GB2387466A

GB2387466A - Lamp set remote control system

Info

Publication number: GB2387466A
Application number: GB0208366A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Linsong Weng
Original assignee: Hugewin Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Hugewin Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 2002-04-11
Filing date: 2002-04-11
Publication date: 2003-10-15
Also published as: GB0208366D0; CA2385843A1; DE20206824U1

Abstract

A lamp set remote control system includes a handheld remote controller, which has a key module for signal entry, a first address-setting switch for setting address serial code, and a radio transmitter for transmitting a control signal, and a lamp set control box (20) having a radio receiver (30) for receiving the control signal, an address comparator circuit (28) for recognising the address serial code of the control signal, and a lamp set control module (34), which controls flashing of lamp sets (36) and music tone and volume outputted through a speaker (46).

Description

LAMP SET RE1\IOTE CONTROL SYSTEM

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention:

The present invention relates lamp set control means and, 5 more specifically, to a lamp set remote control system, which controls the flashing mode and the music tone and voice volume of multiple lamp sets by means of a remote controller.

2. Description of the Related Art:

Following improvement of living standards, people pay 10 more attention to the living environment around the houses. During festival or particular holidays, people may decorate houses and.

surrounding trees with decorative strings and lamp sets. More particularly, Christmas tree light sets are commonly used to decorate the inside as well as the outside of houses. A regular lamp 15 set or Christmas tree light set is equipped with a control box, which controls the flashing mode of the lamp set or Christmas tree light set and the output of music tone. The control box has an Electric plug for connection to an electric outlet. Connecting the electric plug to or disconnecting it from the electric outlet achieves the 20 on/off control of the control box. The control box has keys for flashing mode control and music tone control. When multiple lamp sets or Christmas tree light sets are installed in different locations, it is inconvenient to control the operation of all installed lamp sets

or Christmas tree light sets.

Following fast development of wireless remote control technology, it is practical to employ the technology to the control of lamp set control boxes.

5 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is one object of the present invention to provide a lamp set remote control system, which enables the user to control the flashing mode of multiple lamp sets and the matching 10 music tone and voice volume by means of a remote controller. It is another object of the present invention to provide a lamp set remote control system, which enables the user to synchronously or selectively turn on/off multiple sets of lamp sets and, to selectively control the flashing mode of controlled lamp sets and/or the 15 playing of music tone and voice volume. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a lamp set remote control system, which enables one remote controller to control multiple lamp set control boxes that control a respective set of lamp sets. To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, the lamp set 20 remote control system comprises a handheld remote controller and at least one lamp set control box. The handheld remote controller comprises a key module for signal entry, a first address-setting switch for setting address serial code, and a radio transnitcr for

la transmitting a control signal by radio subject to the remote control signal from the key module and the address serial code signal from the first address-setting switch. Each lamp set control box comprises a radio receiver for receiving the control signal from the 5 radio transmitter, an address comparator circuit for recognizing the address serial code of the control signal, and a lamp set control module, which controls flash of lamp sets connected thereto subject to the nature of the control signal from the remote controller.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

10 FIG. l is a circuit block diagram of a handheld remote controller for a lamp set remote control system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of a lamp set control box for a lamp set remote control system according to the present 15 invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. l and 2, a lamp set remote control system in accordance with the present invention is comprised of a handheld remote controller 10 and a lamp-set control box 20. The 20 handheld remote controller 10 is comprised of an address encoder 12, a key module 14, a first address setting switch 16, a radio transmitter 18, and a power supply unit 26. The key module 14, the first address setting switch 16, and the radio transmitter 18 are

respectively electrically connected to the address encoder 12. The address encoder 12 receives digital code signal from the key! module 14, and drives the radio transmitter 18 to output a remote control signal to the lamp set control box 20 subject to the code 5 signal from the key module 14 and the address serial code from the first address-setting switch 16. The power supply unit 26 provides the handheld remote controller 10 with the necessary working voltage. According to the present preferred embodiment, the power supply unit 26 is a battery. The lamp set control box 20 comprises 10 an address comparator circuit 28, a radio receiver 30, a second I address-setting switch 32, and a lamp set control module 34. The radio receiver 30, the second address setting switch 32, and the lamp set.control module 34 are respectively electrically connected to the address comparator circuit 28. The lamp set control module 15 34 is connected to a number of external lamp sets 36. Each lamp set 36 is comprised of a plurality of different colors of lamps 38. The lamp set control module 34 comprises a flashing control unit 40 and a music tone and voice volume control unit 42, and is connected to AC power supply input end through a rectifier circuit 20 44. The rectifier circuit 44 rectifies AC power supply into DC power supply for the working of the lamp set control box 20. The lamp set control box 20 further comprises a speaker means 46 electrically connected to the lamp set control module 34. The radio

sildl receiver 30 receives remote control signal from the radio transmitter 18 of the handheld remote controller 10 for recognition by the address comparator circuit 28. After recognition of the address serial code of received remote control signal, the address 5 comparator circuit 28 outputs a control signal to the lamp set control module 34, causing it to drive the flashing control unit 40 and/or the music tone and voice volume control unit 42 to control the operation of the lamp sets 36 and/or the speaker means 46.

The handheld remote controller 10 further comprises a 10 buzzer 22 and a LED indicator 24 respectively electrically connected to the address encoder 12. Upon operation of the remote controller 10, the buzzer 22 buzzes, and the LED indicator 24 is turned on to give a visual signal. The integration of the flashing control unit 4-0 and the music tone and voice volume control unit 42 15 enables the lamp set control module 34 to control the flashing mode of the lamp sets 36 and music tone and voice volume outputted through the speaker means 46. The key module 14 of the handheld remote controller 10 comprises different function keys for different function control so that the user can selectively control the 20 operation of the lamp sets 36 and the output of music tone and voice volume.

Further, the design of the address-setting switches 16;32 in the remote controller 10 and lamp set control box 20 enables the

user to set the address serial code of the lamp set control box 20 subject to that of the remote controller 10. Therefore, the invention enables a number of lamp set control boxes to be used with a remote controller to control multiple sets of lamp sets that are 5 respectively connected to the control boxes at different locations.

indicated above, the lamp set remote control system enables the user to control multiple sets of lamp sets and music playing modes through a single remote controller.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been 10 described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A lamp set remote control system comprising: a remote controller, said remote controller comprising a key module for signal entry, a radio transmitter, a first address setting switch adapted to set address serial code, an address encoder adapted to receive digital code signal from said key module and to drive said radio transmitter to output a remote control signal to a lamp set control box subject to the code signa] from said key module and the address serial code from said first 10 address-setting switch, and a power supply unit, which provides the handheld remote controller with the necessary working voltage; and at least one lamp set control box adapted to control the operation of lamp sets connected thereto subject to the remote 15 control signal from said remote controller, said at least one lamp set control box each comprising a radio receiver adapted to receive remote control signal from said remote controller, a second address-setting switch adapted to set address serial code subject to the address serial code of said remote controller, an address 20 comparator circuit adapted to compare the address serial code of remote control signal received by said radio receiver with the address serial code set by said second address-setting switch and to output a corresponding control signal, a lamp set control module

adapted to receive control signal from said address comparator circuit and to control the operation of lamp sets connected thereto subject to received control signal, and a rectifier circuit adapted to convert AC power supply into DC power supply for the working of 5 the respective lamp set control box.

2. The lamp set remote control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said remote controller further comprises a buzzer and a visual indicator means respectively electrically connected to said address encoder and adapted to provide audio and visual signals 10 respectively upon operation of key module.

3. The lamp set remote control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one lamp set control box each further comprises speaker means electrically connected to the lamp set control module of the respective lamp set control box for voice 15 output.

4. The lamp set remote control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lamp set control module of each of said at least one lamp set control box comprises a flashing control unit adapted to control flashing of lamp sets connected thereto, and a music tone 20 and voice volume control unit adapted to control audio output through speaker means of the respective lamp set control box.

5. A lamp set remote control system substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.

>- (C,g (: o ASTOR PEOPLE Application No: GB 0208366.5 Exarmner: John Donaldson Claims searched: 1 to 5 Date of search: 11 February 2003

Patents Act 1977: Search Report under Section 17 Docmne its consic ered to be relevant: Category Relevant Identity of document and passage or figure of particular relevance to claims X 1 to 4 DE 20200691 U1 (HUGEWIN & WENG), see abstract X, E GB 2372609 A (WENG & HUGEWIN), see abstract, page 5, line 22 to page 6, line 4 X I, WO 94/06106 At (SEIKI), see abstract, page 2, line 30 to page 3, line 5, page 5, lines 24 to 29 X I, US 6348768 B1 (WENG), see abstract, column 3, lines 44 to 54 X,2 US 4780621 (BARTLEUCCI), see abstract, column 2, lines 49 to 56, column 4, lines 17 to 24 Categories X Document indicating lack of novelty or inventive step A Document indicating technological background and/or state of the art.

Y Document indicating lack of inventive step if combined P Document published on or after the declared priority date but before the with one or more other documents of same category. filing date of this invention.

& Member of the same patent family E Patent document published on or after, but with priority date earlier than, the filing date of this application.

Field of Search:

Search of GB EP WO & US patent documents classified in the following areas of the UKCV: G4H Worldwide search of patent documents classified in the following areas of the IPC7: l I G08C, H04Q, H05B I

The following online and ether databases have been used in the preparation of this search report: I | WPI, EPODOC, JAPIO l An Executive Agency of the Department of Trade and Industry