US 5,969,479 A · Light flashing system

Abstract

A light-flashing system for flashing lights on and off and for generating a pattern of illumination for a plurality of lights in response to intermittent switch closures. The system includes a battery, a plurality of light-emitting elements, a plurality of transistors which enable the illumination of the light-emitting elements, a switch, a capacitor, and a pattern-generation circuit. The battery powers the light-emitting elements and the pattern-generation circuit. The switch intermittently clocks the pattern-generation circuit and enables the flow of current in certain of the transistors, allowing illumination of certain of the light-emitting elements in response to changes in inertial forces caused by movement of the flashing light system. The capacitor is connected in parallel to the battery such that the capacitor stores electrical charge when the switch is closed and continues to enable the flow of current through certain of the transistors after the switch is opened. The pattern-generation circuit then causes at least one, but not necessarily all, of the plurality of light-emitting elements to illuminate by enabling the flow of current through certain of the transistors. As the switch intermittently opens and closes, the pattern-generation circuit is clocked through various states, and the outputs of the pattern-generation circuit enable the flow of current through certain of the transistors, allowing illumination of at least one, but not necessarily all, of the light-emitting elements in a pattern.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A lighting system to be incorporated into footwear, comprising:

a power source for energizing the lighting system;
a pulse-generation means connected with the power source;
a flash driver circuit connected with the power source and the pulse-generation means, said flash driver circuit generating a plurality of output signals to the pulse-generation means;
a triggering means connected with the power source, the flash driver circuit, and the pulse-generation means, said triggering means providing a contact signal to the flash driver circuit and the pulse-generation means;
a primary gate connected with the pulse-generation means, the power source and a plurality of secondary gates, said primary gate controlling operation of the plurality of secondary gates;
a means for generating a pattern of signals connected with the pulse-generation means for selectively energizing each of the plurality of secondary gates while the primary gate is energized;
a plurality of light-emitting elements connected with the power source and a respective one of the plurality of secondary gates for allowing the means for generating a pattern of signals to selectively energize each of the plurality of light-emitting elements.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Light flashing system

Life of this patent

Light flashing system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8