Flexible, interruptible radial bus and bus-mounted bead device
OwnerMyron Walkerinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multi-conductor bus with radially arranged conductor wires on which addressable bead devices that may incorporate light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or other surface mount devices (SMDs) can be easily mounted. The radial bus is designed to provide an improved range of flexibility and motion while allowing for easy addition of bead devices along its length that utilize self-addressing bus protocols such as cascading device protocols. The design of the flexible, interruptible radial bus facilitates the use of pass-through and interrupted paths along the bus that simplifies the installation of addressable devices along the bus such as the bus-mounted bead devices disclosed herein.
Claims20
A flexible, interruptible radial bus on which electronically addressable devices are mounted, comprising:
- a bus including at least three conductor wires arranged in a radial pattern, wherein:
- the at least three conductor wires are connected by a center stabilizer;
- at least a first conductor wire of the at least three conductor wires is uninterrupted through the bus;
- and
- at least a second conductor wire of the at least three conductor wires is interrupted at a mounting location along the bus;
- and
- a bead device configured to be mounted at the mounting location, wherein:
- the bead device is electrically connected to the first conductor wire that is uninterrupted through the bus and the second conductor wire that is interrupted at the mounting location;
- the bead device includes one or more electronically addressable devices;
- and
- the one or more electronically addressable devices are configured to utilize a self-addressing bus protocol.
A method of producing a flexible, interruptible radial bus on which electronically addressable devices are mounted, comprising:
- supplying a bus including at least three conductor wires arranged in a radial pattern, wherein:
- the at least three conductor wires are connected by a center stabilizer;
- at least a first conductor wire of the at least three conductor wires is uninterrupted through the bus;
- and
- at least a second conductor wire of the at least three conductor wires is interrupted at a mounting location along the bus;
- and
- mounting a bead device at the mounting location;
- and
- electrically connecting the bead device to the first conductor wire that is uninterrupted through the bus and the second conductor wire that is interrupted at the mounting location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.