Replaceable lighting system for artificial christmas trees and other decorations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing artificial holiday decoration lighting systems, particularly those for Christmas trees, are prone to failure when a single light bulb or LED fails, causing the entire string to malfunction and leading to costly replacements, as newer LED systems do not allow for individual bulb removal and replacement.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising sub-strings of luminaries, each with a few LEDs in series, connected via extender cables that allow parallel operation, enabling easy replacement of faulty sub-strings by plugging in new ones, with a master power source providing the necessary voltage for each sub-string.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If numerous small LEDs are wired in series to reduce current consumption, then energy efficiency is improved, but reliability deteriorates because a single LED failure takes down the entire string
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is divided into multiple independent sub-strings, each containing a small number of LEDs (e.g., 3-10 LEDs) wired in series. Each sub-string is electrically isolated and can be independently replaced. This segmentation maintains low current consumption per sub-string while improving overall reliability, as a failure in one sub-string does not affect others.
2Ease of repair
If individual bulbs can be removed and replaced, then repairability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates because it is very difficult to find the bad bulb
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the lighting system into small sub-strings with only 3-10 LEDs each, the patent makes fault detection trivial. When a sub-string fails, the failure is automatically localized to that specific small segment, eliminating the need to search through numerous individual bulbs to find the defective one.
3Manufacturing precision
If newer LED systems do not permit LEDs to be removed, then manufacturing precision is improved, but ease of repair deteriorates because the entire string becomes trash upon single LED failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the lighting system into modular sub-strings that can be easily detached and replaced as complete units. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining secure LED integration within each sub-string while enabling simple replacement of the entire sub-string module, avoiding the need to replace the entire lighting system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the ability to replace individual failure points by making sub-strings themselves replaceable units. Instead of attempting to replace individual soldered LEDs, the system extracts the sub-string as a replaceable module, maintaining manufacturing precision while restoring repairability.
4Device complexity
If a single power source powers the entire tree, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates because a single failure takes down the entire tree
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the power distribution system into multiple independent power sources, each powering a small sub-string of LEDs. This segmentation improves reliability by isolating failures to individual sub-strings while maintaining relatively simple device complexity through the use of small, standardized power source units.
Data Source
AI summary
A system of lighting for an artificial tree or other decoration that allows easy replacement of small sub-strings of luminaries. Each sub-string contains N luminaries, where N is an integer around 10, where the N luminaries are wired in series. Extender cables can be supplied that contain parallel splits so that the different sub-strings are operated in parallel. The extender cable can attach to a master power source that supplies the constant voltage needed to power each sub-string. The exact voltage is determined by the number N and by the voltage requirement for each of the luminaries. Each sub-string has a plug that mates with a receptacle on either an extender cable, or on the master power device. Single point failures only cause one sub-string to go dark. The physical arrangement with plugs and receptacles allows easy replacement of an individual sub-string that is dark because of a failed luminary.