Artificial Tree Lighting Controller With Visual Timer Indication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for controlling decorative lighting on artificial trees are not user-friendly, requiring users to cycle through patterns and settings manually, which is time-consuming and difficult to confirm.
Innovation Solution
A lighting controller with integrated indicator lights that visually or audibly signals control options, allowing quick configuration and confirmation of settings such as timer, color, and brightness settings using a push-button switch and logic-control circuit with a processor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users manually cycle through lighting patterns and settings to select control options, then the device provides basic control functionality, but the operation becomes time-consuming and difficult to confirm
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by implementing indicator lights that provide immediate visual confirmation of selected lighting patterns and settings. When a user cycles through options using the push-button switch, the corresponding indicator light illuminates to show which pattern is currently selected, eliminating the need to wait and observe the actual lighting effect to confirm the selection. This feedback mechanism directly resolves the contradiction by making control selection both easier and faster.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces indicator lights as an intermediary between the control switch and the lighting load. Instead of directly observing the lighting effect to confirm selection, users interact with the push-button switch which then activates indicator lights to represent the selected state. This intermediary provides immediate visual feedback without requiring the user to wait for the actual lighting pattern to manifest, thereby reducing selection time and improving ease of operation.
2Measurement precision
If users observe lighting displays to discern patterns and settings, then accurate selection is possible, but the process requires significant time to watch and confirm each option
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates visual copies or representations of the lighting settings through indicator lights. Instead of requiring users to observe the actual lighting display to discern patterns, the system provides simplified visual copies in the form of illuminated indicators that directly represent the selected state. For example, different indicator lights correspond to different patterns (e.g., slow color changing, fast flashing), allowing immediate recognition without time-consuming observation of the actual lighting effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes color changes in indicator lights to encode different lighting patterns and settings. By assigning specific colors or color combinations to represent different operational modes, the system enables users to quickly identify and confirm selections through immediate visual color cues rather than requiring prolonged observation of the actual lighting display. This color-coding system maintains selection accuracy while dramatically reducing the time required to discern and confirm settings.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables quick and easy selection and confirmation of lighting settings, reducing the time required to observe and confirm changes, improving user experience with visual timing function indications.
Implementation Method 1
the housing portion houses an array of one or more indicator lighting elements, such as LEDs
Data Source
AI summary
A selectively controlled lighted artificial tree with visual timing function indication, comprising: a tree trunk having a plurality of branches; a plurality of lighting assemblies including light elements, the plurality of lighting assemblies distributed about the plurality of branches; a plurality of wires in electrical connection with the plurality of light elements, the plurality of wires for transmitting electrical power to the plurality of light elements; a controller in electrical communication with the plurality of lighting assemblies, the controller including a push-button switch and a logic-control circuit with a processor, the controller configured to selectively cause power to be transmitted to one or more of the plurality of light elements for a power-on duration, and to cause one or more of the plurality of light elements to selectively be powered on and off to provide a visual indication of the power-on duration.