# US 8,786,203 B2 · Variable effect light spring > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,786,203 B2 - Document ID: US8786203B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/749,231 - Filed: 2013-01-24 - Published: 2013-08-01 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2006-11-20 - Assignees: Seasonal Specialties, LLC - Applicants: Seasonal Specialties, LLC - Inventors: Robert C. Neuman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8786203B2 ## CPC - H05B 47/16: by timing means - H05B 47/155: Coordinated control of two or more light sources - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL ## Abstract A light system that is controllable to generate a plurality of selected lighting effects, the light system includes a main processor, the main processor being in communication with a plurality of light sources; and each of the plurality of light sources having a distinct, known address whereby one of more of the light sources are individually addressable by the main processor, a known address being received by a selected light source of the plurality of light sources and acting to set the selected light source of the plurality of light sources in a disposition to receive a subsequent command from the main processor for generating a selected lighting effect. A light source and a method of forming a light system are further included. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A decorative light string for creating variable lighting effects, comprising: a main processor; a plurality of light source assemblies, each having a distinct address known to the main processor, each of the plurality of light source assemblies including one or more light sources and a microprocessor, wherein the microprocessors of the light source assemblies are powered; and a communication line adapted to transmit lighting effect data to the microprocessor; and further comprising a voltage device connected across the negative and positive power pins of each microprocessor and wherein each of the plurality of light source assemblies further comprises a clamping voltage device in parallel with the voltage device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The decorative light string of claim 1, further comprising a zener diode connected across the negative and positive power pins of each microprocessor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The decorative light string of claim 2, wherein the voltage device is a zener diode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A decorative light string according to claim 1 wherein light source assemblies, each having at least one light source and at least one flip-flop device; wherein the lighting effect data is transmitted to the flip-flop devices thereby controlling the light sources and creating a lighting effect. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The decorative light string of claim 4, wherein the flip-flop devices are electrically connected in series such that the lighting effect data is transmitted sequentially through at least one flip-flop device in each light source assembly. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The decorative light string of claim 5, wherein each light source assembly includes a first and a second flip-flop device, wherein the first flip-flop devices sequentially receive the transmitted data from the main processor and other first flip-flop devices, and the second flip-flop devices receive the lighting effect data in parallel from the first flip-flop devices. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The decorative light string of claim 4, wherein the flip-flop devices are selected from the group consisting of T flip-flop devices, D flip-flop devices, SR flip-flop devices, and JK flip-flop devices. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The decorative light string of claim 1, wherein the lighting effect data contains a plurality of data patterns to create a plurality of lighting effects. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The light string according to claim 1 further including a reflection resistor in communication with the microprocessor and with the main processor, the reflection resistor for minimizing a reflection of a communication to the microcontroller. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The light string of claim 1 further including a first resistor in communication with the microprocessor and with one of a plurality of light sources. ### Claim 11 A decorative light string for creating variable lighting effects, comprising: a main processor; a plurality of light source assemblies, each having a distinct address known to the main processor, each of the plurality of light source assemblies including one or more light sources and a microprocessor, wherein the microprocessors of the light source assemblies are powered; and a communication line adapted to transmit lighting effect data to the microprocessor; and further comprising a voltage device connected across the negative and positive power pins of each microprocessor and wherein a voltage transmitted by the communication line is approximately equal to the number of microprocessors powered times the voltage potential between a negative and positive power supply pin of each microprocessor, plus the voltage drop of any other components wired with the microprocessors. ### Claim 12 A method of creating a visual lighting effect in a light string, comprising: assigning a distinct address to a plurality of light sources each powered by a microprocessor in series wherein a negative power supply of each microprocessor is connected to a positive power supply of another microprocessor for at least some of the microprocessors, and wherein the microprocessor communicates serially with the light sources over a common communication line from a main processor to the light source assemblies; receiving the serial data at the plurality of microprocessors; powering a plurality of light sources in accordance with the serial data received at the plurality of microprocessors to generate a lighting effect. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the serial data comprises a high voltage transmitted to the light source assemblies, wherein the high voltage is greater than the voltage between the negative and positive power supply pins of any individual microprocessor.