GB2490887A

GB2490887A - Decorative light apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2490887A
Application number: GB1108065.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Libman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-05-16
Filing date: 2011-05-16
Publication date: 2012-11-21
Anticipated expiration: 2031-05-16
Also published as: GB2490887B; GB201108065D0

Abstract

A decorative light apparatus, such as for decorating a Christmas tree, comprises one or more ribbon cable 10 coupled together by snap connectors 16,30, at least one of which has an LED (42, fig 5) and a logic circuit 62. The ribbon cable 10 has three power delivering conductors (52, 54, 56, fig 8) and a ground return conductor (58, fig 8). A power supply 48 and sequencing logic 50 control whether each of the power supply conductors (52, 54, 56, fig 8) is at a positive or ground potential. The logic circuit 62 accepts power provided by the conductors (52, 54, 56, fig 8) as logic input and illuminates the LED (42, fig 5) when a predetermined state exists.

Description

Decorative Light Apparatus The present invention relates to decorative lights such as, but not limited to, Christmas tree lights. It particularly relates to apparatus and control methods for controlling switching of individual light elements from among a multitude of light elements.

It is difficult, with Christmas lights tree to find a satisfactory arrangement. Traditional lights come in a fixed length single string with regularly placed lights. Natural trees are not an arrangement of regularly spaced branches.Artifical trees are not designed for a specific lighting string. The present invention seeks to provide for placing of lights in selectable positions up and down the tree and branches without unsightly wire hanging between branches.

With traditional lighting strings, bulbs frequently blow and the string often becomes a tangled mess after removing from the tree. The present invention seeks to provide a lighting arrangement where lights are disinclined to blow and where tangling on removal from a tree is minimized.

Chinese Utility Model application CN 201568796 U discloses a LED light string for use, for example, in decorative Christmas lights where a control circuit requiring a separate independent power to be supplied for the control circuit to operate, can supply LED light strings of predetermined length. The present invention seeks to provide improvement over CN 201568796 by allowing LED strings of indefinite length to be lit and by providing ogic control that does not require separate power to be provided thereto.

The invention provides an apparatus comprising; a ribbon cable having a plurality of at least three conductors; a plurality of snap connectors, each snap connector being capable to be snapped onto the ribbon cable, and each snap connector having a plurality of electrodes configured to contact each of the plurality of at least three conductors when the snap connector is snapped onto the ribbon cable; and a power supply operable, in use, selectably to provide power or not to provide power to at least two of the plurality of conductors and to use at least one of the plurality of conductors as a ground return current path; where least one of the plurality of the snap connectors comprises a light source; the at least one snap connector also comprises a logic circuit operable to monitor the state of connection to power of the at least two of the plurality of conductors to determine when a predetermined state is reached; and the logic circuit is operable to supply energizing current to the light source when the predetermined state is present.

The invention also provides an apparatus wherein the energizing current can be provided through the ground return current path and at last one of the plurality of at least three conductors.

The invention also provides an apparatus wherein the snap connector can be a multiple snap connector, adapted to accept a plurality of ribbon cables and to transfer power from one of the ribbon cables to the others of the plurality of ribbon cables.

The invention also provides an apparatus wherein at least one of the plurality of ribbon cables can be at an angle to an east another of the plurality of ribbon cables.

The invention also provides an apparatus wherein the power supply can include sequencing logic, operable to vary the selectable provision or non-provision of power to the at least two of the plurality of conductors used to provide power.

The invention also provides an apparatus wherein a snap connector, attached to a first point of a first ribbon cable, can be removable there from and reusable at a second point on the same or on another ribbon cable.

The invention also provides an apparatus wherein the logic circuit can be powered whatever of the at least two conductors to which power is selectably provided is in receipt of power.

The invention also provides an apparatus wherein the logic circuit is powered only from one of the conductors which is required to be powered to indicate the predetermined state.

The invention also provides an apparatus wherein the logic circuit can comprise diode-diode combinational logic.

The invention also provides an apparatus wherein the light source can be at least one of; an LED; a laser diode; and incandescent bulb; a fluorescent tube; a fluorescent bulb; an electroluminescent device; a plasma device; and a gas device.

The invention is further explained, by way of example, by the following description to be read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an isometric view of a portion of ribbon cable suitable for use in the invention.

Figure 2 is an isometric view of an exemp'ary sing'e snap connector, empbyable in the invention.

Figure 3 is an isometric view of a multiple snap connector also suitable for use in the present invention.

Figure 4 is an isometric view of the single snap connector of Figure 2 with a Light Emitting Diode (LED) present.

Figure 5 is an elevation of a muftiple snap connector particularly illustrating how electrical connection to the ribbon cables is achieved.

Figure 6, illustrates the basic parts and connections of a light display according to the present invention.

Figure 7 shows an exemplary layout of the elements of Figure 6 on a hypotheUcal real Christmas tree.

Figure 8 shows a first exemplary layout for a controlling logic circuit for controlling the LED.

Figure 9 shows a second exemplary layout for a controlling logic circuit for controlling the LED. and

Figure 10 illustrates a setup showing yet another way to control whether of not the LED is illuminated using passive, diode logic.

Attention is first drawn to Figure 1, an isometric view of a portion of ribbon cable suitable for use in the invention.

Ribbon cab'e 10 comprises a plurality of conductors 12 each bearing insulation 14 and arranged in a flat array, with conductors 12 parallel to each other separated by insulation. The ribbon cable 10 is desned to be connected to power devices by Insulation Displacement Connectors (IDC), as will be described hereafter.

Attention is next drawn to Figure 2, an isometric view of an exemplary single snap connector, employable in the invention.

A single snap connector 16 comprises a first element 18 and a second element 20 separated from one another along a separation 22 and attachable to one another by two or more snap clips 24 arranged to hold, when the snap clips 24 are closed, the first 18 and second 20 elements in registration with one another, A ribbon cable passages 26 are arranged side-by-side, passing through the single connector 16 and being provided in part by the first element 18 and in part by the second element 20. In use, ribbon cable 10 is laid in the portion of the ribbon cable passages 26 in either one 18 20 element and the other element 20 18 closed against the first element 18 20 using the snap clips 24 to hold the ribbon cable 10 firmly within the single snap connector 16 as indicated by arrow 28.

Attention is next drawn to Figure 3, an isometric view of a multiple snap connector also suitable for use in the present invention.

A multiple snap connector 30 comprises a first outer element 32, an intermediate element 34 and a second outer element 36. The first outer element 32 is separated from the intermediate element by a first multiple separation 38 and the second outer element 36 is separated from the intermediate element 34 by a second multiple separation 40. When assembled, snap clips 24 hold the multiple snap connector 30 together with a first ribbon cable 10 fitting within first multiple ribbon cable passages 26A and a second ribbon cable 10 fitting within second multiple ribbon cable passages 2GB. The multiple snap connector 30 is employed to couple ribbon cables 10 to one another to make a branched structure, and/or to extend a ribbon cable 10.

In figure 3 the first and second ribbon cable passages 26A 26B are shown as being oriented at ninety degrees to one another. Within the invention, it is also provided that the angle in a multiple connector can be other than ninety degrees and the angle can be, but is not limited to, twenty two and a half degrees, thirty degrees or forty five degrees.

Attention is next drawn to Figure 4, an isometric view of the single snap connector 18 of Figure 2 with a Light Emitting Diode (LED) present.

Both single 16 and multiple snap connectors 16 30 may be provided with or without an LED 42 attachment. The LED attachment is employed to provide a lighting point for a light array.

Attention is next drawn to Figure 5, an &evation of a multiple snap connector 30 particularly illustrating how electrical connection to the ribbon cables 10 is achieved.

In the examp'e shown in Figure 5, the multiple snap connector 30 is shown, looking into the first ribbon cable passage 26A with the second ribbon cable passage 2GB passing transversely across the figure and shown in broken line.

Power take up electrodes 44 are provided to one side of each wire and insulation accepting portion of the first a outer element 32, those portions of power take up electrodes 44 that are not directly visible being shown in broken line. The protruding portion of each power take up electrode 44 is positioned to penetrate the insulation 14 and to touch the wire 12 when the muftiple snap connector 30 is assembled around ribbon cable 10. The power take up electrodes 44 provide power to control and light the LED 42.

Power transfer electrodes 46 transfer electrical connection between ribbon cable 10 in the first ribbon cable passage 26A and corresponding wires 12 in ribbon cable in the second ribbon cable passage 26B. Those parts of power transfer electrodes 46 that are not directly visible are also shown in broken line. The power transfer electrodes 46 pass through the intermediate element 34.

Those parts of the power transfer electrodes 46 that protrude into the first ribbon cable passage 26A do so on the other side of each wire and insulation accepting portion of the intermediate element 34 that assists in forming the first ribbon cable passage 26A to penetrate the insulation 14 and touch each conductor 12, thereby passing power from a conductor 12 of a ribbon cable 10, in the first ribbon cabal passage 26A to the corresponding conductor 12 of a ribbon cable 10 in the second ribbon cable passage 26B. In the second ribbon cable passage 2GB, the power transfer electrodes 26 also penetrate the insulation 14 and touch the conductor 12 in the ribbon cable 10 in the second ribbon cable passage 2GB.

Attention is next drawn to Figure 6, illustrating the basic parts and connections of a light display according to the present invention.

A DC power supply provides a fixed DC voltage to sequencing logic 50 which accepts the output of the DC power supply 48, and provides, to the ribbon cable 10 voltages suitable for lighting the LEDs 42 on the snap connectors 16 30. In the example shown, there are four conductors 12 in each ribbon cable 10. One conductor 12 is designated as a ground current return at a ground voltage. The other three conductors 12 are supply and ogic lines each capable of assuming a positive voltage or a ground voltage. The positive voltage is capable of driving circuitry such as the LED 42 and associated circuits, and is also capable of providing a logic signal operable to determine whether a particular LED 42 should be provided with power by local circuitry in each snap connector 16 30. The sequencing logic 50 can cause the levels in each of the three logic and power lines to be fixed or changing in any timed or random sequence. If in a timed sequence, the sequencing logic must include a timer or clock.

The DC power supply 48 can be anything from a battery to full power supply box plugged into a power supply main.

In one example, where no change of variation of lighting is required, the sequencing logic 50 can be omitted and the conductors 12 in the ribbon cable 10 permanently wired.

Attention is next drawn to Figure 7, an exemplary layout of the elements of Figure 6 on a hypothetical real Christmas tree. LEDs 42 are distributed about the structure, only a few of which are here indicated because of their large number. A LED 42 must be provided on a snap connector 16 30, but not every snap connector 16 30 needs to be provided with a LED 42. The layout follows a brachiated structure, in sympathy with the structure of the tree itself. Branching points require a multiple snap connector 30, where the angles and numbers of branches depend upon the structure and form of the particular multiple snap connector 30.

It is provided in the invention that a multiple snap connector 30 may be configured to accommodate three or more ribbon cables 10 crossing each other at a junction point.

Alternatively, plural snap connectors 30 may be employed in the vicinity of a branching point to bring the same result.

Attention is next drawn to Figure 8, illustrating a first exemplary layout for a controlling logic circuit for controlling the LED 42.

The ribbing cable 10 comprises, in this example, four conductors 52 54 56 58. The invention also provides that there can be three or more than four conductors, provided that at least one of the plurality of conductors provides a ground current return path.

Each of first 52 second 54 and third 56 conductors can be provided, by the sequencing logic 50, with either a positive supply voltage of with a ground voltage. A fourth conductor 58 provides the ground current return path and is permanently at ground potential.

The first 52, second 54 and third 56 conductors are also provided as logic inputs 60 to a logic circuit 62 operable to provide drive current to the LED 42 when the logical state of the first 52 second 54 and third 56 lines is in a predetermined combination of states. The logic circuit 62 can contain any form of combinational logic.

The logic circuit 62, in this example, is powered through one power diode 64 from each of the first 52 second 54 and third 56 conductors coupled to the power input of the logic circuit 62 with power ground being coupled to the fourth conductor 58.

The LED 42 is coupled in series with a load resistor 66 which determines the current through the LED 42 between the output of the logic circuit 62 and the common point of the power diodes 64.

The arrangement shown in Figure 8 provides that the logic circuit 62 and the LED 42 are both powered no matter which of the first 52 second 54 or third 66 conductors is at a positive potential. Illumination of the LED 42 is determined solely by the logical function of the logic circuit 62 which can be predetermined, or set by a user employing jumpers of switches.

Attention is next drawn to Figure 9, illustrating a second exemplary layout for a controlling logic circuit for controlling the LED 42.

Like numbers in Figure 8 and Figure 9 denote like elements.

The logic circuit is powered from just a single conductor 52 54 56 (the second conductor 54 in this example) which is required to be powered to fulfill the logical condition for the LED 42 to be illuminated. The LED 52 is powered from another of the conductors 52 54 56 (the third conductor 56 in this example), the powering of the another conductor 56 also being required to fulfill the logical condition for the LED 42 to be illuminated. In this manner, two out of three of the conductor 52 54 56 powering requirements for the LED 42 to be illuminated are logically fulfilled by the wiring of the power connections of the logic circuit 62 and of the LED 42, thus simplifying the required complication of the logic circuit 62. The wiring can be predetermined, or selected by wire jumpers or switches.

Attention is next drawn to Figure 10, a setup showing yet another way to control whether of not the LED 42 is illuminated using passive, diode logic.

Logic diodes 68 are coupled to drive the LED 42 in the arrangement shown.

The function illustrated in Figure 10 is for the LED 42 to be illuminated is any of the first 52 second 54 or third 65 conductors is at a positive potential. Of course, not all of the inputs require to be connected to that selection can be made to illuminate the LED 42 when any one, any two or all thee of the conductors 52 54 56 carries a positive voltage. Similar arrangements can be made for the case where there are more than four conductors 52 -58 in the ribbon cable 10.

Those, skilled in the art, will be aware of use of passive diode logic to provide every combinational logic function possible.

By use of an AND gate combinational logic in the present example, where three active conductors 52 54 56 are provided, at total of 7 different selectively illuminatable LEDs 42 in single 16 or multiple snap connectors 30 is possible, as shown in Table 1 below.

First Second Third illumination Conductor Conductor Conductor State 52 54 56 Ground Ground Ground All off Ground Ground Positive State 1 Ground Positive Ground State 2 Ground Positive Positive State 3 Positive Ground Ground State 4 Positive Ground Positive State 5 Positive Positive Ground State 6 Positive Positive Positive State 7 Table 1: Use of AND Combinational Logic Function By use of an OR combinational logic function, in this example, where there are three active conductors 52 54 56, a further three different selectively illuminatable LEDs 42 in single 16 or muftiple snap connectors 30 is possible, as shown in Table 2 below.

First Second Third lllumination Conductor Conductor Conductor State 52 54 56 Ground Ground Ground AU off Positive Positive Ground State 8 Ground Positive Po&tive State 9 Positive Ground Positive State 10 Positive Positive Positive State 11 Table 2: Use of an OR combinational logic function.

Different types of snap connectors 16 30 can be provided, for attachment along ribbon cables to respond to some or all of the Ughting logic functions 1 to 10. Which logic function lights the associated LED 42 can be a hard wired function, or be user selectable by jumper wires or switches.

The design of the snap connectors 16 30 also permits individual snap connectors 16 30 to be removed from one position on a ribbon cable 10 and moved to another position on the same or another ribbon cable 10.

The different states of conductor 52-53 voltages required for illumination the LED 42 in each of the different styles of snap connectors 16 30, as illustrated by tables I and 2 above, can be marked upon each different type of snap connector 16 30 by letters, numbers, images or other indication for visual recognition by a user so that the user can select in advance light patterns to be used. The user can also selectively purchase styles of snap connectors 16 30 to achieve the user's predetermined purpose.

The invention has been described with reference to use of a four conductor 52 54 56 58 ribbon cable 10. It is to be appreciated that the invention also provided for use of more or fewer conductors in a ribbon cable, thereby providing for more or fewer states at shown in Tables I and 2. The invention also provides for there being more than one ground return conductor. The invention has also been described with reference to use of a positive logic convention. It is to be understood that the invention also provided for use, in whole or in pact, of negative logic. The invention has here before been described employing Light Emitting Diode LEDs 42. lt is to be appreciated that the invention also provides for the illuminating device type 42 to be of any form, for use singly or collectively, including, but not limited to, at least one of: Light Emitting Diodes; laser diodes; incandescent bulbs; fluorescent tube and bulbs; electroluminescent devices; plasma devices; and gas devices, It is also to be appreciated that mechanical or solid state realms may be included to protect other circuit element from excessive voltages encountered with some of these devices.

Use of a logic circuit 62 or of diode logic is not strictly necessary. ln many instances, such as states 1, 4, 8 9 and 10 as shown in Tables 1 and 2, direct wiring of the LED 42 between the ground conductor 58 and the appropriated positive conductor 52 54 56 achieves the purpose of selective illumination. Those skilled in the art will be aware of many differemnt ways in which logical selection for LED 42 illumination m ay be achieved.

The invention is further defined by the appended claims.

Claims

Claims 1. An apparatus comprising; a ribbon cable having a plurality of at least three conductors; a pluralfty of snap connectors, each snap connector being capable to be snapped onto the ribbon cable, and each snap connector having a plurality of electrodes configured to contact each of the plurality of at least three conductors when the snap connector is snapped onto the ribbon cable; and a power supply operable, in use, selectably to provide power or not to provide power to at least two of the plurality of conductors and to use at least one of the plurality of conductors as a ground return current path; where least one of the plurality of the snap connectors comprises a light source; the at least one snap connector also commprises a logic circuit operable to monitor the state of connection to power of the at least two of the plurality of conductors to determine when a predetermined state is reached; and the logic circuit is operable to supply energizing current to the light source when the predetermined state is present.
2. The apparatus, according to Claim 1, wherein the energizing current is provided through the ground return current path and at last one of the plurality of at least three conductors.
3. The apparatus, according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein; the snap connector is a multiple snap connector, adapted to accept a plurality of ribbon cables and to transfer power from one of the ribbon cables to the others of the plurality of ribbon cables.
4. The apparatus, according to Claim 3, wherein at least one of the plurality of ribbon cable is at an angle to an least another of the plurality of ribbon cables.
5. The apparatus, according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the power supply includes sequencing logic, operable to vary the selectable provision or non-provision of power to the at least two of the plurality of conductors used to provide power.
6. The apparatus, according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein, a snap connector, attached to a first point of a first ribbon cable, is removable there from and reusable at a second point on the same or on another ribbon cable.
7. The apparatus, according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the logic circuit is powered whatever of the at least two conductors to which power is selectably provided is in receipt of power.
8. The apparatus, according to any one of Claims I to 6, wherein the logic circuit is powered only from one of the conductors which is required to be powered to indicate the predetermined state.
9. The apparatus, according to any one of Claims I to 6, wherein the logic circuit comprises diode-diode combinational logic.
10. The apparatus, according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the light source is at least one of; an LED; a laser diode; an incandescent bulb; a fluorescent tube; a fluorescent bulb; an electroluminescent device; a plasma device; and a gas device.
II. The apparatus, substantially as described with reference to the appended drawings.