Microprocessor based simulated electronic flame

Abstract

Electronic lighting devices that simulate a realistic flame are disclosed. The preferred embodiment has a plurality of lighting elements in a plurality of colors which are modulated in intensity by a control circuit with a stored program. The control program includes stored amplitude waveforms for the generation of a realistic flame simulation. The program further contains random elements to keep the flame constantly changing. The control circuit has built in power management functions that can control the mean intensity of the simulated flame based on some power management budget with the ability to measure the charge/discharge duration of the power source, when used with a rechargeable power source. The currents to the individual lighting elements are selectable from a set of discrete quantization values. Tables of amplitude modulated time waveforms are stored in the microprocessor memory, from which the real time control data streams for the individual lighting elements are synthesized. By using these stored waveforms many different flame modes can be simulated. Effects such as a random gust of wind and other disturbances are inserted into the flame simulation from time to time. After a simulated disturbance the simulated flame settles back into more of a steady state condition just like a real flame does. The net result is that the simulated flame is a slowly changing series of patterns resulting in soothing and calming effects upon the viewer.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.