US 9,883,566 B1Granted

Control of modular lighted artificial trees

AssigneeWillis Electric Co., Ltd.

InventorJohnny Chen

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Abstract

A lighting power and control system for an artificial lighted tree. The system includes: a first primary controller including a processor; a first plurality of sub-controllers, each including a processor, each of the first plurality of sub-controllers in electrical communication with the first primary controller; and a first plurality of lighting elements, each of the first plurality of lighting elements in direct electrical communication with one of the first plurality of sub-controllers. The first primary controller controls each of the first plurality of sub-controllers, and each of the first plurality of sub-controllers selectively powers the plurality of lighting elements according to commands issued by the primary controller.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An artificial lighted tree for powering and controlling electrically powered lighting elements, comprising:

a first tree section including:
a first trunk portion;
a first plurality of branches coupled to the first trunk portion;
a first plurality of lighting elements distributed about the first plurality of branches;
a first trunk electrical connector inserted at least partially into the first trunk portion and including at least three electrical terminals for conducting power, data, or both power and data;
a first set of power wires in electrical connection with the at least three electrical terminals of the first trunk electrical connector;
a first primary controller including a processor, the first primary controller in electrical connection with the first set of power wires and the first plurality of lighting elements, and in electrical connection with at least one of the three electrical terminals of the first trunk electrical connector;
and
a second tree section, including:
a second trunk portion;
a second plurality of branches coupled to the second trunk portion;
a second plurality of lighting elements distributed about the second plurality of branches;
and
a second trunk electrical connector inserted at least partially into the second trunk portion and including at least three electrical terminals, the three electrical terminals configured to electrically connect to the three electrical terminals of the first trunk connector;
wherein the first tree section is configured to couple to the second tree section such that the first trunk electrical connector engages the second trunk electrical connector enabling power to be transmitted from the first tree section to the second tree section, and enabling data from the primary controller to be transmitted to the second tree section, and
wherein the first tree section includes a first plurality of sub-controllers, each including a processor, each of the first plurality of sub-controllers in electrical communication with the first primary controller, and configured to control at least a portion of the plurality of first lighting elements.

13 more elements

An artificial lighted tree for powering and controlling electrically powered lighting elements, comprising:

a first tree section including:
a first trunk portion;
a first plurality of branches coupled to the first trunk portion;
a first plurality of lighting elements distributed about the first plurality of branches;
a first trunk electrical connector inserted at least partially into the first trunk portion and including at least four electrical terminals;
a first set of power wires in electrical connection with the first trunk electrical connector;
a first controller, the first controller in electrical connection with the first set of power wires and the first plurality of lighting elements, and in electrical connection with at least one of the four electrical terminals of the first trunk electrical connector;
a first plurality of second controllers, each of the first plurality of second controllers in electrical connection with the first controller, and each of the first plurality of second controllers configured to control an individual light element of the first plurality of lighting elements;
and
a second tree section, including:
a second trunk portion;
a second plurality of branches coupled to the second trunk portion;
a second plurality of lighting elements distributed about the second plurality of branches;
a second trunk electrical connector inserted at least partially into the second trunk portion and including at least four electrical terminals, the four electrical terminals configured to electrically connect to the four electrical terminals of the first trunk connector;
and
a second plurality of second controllers, each of the second plurality of second controllers in electrical connection with the second trunk electrical connector, and each of the second plurality of second controllers configured to control an individual light element of the second plurality of lighting elements;
and
wherein the first tree section is configured to couple to the second tree section such that the first trunk electrical connector engages the second trunk electrical connector enabling power to be transmitted from the first tree section to the second tree section.

15 more elements

An artificial lighted tree for powering and controlling electrically powered lighting elements, comprising:

a first tree section including:
a first trunk portion;
a first plurality of branches coupled to the first trunk portion;
a first plurality of lighting elements distributed about the first plurality of branches, each of the lighting elements associated with a data address, and each of the lighting elements including at least two light-emitting diodes (LEDs);
a first trunk electrical connector inserted at least partially into the first trunk portion and including at least two electrical terminals;
a first set of power wires in electrical connection with the first trunk electrical connector;
a first controller, the first controller in electrical connection with the first set of power wires and the first plurality of lighting elements, and in electrical connection with at least one of the two electrical terminals of the first trunk electrical connector, the first controller configured to output an electrical signal;
a first plurality of second controllers, each of the first plurality of second controllers in electrical communication with the first controller, and each of the first plurality of second controllers configured to receive the electrical signal from the first controller and selectively power the at least two LEDs of each of the light elements of the first plurality of lighting elements based on the electrical signal and the data addresses of the lighting elements;
and
a second tree section, including:
a second trunk portion;
a second plurality of branches coupled to the second trunk portion;
a second plurality of lighting elements distributed about the second plurality of branches each of the lighting elements associated with a data address, and each of the lighting elements including at least two light-emitting diodes (LEDs);
a second trunk electrical connector inserted at least partially into the second trunk portion and including at least two electrical terminals, the at least two electrical terminals configured to electrically connect to the at least two electrical terminals of the first trunk connector;
and
a second plurality of second controllers, each of the second plurality of second controllers in electrical connection with second trunk electrical connector and each of the plurality of second controllers configured to selectively power the at least two LEDs of each of the light elements of the second plurality of lighting elements based on the electrical signal output by the first controller;
and
wherein the first tree section is configured to couple to the second tree section such that the first trunk electrical connector engages the second trunk electrical connector enabling power and the electrical signal to be transmitted from the first tree section to the second tree section.

15 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/702,224Filed 1 May 2015 · us provisional application
Priority: 1 May 2014
Granted: 30 Jan 2018
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

F21V 33/0028
Household or table equipment: decorative household equipment, e.g. plant holders or food dummies
A47G 33/06
Christmas trees: artificial Christmas trees
F21S 4/10
Lighting devices or systems using a string or strip of light sources: with light sources attached to loose electric cables, e.g. Christmas tree lights
F21S 4/15
With light sources attached to loose electric cables, e.g. Christmas tree lights: the cables forming a grid, net or web structure

Family

Application61/987,160Us provisional application · filed 1 May 2014
US 9,883,566 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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