wave bridge rectification section  808  and then, in turn, to pattern control switching module  835 . Input lighting signaling provided by leads/wiring  854  at connector  890  is replicated by the internal circuitry or programming within pattern control switching module  835  so as to mirror that signaling at connector  870 . External wireless control module  802  and internal wireless receiver  851  are optionally provided in connection with pattern control switching module  835  so as to provide wireless control of the pattern control switching module  835  (i.e. selecting bypass or another particular color pattern). 
         [0040]    With respect to color signal input, bulb harnesses  851  are provided around the dual color LED bulbs on external light string  933  that is to be emulated. The optical sensors in the harnesses detect the on/off status and/or the color being displayed by the bulbs on light string  833  and pass that sensed information back to the power module  810  at connector  890  via signal leads or wires  854 . These signals are then used to trigger SCRs and operate the switching module within the power module of the present invention as provide in the above-written description with respect to  FIGS. 1 and 3  so as to provide power to light string  833  at connector  870 . 
         [0041]    Although various embodiments, which incorporate the teachings of the present invention have been shown and described in detail herein, those skilled in the art can readily devise many other varied embodiments that still incorporate these teachings.