This invention relates to lights, and in particular to audio landscape/pathway lights, devices, apparatus, systems and methods using BLUETOOTH wireless communication technology with integrated speakers, receivers/transmitters, outdoor speaker, PCB (printed circuit board) control card, driver, amplifier and FM (frequency modulated) receivers/transmitters.
Staked lights are often used to light up a pathway or landscape to and from a residence, commercial building, and any other locations where lighting up a location is desired. Current techniques for providing traditional audio speakers with pathway/landscape lighting in order to generate music or messages and other audio effects at different locations has several problems.
For example, playing music or messages from plural speakers at various locations will often lag in time between the locations where sounds are not able to be played in unison causing undesirable and non-uniform playing of music, and/or other types of audio signals, such as messages, and the like.
Additionally, the audio sounds from the different speakers often lag will result in echo effects which are undesirable to persons walking in the vicinity of the different speakers along a pathway or landscape area.
Furthermore, the audio sounds from the different speakers often lag can result in reverberation and noise effects which are undesirable to persons walking in the vicinity of the different speakers along a pathway or landscape area.
BLUETOOTH is a wireless technology standard managed by the BLUETOOTH Special Interest Group, SIG. INC. Kirkland, Wash., for exchanging data over short distances (using short-wavelength radio transmissions in the ISM (Industrial, Scientific and Medical) band from 2400-2480 MHz) which has become popular to connect several devices such as portable devices and the like with one another, overcoming some problems of synchronization. However, the inventors are not aware of any devices, systems and the like, that have been able to apply BLUETOOTH to the speakers used in pathway/landscape lights.
Thus, the need exists for solutions to the above problems with the prior art.
A primary objective of the present invention is to provide audio landscape/pathway lights, devices, apparatus, systems and methods with BLUETOOTH wireless communication technology having integrated speakers, receivers/transmitters, outdoor speaker, PCB (printed circuit board) control card, driver, amplifier and FM (frequency modulated) receivers/transmitters
A secondary objective of the present invention is to provide audio landscape/pathway lights, devices, apparatus, systems and methods where there is no lag time between playing music and audio signals between different units.
A third objective of the present invention is to provide audio landscape/pathway lights, devices, apparatus, systems and methods which eliminates echo effects when playing music and audio signals between different units.
A fourth objective of the present invention is to provide audio landscape/pathway lights, devices, apparatus, systems and methods which eliminates reverberation effects when playing music and audio signals between different units.
In a preferred embodiment, the main (master) unit having a light source, and slave (secondary) unit(s) each having light sources, receivers and speakers of the system can connected to a low voltage power supply such as a 12 volt power supply. Once the system is connected to the power supply, the system syncs itself. It syncs itself by the master unit sending a signal to the secondary units. Once this is completed, there is a Bluetooth tone to indicate the system is ready. This can happen within few seconds. A user can then connect to the system via Bluetooth connection. Once that connection is made, and audio send via the connection, can be disseminated to the secondary units via a FM frequency.
Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments which are illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings.
Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applications to the details of the particular arrangements shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.
In the Summary above and in the Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments and in the accompanying drawings, reference is made to particular features (including method steps) of the invention. It is to be understood that the disclosure of the invention in this specification includes all possible combinations of such particular features. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment of the invention, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in combination with and/or in the context of other particular aspects and embodiments of the invention, and in the invention generally.
In this section, some embodiments of the invention will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout, and prime notation is used to indicate similar elements in alternative embodiments.
A list of components will now be described.
The invention can work with a main (primary) pathway/landscape light with speaker connected in series with speakers in slave (secondary) pathway/landscape light(s). Both the main pathway/landscape light and slave pathway/landscape light can be assembled and have similar basic exterior structural components that can be easily assembled together. A whole audio lights system contains a main primary unit and at least one slave unit(s). The main unit can contain BLUETOOTH signal receive module, amplifier, FM sender, Led control unit. Each slave unit can have a FM receive module, amplifier and LED control unit.
Referring to
Upper male member end 124 of post 120 inserts into and attaches into lower female connector/socket 118 of bottom cover 110 by threadably screwing parts together or by compression fit, and the like. Female connector/socket 118 and inwardly tapering portion 116 and cylindrical base 112 forms a single bottom cover 110 Extending upward from cylindrical base 112 can be a pair of upwardly protruding posts 114, which can have threaded tips
Gasket 100, such as but not limited to an elastomer or rubber type O-ring can be placed inside or on the upper perimeter edges of cylindrical base 112 of the bottom cover 110. The PCB (printed circuit board) 90 (
Cylindrical base 76 of 3rd tier cover 70 can fasten over and to cylindrical base 112 of the bottom cover 110 by twist lock, threaded connections, or fastened by screws, and the like. A sideways extending decorative ring 72 can extend sideways from 3rd tier cover 70. Upper surface slots 47 in the ring 72 can be used for mounting bottom ends of downwardly protruding legs 46 therein. Another ring shaped gasket 60 can sit on top of the upper step edge of ring 72. Lens 50 can cylindrical shaped prismatic lens having an upper dome portion 54 and vertical side groove(s) 54 which allow for legs 46 to be positioned within when the hollow cylindrical base 56 of lens 50, slides into the cylindrical open top of 3rd tier 70 and covers the heat skink 80 and sits within the upper opening of the cylindrical base 112 of the bottom cover 110.
Referring to
The base 32 of the speaker 30 fits into an opening formed between curving members 24.
Referring to
Main Speaker Specifications Include
Device Name: Path Light+4 Digit SN
BLUETOOTH Protocol: V3.0+EDR
BLUETOOTH Transmission Distance: ≧10 M
BLUETOOTH Auto Re-connect Time Limit: Within 30 Mins.
Driver Rating Power: 5 W
Max Power of Main Speaker Unit: 10 W (Includes Led)
Speaker Frequency Response: 150 Hz˜20 KHz
FM Frequency: 76.5 Mhz˜83.2 Mhz (4 Channels Switch Automatically)
FM Distance: ≧10 M
FM Power: ≦20 mW
Search Slave Speakers Time Limit: Within 5 Mins.
LED: 2*0.25 W
LED Light Temp: 100 Lm/W 3000K
LED Lumen ≦1 Lm (Lux) On
LED Lumen ≧20 Lm (Lux) Off
Referring to
The LED is a light source for the landscape light in order to illuminate a desired area. The MCU, controls the FM transmitter The BLUETOOTH transmitter allows for a wireless connection between a smart device with BLUETOOTH and receive audio signals to push it out through the FM transmitter. The FM transmitter can send out a signal that a FM receiver can receive.
The slave (secondary) unit can work with a slave speaker 30S with the following specifications.
Slave Speaker (30S) Specifications:
Driver Rating Power: 5 W
Max Power of Slave Speaker Unit: 10 W (Includes Led)
Speaker Frequency Response: 150 Hz˜20 KHz
FM Frequency: 76.5 Mhz˜83.2 Mhz (4 Channels Switch Automatically)
FM Distance: ≧10 M
Pairing Time with Main Speaker: ≦30 S
Searching Main Speaker Time Limit: Within 5 Mins.
LED: 2*0.25 W
LED Light Temp: 100 Lm/W 3000K
LED Lumen ≦1 Lm (Lux) On
LED Lumen ≧20 Lm (Lux) Off
Storage Temp: −10° C.˜65° C. Humidity <90%
Working Temp: −5° C.˜40° C. Humidity <90%
Referring to
Referring to
A single primary unit, which can be a pathway (landscape) light can have a BLUETOOTH receiver and an FM transmitter, a speaker and a light (LED).
Each secondary unit can contain a pathway/landscape light and FM receivers and speaker. The invention can also include a light only unit only contains a light only.
In operation, a separate Bluetooth device can send an audio signal (music or any audio signal) to the primary (main) unit. The primary (main) unit will synchronize the incoming audio signal and send the audio signal over the FM channel to each of the secondary (slave) units. A processor chip (MCU hardware) in the primary unit can synchronize the signal in the primary unit so that the primary unit and each of the secondary units will simultaneously play the audio music at the same time.
A preferred embodiment of a kit that can form a system using the invention can include 1 primary audio light unit, and 3 secondary units, 2 light only units a 45 watt 12 volt transformer and 18 gauge power cable.
To assemble a system having a primary unit and secondary unit(s), a user can follow the steps below:
1. Connect all the units to the power cable using the connector supplied.
2. Connect the power cable to the transformer and plug into 110 v receptacle.
3. Set the transformer switch to Manual ON.
4. Turn on any BLUETOOTH enabled device, laptop computer, tablet computer, mobile digital device, smart phones, or compatible devices, or desktop computers, and the like) and search for new devices. The enabled device can send a BLUETOOTH signal to the Primary or both the Primary and Secondary units.
5. Select Audio Path Light when it appears on the list of devices. Pairing will take a few moments.
6. When prompted for a security code, enter “1235”. You will need to do this once for each BLUETOOTH device. The audio light will remember previously paired devices.
7. Select any music and control volume directly from your BLUETOOTH device.
Referring to
The BLUETOOTH control board also contains security protocols that prevent any inadvertent pairing form devices passing by. A 4 digit code it prompts for stores each paired device within its memory. When a previously paired device is reintroduced and the audio light is not paired with anything, it will automatically connect to that device. Should there be 20 or more devices appearing simultaneously in such as scenario, the last one paired previously will be connected.
For daytime usage, all the units (primary and secondary) can be equipped with a built-in photo sensor that will allow the units to remain energized (set from the transformer) with the LED lights off.
The novel invention system and method allows for no lag time between playing music and audio signals between different units.
The novel invention system and method eliminates echo effects when playing music and audio signals between different units.
The novel invention system and method eliminates reverberation effects when playing music and audio signals between different units.
Although the preferred embodiment is described for use with pathway and landscape lights, the invention can be used as a communication system, device, apparatus, and method with other devices, such as but not limited ceiling fans, bath fans used for bath ventilation, and security alarms. Two or more ceiling fans mounted in different rooms in a residential or commercial location can each have similar BLUETOOTH transmitters/receivers and speakers so that music is played from speakers connected to the respective ceiling fans. Similarly, two or more bath fans mounted in different bathrooms in a residential or commercial location can also similarly use the invention. Using the BLUETOOTH communication between security devices to extend an audio signal to the light kit (external source).
Although the preferred embodiment uses a Bluetooth transmitter and BLUETOOTH receiver, the invention can be practiced with other protocols, such as but not limited to WiFi, Zigbee, Z-Wave, Electric Imp, 60 GHz Protocols—WirelessHD and WiGig, and the like.
While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms of certain embodiments or modifications which it has presumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.
This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/777,512 filed Mar. 12, 2013, which is incorporated by reference in its' entirety.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
3194952 | Wells | Jul 1965 | A |
6249091 | Belliveau | Jun 2001 | B1 |
6331756 | Belliveau | Dec 2001 | B1 |
6483470 | Hohnstein | Nov 2002 | B1 |
7021787 | Kuelbs | Apr 2006 | B1 |
7309965 | Dowling | Dec 2007 | B2 |
7502034 | Chemel | Mar 2009 | B2 |
7630776 | Harwood | Dec 2009 | B2 |
7659674 | Mueller | Feb 2010 | B2 |
7817063 | Hawkins | Oct 2010 | B2 |
8010319 | Walters | Aug 2011 | B2 |
8042961 | Massara | Oct 2011 | B2 |
8090453 | Harwood | Jan 2012 | B1 |
D654611 | Chen | Feb 2012 | S |
D663457 | Ho | Jul 2012 | S |
8534867 | Beadle | Sep 2013 | B1 |
9004706 | Banfield | Apr 2015 | B1 |
20030127990 | Weng | Jul 2003 | A1 |
20040130909 | Mueller | Jul 2004 | A1 |
20050024857 | Vishwamitra | Feb 2005 | A1 |
20060039570 | Yeh | Feb 2006 | A1 |
20060126860 | Sievers | Jun 2006 | A1 |
20060154598 | Rudland | Jul 2006 | A1 |
20090196016 | Massara | Aug 2009 | A1 |
20090207607 | Haase | Aug 2009 | A1 |
20100215201 | Kalomirakis | Aug 2010 | A1 |
20110074266 | Sun | Mar 2011 | A1 |
20120320572 | Fischer | Dec 2012 | A1 |
Entry |
---|
“Band I.” Wikipedia. Aug. 15, 2012, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Band—I. |
“FM Broadcasting in Japan.” Wikipedia Aug. 15 2012, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FM—broadcasting—in—Japan. |
“American Starpower X2.” NADY Systems. Sep. 14, 2004. |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61777512 | Mar 2013 | US |