# US 2021/0278069 A1 · Variable multi-color led light string and controller for an artificial tree > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0278069 A1 - Document ID: US20210278069A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/329,736 - Filed: 2021-05-25 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-04 - Assignees: Polygroup Macau Limited (BVI) - Applicants: Polygroup Macau Limited (Bvi) - Inventors: Chi Yin Alan Leung; Chi Kin Samuel Kwok - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210278069A1 ## CPC - F21V 23/003: {the elements being electronics drivers or controllers for operating the light source, e.g. for a LED array} - F21S 4/10: with light sources attached to loose electric cables, e.g. Christmas tree lights - F21V 23/00: Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices {(characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/508)} - F21V 23/001: {the elements being electrical wires or cables} - F21V 23/02: the elements being transformers, impedances {or power supply units, e.g. a transformer with a rectifier} - H05B 45/10: Controlling the intensity of the light - H05B 45/20: Controlling the colour of the light - H05B 45/40: Details of LED load circuits - H05B 47/155: Coordinated control of two or more light sources - F21W 2121/04: for Christmas trees - F21Y 2103/10: comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements - F21Y 2113/17: forming a single encapsulated light source - F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED] - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - F21W: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS - F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED ## Abstract Certain embodiments of the disclosed technology include a decorative lighting system that can be integrated with an artificial tree. The decorative lighting system may include a white light emitting diode (LED) light string and a variable-color LED light string. The variable-color LED light string may employ LED lamps having embedded Red, Green, and Blue (RGB) LEDs. The RGB LED lamps may include an embedded integrated circuit (IC) configured to communicate with and control the energizing of each of the corresponding RGB LEDs to create a multitude of colors and color combinations that can vary with time to create a light show. An electronic controller in communication with the LED lamps may allow a user to select the mode for the light show and further may provide a periodic reset signal to restart or re-synchronize the light show. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lighted artificial tree comprising: a power cord; a wiring harness having two or more electrical conductors; a first tree segment having a first decorative lighting system, the first decorative lighting system comprising: a first variable-color LED light string, the first variable-color LED light string comprising a first plurality of variable-color LED lamps, each of the first plurality of variable-color LED lamps comprising a plurality of color LEDs; and a first integrated circuit (IC) configured to communicate with the wiring harness and the first plurality of variable-color LED lamps; and a second tree segment having a second decorative lighting system, the second decorative lighting system comprising: a second variable-color LED light string, the second variable-color LED light string comprising a second plurality of variable-color LED lamps, each of the second plurality of variable-color LED lamps comprising a plurality of color LEDs; a second IC configured to communicate with the wiring harness and the second plurality of variable-color LED lamps; and a controller in communication with the wiring harness and configured to receive user input, the controller comprising a processor and at least one memory operatively coupled to the processor and configured for storing data instructions that, when executed by the controller, cause the processor to perform a method comprising: transmitting, by the controller and to the first variable-color LED light string, instructions for selectively controlling at least one variable-color LED lamp of the first variable-color LED light string according to a user input; and transmitting, by the controller and to the second variable-color LED light string, instructions for selectively controlling at least one variable-color LED lamp of the second variable-color LED light string according to a user input. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the lighted artificial tree further comprises a third tree segment having third decorative lighting system, the third decorative lighting system comprising: a third variable-color LED light string, the third variable-color LED light string comprising a third plurality of variable-color LED lamps, each of the third plurality of variable-color LED lamps comprising a plurality of color LEDs; and a third IC configured to communicate with the wiring harness and the third plurality of variable-color LED lamps. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The lighted artificial tree of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured for storing data instructions that, when executed by the controller, cause the processor to perform a method comprising: transmitting, by the controller and to the third variable-color LED light string, instructions for selectively controlling at least one variable-color LED lamp of the third variable-color LED light string according to a user input. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The lighted artificial tree of claim 3, wherein a brightness and a color of one or more LEDs of the plurality of color LEDs of the first decorative lighting system is controlled by Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) signals. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The lighted artificial tree of claim 1 further comprising at least one white LED light string. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the plurality of color LEDs of the first decorative light system comprises a red, a green, and a blue LED. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein a color of a variable-color LED lamp of the first decorative light system is determined by varying a pulse width modulation output from the first IC to each respective color LED of the variable-color LED lamp of the first decorative light system. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the wiring harness provides series wiring configurations for providing power and control to the respective pluralities of variable-color LED lamps of the first and second variable-color LED light strings. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the wiring harness provides parallel wiring configurations for providing power and control to the respective pluralities of variable-color LED lamps of the first and second variable-color LED light strings. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The lighted artificial tree of claim 2, wherein the first, second, and third decorative lighting systems are separately and independently controllable by the controller. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the controller includes a selection switch for controlling a desired lighting mode. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the controller transmits a control signal for resetting a color show sequence of the color LEDs in the respective decorative lighting systems. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The lighted artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to receive indications representative of user selections for displaying one or more illumination sequence. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The lighted artificial tree of claim 13, wherein a user can select from at least the following illumination sequences: (1) variable-color LED illumination sequence; (2) white LED illumination sequence; and/or (3) both the white LED illumination sequence and the variable-color LED illumination sequence. ### Claim 15 A lighted artificial tree comprising: a power cord; a controller configured to (i) receive user input related to a desired illumination property and (ii) transmit instructions for selectively controlling one or more LED lamps based on the received desired illumination property; a first trunk portion comprising: a first trunk body; a first wiring harness having two or more electrical conductors configured to be disposed at least partially within the first trunk body; a first connection mechanism; a first plurality of branch segments extending axially from the first trunk portion; and a first variable-color LED light string distributed across the first plurality of branch segments, the first variable-color LED light string comprising a first plurality of LED lamps, each of the first plurality of LED lamps comprising a plurality of LEDs; and a first integrated circuit (IC) configured to communicate with the first wiring harness and the first plurality of variable-color LED lamps; and a second trunk portion comprising: a second trunk body; a second wiring harness having two or more electrical conductors configured to be disposed at least partially within the second trunk body; a second connection mechanism; a second plurality of branch segments extending axially from the first trunk portion; and a second variable-color LED light string distributed across the second plurality of branch segments, the second variable-color LED light string comprising a second plurality of LED lamps, each of the second plurality of LED lamps comprising a plurality of LEDs; and a second IC configured to communicate with the second wiring harness and the first plurality of variable-color LED lamps, wherein the first connection mechanism is configured to mate with the second connection mechanism when the first trunk portion is mated with the second trunk portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The lighted artificial tree of claim 15, wherein the plurality of LEDs of the first variable-color LED light string comprises a red, a green, and a blue LED. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The lighted artificial tree of claim 16, wherein the plurality of LEDs of the first variable-color LED light string further comprises a white LED. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The lighted artificial tree of claim 15, wherein a color of an LED lamp of the first variable-color LED light string is determined by varying a pulse width modulation output from the first IC to each respective LED of each respective LED lamp of the first variable-color LED light string. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The lighted artificial tree of claim 15, wherein the second trunk portion further comprises at least one white LED light string. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The lighted artificial tree of claim 19, wherein a first electrical conductor of the two or more electrical conductors of the second wiring harness controls the at least one white LED light string, and a second electrical conductor of the two or more electrical conductors of the second wiring harness controls the second variable-color LED light string, and further wherein both the first and second electrical conductors are in communication with the controller. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The lighted artificial tree of claim 15, wherein the desired illumination property can include one or more of LED brightness level, illumination sequence, blinking speed, and variable color-LED lamp color. ### Claim 22 A lighted artificial tree comprising: a first tree segment having a first decorative lighting system, the first decorative lighting system comprising: a first wiring harness; a plurality of variable-color LED light strings including at least a first and second variable-color LED light string, each of the plurality of variable-color LED light strings comprising a plurality of variable-color LED lamps, each of the plurality of variable-color LED lamps comprising a plurality of color LEDs including at least one white LED; and a first integrated circuit (IC) configured to communicate with the first wiring harness and the variable-color LED lamps; a second tree segment having a second decorative lighting system, the second decorative lighting system comprising: a second wiring harness a third variable-color LED light string, the third variable-color LED light string comprising a plurality of variable-color LED lamps, each of the plurality of variable-color LED lamps comprising a plurality of color LEDs including at least one white LED; and a second IC configured to communicate with the first wiring harness and the variable-color LED lamps; and a controller in communication with the wiring harness and configured to receive user input, the controller comprising (i) a processor and (ii) at least one memory operatively coupled to the processor, the memory configured for storing data instructions that, when executed by the controller, cause the processor to perform a method comprising: transmitting, by the controller and through the first wiring harness to the first variable-color LED light string, instructions for selectively controlling at least one variable-color LED lamp of the first variable-color LED light string according to a user input; transmitting, by the controller and through the first wiring harness to the second variable-color LED light string, instructions for selectively controlling at least one variable-color LED lamp of the second variable-color LED light string according to a user input,; and transmitting, by the controller and through the second wiring harness to the third variable-color LED light string, instructions for selectively controlling at least one variable-color LED lamp of the third variable-color LED light string according to a user input. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The lighted artificial tree of claim 22, wherein the controller is configured to receive indications representative of user selections for displaying different illumination sequences. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The lighted artificial tree of claim 23, wherein a user can select from at least the following illumination sequences: (1) variable-color LED illumination sequence; (2) white LED illumination sequence; and/or (3) both the white LED illumination sequence and the variable-color LED illumination sequence. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The lighted artificial tree of claim 22, wherein at least one variable-color LED light string of the plurality of variable-color LED light strings and another variable-color LED light string of the plurality of variable-color LED light strings are wired in series via the wiring harness. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The lighted artificial tree of claim 22, wherein at least one variable-color LED light string of the plurality of variable-color LED light strings and another variable-color LED light string of the plurality of variable-color LED light strings are wired in parallel via the wiring harness. ### Claim 27 A decorative lighting system for integration into a lighted artificial tree, the decorative lighting system comprising: a wiring harness having two or more electrical conductors; a plurality of variable-color LED lamps, each variable-color LED lamp comprising a plurality of color LEDs and at least one white LED; a plurality of integrated circuits (ICs) configured to communicate with the wiring harness and the plurality of variable-color LEDs; and a controller in communication with the wiring harness and configured to (i) receive user input and (ii) transmit, to the plurality of ICs, instructions for selectively controlling at least one variable-color LED lamp according to a user input, wherein a first electrical conductor of the two or more electrical conductors is configured to electrically communicate with the plurality of color LEDs, and a second electrical conductor of the two or more electrical conductors is configured to electrically communicate with the at least one white LED. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) the decorative lighting system of claim 27, wherein the controller is configured to receive indications representative of user selections for displaying different desired illumination sequences. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The decorative lighting system of claim 28, wherein a user can select from at least the following desired illumination sequences: (1) variable-color LED illumination sequence; (2) white LED illumination sequence; and/or (3) both the white LED illumination sequence and the variable-color LED illumination sequence. ### Claim 30 (depends on 27) The decorative lighting system of claim 27, wherein a portion of the plurality of variable-color LED lamps is configured to connect with the artificial lighted tree at a first connection point and a portion of the at least one white LED is configured to connect with the artificial lighted tree at a second connection point.