Multifunction light controller

Abstract

An apparatus and method allow end users to interactively create complex lighting patterns by remote control. Applications include decorative lighting, landscape lighting, signage, or advertising platforms. A lighting control system can be equipped with sensors that can receive remote control signals from a variety of different sources, and route the control signals to modulate receptacles coupled to different lighting circuits, thereby independently controlling multiple light arrays to achieve separate light patterns, or to coordinate different lighting effects. Interactive remote control can be provided via a mobile computing device such as a smart phone running a customized program. In one embodiment, the remote control device communicates selections to a Bluetooth®-equipped speaker to produce sound-controlled lighting effects.

1 . A method of creating a multi-function lighting display, the method comprising:
 electrically coupling one or more light arrays to one or more electric receptacles; and   separately modulating each one of the receptacles via a set of independent user-selectable control signals.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the modulating causes the light arrays to produce decorative lighting effects, separately or in coordination, including one or more of flashing, fading, color changing, twinkling, stacking, cascading, chasing, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the modulating each one of the receptacles includes modulating power supplied to the receptacles. 
     
     
         4 . A method of controlling a lighting system, the method comprising:
 connecting the lighting system to a receptacle;   modulating the receptacle via a control signal; and   switching the control signal among a plurality of different user-defined settings.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the modulating the receptacle includes modulating power supplied to the receptacle. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the different user-defined settings cause the lighting system to produce decorative lighting effects including one or more of flashing, fading, color changing, twinkling, stacking, cascading, chasing, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the switching entails manually turning a selector to one of the plurality of different settings. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the switching is activated by a remote control device. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the remote control device transmits a wireless signal, including one or more of an infrared signal, a radio frequency signal, a microwave signal, a WiFi® signal, or a Bluetooth® signal. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the remote control device includes one or more of a mobile computing device, a mobile communications device, a Bluetooth® device, or a timing device. 
     
     
         11 . A multi-function lighting display apparatus, comprising:
 one or more receptacles;   one or more light array circuits, each light array circuit connected to a different receptacle that receives a separate control signal; and   a controller programmed to modulate independently the control signals according to instructions provided by a user.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the control signal controls power supplied to the receptacle. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the instructions are received via a switch wired to the controller. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the switch is a mechanical selector, including one or more of a push-button, a toggle switch, a rotary knob, or a dial. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , further comprising a switch activated by a remote control signal, the switch being equipped with sensors configured to receive the remote control signal. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the remote control signal is a wireless signal, including one or more of an infrared signal, a radio frequency signal, a microwave signal, a WiFi® signal, or a Bluetooth® signal. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , further comprising a programmable remote control device including one or more of a mobile computing device, a mobile communications device, or a Bluetooth® device. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 17 , further comprising additional controllers, wherein each light array circuit is connected via a receptacle to a separate one of the controllers. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the controller is a main controller and the apparatus further comprises a secondary controller inserted between each light array circuit and the main controller. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a powered speaker equipped with a wireless receiver; and   a sound-enhanced control circuit within the controller, the sound-enhanced control circuit including a microphone that is responsive to transmissions from the speaker, to influence the control signal.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the programmable remote control device is a smart phone configured to execute a smart phone application program that allows the user to interactively select features of the multi-function lighting display. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the received signals stimulate the controller to modulate the different control signals, causing the light array circuits to produce different lighting effects, separately or in coordination. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein the lighting effects include one or more of flashing, fading, color changing, twinkling, stacking, cascading, stacking, cascading, chasing, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein the instructions provided by the user include changing characteristics of the lighting effects, the characteristics including intensity, flashing frequency, chasing speed, stacking speed, chasing direction, cascading speed, cascading direction, color changing parameters, fading rate, rhythmic variations, or combinations thereof.