Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080252220 | SERIES WIRED LIGHT STRING WITH SHUNTS AND FLASHER BULBS FOR EXHIBITING A TWINKLING EFFECT - A circuit to cause the dimming and brightening of a series connected light string periodically by providing a unidirectional shunt and a flasher bulb in at least one of the sockets to intermittently cause the string to go to its dimmer state when the flasher bulb goes out and the full brightness to return when the flasher bulb comes back on. This shunt is preferably provided in the first light socket next to the AC plug. In another embodiment of the present invention, bidirectional shunts are provided in some of the sockets in an otherwise unidirectionally shunted series connected light string for the purpose of achieving random twinkle by inserting flasher bulbs in those sockets. The unidirectional shunts used in the present invention can be a diode array or a rectifier in series with a Zener diode in its Zener direction. The bidirectional shunts are devices which conduct current in both directions, such as back-to-back Zener diodes; metal oxide varistors; silicon trigger switches (STS devices); a diode array; or resistors. | 10-16-2008 |
20090039794 | MINIATURE LIGHT BULB FOR RANDOM HIGH-LOW TWINKLE IN SERIES-WIRED LIGHT STRING - A flasher bulb including a thermal shorting element that alternately shorts and opens only a portion of the bulb filament, thus causing the flasher bulb to produce an alternating high-low illumination. When a plurality of such flasher bulbs are placed in the sockets of a series-wired light string, they cause the light string to exhibit a random high-low twinkle. | 02-12-2009 |
20090058259 | QUENCHED PHOSPHOR DISPLAYS WITH PIXEL AMPLIFICATION - Displays are described comprising electrically quenched phosphor pixels, in which light emissions by a phosphor pixel are inhibited by application of an electric field. Such pixels may be excited by UV and de-excited by applying a voltage to control the display. In an embodiment, a pixel amplifier structure may be included and added to the output of a quenched phosphor display. | 03-05-2009 |
20090091263 | CAPACITOR SHUNTED LED LIGHT STRING - A series connected LED light string using capacitors as shunts. The shunts are implemented by inserting a capacitor—for example a low breakdown voltage chip capacitor—in every light socket, or internally within each LED. The capacitive shunt continues current in the light string in the event an LED fails by opening electrically—the capacitor shorts out, thus, keeping the string of lights illuminated. The shunt capacitor across the LED also helps filter the pulsating DC voltage to the bulbs and reduces annoying flicker. | 04-09-2009 |
20090128042 | GOLD OR SILVER PLATED WIRE LEADS ON CHRISTMAS LIGHTS - The electrical wire leads of miniature lights or LED's in a series-wired Christmas light string are gold or silver plated to resist corrosion. The wire leads of any shunt components used in the sockets of the light string can also be plated for corrosion resistance. | 05-21-2009 |
20090129077 | SERIES-WIRED LED LIGHT STRING WITH UNIDIRECTIONAL SHUNTS - A series-connected string of light emitting diodes (LED's), operating on AC or DC voltage, each having connected thereacross a voltage regulating shunting circuit which regulates the voltage across an empty or otherwise inoperative socket so as to maintain unidirectional current across each of the remaining sockets in the string, thereby insuring continuous illumination of the light string. The voltage regulating shunting circuit of the present invention is a silicon rectifier diode connected in series with a voltage regulating diode. The voltage regulating diode may be an array of silicon diodes or a Zener diode. The voltage regulating shunting circuit can be mass produced by using conventional manufacturing techniques. | 05-21-2009 |
20100045186 | DUAL BRIGHTNESS TWINKLE IN A MINIATURE LIGHT BULB - A circuit for high-low flashing in a series-wired light string circuit. The series-wired light string includes miniature incandescent bulbs disposed in respective light sockets. A resistive element connected in series with a bi-metallic thermal switching element is mounted—as a shunt—either inside the light socket or inside the bulb, so as to be connected in parallel with the bulb filament. The bi-metallic thermal switching element, in series with the resistive element, electrically switches the resistive element off and on across the bulb filament. The bi-metallic thermal switching electrical contacts are in the normally closed position. Because the resistive element is in parallel with the bulb filament when the bi-metallic switching element is in its normally closed position, the bulb filament brightness is at its low state. As current flows through the resistive element and the bi-metallic thermal switching element, the bi-metallic switching element is warmed and activated and moves from its normally closed position to an open position. The shunt is now removed from across the bulb filament and the bulb illuminates brighter. Since the resistive element no longer passes current through it when it opens, it cools. When it cools sufficiently, the bi-metallic switching element moves back to its normally closed position. The cycle is repeated. | 02-25-2010 |
20100052535 | MINIATURE LIGHT BULB FOR RANDOM HIGH-LOW TWINKLE IN A SERIES-WIRED LIGHT STRING - A flasher bulb including a thermal shorting element that alternately shorts and opens only a portion of the bulb filament, thus causing the flasher bulb to produce an alternating high-low illumination. The thermal element is activated by current passing through the element, rather than by heat from the filament. The amount of brightness differential between the “high” and “low” illumination of the flasher bulb is determined by the amount of bulb filament that is shorted out when the thermal element inside the bulb is in the closed position. When a plurality of such flasher bulbs are placed in the sockets of a series-wired light string, they cause the light string to exhibit a random high-low twinkle. | 03-04-2010 |
20100194286 | SERIES-WIRED CHRISTMAS LIGHT STRING WITH OVERCURRENT PROTECTION - A Christmas light string with a resettable fuse, preferably a positive coefficient thermistor, that prevents damage to the string when an overcurrent condition arises. An overcurrent condition in a light string may occur when lights burn out or when too many light strings are placed end to end. When an overcurrent condition exists, the resistance of the resettable fuse rises and reduces the current in the string to prevent damage to bulbs and glass fuses. | 08-05-2010 |
20100194522 | RESETTABLE FUSE WITH TEMPERATURE COMPENSATION - A temperature compensated device to prevent overcurrent in electrical circuits in very cold conditions. The device includes a PTC thermistor to control current through a circuit. A negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor is thermally coupled to a PTC thermistor to ‘warm’ the PTC thermistor in cold environments. When circuit current flows in the NTC thermistor, the NTC thermistor will heat up, thus warming the PTC thermistor. The PTC thermistor may then operate as designed and prevent overcurrent in an electrical circuit. | 08-05-2010 |
20110050112 | FLICKERING CANDLE LED LIGHTING - A series-wired LED light string with flickering candle LED's. The LED's in the light string can be of the standard steady bum type or of the flickering type resembling a candle flame or the string can include a combination of both types as shown in FIG. | 03-03-2011 |
20120326776 | BATTERY POLARITY CONTROL SYSTEM - An input power circuit for a battery-powered device, such as a toy or consumer electronic device, includes a polarity correction circuit portion. The device includes a first input terminal and a second input terminal, a first output terminal and a second output terminal, and a diode with a forward voltage drop of about 0.5 volts or less. In embodiments, the polarity correction circuit portion is configured to provide a positive voltage polarity at the first output terminal and a negative voltage polarity at the second output terminal for any polarity of power at the first input terminal and the second input terminal. The polarity correction circuit portion can include a diode bridge, and the diode may include a Schottky diode or a germanium diode. | 12-27-2012 |
20140263374 | SNACK FOOD DISPENSER PACKAGING - An elongated container with an elevator to position items near the opening of a container for easy access. The elevator includes a base and a member for engaging and disengaging the inner sidewall of the container depending upon the orientation of the container. Items are stored inside the container, on the base of the elevator. After removal of a portion of the items from the container, the opening of the container is covered, and the container is inverted. With the container in an inverted position, the elevator slides freely within the container and moves the remaining items toward the covered opening of the container. When the container is returned to its upright position, the member engages the inner sidewall of the container, preventing movement of the elevator within the container, such that the remaining items are easily accessible from the opening of the container. | 09-18-2014 |