MXPA97004769A - Footwear with lighting activated by the movement and module of light for the same with disarming and means to deactivate the bright light inter - Google Patents

Abstract

A light module for use with a shoe-mounted light source includes a battery power supply, a cantilevered spiral spring that forms a switch connected between the power supply and the light source and having open and closed states. Closed so that the light source emits light at a first illumination intensity when the switch is in a closed state, and a fading control circuit connected to the power supply, the light source and the switch to control the supply of energy to the light source when the switch changes from the closed state to the open state so that the intensity of the illumination of the light from the light source decreases with time to produce a fading effect for a brief predetermined period, without import if the switch can change from the open state to the closed state during the first predetermined period

Description

FOOTWEAR WITH LIGHTING ACTIVATED BY THE MOVEMENT AND MODULE OF LIGHT FOR THE SAME WITH DISARMING AND MEANS TO DEACTIVATE THE LIGHTING LIGHT INTERIOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to footwear, and very particularly it is directed to footwear with illumination activated by movement having a light module in the ism! It is well known to place a light emitting diode (LED) inside a shoe heel, so that the light is visible from the outside of the shoe and the light is activated by means of a switch such as a sensitive switch. to the pressure inside the heel of the footwear. When the user lowers the foot and exerts pressure on the pressure sensitive switch when walking or running, a circuit is closed in order to supply power to activate the LED. When the user lifts the foot, lightening the pressure of the pressure sensitive switch, the circuit is opened in order to disconnect the power to the LED. Other known switches that have been provided to the shoe are a switch with mercury tilt and a spiral spring. However, the LED is activated all the time, that is, even with daylight. Since daylighting with LEDs is not perceptible, such lighting is uneconomical and results in unnecessary use of the battery. In addition, with all the previous assemblies, the LED is either completely disconnected or at a certain intensity. In other words, there are no times when the LED is illuminated at different intensities. 0B3ETI 0S AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide footwear with movement activated illumination that has a fading effect in which light produces a decreasing intensity illumination and in which light is prevented from being switched on when the environment has at least a predetermined brightness. In one embodiment, the fading effect occurs for a predetermined period after the switch is changed from its closed state or connected to the open or disconnected state, regardless of whether the switch is changed from its open state to its state of closed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a prespective view of a racing shoe, with the position of the light module shown translucently therein; Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the racing shoe of Figure 1, with the light module shown translucently therein; Figure 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of a light module of the footwear with illumination, activated by movement, according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 is a fully exploded perspective view of a light module of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a circuit wiring diagram showing the equivalent arrangement of electrical circuits for the light module of Figure 3; Figure d is a partially exploded perspective view of a footwear light module with motion activated illumination according to another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 is a fully exploded perspective view of the light module of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a partially exploded perspective view of a footwear light module with motion activated illumination according to yet another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 9 is a fully exploded perspective view of the light module of Figure 8; Figure 10 is a block diagram of the arrangement of the electrical circuits of the light module of Figure 8 showing the fader IC; Figure 11 is a more detailed block diagram of the arrangement of the electrical circuits of the light module of Figure 8, showing the specific arrangement of the circuits within the fader IC; Figures 12A and 12B are waveform diagrams to explain the operation of the arrangement of the circuits of Figure 11; Figure 13 is a diagram of the wiring of the oscillator circuit, time base and a portion of the trigger control of the arrangement of the electrical circuits of Figure 11; Figure 14ft is a circuit wiring diagram of another portion of the trigger control of the electrical circuit arrangement of Figure 11; and Figure 14B is a circuit wiring diagram of yet another portion of the trigger control of the electrical circuit arrangement of Figure 11; and Figure 15 is U? wiring diagram of the regressive counter circuit and the pulse width modulator of the electrical circuits layout of Figure 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially Figures 1-5 thereof, the shoe 8 such as a racing shoe or the like includes a light module 10, according to the first embodiment of the present invention incorporated into the heel of footwear. The light module 10 includes a plastic housing 12 which includes a tabular bottom wall 14, a front wall 16, a rear wall 18, a right side wall 20 and an upper wall 22. The side walls 16, 18 and 20 form an enclosure rectangular that has the same dimensions as the lower wall 14 and is secured thereto. The left side 24 is completely open so that the arrangement of the circuits 26, which will be described later herein, can be mounted therein. In addition, the upper wall 22 has a large opening 28 through which two batteries 30 and 31 can be inserted into a battery compartment 32 in the housing 12 to supply power to the arrangement of the circuits. The batteries 30 and 31 may be, for example, ORA batteries although the present invention is not limited thereto. The housing 12 can be made of any suitable material, but is preferably made of acrylic material. The batteries 30 and 31 are connected in series in the battery compartment 32, as will now be described, to form an energy supply 33. A projecting wall 34 having a cross-section in the form of H in plane, horizontal, is extends inwardly of the interior surface of the rear wall 18, in a position which divides the battery compartment 32 substantially into two parts. Consequently, the projecting wall 34 includes the opposite oriented vertical slits 36 and 38 which are parallel to the wall 18. The height of the projecting wall 34, and therefore the slits 36 and 38, is slightly less than the height of the wall. rear 18. A vertical slit 40 is provided in the right side wall 20 in alignment with, and parallel to, the vertical slit 36, and a fragmentary wall of vertical alignment 42 extends over the entire height of the housing 12 and is fixed between the lower wall 14 and the upper wall 22 on the left side of the opening 28 and in alignment with the front edge of the projecting wall 34. With this arrangement, a first metal plate 44 having a spiral spring 46 and extending from the The second is held within the vertical slits 36 and 40, so that the spiral spring 46 makes contact with the negative terminal of the battery 30, while a second metal plate 48 has a raised portion 5. The battery contact is held within the vertical slit 38 and constrained by the vertical alignment wall 42, so that the raised portion of the battery contact 50 contacts the positive terminal of the battery 31. Doe short walls 52 and 54 directed inwards, each having a height which is the same as that of the housing 12 extend in slightly spaced relationship with the inner surface of the front wall 16 and on opposite sides of the battery compartment 32, in order to define the two opposite vertical slits 56 and 58. A metal plate 60 is supported within the vertical slits 56 and 58, with the metal plate 60 that includes a battery contact riser portion 62 that contacts the positive terminal of the battery. battery 30 and a spiral spring (not shown) that makes contact with the negative terminal of the battery 31. In this way, batteries 30 and 31 are connected in series, with input and the output thereof is carried through the metal plates 44 and 48. In this way, a wire 64 has one end connected to the metal plate 44 and a wire 66 has one end connected to the metal plate 68. , in order to supply power to the arrangement of the circuits 26. A printed circuit board 68 is provided for mounting in the housing 12 through the open left side 24. The arrangement of the circuits 26 includes a capacitor 70, four resistors 62, 64, 76 and 78, and two transistors 80 and 82 mounted on the printed circuit board 68 in a manner to be described hereinafter. In addition, the arrangement of the circuits 26 includes a photosensor 84 mounted on a printed circuit board 86 and connected to several circuit elements on the printed circuit board 68 by means of the wires 87 and 88.

Preferably, the photosensor 84 is a photoconductor diode sensor. The printed circuit board 86 is arranged so that the photosensor 84 is exposed to the light next to the shoe 8, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, to detect bright light such as daylight and such darkness. like the night. The printed circuit board 86 is mounted in the housing 12 through the left side 24 open. Further still, the arrangement of the circuits 26 includes a light source 90, such as a red light emitting diode (LED) mounted on the printed circuit board 92 and connected to several circuit elements on the printed circuit board 68 by means of the wires 94 and 96. The LED 90 is intended to be illuminated only when the light is below the threshold value, for example, during the night and only in the manner specified hereinafter. It is preferred to use a light emitting diode by the light source since an LED provides a radially high intensity with a relatively low power consumption compared to conventional incandescent lighting devices. The low power consumption allows the use of a battery of smaller size and lower cost compared to other sources of light. The size reduction is of maximum importance in footwear. In addition, the LEDs are also available in illuminations of various colors. A last circuit element of the arrangement of the circuits 26 is a switch 98 illustrated schematically in the circuit of Figure 5. The switch 98 is formed by a spiral spring 100 having an end 101 thereof fixedly mounted to a spring clip 102 which is mounted to one end of an elongated printed circuit board 104. The opposite end 106 of the spiral spring 100 is free, so that the spiral spring 100 is mounted in a cantilevered manner on the printed circuit board 104. Specifically, the opposite free end 106 of the spiral spring 100 is mounted in spaced relation above the metal arc 108 which is fixed to the opposite end of the printed circuit board 104. The compensating sphere 110 is fixed to the free end 106 of the spiral spring 100 to secure that the stationary position of the shoe 8, the free end 106 is placed slightly above, but in separate relation with, the metal arc 108. The spring clip 102 and, therefore the fixed end 101 of the coil spring 100, are connected by the electrical wire 112 to the printed circuit board 68, while the metal arc 108 and therefore the free end 106 of the spiral spring 100 when it contacts the metal arc 108, are also connected by the electric wire 114 to the printed circuit board 68. The spiral spring 100 and the printed circuit board 108 are covered by an arched housing of spring 116 having an end closure layer 118. Printed circuit board 68 may be attached to spring housing 116 or end closure layer 118 to provide a unitary assembly. The schematic circuit diagram with all the connections for the arrangement of the circuits 26 is shown in Figure 5. Specifically, the transistor 80 is shown as a bipolar connection NPN transistor, although it is not limited in this way. It is connected to the transistor 80 in a common base configuration, with a series circuit of the resistor 74, the diode photosensor 84 and the resistor 72, connected between the collector and the emitter of the resistor 80, and with the base of the resistor 80 that is connected to the connection of the resistor 74 with the photosensor 84. The resistor 78 is connected between the base of the transistor 82 and the positive terminal of the power supply 33. The photosensor 84 is provided to detect the brightness of the surrounding environment, and adjust for a predetermined brightness. With such a provision, during daylight, that is, when the surrounding environment is brighter than the predetermined brightness set by the photosensor 84, the internal resistance of the photosensor 84 decreases. In this way, the current will flow through the path of the resistor 74, the photosensor 84 and the resistor 72, and not via the base transistor 80. As a result, the transistor 80 will be turned off, so that no current will flow through the path between the emitter and the collector thereof.

During this time, when the switch 98 is closed, the voltage supply of the positive terminal of the power supply 33 will start, and then through the path between the base and the emitter of the transistor 82, the resistors 78, 76 and 74, the photosensor 84, the resistor 72, the switch 98 and back to the negative terminal of the power supply 33. However, this voltage supply is weak and is insufficient to connect the paths between the emitter and the collector of the transistors 80 and 82. In this way, LED 90 will not be activated to emit light. On the other hand, at night, when the photosensor 84 is not illuminated with bright light of at least a predetermined brightness, the internal resistance of the photosensor 84 increases. Due to the high resistance of the photosensor 84 and the resistor 72, only a small portion of current through the photosensor 84 and the resistor 72. At this time, therefore, the current through the base of the resistor 80 will flow, to connect the resistor 80, the largest portion of current flowing through the path between the emitter and the collector of the transistor 80. The collector of the transistor 80 is connected through the resistor 76 to the base of the transistor 82, which is shown as a bipolar PNP transistor, but is not limited thereto. The emitter is connected to the transistor 82 to the positive terminal of the power supply 33, while the collector is connected via the LED 90 to the negative terminal of the power supply 33. During daylight, when the transistor 80 is turned off, no Current flows through the path between the emitter and the collector of transistor 80 to the base of transistor 82. Consequently, transistor 82 is turned off. This means that no current is allowed to flow through the path between the emitter and the transmitter. collector of transistor 82, so that LED 90 is switched off with daylight. During the night, when the transistor is connected 80, current flows through the path between the emitter and the collector of transistor 80 to the base of transistor 82. Consequently, transistor 82 is turned on. This means that current is allowed to flow through the path between the transmitter and the collector of the transistor 82, so that the LED 90 can be switched on during the night. In particular, the switch 98 is connected at one end through the capacitor 70 to the positive terminal of the power source 33 and to the emitter of the transistor 82, and at the opposite end to the negative terminal of the power source 33 and to the LED 90 In this way, the circuit is completed only when the switch 98 is closed, that is, when the free end 106 of the spring 100 makes contact with the metal arc 108. Consequently, when the light module 10 is in equilibrium, it is say, in a static state when the shoe 8 is stationary, and the free end 106 of the spiral extension spring 100 is designed to not contact the metal arc 108 of the battery. In other words, the spiral extension spring 100 has sufficient rigidity so that the free end 106 extends horizontally above the upper surface of the metal arc 108, as shown in FIG. 3. Thus, it is not supplies power to the LED 90, and the LED 90 will not light. However, during the night, when the light module 10 is activated by a simple up and down movement, such as in a footstep movement, this movement will vibrate the extension spring 100, and the spiral extension spring 100 in vibration will contact the upper surface of the metal arch 108 with each vibration. Each time the spiral spring 100 contacts the metal arc 108, the circuit will be closed and power will be supplied to the LED 90 to cause it to emit visible light to human eyes. It will be appreciated that each, vibration will connect the power supply 33, that is, the batteries 30 and 31, to the LED 90, and also, it will operate to disconnect the power supply 33 to the LED 90. In this way, when the module 10 is activated by the movement, the circuit will alternate between a connected state and a disconnected state. Specifically, in the connected state, the spiral spring 100 contacts the metal arc 108 when the spiral spring 100 is moving in a downward motion, and the circuit of the light module 10 is closed. However, when the spiral spring 100 is in its upward movement, the spiral spring 100 is not in contact with the metal arcs 108. This upward movement of the spiral spring 100 will open the circuit of the light module 10, so that the LED 90 will illuminate. In this way, each time the circuit completes these two states of connected and disconnected, the LED 90 will emit light in order to stimulate a flashing light. When the circuit is opened and closed by the sequential vibrations of the movement, for example, when the person is walking, LED 90 will emit a series of flashes, which will have a flashing visible to human eyes. The compensating sphere 110 is added to the free end 106 of the spiral extension spring 100 to add weight thereto to thereby intensify the downward movement that will provide the best connection between the spiral spring 100 and the meta arc 108. This is better. Connection ratio in the extension spring 100 and metal arc 108 provides the LED 90 with a more stable power source which, in turn, provides a greater degree of illumination for LED 90. Therefore, the dial compensation 110 provides a more reliable connection ratio between the spiral tension spring 100 and the metal arc 108, without affecting the upward movement of each vibration. Therefore, the characteristics of the extension spring 100, such as the thickness of the spring and the like, will have to be taken into account to determine the effects of the compensation sphere 110. In addition to that the LED 90 is capable of being activated only at night (or in a dark environment), a fading effect is provided when the LED 90 is connected. Specifically, in the dark, when the switch 98 is closed, the LED 90 is connected with a constant intensity of illumination, since the LED 90 is a power supplied by the capacitor 70 and is fully charged to the constant power supply voltage 33. However, when the switch 98 is opened, the LED 90 is a power used by the capacitor discharge 70 Since the capacitor 70 is charged when the switch 98 is closed, the capacitor voltage at that time is the same as in the power supply 33. However, when the switch 9 is opened 8, the power supply 33 is disconnected, and consequently, the capacitor 70 is discharged to supply the power LED 90. As the voltage decreases during such a discharge, the illumination intensity of the LED 90 will therefore decrease. This produces a fading effect, until the switch 98 is closed again, whereupon the full energy of the power supply is supplied once more. supplied to the LED 90. The discharge rate of the capacitor 70 is determined by the receivers 76 and 78. Hereinafter, the reference to a power source will mean a combination of the power supply 33 and the capacitor 70, which in combination, provide power to activate the LED 90. Although the capacitor 70 will be discharged through the path between the emitter and the collector of the transistor 82 with the switch 98 being open at night, the largest portion of the discharge through the circuit travels from of the capacitor 70, through resistors 78 and 76 and through the path between the collector and the emitter of the transistor 80, and back to the capacitor 70. Of course, if the shoe 8 is moved to a stationary position the capacitor 70 will be completely discharged, and since the switch 98 will be open, the LED 90 will not light at all. In operation, when the surrounding environment detected by the photosensor 84 is dark or close to dark, the transistor 80 is switched on to allow the current to flow through the path between the emitter and the collector thereof. When the switch 98 is closed, there will be a closed circuit in positive terminal of the power supply 33, through resistors 78 and 76, through the transistor 80 and in negative terminal of the power supply 33. This has the effect of connecting the transistor 82, whereby the energy in LED 90 is supplied to emit light according to the full charge in the capacitor 70. When the switch 98 is open, i.e. the free end 106 of the spring 100 is not in contact with the metal arc 108, the circuit by which the capacitor 70 was charged is interrupted. Due to the current supplied by the capacitor 70 through the path between the emitter and the collector of the transistor 80, the transistor 82 is retained in its state of connected. In addition, you start to download the capacitor from its full state to a lower load. As the load is reduced, the amount of light emitted by the LED 90 is reduced, to achieve a fading or opaque effect. The discharge rate of capacitor 70 will depend on the resistance value of resistors 76 and 78 and connected transistor 82. When the capacitor 70 is completely discharged, and the switch 98 is open, the LED 90 will stop emitting light completely. When the surrounding environment detected by the photosensor 84 is bright, the transistor 80 is switched on to prevent the flow of current through the path between the emitter and the collector thereof. In this way, the following important aspects are achieved by the present invention: (a) the spiral spring 100 is placed without direct contact with the batteries 30 and 31; (b) a fading effect is achieved; and (c) no illumination will be produced by the LED 90 when there is a bright environment. As an alternative embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, one or more of the LEDs 120, 122 and 124 may be added to the arrangement of the circuits 26 instead or, in addition to the LED 90. Co or shown, the LED 120 in a lower side portion of the shoe 8, the LED 122 is placed in an upper side portion of the shoe 8, and the LED 124 is placed in an upper front portion of the shoe 8. In such case, the hooking is placed between the shoe top material 8 so that the wiring is not exposed and the LED is attached to the side and top portions of the shoe 8 with adhesive substance. Referring now to Figures 6 and 7, a light module 210 according to another embodiment of the invention will now be described in which the elements corresponding to the light module 10 will be identified and shown by the same reference numbers, increased by 200 As shown therein, instead of the two AAA batteries 30 and 31, a single lithium battery 230 is provided, which is provided in a circular housing 212 having a cover 213 fixed thereto with a type closure bayonet. The housing 212 is mounted to the upper surface of the printed circuit board 268 between the various circuit elements 270, 272, 274, 276, 280, 282 and 284 mounted on the printed circuit board 268. The contacts are provided and / or suitable electrical wires connecting the battery 230 and / or in housing 212 to the various circuit elements to supply the same with power. Of course, a housing (not shown) will also be provided to house all the components of Figures 6 and 7. It will be appreciated that the light source (LEDs) is shown independently of the module itself, although the LEDs in the module. In both cases, the LEDs are mounted on the footwear, either independently or as part of the module. However, when the previous light module is subject to rapid, continuous movement, the commutator is formed by the coil spring 100, changes after the connected state and the disconnected state very quickly. As a result, any discharge of the capacitor 70 is small so that the fading effect is minimal. In other words, the LEDs effectively remain in the brightest illumination without any discernible fading effect. Referring to Figures 8-15, a light module 310 according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described in which the elements corresponding to the light module 10 are identified and shown by the same reference numerals, increased by 300 , but in which the fading effect occurs for a certain period after the switch is changed from its closed state or connected to its open or disconnected state, regardless of whether the switch is changed back from its state of open to its closed state. The light module 310 includes a plastic housing 312 having a rectangular bottom wall 314, a front wall 316, a rear wall 318, a right side wall 320 and an upper wall 322. The side walls 316, 318, 320 form a rectangular enclosure that has the same dimensions as the bottom wall 314 and is fixed thereto. The left side 324 is completely open so that the arrangement of the circuits 325, which will be described hereinafter, can be mounted therein. In addition, the upper wall 322 has a large opening 328 through which two batteries 330 and 331 can be inserted into a battery compartment 332 in a housing 312 to supply the arrangement of the power circuits. The batteries 330 and 331 may be, for example, AAO batteries, although the present invention is not limited thereto. The 312 housing can be made of any suitable material, but it is preferably made of an acrylic material. The batteries 330 and 331 are connected in the battery compartment 332 in the same manner as the batteries 30 and 31 of the first embodiment, and consequently, a detailed description of the assembly of the batteries in order to form this battery is not repeated here. connection in series. Accordingly, batteries 330 and 331, which form an energy supply 333, are connected in series with the inlet and outlet thereof which is conducted through the metal plates 344 and 348, with a wire 364 having one end connected to the metal plate 344 and a wire 366 having one end connected to the metal plate 348, in order to supply the power to the arrangement of the circuits 326. A circuit board 366 is provided for mounting in the housing 312 through the left side 324 open. The arrangement of the circuits 326 includes the light sources 390a and 390b, such as red light-emitting diodes (LEDs), each mounted on a respective printed circuit board 392a and 392b and connected to several circuit elements on the control board. circuit 368 by means of wire pairs 396 and 397, respectively. The arrangement of the circuits 326 further includes a switch 398 that is identical in all aspects pertinent to the switch 98 and is formed by an eepiral spring 400, a spring fastener 402 that mounts an end of the spring 400 in a cantilevered manner on a tabletop. printed circuits 411, a metal arc 408 positioned adjacent the free end of the spring 400 on a printed circuit board 411, and a compensating sphere 412 fixed in the same manner as in the first mode on the printed circuit board 411. As in the first embodiment, spring 398 is covered by an arcuate spring housing 416 having an end closure cap 418.

A block diagram of the arrangement of the circuits 326 is shown in Figure 10. Specifically, an integrated circuit 500 (CD 6601) for controlling the power supply to the LEDs 390a and 390b has two outputs OUT 1 and OUT 2 connected to the cathode terminals of the LEDs 390a and 390b, respectively, to supply power thereto. The opposite anode terminals of the LEDs 390a and 390b are connected to the positive terminal of the power supply 333 which supplies a voltage of Vtc, for example, of 3 volts. The voltage Vcc is also supplied to an input of the integrated circuit 500. The opposite negative terminal in the power supply 333 is connected to a GND ground input of the integrated circuit 500. A resistor 502 is connected between an OSCO oscillator output terminal. of the integrated circuit 500 and an OSCI oscillator input terminal of the integrated circuit 500. In addition, the switch 398 is connected between the negative terminal of the power supply 333 and a TRIGGER drive input of the integrated circuit 500. In basic operation, when the switch 398 is closed, for example, when the compensated end and the spiral spring 400 makes contact with the arched bridge 408 to close the switch 398, full power from the power supply 333 is supplied to the LEDs 390a and 390b in order to illuminate the same with full intensity. When the compensated end of the coil spring 400 ßl arched bridge 408 is lifted in order to open the switch 398, the integrated circuit 500 supplies a decreasing voltage to the LEDs 390a and 390b for a period redeemed so as to decrease the intensity thereof during this period in order to produce a fading effect. This fade effect during the given period occurs, regardless of whether the switch 398 closes again, that is, if the compensated end of the coil spring 400 subsequently contacts the arc bridge 408. After the predetermined period has elapsed , if the compensated end of the spiral spring 400 makes contact with the arc bridge 408 again, the above operation is repeated. As a result, a fading effect that is visible during the predetermined period, which may be 2 or 3 seconds, is clearly noticeable. The typical values used with the integrated circuit 500 are shown in the following table: Figure 11 shows the more detailed circuit arrangement of the integrated circuit 500. Specifically, the integrated circuit 500 includes an oscillator 510 which is preferably an RC-type oscillator and which generates a time control signal of 64 KHz in the exit from it. The OSCI oscillator input and the OSCO oscillator output are connected with the oscillator 510 through the resistor 502. The output of the oscillator 510 is supplied to a time base circuit 511 of integrated circuit 500, which is preferably a transport counter undulating that provides other clock frequencies for another arrangement of the circuits within the integrated circuit 500. An activating control circuit 512 of the integrated circuit 500 includes the aforementioned trigger input TRIGGER which is activated with the closure and opening of the switch 398, as is shown in Figures 11 and 140. The trigger control circuit 512 is an input control that activates another arrangement of the integrated circuit circuits 500 as will be explained hereafter. The trigger control circuit 512 produces an output signal OSCJ? N which is supplied to the oscillator 510 in order to enable it to a connected switch signal activator which is used to set the two output ports of the circuit 500 to a value low, and a switch signal connected IN_HIGH that will be discussed below in the present.

The integrated circuit 500 also includes a counter aggressive 514 which receives an input clock from the time base circuit 511 and is allowed by a disconnected switch signal IN_HI6H of the trigger control circuit 512 to generate a descending waveform. The output of an aggressive counter 514 is supplied to a six-bit pulse width modulator (PUM) circuit 516 that controls two FETs 518 and 520 as switching transistors to control the level of the loops of the OUT 1 and OUT output terminals. 2 in order to control the lighting intensity of the 390A and 390B LEDs. In operation, when the switch 398 is closed, as represented by To in Figure 12A, the energy of the output terminals OUT 1 and OUT 2 is 0, so that the LEDs 390A and 390B do not light up. At time Ti, when the switch 398 is closed, there is a transition in the TRIGGER trigger input to the integrated circuit 500 which causes complete power with the integrated circuit 500 to be supplied to the LEDs 390A and 390B. This full power continues while the switch 398 is closed. At time T2, when the switch 398 is opened, there is another transition in the TRIGGER trigger input to the integrated circuit 500, which results in the integrated circuit 500 supplying an energy or voltage of increasing to the LEDs 390A and 390B at the output terminals OUT 1 and OUT 2, decreasing linearly or ramping for a predetermined period, for example, 2 seconds up to the time T3 until the power supply to the LEDs 390a and 390b is 0. This is followed by a rest period of 1 second from time T3 to time T4 during which no power is supplied to LEDs 390a and 390b. During this predetermined period of 2 to time T "the switch 398 is again closed again, the period of time T2 is not affected by time T3 and the rest period of time T3 by T". For example, as shown in Figures 12a and 12b there is a transition in the activating input during the period of rest in time T3 and T «. However, no change is made during that time even if the switch 398 is closed. If at the end of the idle period, at time TÍ, if the switch 398 remains closed or subsequently closed, as shown, full power is supplied. to the LEDs 390a and 390b. Consequently, the LEDs 390a and 390b are completely illuminated. Subsequent to this, if there is another transition in time Ts by which the switch 398 is opened, the ramp descent of the time Ts to the time Te occurs once again, followed by the rest period below. In the given example, there is a transition in TSA with which the switch 398 is closed during the descent period. However, this does not affect the low voltage ramp supplied to the output terminals OUT 1 and OUT 2. As a result, even if the switch 398 is closed again, the fading effect continues.

The preferred diagrams of the circuit wiring for the various elements of the integrated circuit 500 are shown in FIGS. 13-15 and a detailed description thereof is not provided as this would be readily apparent to one skilled in the art. In this way, with the last embodiment of the present invention, a fading effect will be imitated when the switch 398 is opened, ie, it goes from a connected position to a disconnected position. During this demise effect, if the switch 398 is again closed (ON), it will bypass the signal of the switch 398 and will not interrupt the fading cycle until the fading cycle is completed. If the switch 398 remains connected at the end of the fading cycle or is subsequently closed (ON), the LEDs 390a and 390b will light, and thereafter, when the switch 398 is released again, another fading cycle will occur. It will be appreciated therefore that, with the present invention, a fading effect is achieved and continues for a predetermined period, regardless of ßi the switch 398 is closed again. In this way, for example, if a person is running fast, whereby the spiral spring 400 moves rapidly up and down, yet there will be fading effect for a certain period, regardless of the fact that the switch is continuously open and closed during the fading period. In addition, as shown in Figures 11 and 13, the trigger control 512 also includes an input and a disposition of the RESET circuits associated therewith for readjusting the integrated circuit 500 in order to set it to 0. The EN output of this set of circuits to readjust the inputs of the time bank 511 to readjust it. In order to determine that the circuit set is operating correctly, and as shown in Figures .1.1 and 14b, the activator controller 512 includes an input and circuit set associated therewith to examine the integrated circuit 500 in order to determine which is operating correctly. In this regard, the output signal TM produced by the trigger control 512 is supplied to the circuit 510a (FIG. 13) at the output of the oscillator 510 to force the oscillator 510 to produce a test signal F128A which is supplied to the base input. of times 511. The TM signal functions as an acceleration signal to speed up the operation when the TM signal is supplied during a disc analysis procedure. Having described the specific preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to those precise embodiments and that various changes and modifications may be made thereto by one of ordinary skill in the art. without deviating from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (15)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A light module for use with a shoe-mounted light source, comprising: a power supply for supplying energy; a switch for electrically connecting and disconnecting the energy of said power supply to said light source and having an open state and a closed state so that said light source is activated to emit light at a first illumination intensity when said switch is in said closed state; and a fading control circuit connected to the light source and the switch to control the power supply to the light source when the switch changes from the closed state to the open state so that the illumination intensity of the light decreases emitted by the light source over time to produce in effect fading.

2. A light module according to claim 1, further characterized in that: said fading control circuit includes a capacitor for storing energy from said power supply and for discharging the stored energy by being connected said capacitor to said light source to activate said light source; and said switch opens and closes a connection so that: when said switch closes said connection, said capacitor charges to a full capacity thereof as determined by said power supply and said light source is activated to emit light at a first intensity. in accordance with said full capacity of the charge on said capacitor, and when said switch opens said connection, said capacitor is discharged from said full capacity thereof, and said light source is activated to emit light at a lower intensity than said first intensity and that decreases with time, in accordance with said discharge, to produce a fading effect.

3. A light module according to claim 2, further characterized in that said fading control circuit further includes a resistor circuit for determining the timing of said discharge from said capacitor, said resistor circuit being connected between said capacitor and said light source.

4. A light module according to claim 3, further characterized in that said fading control circuit includes? N excitation transistor having an output path connected to said light source, and an input; and said resistor circuit is connected between said capacitor and the input of said excitation transistor.

5. A light module according to claim 4, further characterized in that: said excitation transistor has a base as in the input and a trajectory between collector and relay as the output path or connected in series with said light source; and said resistor circuit includes: a first resistive element connected between a terminal of said transistor and the base of the excitation transistor, in the second resistive element connected between an opposite terminal of said capacitor and the base of said excitation transistor.

6. A light module according to claim 1, further characterized in that said switch provides intermittently electrical connection to the movement of said module, and said switch includes a spring connected in a cantilevered manner so that one end of such spring is connected electrically to one of said fading control circuit and said power supply and the opposite free end of said spring is electrically connected intermittently with the other of said fading control circuit and said power supply with the movement of said module , to provide the aforementioned opening and closing of said switch.

7. A light module according to claim 1, further comprising: a photosensor to detect ambient light and to prevent activation of said light source when said photosensor detects ambient light of an intensity greater than a predetermined intensity, regardless of whether said switch provides said electrical connection.

8. A light module according to claim 1, further characterized in that said photosensor includes: a photoconductive sensor having an internal resistance of at least a first value with said ambient light is less than said predetermined intensity and that dilutes of said first value with the increasing intensity of said ambient light, a transistor to prevent the activation of said light source in response to detecting the intensity of said ambient light greater than said predetermined intensity, regardless of whether said switch provides said connection electrical, said transistor including an output path to supply power from said power source to activate said light source, and an input, and said photoconductive sensor is connected to the output path of said transistor, and has an input connected at the input of said transistor, so that: after detecting ambient light of a lower intensity than Such predetermined intensity, said photoconductive sensor has said internal resistance of at least said first value, to substantially avoid the flow of current therethrough, then which current flows to the output of said transistor to connect said transistor to enable the power supply through the output path thereof and to activate said light source, and after detecting the ambient light of an intensity greater than said predetermined intensity, the photoconductor sensor has said internal resistance lower than said first value to enable The flow of current therethrough, after which the current flows mainly through the photoconductive sensor rather than through the input of said transistor, and said transistor is disconnected to prevent the supply of energy through the path of the transistor. output to prevent the activation of said light source.

9. A light module according to claim 8, further characterized in that: said transistor includes an input, and an output path connected between said light source and a terminal of said capacitor, to supply power to activate said source of light.

10. A light module according to claim 1, further characterized in that said deenergizing control circuit controls energy supplies to the light source when the switch changes to the closed state to the open state so that the intensity of the the invasion of the light emitted from the light source diminishes with time to achieve a fading effect during a first predetermined period, regardless of whether the switch can change to the state of open to the closed state during said first predetermined period.

11. A light module according to claim 10, further characterized in that said fading control circuit is an integrated circuit.

12. A light module according to claim 10, further characterized in that said fading control circuit includes: a timing circuit to produce time-lapse sensors; an energy control circuit for controlling the amount of energy supplied to said light source; and an activating control circuit for controlling the operation of said power control circuit in response to a connection of said switch so that said power control circuit reduces a power supply to the light source over time when the switch changes to the closed state to the open state to produce said fading effect during said first predetermined period, regardless of whether the switch can change from the open state to the closed state during said first predetermined period.

13. A light module according to claim 12, further characterized in that said energy control circuit includes: a receipt counter that is enabled by said trigger control circuit when said switch changes from said closed state to said state of open; and a pulse width modulator that transforms an output of said revertive counter to a pulse width modulated signal corresponding to an amount of energy to be delivered to said light source.

14. A light module according to claim 13, further characterized in that said regressive counter produces an output signal corresponding to a descending waveform during said first predetermined period, and further produces an output signal corresponding to? N rest state during a second predetermined period following the first predetermined period, and said activating control circuit prevents the activation of said fading control circuit to avoid supplying power to said light source during said second predetermined period.

15. A light module according to claim 1, further comprising a switching transistor connected in the fading control circuit and the light source, to control the voltage level supplied to the light source for control purposes. the illumination intensity of the light source.