# US 8,274,397 B2 · Programmable light display > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,274,397 B2 - Document ID: US8274397B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/844,489 - Filed: 2007-08-24 - Published: 2009-02-26 - Granted: 2012-09-25 - Earliest claimed: 2007-08-24 - Assignees: Sonoma Circuits, Inc. - Inventors: Gary Wilson; Raymond G Bryan; Richard L Hicksted - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8274397B2 ## CPC - B60Q 1/2611: {Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle} - B60Q 1/32: for indicating vehicle sides {, e.g. clearance lights} - H05B 45/345: Current stabilisation; Maintaining constant current - H05B 45/3725: Switched mode power supply [SMPS] - H05B 47/155: Coordinated control of two or more light sources - H05B 47/172: {Emergency operational modes} - H05B 47/18: via data-bus transmission - H05B 47/235: {with communication between the lamps and a central unit} - H05B 45/32: Pulse-control circuits - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL ## Abstract Programmable light assemblies that may function in various operating modes, such as to function as marker lights and/or emergency lights, or have other functions, are disclosed. The protocol and architecture of the light assemblies enables the associated light fixtures to provide a constant current output despite the presence of substantially large voltage ranges, and even when submerged in water. Alternative embodiments of the programmable light assemblies of the invention provide many other features as described herein. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A light assembly, comprising: a series of light fixtures in electrical communication with each other, each light fixture having at least one microcontroller controlling operation of at least one lamp and a bypass circuit connected in serial with the microcontroller, the light assembly having at least one operating mode in which an operating status of the at least one lamp is controlled by an operating status control signal, and the bypass circuit being operative to be enabled and disabled by the microcontroller allowing some or all of the control signal to be blocked or passed to a next light fixture. ### Claim 2 A light assembly, comprising: a series of light fixtures in electrical communication with each other, each light fixture having at least one microcontroller controlling operation of at least one lamp, wherein the light assembly has at least one operating mode in which an operating status of the at least one lamp is controlled by an operating status control signal, and a bypass circuit connected in serial with the microcontroller, the bypass circuit being operative to be enabled and disabled by the microcontroller allowing some or all of the control signal to be blocked or passed to a next light fixture, wherein the bypass circuit is used by the microcontroller to determine an operating status of the at least one lamp independent of a predetermined address for the light fixture. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The light assembly of claim 2, wherein a light fixture is provided with an address based on a location of the light fixture within the series, without first referencing any predetermined addresses for the light fixtures within the light assembly. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The light assembly of claim 2, wherein the operating status control signal defines the “ON” or “OFF” state of the at least one lamp in one light fixture of the series of light fixtures until changed by a subsequent operating status control signal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The light assembly of claim 2, wherein the operating status control signal defines a brightness of the at least one lamp one light fixture of the series of light fixtures until changed by a subsequent operating status control signal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The light assembly of claim 2, wherein the operating status control signal defines a color of the at least one lamp in one light fixture of the series of light fixtures until changed by a subsequent operating status control signal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The light assembly of claim 2, wherein the light fixtures function as lights other than as used as marker or emergency lights. ### Claim 8 A light assembly, comprising: a series of light fixtures in electrical communication with each other, each light fixture having at least one microcontroller controlling operation of at least one lamp, wherein the light assembly has at least one operating mode in which an operating status of the at least one lamp is controlled by an operating status control signal, and a bypass circuit connected in serial with the microcontroller, the bypass circuit being operative to be enabled and disabled by the microcontroller allowing some or all of the control signal to be blocked or passed to the next fixture, wherein the bypass circuit passes an operating status signal to successive light fixtures in the event of a failure or error without microprocessor control. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The light assembly of claim 8, wherein a light fixture is provided with an address based on a location of the light fixture within the series, without first referencing any predetermined addresses for the light fixtures within the light assembly. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The light assembly of claim 8, wherein the operating status control signal defines the “ON” or “OFF” state of the at least one lamp in one light fixture of the series of light fixtures until changed by a subsequent operating status control signal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The light assembly of claim 8, wherein the operating status control signal defines a brightness of the at least one lamp one light fixture of the series of light fixtures until changed by a subsequent operating status control signal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The light assembly of claim 8, wherein the operating status control signal defines a color of the at least one lamp in one light fixture of the series of light fixtures until changed by a subsequent operating status control signal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The light assembly of claim 8, wherein the light fixtures function as lights other than as used as marker or emergency lights. ### Claim 14 A light assembly, comprising: a series of light fixtures in electrical communication with each other, each light fixture having at least one microcontroller controlling operation of at least one lamp, wherein the light assembly has at least one operating mode in which an operating status of the at least one lamp is controlled by an operating status control signal, and a bypass circuit connected in serial with the microcontroller, the bypass circuit being operative to be enabled and disabled by the microcontroller allowing some or all of the control signal to be blocked or passed to the next fixture, wherein the operating status of the at least one lamp in the light fixture is controlled by the operating status control signal based on a location of the light fixture in the series without reference to an address of the light fixture within the light assembly. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The light assembly of claim 14, wherein operation of the at least one lamp is driven by a constant current source providing constant lamp output independent of voltage. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The light assembly of claim 15, wherein the at least one lamp have constant output for input voltages varying from 8 to 32 volts. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The light assembly of claim 14, wherein one or more of the at least one lamp in the series comprise single color LEDs. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The light assembly of claim 14, wherein one or more of the at least one lamp in the series comprise multi-color LEDs. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The light assembly of claim 14, wherein one or more of the at least one lamp in the series are not LEDs. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The light assembly of claim 14, wherein at least some of the light fixtures include at least one or more lens that incorporate optical features for light distribution. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The light assembly of claim 20, wherein the at least one or more lens incorporate a refractive apparatus for changing the angle of light emitted by the at least one lamp. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The light assembly of claim 21, wherein the refractive apparatus provides visibility at 45-degrees left and right from straight-on. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The light assembly of claim 20, wherein the at least one lens incorporate retro-reflectors configured to allow exterior light to be reflected from the lens back in the direction of the exterior light. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The light assembly of claim 20, wherein the at least one or more lens are colored to match the lamp wavelength emitted by at least one or more of the at least one lamp. ### Claim 25 (depends on 14) The light assembly of claim 14, wherein a light fixture is provided with an address based on a location of the light fixture within the series, without first referencing any predetermined addresses for the light fixtures within the light assembly. ### Claim 26 (depends on 14) The light assembly of claim 14, wherein the operating status control signal defines the “ON” or “OFF” state of the at least one lamp in one light fixture of the series of light fixtures until changed by a subsequent operating status control signal. ### Claim 27 (depends on 14) The light assembly of claim 14, wherein the operating status control signal defines a brightness of the at least one lamp one light fixture of the series of light fixtures until changed by a subsequent operating status control signal. ### Claim 28 (depends on 14) The light assembly of claim 14, wherein the operating status control signal defines a color of the at least one lamp in one light fixture of the series of light fixtures until changed by a subsequent operating status control signal. ### Claim 29 (depends on 14) The light assembly of claim 14, wherein the light fixtures function as lights other than as used as marker or emergency lights. ### Claim 30 A light assembly, comprising: a series of light fixtures in electrical communication with each other, each of the light fixtures having at least one microcontroller controlling operation of at least one lamp, wherein the light assembly has at least one operating mode in which the operating status of the at least one lamp is controlled by an operating status control signal having dominant and recessive signal levels, and a bypass circuit that is operative to be enabled and disabled in reference to a static condition of a fixture of the light assembly. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The light assembly of claim 30, wherein the dominant signal comprises a voltage between ground and a first fraction of a power source voltage, and the recessive signal comprises a voltage between ground and a second fraction of the power source voltage greater than the first fraction, and wherein the recessive signal is located substantially near the power source voltage. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) The light assembly of claim 30, wherein the recessive signal comprises a voltage between ground and a first fraction of a power source voltage, and the dominant signal comprises a voltage between ground and a second fraction of the power source voltage greater than the first fraction, and wherein the dominant signal is located substantially near the power source voltage. ### Claim 33 (depends on 30) The light assembly of claim 30, wherein the connection between the series of light fixtures consists of less than four wires providing power, ground and a control signal. ### Claim 34 (depends on 30) The light assembly of claim 30, wherein each of the fixtures within the series has a second operating mode different from the first operating mode. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The light assembly of claim 34, wherein the second operating mode is determined by a static condition of the operating status control signal to the fixtures. ### Claim 36 (depends on 34) The light assembly of claim 34, wherein the second operating mode comprises a failure mode in which the operating status control signal bypasses a failed light fixture. ### Claim 37 (depends on 30) The light assembly of claim 30, wherein in the second operating mode a fixture becomes a master, providing the operating status control signal for the other fixtures in the light assembly. ### Claim 38 A light assembly, comprising: a series of light fixtures in electrical communication with each other, each of the light fixtures having at least one microcontroller controlling operation of at least one lamp, wherein a control input to the fixtures utilizes a current source scheme providing tolerance to external loads that limits the input current to a fixed amount, increasing the dynamic range of the input for the external loads. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The light assembly of claim 38, wherein the control input comprises a DC input voltage which can vary between 9 and 32 volts without effecting the function of the light assembly. ### Claim 40 (depends on 38) The light assembly of claim 38, wherein an impedance of an external load between a control signal and either the power or ground can be as low as 1K ohms without substantially affecting the function of the light assembly. ### Claim 41 (depends on 38) The light assembly of claim 38, wherein the operation of the fixture when submerged with an impedance between a control signal and either the power or ground can be as low as 1K ohms without substantially affecting the function of the light assembly. ### Claim 42 A light assembly, comprising: a series of light fixtures in electrical communication with each other, each of the light fixtures having at least one microcontroller controlling operation of at least one lamp, wherein the at least one lamp include at least a first operating mode in which an operating status of the at least one lamp is controlled by a bit stream describing the next state of the fixtures. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The light assembly of claim 42, wherein the bit stream uses a low data rate, simple data pattern, and robust timing scheme to provide reliable performance. ### Claim 44 (depends on 42) The light assembly of claim 42, wherein the logic signal may include a start signal and a plurality of operating status signals corresponding to operating modes that may include “ON” and “OFF” operating modes for the illuminator array. ### Claim 45 (depends on 42) The light assembly of claim 42, wherein the signal duration is between 120-180 milliseconds without an intervening period. ### Claim 46 (depends on 42) The light assembly of claim 42, wherein the signal duration may be adjusted to coordinate with the number of fixtures within each group of fixtures in the series. ### Claim 47 A method for using a light assembly, the method comprising: providing a series of light fixtures in electrical communication with each other, each of the light fixtures having at least one microcontroller controlling operation of at least one or more lamp and a bypass circuit connected in serial with the microcontroller; and placing the light assembly into at least one operating mode in which an operating status of the at least one lamp is controlled by an operating status control signal, and the bypass circuit enabled and disabled by the microcontroller allows some or all of the control signal to be blocked or passed to the next fixture. ### Claim 48 (depends on 47) The method of claim 47, wherein the light assembly functions as a marker or emergency light system. ### Claim 49 (depends on 47) The method of claim 47, wherein the light assembly functions to provide at least one of the following types of lighting systems: directional lighting; personnel safety lighting; roadside hazard lighting; security lighting; recreational lighting; landscape lighting; airport runway lighting; dock lighting; or marine lighting. ### Claim 50 (depends on 47) The method of claim 47, further comprising placing at least some of the fixtures within the series in a second operating mode different from the first operating mode. ### Claim 51 (depends on 50) The method of claim 50, wherein in the second operating mode a fixture becomes a master, providing the operating status control signal for the other fixtures in the light assembly. ### Claim 52 (depends on 50) The method of claim 50, wherein the second operating mode is determined by a static condition of the operating status control signal to the fixtures. ### Claim 53 (depends on 50) The method of claim 50, wherein the second operating mode comprises a failure mode in which the operating status control signal bypasses a failed light fixture.