Patent · US Expired

Programmable lighting control system for controlling illumination duration and intensity levels of lamps in multiple lighting strings

US5629587A · kind A · utility

83Cited by
19References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 26, 1995
Grant dateMay 13, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 26, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH05B47/155
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A programmable lighting control system for advertising, decorative, artistic, and Christmas lighting applications, consists of a standalone controller, an optional power booster device, and a personal computer compatible software program. The controller receives power via a standard AC outlet receptacle and includes: a plurality of AC output receptacles for connection to either series or parallel connected Christmas tree type lights or the like; a micro-controller to provide timing and control signals that are applied to solid state switching devices to drive the outlet receptacles; a non volatile memory to store custom user defined lighting sequences; a rotary, switch to enable the selection of either pre-programmed sequences or user defined sequences; and a serial communication port. The personal computer compatible software program enables the user to create custom lighting sequences, which can be downloaded to the light controller non volatile memory via the serial port. The optional power booster device can be used to increase the output power capability of each of the individual controller output circuits.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.