Electric lighting devices having a video screen

Abstract

Various embodiments of electric lighting devices having projection screens are described. Some embodiments include a projection screen having a laminate structure, while other embodiments include a video screen that is embedded within the projection screen.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electric lighting device configured to simulate an appearance of a flame, comprising:
 a candle-shaped housing;   a memory configured to store one or more media files;   a video screen extending from the housing and having an on state and an off state; and   a microprocessor configured to present the one or more media files on the video screen.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the video screen includes a clear periphery composed of plastic. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the video screen has a concave surface. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the video screen is transparent or translucent when in the off state. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the video screen has a surface area of no more than 9 cm 2 . 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a wireless transceiver configured to receive a command signal, and wherein the microprocessor is configured to control the video screen as a function of the command signal. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the command signal comprises an instruction to change the video screen to the on state. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the command signal comprises an instruction to play a specific media file stored in the memory. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a wireless transceiver configured to receive a media file. 
     
     
         10 . An electric lighting device configured to simulate an appearance of a flame, comprising:
 a housing;   a memory configured to store one or more media files;   a video screen extending from the housing and having an on state and an off state, wherein the video screen is embedded within a housing; and   a microprocessor configured to present the one or more media files on the video screen.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising wiring coupling the video screen to the microprocessor, and wherein the projection screen comprises a laminate having two or more layers between which the wiring is disposed. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the microprocessor is disposed apart from the projection screen. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the projection screen is pivotally coupled to the housing, and further comprising a drive mechanism configured to cause movement of the video screen with respect to the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the drive mechanism comprises an electromagnet, and wherein the projection screen comprises a magnet, and wherein the projection screen moves with respect to the housing as the magnet interacts with a magnetic field generated by the electromagnet. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the drive mechanism comprises a fan, and wherein the projection screen moves with respect to the housing as air flow from the fan impinges on the projection screen. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the drive mechanism comprises a motor that indirectly or directly drives movement of the projection screen. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the projection screen comprises a memory, a microchip, and a battery. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a first induction coil;   wherein the projection screen comprises a memory, a microchip, and a second induction coil; and   wherein the second induction coil is disposed with respect to the first induction coil to create an inductive coupling between the coils.   
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the projection screen comprises a battery that is wirelessly charged from energy received from the first induction coil via the second induction coil. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the projection screen has an hourglass shape with upper and lower portions, and wherein the video screen is disposed in the upper portion, and wherein the second induction coil is disposed within the lower portion, and wherein the lower portion is disposed within the housing.