Lighting Control System

Abstract

A lighting control system of the type including an electronic device with a processor, memory, wireless communication capability and a user interface may be used. A controller may be used with a receiver to receive wireless communication from the electronic device and an output terminal with at least one lighting array in electrical communication with the output terminal of the controller. A power supply may be provided with the controller thereby providing electrical power to the controller and the lighting array. Software on the electrical device may be used providing a graphical interface with a user to actuate the controller to provide an electrical output to the lighting array. The combination may be placed on a building, vehicle or any object to allow a plurality of lighting themes and palettes. Music may also be used to control the lighting output as well as speed or acceleration.

Claims

1. A lighting system comprising: at least one lighting array, the at least one lighting array including at least one light source being capable of illumination; a controller adapted to provide electrical power to a lighting array; an electronic device with a display, the electronic device providing a lighting protocol information to the controller and the display providing an interface with a user to create the lighting protocol; and the lighting array including a local chip capable of storing the lighting protocol, the local chip effecting the illumination of the light source in accordance with the lighting protocol when the chip receives instructions to do so from the controller.

2. The lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one lighting array is a plurality of lighting arrays.

3. The lighting system according to claim 2, wherein the local chip in the at least one lighting array of the plurality of lighting arrays includes a local address, such that the controller can identify a specific lighting array of the plurality of lighting arrays.

4. The lighting system according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor module, the sensor module coupled to the controller, the sensor module including communication with an IO device.

5. The lighting system according to claim 4, wherein the sensor module includes a local chip.

6. The lighting system according to claim 4, wherein the IO device is a device that provides an input to the sensor module.

7. The lighting system according to claim 6, wherein the input is an input relative to a stimulus selected from the group consisting of speed, acceleration, temperature, turn signals, brake lights, a dome light and clearance lights of a vehicle and outdoor lighting of a building.

8. The lighting system according to claim 4, wherein the communication between the sensor module and the IO device is provided by way of a sensor wire.

9. The lighting system according to claim 4, wherein the communication between the sensor module and the IO device is provided by way of a wireless communication.

10. The lighting system according to claim 9, wherein the wireless communication includes a radio frequency.

11. The lighting system according to claim 1, further comprising a control panel with an input plug providing electrical communication with the controller, the control panel further including a panel button for providing input from the user to the control panel and a panel display providing visual data back to the user.

12. The lighting system according to claim 11, wherein the control panel further comprises a line plug, wherein a light source can be electrically connected to the control panel by way of the line plug.

13. A lighting control system of the type including an electronic device with a processor, memory, wireless communication capability and a user interface; a controller with a receiver to receive wireless communication from the electronic device and an output terminal; at least one lighting array in electrical communication with the output terminal of the controller; a power supply in electrical communication with the controller, thereby providing electrical power to the controller and the at least one lighting array; and software on the electrical device, the software providing a graphical interface with a user to actuate the controller to provide an electrical output to the at least one lighting array, the software including providing a live preview of a theme using the graphical interface, wherein the theme is displayed as a series of pattern sequences, the live preview including the steps of: a user touching the graphical interface near a displayed lighting pattern; the user holding this position on the graphical interface for a predetermined period of time; and the software prompting the graphical interface to illuminate the pattern sequences in a manner representative of a pattern to be illuminated by the at least one lighting array.

14. The lighting control system according to claim 13, wherein the predetermined period of time is one second.

15. The lighting control system according to claim 13, further comprising a light map indicator on the graphical interface, the light map indicator displaying a representation of one or more lighting arrays, the light map indicator providing control of a lighting array by the steps of: the user selecting a light zone; displaying a light zone map including one or more light map indicators on the graphical interface; the user touching a selected portion of the light map indicator on the light zone map; changing a displayed color of the selected portion of the light map indicator on the light zone map to the color indicated by the selected light zone; sending data to the controller to change the color of illumination of a portion of the lighting array in accordance with the light map indicator on the light zone map; and illuminating the lighting array in a color pattern consistent with that as displayed by the light map indicator on the graphical interface.

16. The lighting control system according to claim 15, further comprising the steps of: the user selecting a second light zone; the user touching a second selected portion of the light map indicator on the light zone map; changing a displayed color of the second selected portion of the light map indicator on the light zone map to the color indicated by the second light zone; sending data to the controller to change the color of illumination of the second selected portion of the lighting array in accordance with the light map indicator on the light zone map; and illuminating the lighting array in a color pattern consistent with that as displayed by the light map indicator on the graphical interface.

17. The lighting control system according to claim 13, further comprising a sensor module in communication with the controller, the sensor module in communication with at least one IO device, wherein an input to the sensor module by way of the at least one IO device includes the steps of: providing a data input to the controller from the sensor module; the software interpreting the data input and initiating an action by the controller with regard to the data input; and the controller providing a lighting response of the at least one light array.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings, in which:

[0021] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a disassembled lighting control system with an electronic device, presented in accordance with the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a single electronic device and two lighting systems, presented in accordance with the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a controller as shown in FIG. 1.

[0024] FIG. 4 is a setup screen for an electronic device as shown in FIG. 1.

[0025] FIG. 5 is a plan view of an electronic device as shown in FIG. 1 providing a graphic interface with the user and a setup of a color palette for a solid form of continuous color output for the application software of the system as shown in FIG. 1.

[0026] FIG. 6 is a plan view of an electronic device as shown in FIG. 1 providing a graphic interface with the user and a setup of a color palette for a breath form of varying color output for the application software of the system as shown in FIG. 1.

[0027] FIG. 7a is a plan view of a close up of the lower right portion of the display of the electronic device of FIG. 6 in which more than one zone has been grouped together and a color chosen.

[0028] FIG. 7b is a plan view of a close up of the lower right portion of the display of the electronic device of FIG. 7a in which zones 1 and 2 are still grouped together but displayed to allow them to be ungrouped.

[0029] FIG. 8 is a plan view of an electronic device as shown in FIG. 6 with the graphics flipped from a right hand use to a left hand use.

[0030] FIG. 9 is a plan view of an electronic device as shown in FIG. 1 providing a graphic interface with the user and a color capture feature is shown using the camera of the electronic device.

[0031] FIG. 10 is a plan view of the electronic device of FIG. 1 providing a graphic interface with the user and a device list screen shot.

[0032] FIG. 11 is a plan view of the electronic device of FIG. 1 providing a graphic interface with the user and a color theme setup.

[0033] FIG. 12a is a plan view of a close up of the lower right portion of the display of the electronic device of FIG. 11 after selecting the White button in FIG. 11.

[0034] FIG. 12b is a plan view of a close up of the lower right portion of the display of the electronic device of FIG. 11 after selecting the RGB button in FIG. 11.

[0035] FIG. 13 is a plan view of the electronic device of FIG. 1 providing a graphic interface displaying an example of the white color function of FIG. 11 on the electronic device.

[0036] FIG. 14 is a plan view of the electronic device of FIG. 1 providing a graphic interface with the user and an existing color theme or an option to create a new theme.

[0037] FIG. 15 is a plan view of the electronic device of FIG. 1 providing a graphic interface with the user as a setup for a new color theme.

[0038] FIG. 16 is a plan view of the electronic device of FIG. 1 providing a graphic interface with the user as a continuation of the setup for a new color theme as shown in FIG. 13.

[0039] FIG. 17 is a plan view of the electronic device of FIG. 1 providing a graphic interface with the user and the ability to apply a theme to one or more currently assigned zones.

[0040] FIG. 18 is a plan view of the electronic device of FIG. 1 providing a graphic interface with the user to synchronize and adjust a lighting output to ambient noise such as music.

[0041] FIG. 19 is a plan view of the electronic device of FIG. 1 providing a graphic interface with the user to synchronize and adjust a lighting output to music or other audio data stored on the electronic device and used with a single color output.

[0042] FIG. 20 is a plan view of the electronic device of FIG. 1 providing a graphic interface for the user to control the lighting output based on the music playing on the electronic device and used for a multi color output.

[0043] FIG. 21 is a plan view of the electronic device of FIG. 1 providing a graphic interface for the user to adjust the grouping and colors of each group of the lighting output based on the music playing on the electronic device.

[0044] FIG. 22 is a plan view of the electronic device of FIG. 1 providing a graphic interface for the user to select a color group for the lighting output based on the music playing on the electronic device.

[0045] FIG. 23 is a plan view of the electronic device of FIG. 1 providing a graphic interface for the user to edit a color group for the lighting output based on the music playing on the electronic device.

[0046] FIG. 24 is a plan view of the electronic device of FIG. 1 providing a graphic interface for the user to utilize the find my vehicle function on the electronic device.

[0047] FIG. 25 is a plan view of the electronic device of FIG. 1 providing a graphic interface for the user with the find my vehicle function on the electronic device and actuating the lights of the vehicle.

[0048] FIG. 26 is a plan view of the electronic device of FIG. 1 with a modified bottom menu, providing a graphic interface with the motion function on the electronic device, set in the acceleration mode.

[0049] FIG. 27 is a plan view of the electronic device of FIG. 26 with a modified bottom menu, providing a graphic interface with the motion function on the electronic device, set in the current speed mode.

[0050] FIG. 28 is a plan view of the electronic device of FIG. 1 providing a graphic interface with the user and a live preview theme setup example.

[0051] FIG. 29 is a plan view of the electronic device of FIG. 26 providing a graphic interface with the user and an alternative live preview theme setup example.

[0052] FIG. 30 is an isometric view of an alternative to the lighting control system of FIG. 1 with an electronic device, presented in accordance with the present invention.

[0053] FIG. 31 is a plan view of a lighting array of FIG. 30, the lighting array including a local chip.

[0054] FIG. 32 is a plan view of a control panel of FIG. 30.

[0055] FIG. 33 is a plan view of a sensor module of FIG. 30.

[0056] FIG. 34 is a plan view of the electronic device of FIG. 13 showing an alternative graphical interface.

[0057] FIG. 35 is a plan view of the electronic device of FIG. 34 showing an example of a light zone map on the display.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0058] With reference to the illustrative drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1-3, there is shown an electronic device 12 in the form of a smart phone or gadget. The electronic device 12 may include a user interface such as a display 14 or graphical interface. As with this type of electronic device 12, the graphical interface 14 may be interactive in that it may be touch screen capable so that the graphical interface 14 may not only function to provide read only data to the user, but enable data input through touching marked areas of the graphical interface 14. The device 12 may also include an iPad, iPhone, Android, or any other handheld computer that includes a processor, memory, wireless communication capability and a user interface, namely a graphical interface 14, and preferably a touchscreen display. In this disclosure the term icon may refer to a graphical symbol that may be displayed on the graphical interface 14. As noted, the graphical interface 14 may be a touch screen display, and therefore enable the area of the graphical interface 14 which displays the icon, to cause some action when touched. Therefore, in this disclosure, the icon may act similar to a button, that when depressed, causes some action.

[0059] A controller 16 may include a receiver adapted to receive wireless communication 18 from the electronic device 12. The controller 16 may be provided electrical power from a power supply 20 which may include an AC outlet 22 or voltage supply 24 of the type that may be provided from an automotive vehicle. The power supply 20 may provide electrical communication with the controller 16 by way of the power cable 25. The controller 16 may receive the wireless communication 18 from the electronic device 12 in the form of short wavelength, ultra-high-frequency radio waves. Though technology is constantly changing, currently the range of such a system is approximately 10 meters. As is shown in FIG. 2, more than one controller 16 may be controlled with a single electronic device 12. Each controller 16 may be recognized by the electronic device 12 with a different frequency, thereby distinguishing one controller 16 from another controller 16. The controller 16 may convert a digital signal generated by the electronic device 12, which may be sent by wireless communication 18 to the controller 16, into a voltage output signal to one or more output terminals 26. One or more lighting arrays 28 may be electrically coupled to an output terminal 26. A variety of different lighting arrays 28 may be used in combination with one of the output terminals 26 of the controller 16. The lighting arrays 28 may be coupled directly to the output terminal 26, or by way of a lighting extension 30. A single lighting array 28 may be coupled to an output terminal 26 or multiple lighting arrays 28 may be coupled to each other in series and then coupled to an output terminal 26.

[0060] The lighting arrays 28 may be comprised of one or more light sources 31 alone or grouped together. The light sources 31 may be any type of lighting system. For the purposes of illustration the light sources 31 used in this disclosure will be light emitting diodes (LED's) and preferably multicolor light emitting diodes. It is not the intent of the applicants to limit the scope of the disclosure to any particular type of light sources 31. Incandescent lights could also be used or any lighting technology not yet currently known. To change the brightness on incandescent light the voltage to the light is altered, higher voltage is brighter light and lower voltage is lower light. With a light emitting diode (LED) the pulse width of the voltage signal is increased for greater brightness and decreased for a lesser brightness. This process is commonly called pulse width modulation (PWM). To change the color emitted by a multicolor light emitting diode the pulse width of each of the red, blue and green (RBG) diodes within the light source 31 may be individually modulated to produce any number of color outputs in accordance with that level of mixture of red, blue and green light.

[0061] Two or more output terminals 26 may be provided with each controller 16. Each output terminal 26 of each controller 16 may provide a unique zone, such that each output terminal 26 may operate independently from the other output terminal 26 or be grouped together to operate as a single output terminal 26. The grouping process of this will be discussed in greater detail later in this disclosure.

[0062] A sensor wire 32 may also be provided with each controller 16. The sensor wire 32 may provide an additional electrical input signal to the controller 16. An example of such an electrical input through the sensor wire 32 may be provided from the wiring to the brake lights, turn signals or other wiring providing a signal. Therefore, if the sensor wire 32 is wired in parallel with the wiring to the brake lights, when the brakes of the vehicle are pressed by a driver, and the brake lights are activated and an electrical signal is sent to the controller 16 by way of the sensor wire 32. This may produce an alternative signal to one or more of the lighting arrays 28 by way of one or more of the output terminals 26. As an example, when the brakes of the vehicle are activated, the light output through an output terminal 26 may be changed from what it was prior to brakes of the vehicle being activated. This may include turning the light output from all the lighting arrays 28 connected to each of the output terminals 26 bright red when the brakes are actuated, in essence turning the entire vehicle into giant set of brake lights. This may be valuable to alert other vehicles to the change in speed of the vehicle which includes the lighting arrays 28. This may provide a clear safety feature, especially for smaller vehicles such as motorcycles, which may already be harder to see because of their smaller physical size, especially at night.

[0063] With attention to the software of the invention that may be loaded onto the electronic device 12, examples of the graphic interface and systems are shown in FIGS. 4-27. With reference to FIG. 4, an example of a set up screen 34 is shown. This may include a list of some of the general functions of each controller 16 that is in communication with the electronic device 12. The identification section 36 may include the ability to name a specific controller 16. In that one electronic device 12 may interact with multiple controllers 16, it may be advantageous to create a name for a particular controller 16. For example, if used with a vehicle, one controller 16 may control a series of lighting arrays 28 near the front of the vehicle. In this case, the name may be chosen to be, for example, FRONT thus identifying that series of lighting arrays 28 in a manner that is easily recognizable by the user.

[0064] The controller name 38 may be listed with a factory identification number 39. This may be beneficial in the event of a failure or damage to the controller 16. In that case, the factory identification number 39 may be used for warranty or identification purposes.

[0065] As noted, in the examples of each controller 16 shown in the drawings there are two output terminals 26. It has been noted that there may be more than two output terminals 26, or possibly a single output terminal 26. With that said, the disclosure will focus on the invention having two output terminals 26, each output terminal 26 being identified by a zone specified in the software. Just as the controller 16 may be named, so may each zone be given a specific name. The zone name section 40 may be provided to the user as shown in FIG. 4. Each zone may also be equipped with the ability to toggle on and off a smart sensor action feature 42. The smart sensor action feature 42 has been described earlier in use with the sensor wire 32. As such, the sensor wire 32 may be in electrical communication with any one source. In this disclosure only one sensor wire 32 is shown but there could be more than one, each could be connected to a different source, such as one to the brake lights and one to the turn signals.

[0066] There are two zones shown in the smart sensor action 42. Each zone may be connected to a different lighting array 28. Each zone may be toggled on or off with a zone switch 44 so that only the zone(s) that are turned on will be activated when the controller 16 receives an electrical input by way of the sensor wire 32.

[0067] Another option on the set up screen 34 may be an auto shutdown 46. The auto shutdown 46 may also include a shutdown switch 48. When the shutdown switch 48 is on, this may enable the controller 16 to automatically shut down all lighting arrays 28 after a predetermined amount of time, such as five minutes, after the electronic device 12 is out of range and breaks the wireless communication 18 between the electronic device 12 and the controller 16. The purpose may be to extend the battery life of a vehicle from which the controller 16 and lighting arrays 28 are receiving their electrical power. If the vehicle is unattended, it may be desirable to have the lighting arrays 28 not be active and also not draw unwanted attention to the vehicle.

[0068] A feature which enables a user to find their vehicle may be turned on or off by use of a vehicle finder switch 50. The details of the find my vehicle function are shown in FIGS. 24-25 and will be discussed in detail later in the disclosure. The vehicle finder switch 50 enables that feature to be turned on so that the feature is activated, or turned off to be inactive. If a user does not intend on using this feature and misplaces their electronic device 12, a stranger could go to the feature and locate the user's vehicle without the vehicle owner's knowledge. This feature may be turned off, thus disabling the feature, by setting the vehicle finder switch 50 to the off position.

[0069] One embodiment of the software loaded on the electronic device 12 and presented on the graphical interface 14, which may be used to give instructions to the controller 16 is shown in FIGS. 5-27. The software may include four categories and displayed by icons including: palette 52, theme 54, music 56 and location 58. These icons may be positioned near the bottom of the graphical interface 14 of the electronic device 12 as shown in FIGS. 5-6. With a touchscreen display as a graphical interface 14, each one of these categories may be selected by touching that icon associated with that category.

[0070] As is shown in FIG. 5, the palette category 52 has been selected. The palette 52 may define the color of the lighting arrays 28 for that zone. A feature of the software displayed on the graphical interface 14 may include a first zone icon 60 and a second zone icon 62. When a zone icon (60 or 62) is touched on graphical interface 14, that zone icon may increase in size and be highlighted as the first zone icon 60 is in FIG. 5. The highlighted first zone icon 60 may then be dragged by maintaining contact with a finger of the user and moving it on the graphical interface 12. In this embodiment, a partial circle area 64 may be positioned on the graphical interface 14 with the geographical center 66 located near the lower right corner of the graphical interface 14. An advantage to such a graphical layout is that a person could have the device in the palm of their right hand and interact with the icons on the graphical interface 14 using only the thumb of that hand. This may make the interaction with the electronic device 12 a process that requires using only one hand.

[0071] In the partial circle area 64, a portion of the graphical interface 14 may include a color wheel 68. The color wheel 68 may also be shaped as a partial circle as here it is shown to be a quarter circle. By dragging the first zone icon 60 closer or farther from the geographical center 66, thus altering the x dimension 70, this may change the color saturation that will be assigned to that first zone icon 60 and therefore the lighting arrays 28 associated with zone one. In the context of this disclosure, the color hue may be defined as the gradation or variety of a color. The property of light by which the color of an object is classified as red, blue, green or yellow in reference to the color spectrum.

[0072] By dragging the first zone icon 60 in an angular direction, or orthogonal radial dimension, noted in FIG. 5 as the y dimension 72, the color hue may be altered. In the context of this disclosure, the color saturation may be defined as the colorfulness of a color relative to its own brightness, or the intensity of color of an image. Therefore, by dragging the first zone icon 60 to a position within the partial circle area 64 the color and properties of that color may be adjusted. The user may move the first zone icon 60 in the desired position and that color and color properties will then be linked to that zone. The first zone icon 60 may be larger in size as shown here relative to the second zone icon 62, thus communicating to the user that the first zone icon 60 is active and the second zone icon 62 is not active.

[0073] Also shown in FIG. 5 a brightness scale 74 may be provided. Here the brightness scale 74 may also be positioned in an arcuate portion of the graphical interface 14 with the center of that arc consistent with the geographical center 66. This may be done for the reasons as previously noted, to allow for a use with a single hand. To adjust the brightness, a brightness slider 76 may be displayed between the minimum brightness area 78 and the maximum brightness area 80. As before, the user's finger or thumb may contact the brightness slider 76 and drag it to any position between the minimum brightness area 78 and the maximum brightness area 80, thereby setting the brightness of either zone that is currently in an adjustment mode. In this figure that would be zone one as the first zone icon 60 is shown to be in a state of being modified.

[0074] The lighting pattern may also be adjusted for each zone. This may be accomplished by scrolling through pattern selection function 82. As is shown in FIG. 5, a solid pattern 84 has been selected. A solid pattern 84 may mean that the light emitted from the lighting arrays 28 may be turned on and kept on without being dimmed or turned off and back on again in a defined pattern. As such, there may be no change in frequency because there may be no alteration in the duration of the light fading between an on and off state. In contrast, as is shown in FIG. 6, a breath pattern 86 may be selected in the pattern selection function 82. A third option is shown to be a strobe pattern 88. Both the breath pattern 86 and the strobe pattern 88 may include a sequence of repeated increasing the brightness and decreasing the brightness in a synchronous pattern. The breath pattern 86 may be a more a fluid transition between greater brightness and lesser brightness and then back to greater brightness. The strobe pattern 88 may be more abrupt in the transition between greater brightness, lesser brightness and then back to greater brightness. With the breath pattern 86 and the strobe pattern 88 the frequency at which the rate of transition between greater brightness to lesser brightness and back to greater brightness occurs may be altered by adjusting the frequency slider 90 between a minimum frequency area 92 and a maximum frequency area 94 of the frequency slider 96. This adjustment process may be similar to the adjustment of the brightness slider 76 as shown in FIG. 5.

[0075] In the event that a user desires to make any adjustments and have it apply to both zone one and zone two, this may be done by grouping the zones together. To group any number of zones together the user may drag any zone icon over a second zone icon and hold the icons on top of one another for a short period of time. The result may be a zone icon without a number displayed and appears as a double circle icon 98, as is shown in FIG. 7a. To ungroup any number of zones, the user may touch the double circle icon 98 and hold that position for a brief period time. The number of zones may be displayed, as in FIG. 7b with the first zone icon 60 and the second zone icon 62 graphically displayed above the double circle icon 98 on the graphical interface 14. If the user wishes to ungrouped any zone he may move his finger from the double circle icon 98 and within a short period of time touch the icon relating to the zone they wish to remove from the group and drag it away from the double circle icon 98. If the user does not contact a zone icon and drag it away from the double circle icon 98 within a predetermined amount of time, all of the zones which are grouped within the double circle icon 98 may remain as one group and illustrated by the double circle icon 98. If this happens the image on the graphical interface 14 will return to that as shown in FIG. 7a.

[0076] It was previously discussed the graphical interface 14 on the electronic device 12 may include a partial circle area 64 with the geographical center 66 located near a bottom lower corner of the graphical interface 14. In that most people are right-handed, this geographical center 66 has been shown to be located near the lower right portion of the graphical interface 14. The lighting control system as shown and described may also include a screen flip function. The screen flip function may provide the user the ability to mirror the image by moving the geographical center 66 from a lower right corner to a lower left corner. An example of this is shown in FIG. 8. All other details on the graphical interface 14 may be consistent regardless of the relative location of the geographical center 66, be that at the lower right corner suitable for right-handed people (FIG. 6) or in the lower left corner suitable for left-handed people (FIG. 8).

[0077] Another feature of the lighting control system may be a color selection icon 100. When a user touches the color selection icon 100 a camera function of the electronic device 12 may be activated. The camera function of the electronic device 12 may allow the user the ability to take a digital image of any object. An example of the screen of the electronic device 12 in the camera mode is shown in FIG. 9. The center target 102 on the graphical interface 14 of the electronic device 12 may provide source image that may be analyzed. The target pixels of the digital photographic source image may be saved within the memory of the electronic device 12. The source image may be color mapped to the color palette stored within the software of the electronic device 12. The color mapping process may find a color with similar hue and saturation properties of the source image relative to the color palette. A color purifying algorithm may be used to enhance the color of the source image to maximize the level of saturation of the color prior to selecting a mapped color in the memory of the software in the electronic device 12.

[0078] With reference to FIG. 10, a device list page 104 may be displayed on the graphical interface 14 of electronic device 12 at any time by pressing the device icon 106. The device list page 104 may include a master switch 108 that may be used to turn on or off the lighting control system. In addition, a controller identification 110 may be provided to identify which controller 16 or controllers 16 are present and which ones are connected to the electronic device 12 with the connection icon 112. The connection icon 112 may display a scaled representation of the signal strength of the wireless communication with that controller 16. Also, each zone may include a power switch 114 which may be used to selectively turn on or off each zone, thereby enabling only the lighting arrays 28 which correspond to the zone or zones which the user would like to illuminate.

[0079] With reference to FIGS. 11-13 an interface on the graphical interface 14 of the electronic device 12 is shown which may allow a user to set favorites, group zones and use a varied white light output of the lighting arrays 28. If the plus symbol 116, which may be located in the partial circle area 64, is pressed on the graphical interface 14, a favorites page 118 may be displayed, as shown in FIG. 11. A series of stored color icons 120 may be displayed, which may be selected with a single touch. Though only four stored color icons 120 are shown, there may be more color icons 120 that may be accessed by scrolling this area of the graphical interface 14 to the right or left. This may allow additional stored color icons 120 to translate across the graphical interface 14, still showing a set number of stored color icons 120 at any one time. This may allow the size of the stored color icons 120 to be large enough so that the user may accurately select a desired color and yet allow for a multitude of stored colors to be available to the user.

[0080] A new color may be created, identified and displayed as a stored color icon 120 and added to the stored color icon list be taking any color currently selected and selecting an add to favorites icon 122. That color may be desired to be used as a starting color in the future, so the user may select a set default icon 124. This may select that color as a color for the lighting arrays 28 in all new zones that are created. This color may be changed by the steps as previously shown and described.

[0081] The color palettes that have been depicted thus far, as in FIGS. 5, 6 and 8 may display a multicolored selection based on the red, green and blue (RBG) color spectrum. This may be chosen in selecting the RBG icon 126. White light typically exists between a daylight blue-white and a warm yellow-white and is identified as a temperature on the Kelvin scale. This temperature is based on black body radiation emission. A temperature of 4600K or greater gives a daylight color or a blue-white color of white. A slightly lower temperature of between 3000K and 4600K gives off a cool white color of white. To achieve a warmer color or yellowish white, a lower temperature of below 3000K is required.

[0082] The lighting control system as presented may offer a varied white light option for color outputs to the lighting arrays 28 by selecting the white icon 128. Selecting the white icon 128 may load on the graphical interface 14 a detail as shown in FIG. 13. Here the first zone icon 60 and the second zone icon 62 may be shown as ungrouped as they are each separately shown. The process as previously discussed of dragging a zone icon (60 or 62) and hovering that zone icon over another zone icon until they are shown as a double circle icon 98 will group the zones together as one, as shown in FIG. 12a. This may mean any action made to one zone icon will be applied to all zones in that group. In comparison, the color (RBG) version of the partial circle area 64 with two zones may be illustrated in FIG. 12b.

[0083] To change the color of white the user may touch and drag the first zone icon 60 or the second zone icon 62 in FIG. 13 (or grouped double circle icon 98 if grouped) and drag that icon more toward the lower left for a higher temperature color, to the upper right for a lower temperature color white or anywhere in between. When the icon is released by the user, this will set the color for that zone. Whether the higher temperature is on the left or right, is not considered relevant, as that portion of the partial circle area 64 may include a background color that is associated with that color, both in the white light and the RBG colors. The radial lines 130 may graphically illustrate that with the white color, only the angular position may alter the color, not the distance of the zone icon (60 or 62) from the geographical center point 66. Therefore in contrast to the RBG (FIG. 5 and FIG. 6) there is no need to change two variables (hue and saturation) only the single variable of the temperature.

[0084] The brightness may also be altered. For that the process may be the same as that of changing the brightness of the solid color in the RBG. Here as shown in FIG. 13, to adjust the brightness, the brightness slider 76 may be displayed between the minimum brightness area 78 and the maximum brightness area 80. As before, the user's finger or thumb may contact the brightness slider 76 and dragging it to any position between the minimum brightness area 78 and the maximum brightness area 80.

[0085] An example of the user interface associated with the theme category is shown in FIGS. 14-17. A theme may be accessed by pressing the theme category icon 54. A theme may be a combination of changes in light and brightness provided in a repeated pattern. As an example, a Christmas theme may include red and green colors, one color increasing brightness and then dropping off to switch to the other color, then the process repeats in increasing followed by fading brightness. In FIG. 14 a sample of a variety of themes is shown. These are only a few examples as it is understood that there are an infinite number of possible combinations of varying brightness and colors that may exist. The graphical interface 14 of the electronic device 12 may include a set of theme examples 132. Each theme example 132 may include a theme pattern 134 that may represent the changing brightness of the lighting arrays 28 associated with that zone. A zone indicator 136 may show which theme is to be used for that zone. Each theme example 132 may include a title block 138 that may be pre-set or customized by the user to set a certain mood or holiday that is easily recognizable by the user.

[0086] The theme pattern 134 may be looked at as a coordinate graph with time along the horizontal axis and brightness along the vertical axis. As the graph line progresses vertically higher as the time passes along the horizontal, the brightness of the light output increases. As the theme pattern 134 decreases, the brightness of light output from the lighting arrays decreases. A horizontal line 140 would mean the brightness is constant. The color change may be graphically presented as background behind the theme pattern 134. The color may be a constant, or it may vary in some set pattern not associated with the theme pattern 134, or it may change in some coordinated manner with the theme pattern 134.

[0087] There are a limited number of theme examples 132 that are shown in FIG. 14, and likewise a limited number that would be reasonable to display on any size graphical interface 14. As such, more themes may be displayed by scrolling the list of theme examples 132 upward or downward, still showing a set number on the graphical interface 14 at any given time.

[0088] If a new theme is desired to be created by the user, the new icon 142 may be used. By touching the new icon 142 the software may present a theme construction page 144 on the graphical interface 14 of the electronic device 12. An example of this is presented in FIG. 15. To build a theme, a user may select one of any number of given theme patterns 134 from the pattern section 146. Picking a selected theme pattern 135 may then be displayed in a theme pattern display 148. This may allow the user to see what selected theme pattern 135 has been chosen for this theme. A color may be chosen by selecting and moving a color icon 150 to a position in the color area 152. The color identified by the color icon 150 may be displayed in the current color box 154 below the color area 152. To add the color highlighted by the color icon 150, and shown in the current color box 154, the user may select the plus box 156. That color may then be added to the color boxes 158 and color timeline 159 in the order in which they are added. If a color is desired to be removed, the user may touch the color box 158 displaying that color, at which time that color box may be displayed as the new current color box 154. The delete color icon 160 may be selected and that color box may be removed. The removal of that color may also be updated in the color timeline 159. When a theme is completed, the save icon 162 may be pressed.

[0089] The theme may also be changed as to the frequency and brightness of the color. By scrolling down on theme construction page 144 the speed setting 164 and brightness setting 166 may be presented on the graphical interface 14 of the electronic device 12 as is shown in FIG. 16. The theme pattern display 148 section of the graphical interface 14 of the electronic device 12 may remain visible so that the scrolling area may be below the theme pattern display 148. This may allow the user to continue to see the selected theme pattern 135 and color timeline 159 while being able to view other theme patterns 134 and options such as the speed setting 164 and brightness setting 166. The speed or frequency of the repeating format of the pattern may be increased by touching and dragging the speed slider 168 to the right for a higher frequency and to the left for a lower frequency. The brightness setting 166 may be changed by touching and dragging the brightness slider 170 to the right for a greater brightness or to the left for a lower brightness.

[0090] If the user desires to apply a theme to zones in the future, the user may set this theme as a start-up theme. One example of the interaction on the graphical interface 14 of the electronic device 12 is shown in FIG. 17. From the previous screen shown in FIG. 16, a particular theme pattern may be swiped to the left. This may alter that portion of the graphical interface 14 to show three new icons, the setup default icon 172, a modify icon 174 and a delete icon 176. With a theme chosen, the setup default icon 172 may be selected, which may set this theme as the default theme when creating a new theme or setting up a new zone. The modify icon 174 may allow the user to change any aspect of a theme, such as the color, brightness, frequency or theme pattern. The delete icon 176 may remove that theme from the memory of the electronic device 12. In this mode, the title block 138 may identify the theme to the user and the zone indicators 178 may show which zones this theme is being applied. The theme may then be saved to the controller by way of the save to controller icon 180. As FIG. 17 is showing what may be the startup theme, the startup theme icon 182 may be highlighted. This theme may be saved as other custom themes by selecting one of the custom theme icons 184.

[0091] It may be desirable to sequence the light output from the lighting arrays 28 to music. This may be accomplished by use of the lighting control system. The process of selecting music and linking it to a color output through the lighting arrays 28 may be illustrated in FIGS. 18-23. The music may be stored and played from the memory in the electronic device 12 or picked up by way of a microphone within the electronic device 12. The light output through the lighting arrays 28 may be a single color or multi colored. An example of the use of the lighting control system to provide light to the lighting arrays 28 from ambient music is shown in FIG. 18. The microphone icon 186 may be activated to signal the software on the electronic device 12 to source music through the microphone on the electronic device 12. The sensitivity of the microphone may be set by adjusting the sensitivity slider 188 on the sensitivity scale 190. The sensitivity scale 190 may be used depending on the volume of the music the user is listening to. For example, if the environment has more than one audio source present, the user may adjust the sensitivity scale 190 down to omit any background noise that may interfere with the desired music.

[0092] The graphical interface 14 may include a single color option icon 192 and a multi color option icon 194. The single color option icon 192 may allow for the brightness of the color output through the lighting arrays 28 to be increased in accordance with the relative volume of the music at any time. In contrast, by selecting the multi color option icon 194 the color output at the lighting arrays 28 may be changed as the relative volume of the music changes. The software of the lighting control system may measure the change in volume within an audio range of the music, be that through the microphone as ambient noise or from the music played by the electronic device 12. A light output simulation area 196 may display an example of the light output that may be seen at the lighting arrays 28 at the same time. A music position indicator 198 may graphically display the current position of the song between the starting point 200 and the song end position 202.

[0093] To use a song that is saved in the memory of the electronic device 12, the song icon 204 may be selected. An example of a display of the software on the graphical interface 14 using a song from memory may be presented in FIG. 19. In that there is no need for microphone sensitivity as there is no microphone used, that area on the graphical interface 14 may be replaced with an audio play icon 206. The audio play icon 206 may include a play button 208, a fast forward button 210, a back to start button 212, a repeat song button 214 and an audio selection button 216. The audio selection button 216 may provide access to the audio files stored on the electronic device 12 and be displayed for the user to select. The play button 208 may be used to start the song playing, the fast forward button 210 may advance the song along the track, the back to start button 212 may result in starting the song over and the repeat song button 214 may direct the software to run that song on a continuously repeating loop.

[0094] To set a color in a single color mode, as determined by selecting the single color option icon 192, the plus icon 218 may be selected. That may direct the software to change the detail on the graphical interface 14 to that similar to that shown in FIG. 21. Here the graphical interface 14 of the electronic device 12 may show the partial circle area 64, which may display color options. The first zone icon 60 may be positioned in a specific color in the partial circle area 64. The second zone icon 62 may be shown as it may appear if the second zone icon is being dragged to a new location within the partial circle area 64 to assign a new color to that zone. When a new single color is assigned to zone two by positioning of the second zone icon 62, the display on the graphical interface 14 may be changed back to that as shown in FIG. 20 by selecting the close button 220.

[0095] If the user selects the multi color option icon 194, to set a color combination the user may select the plus icon 194, which may direct the graphical interface 14 of the electronic device 12 to enable the user to choose a color theme, as may be presented in FIG. 22. A variety of color themes 222 may be displayed each with a title block 138 and a color display sequence 224. Each color theme 222 may be comprised of one or more individual colors designated by individual color blocks 226. When a color theme 222 is selected, that selected theme icon 228 may be displayed as larger compared to the rest of the color themes 222, thus alerting the user as to their selection that will be used. To return to the graphics as may be shown in FIG. 20, the user may select the close icon 230 as shown in FIG. 22.

[0096] To create a new color theme 222, the new icon 232 may be selected. This may cause the software to display on the graphical interface 14 of the electronic device 12 a color selection option 234 as shown in FIG. 23. A color may be chosen by selecting and moving a color icon 150 to a position in the color area 152. The color identified by the color icon 150 may be displayed in the current color box 154 below the color area 152. To add the color highlighted by the color icon 150, and shown in the current color box 154, the user may select the plus box 156. That color may then be added to the color boxes 158 in which they are added. If a color is desired to be removed, the user may touch the color box 158 displaying that color, at which time that color box may be displayed as the new current color box 154. The delete color icon 160 may be selected and that color box may be removed. When a theme is completed, the save icon 162 may be pressed. The sensitivity of the brightness of the color output of the lighting arrays 28 may be modified by use of the brightness adjustment 236. The farther the adjustment slider 238 is moved to the right, the greater the sensitivity may become.

[0097] Many people will park their vehicle in a crowded parking lot, walk away and then forget where their vehicle is located. This may be especially true when in an unfamiliar place, such as when traveling. The lighting control system of the present invention has a solution for just such an incident. As previously noted, the controller 16 which may be located on the vehicle, may receive the wireless communication 18 from the electronic device 12 in the form of short wavelength, ultra-high-frequency radio waves. Though technology is constantly changing, currently the range of such a system is approximately ten meters. In order for the controller 16 to establish a GPS location on its own, the controller must include a GPS beacon. In that most electronic devices, such as smart-phones, already have a GPS beacon, it may seem redundant and add unnecessary cost to put a second beacon in each controller 16 when there may be a beacon a few feet away in the electronic device 12 the user is using to interface with the lighting control system. Because the range of the wireless communication 18 system is limited to a few feet, the software may mark the GPS coordinate at the moment the wireless signal is lost between the electronic device 12 and the controller 16. This GPS location data may be several feet away from the controller. When the location icon 58 is pressed, the software may generate a map 240 and display it on the graphical interface 14 of the electronic device 12. A location pin 242 may be displayed at the GPS location where the wireless communication signal 18 was lost.

[0098] If the wireless communication signal 18 has a range of ten meters, in a crowded parking lot there could be dozens of vehicles in a circle with a twenty meter diameter. When the user goes to the location pin 242 is located on the map 240, the wireless communication 18 may be re-established between the electronic device 12 and he controller 16 located on the vehicle. Confirmation of the wireless communication may be displayed on the graphical interface 14 by a connection tag 244 near the location pin 242 on the map 240. An example of this is illustrated in FIG. 25. At this point, a light icon 246 may be presented on the graphical interface 14. The user may select the light icon 246, which may then turn on the lighting arrays 28 of any active zones as set in the setup page as illustrated in FIG. 4. With the lighting arrays 28 illuminated, the vehicle may easily stand out as being distinguished from the surrounding vehicles.

[0099] An alternative to the location icon 58 may be the motion icon 58. In that the location of any object may be determined by its previous motion, either of these icon names may be used. As is shown in FIG. 26 and FIG. 27, the motion icon 58 is used as these figures illustrate an example of the use of motion data. Many electronic devices 12, such as smart-phones, include a type of accelerometer. This may be a mass suspended by and elastic element in both directions of the x, y and z Cartesian coordinate system set to the reference of the frame of the electronic device 12. In other words, it may be a mass held by six springs, each pair of springs positioned ninety degrees away from each other pair of springs. If the user rotates the electronic device, gravity pulls on the suspended mass and creates more spring tension in some springs relative to other springs. The resultant force vector will always point toward the center of the earth if the electronic device 12 is not moving or moving at a constant velocity in any direction. This information allows the electronic device 12 to know which way is up and rotate the orientation of the display on the graphical interface 14 accordingly. As noted, this system already exists on many electronic devices 12. The software of the lighting control system may use that resultant vector data to determine the movement of the electronic device by calculating acceleration. The lighting control system of the present invention may then use that data to generate an interactive light output by way of the lighting arrays 28.

[0100] An acceleration icon 248 may be provided on the graphical interface 14 of the electronic device 12. With reference to FIG. 26, a quarter circle analog dial 250 may be provided with a geographical center 66 positioned near the lower portion of the graphical interface 14. This may be done for the reasons as previously noted as it may facilitate ease of use with a single hand of the user. A needle indicator 252 may be provided to graphically identify the current acceleration of the electronic device 12. An adjustable scale 254 may be provided such that the user may touch the adjustable scale 254 and drag that touched area toward a minimum scale value to increase a maximum scale value and inversely to drag that touched area toward a maximum scale value to decrease the maximum scale value displayed on the graphical interface 14. A digital acceleration 256 may also be provided.

[0101] The data displayed on the graphical interface 14 may be mapped to a color and brightness output of light by way of the lighting arrays 28. A single color option icon 192 may be selected to provide a varying brightness of the lighting arrays 28 with regard to the current acceleration data. The greater the acceleration value, the brighter the single light output at the lighting arrays 28 may be. If the multi color option icon 194 is selected, the variation in acceleration data may be mapped to different color output by way of the lighting arrays 28.

[0102] A similar system may be provided with respect to current velocity or speed of movement. A speed icon 258 may be provided on the graphical interface 14. Selection of the speed icon 258 may allow the location data from the GPS to calculate the difference in distance between a previous location and a current location and then divide that distance by the time it took to travel that distance. Using short distances, the resulting product may be the speed of movement. An example of how this may be displayed on the graphical interface 14 is illustrated in FIG. 27. Similarly to the acceleration data, the speed may be displayed on the graphical interface 14 by a quarter circle analog dial 250. This may be provided with a geographical center 66 positioned near the lower portion of the graphical interface 14. A needle indicator 252 may be provided to graphically identify the current speed of the electronic device 12. An adjustable scale 254 may be provided such that the user may touch the adjustable scale 254 and drag that touched area toward a minimum scale value to increase a maximum scale value and inversely to drag that touched area toward a maximum scale value to decrease the maximum scale value displayed on the graphical interface 14. A digital speed 260 may also be provided.

[0103] The speed data may also be mapped to the lighting arrays 28 such that the single color option icon 192 may be selected to provide a varying brightness of the lighting arrays 28 with regard to the current speed data. The greater the speed value, the brighter the single light output at the lighting arrays 28 may be. If the multi color option icon 194 is selected, the variation in speed data may be mapped to different color output by way of the lighting arrays 28.

[0104] An alternative display option when the user selects the Theme Display Icon 54 is shown in FIG. 28 and FIG. 29. As noted above, there are a limited number of theme examples 132 that are shown in FIG. 28 and FIG. 29, and likewise a limited number that would be reasonable to display on any size graphical interface 14. As such, more theme examples 132 may be displayed by scrolling the list of theme examples 132 upward or downward, still showing a set number on the graphical interface 14 at any given time.

[0105] This alternative display of theme examples 132 shown in FIG. 28 and FIG. 29 may include a live preview. The live preview may be activated by the user touching an area on the graphical interface 14 near any of the theme examples 132 on the graphical interface 14. Touching that area may signal the graphical interface 14 to display the output of a sequence algorithm in which a pattern sequence 262 may illuminate each pattern segment 264 in a sequence that may be representative of the sequence that may be displayed on a lighting array 28 when using that theme. A color sequence icon 266 may be provided adjacent to the color sequence 262 to indicate the sequence of color changes that may accompany the pattern sequence 262.

[0106] Each theme example 132 may include a title block 138 that may be pre-set or customized by the user to set a certain mood, holiday, vehicle signal pattern or anything of the like that is easily recognizable by the user. In FIG. 28 the title blocks 138 may be descriptive of the pattern sequence 262. In addition, the pattern segments 264 may themselves be graphically descriptive of the lighting pattern that may be shown as the live preview on the graphical interface 14 and also on the lighting array 28. For example, the title block 138 listed as Left Chase in FIG. 28 may represent pattern segments 264 in the pattern sequence 262 as being shaped as a set of left facing arrows. The live preview, which may be enabled when the user touches the graphical interface 14 on or near that displayed pattern sequence 262 for a predetermined amount of time, such as one second, may illuminate the right most pattern segment 264 for a predetermined time period followed by the pattern segment 264 located on the immediate left of the first pattern segment 264. This process may continue in a sequential pattern from left to right, thus chasing left.

[0107] At the same time as the pattern segments 264 are progressing through their predetermined pattern, the color sequence icons 266 may each display a color and illuminate that color in a sequential pattern consistent with that of the pattern segments 264. As this happens, the pattern segments 264 may also change color on the graphical interface 14 in the order as depicted by the color sequence icons 266.

[0108] Any pattern or color combinations may be used. In this disclosure up to three colors are shown to be depicted by the color sequence icons 266 for each pattern sequence 262 of each theme example 132. The number of colors is not considered relevant to the novelty of the invention and as such, any reasonable number of color combinations may be used. In a like manner, six examples of theme examples 132 are shown in FIG. 28 and FIG. 29. Some are intuitive in their pattern based on the name in the title block 138 and shape of the pattern segments 264. For example, the split chase theme example 132 in FIG. 29 may start in the center pattern segment 264 and simultaneously sequence to the right and left as shown by the arrow shape of the pattern segments 264 or any other predetermined spot. The theme example 132 identified as Center in FIG. 28 may behave just the opposite and start at the far right and left pattern segments 264 and sequence simultaneously toward the center pattern segment 264. After each pattern segment 264 cycles through an illumination, the color may change for the next illumination based on the color sequence depicted by the color sequence icons 266.

[0109] An alternative to the lighting control system as shown in FIG. 1 is shown in FIGS. 30-33. As previously shown and described, an electronic device 12 with a graphical interface 14 may be used to communicate with a controller 16. This communication may be a wireless communication 18. The controller 16 may be powered by a power supply 20, shown here in the form of an AC outlet 22 or voltage supply 24 (FIG. 2) of the type that may be provided from an automotive vehicle or other power source. Output terminals 26 may be used to provide electrical communication between one or more lighting arrays 28, each containing one or more light sources 31. These lighting arrays 28 may include a local chip 268, which may specifically identify that lighting array 28 and distinguish it from any other lighting array 28.

[0110] Providing a local chip 268 in one or more lighting arrays 28 may provide several advantages over a system such a lighting array 28 which does not include a local chip 268. The local chip 268 may include a specific local address. That may enable the controller to identify that lighting array 28 as being unique over all other lighting arrays 28. Therefore, if a user wishes to run a specific lighting protocol for that lighting array 28 and ignore all other lighting arrays 28, this system of using the local chip 268 in the lighting array 28 may provide that flexibility. As such, a string of lighting arrays 28 may be linked in series with one another, thus obtaining their electrical power from one source and linked to one controller 16. Each lighting array 28 in that string may be programmed to display a lighting protocol that is different from all the rest of the lighting arrays 28. The system noted earlier may separate lighting protocols by zones but all lighting arrays 28 of that system could be on the same zone as they may not be distinguishable from each other, only from another zone. The use of the local chip 268 in the lighting array 28 may therefore provide for greater flexibility in greater combinations of lighting protocols that may be used at the same time on multiple lighting arrays 28.

[0111] Another advantage to the lighting array 28 which may include a local chip 268 is that lighting protocols may be stored on the local chip 268 associated with each lighting array 28. This may significantly reduce the bandwidth needed to drive the light sources 31 on each lighting array 28 when numerous different lighting protocols are being used simultaneously on multiple lighting arrays 28. The data to control the color, brightness, duration, frequency, and pattern of the light sources 31 must all be sent to each individual light source 31 on each lighting array 28. The amount of data that must be transferred from the controller 16 to each light source 31 if several lighting arrays 28 are to run different lighting protocols may be prohibitive with a simple controller 16. In the present invention, the data needed to run several lighting protocols may be stored on each local chip 268. This way the only data that needs to be sent by the controller 16 to that lighting array 28 is the identification of the desired lighting protocol. The local chip 268 may run the light sources 31 on that lighting array 28, thereby greatly reducing the data flow from the controller 16. This may enable the same controller 16 to run many more lighting arrays 28 as compared to a system where the lighting array 28 does not have a local chip 268.

[0112] One or more IO (input/output) devices 270 may be used with the present invention. An IO device 270 may include a sensor such as the type used to measure speed, acceleration, temperature or any other physical parameter. This data may be sent back to the controller 16 by way of a sensor wire 32 or by wireless communication 18, such as a radio frequency (RF). An IO device 270 may also be a physical element of a structure such as an automobile or building. These physical elements may include turn signals, brake lights, a dome light or clearance lights of a vehicle or even outdoor lighting of a building. Some IO devices 270 may transfer data back to the controller 16 and some IO devices 270 may be used to only receive instructions from the controller 16.

[0113] An example of the user of the IO devices 270 may be one IO device 270 may be a sensor that is positioned on a vehicle or building to sense outside temperature. The controller 16 may monitor the data received from the temperature sensing IO device 270. Once the temperature reaches a set threshold, such as lowers to the freezing point of 32 F., the controller 16 may send an output to a different IO device 270 that controls the color of the interior lighting of a vehicle or lighting next to the sidewalk of a building. The color change may be from white light to blue light, for example, alerting the driver or someone on the sidewalk near the building that there may be a risk of ice forming on the walkway or road.

[0114] The IO devices 270 may be linked directly to the controller 16 by way of sensor wires 32 or to a sensor module 272. The sensor module 272 may also include a local chip 268 so that data may be transferred from the sensor module 272 to the controller 16 and from the controller 16 to the sensor module 272 to control the IO devices 270 that may be in communication with the sensor module 272. It may be desirable to physically distance the sensor module 272, and therefore the associated sensor wires 32, from the controller 16 without losing communication with the controller 16. The ability to place a sensor module 272 in series with one or more lighting arrays 28 provides a convenient means to position IO devices 270 as needed regardless of the location of the controller 16.

[0115] The use of a sensor wire 32 to provide electrical communication between the controller 16, or the sensor module 272, to an IO device 270 is shown in FIGS. 30, 32 and 33. Another means of communication between the sensor module 272, or the controller 16, and an IO device 270 may be by wireless communication 18. To accomplish this, a transmitter/receiver 274 may be provided with an IO device 270 and the communicating device (sensor module 272 or controller 16). The transmitter/receiver 274 may allow for data to be sent and received by the IO device 270 and the controller 16 or sensor module 272. This may allow for information transfer between the controller 16 directly, or by way of the sensor module 272, which is connected to the controller 16 directly or through one or more lighting arrays 28. An advantage of using a sensor module 272 incorporated in a series of lighting arrays 28 is that the distance between the controller 16 and the IO device 270 may be significant. It may be desirable to use wireless communication 18 if a desired IO device 270 is located some distance from the desired location of the controller 16 or sensor module 272. The ability to use wireless communication 18 between the sensor module 272, or the controller 16, and the IO device 270 further assists the user in connecting to a potentially remotely located IO device 270.

[0116] A control panel 276 may also be used in combination with the controller 16 and one or more lighting arrays 28. The control panel 276 may also include a local chip 268 to provide for expedited communication with the controller 16, as previously disclosed. In addition, the control panel 276 may include sensor wires 32 and a transmitter/receiver 274 to allow for communication with one or more IO devices 270. A difference between the control panel 276 and the sensor module 272 may be the addition of panel buttons 278 on the control panel 276. One or more of the panel buttons 278 may be programmed to provide specific instructions to the controller 16. In doing so, a single panel button 278 on the control panel 276 may be pressed to result in a programmable lighting sequence of one or more lighting arrays 28. The lighting sequence may be programmed to a panel button 278 with the use of the electronic device 12 as previously disclosed to generate a lighting sequence, or pre-programmed from the factory to include some of the more popular lighting sequences. In many cases the control panel 276 may be provided in an automobile. If the automobile is moving, the system as described may allow the user to perform a specific lighting task with minimal focus away from the process of driving. This may be especially important for first responders or other emergency personnel that need to alert other drivers and do so while driving at a high rate of speed. A panel display 280 may also be incorporated on the control panel 276. The control panel 276 may be positioned inside a vehicle or building to which the lighting arrays 28 may be located. The control panel 276 may provide a visual feedback to the user by way of the panel display 280 as to the status or programs of the lighting arrays 28. The panel buttons 278 may be programmable by the user or pre-programmed at the factory with a variety of functions. The control panel 276 may be a more permanent alternative to control the lighting arrays 28 than the electronic device 12 as previously shown which may be a smart phone or some other multi-function electronic device. The control panel 276 may have a single purpose, that being to control the lighting arrays 28 thus freeing up a smart phone or tablet to do other things such as work as a phone or computer to accomplish other tasks. The control panel 276 may also include a line plug 281. The line plug 281 may be used to attach additional lighting arrays 28 in series with the control panel 276 in a manner similar to the lighting arrays 28 that are shown to plug into the control panel 276 by way of an input plug 283, shown in FIG. 30.

[0117] Another alternative to the user interface is shown in FIGS. 34-35. In FIG. 34 an electronic device 12 is shown that may be similar to that as previously presented. The display 14 partial circle area 64 with one or more icons which may rotate about the graphical center point 66, has been previously discussed. In this embodiment, one of the graphics may be a list of icons displaying the pattern sequence 262 options available to the user. The icons of the pattern sequence 262 may scroll in a rotating manner about the graphical center point 66 by touching the display 14 in the area of the pattern sequence 262 icons and dragging the icons in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. A variety of patterns may be displayed similar to those shown in FIGS. 28-29. Also in this embodiment, the brightness scale 74 may be in the form of a compact slider where sliding clockwise or in the direction of the plus sign (+) may increase the brightness and sliding the compact slider counter clockwise, or toward the minus sign () may decrease the brightness. This may provide a similar outcome to using the brightness scale 74 as shown in FIG. 13.

[0118] In a similar manner, a compact slider may be used as a speed slider 90. This compact slider may be rotated clockwise toward the plus sign (+) to increase the speed or counter clockwise toward the minus sign () to decrease the frequency. The outcome of using this compact slider in the form of a frequency slider 90 may be similar to the frequency slider 90 as presented in FIG. 8.

[0119] A light map indicator 282 may also be presented on the display 14. The light map indicator 282 may show the sequence of lights of a particular lighting array 28 as noted by the channel indicator 284, shown here to be a single light array 28. To alter, add or remove a zone of lighting arrays, the user may touch the detail button 286 on the display 14. This may change the graphics on the display 14 of the electronic device 12 to that shown in FIG. 35. Here a light zone map is shown. The first zone icon 60 and the second zone icon 62 are shown with a highlighted third zone icon 288 in a highlighted area 290 on the display 14. The group display area 292 may show a graphic representation of one or more light map indicators 282 for each channel indicator 284 in that zone. These light map indicators 282 may populate in the group display area 292 from feedback from the actual sequence in that group. By using lighting arrays 28, each with a local chip 268, as previously noted, information may be provided back to the controller 16 to know the layout of the lighting arrays 28 in each group. This information may be translated to provide a graphic of light map indicators 282, which may be populated to the display 14 of the electronic device 12 without any need for the user to input the data.

[0120] As noted above, each lighting array 28 with a local chip 268 may include the ability to control the individual light sources 31 with more variation. In that each light source 31 may include the ability to generate a virtually infinite number of colors, it may be desirable to be able to program more than one individual light source 31 on any one or more of the lighting arrays 28 to have a potentially different lighting color relative to an adjacent light source 31, even if the lighting array 28 is performing a specific lighting sequence. To make this happen, one or more light source icon 294 may be touched on the display 14 to set a color associated with that zone. For example, if zone 3 is set to be blue in color. One or more of the individual light sources 31 in any of the channels, as indicated by the channel indicators 284 (here A, B or C) may be touched while zone 3 is highlighted in the group display area 292. This may turn the light sources 31 associated with that lighting array 28 to that zone 3 color of blue (for example). This process may be repeated for any zone (to change color) for any lighting array 28 under any channel indicator 284. The light source icons 294 may turn the color on the display that is associated with that highlighted zone. For the purpose of illustration, in FIG. 35, the light source icons 294 that have been touched and therefore take on the color of the highlighted zone are noted in a darker outline. This process may provide a greater variety of color and lighting flexibility to the user that may be easy to use and intuitive so as to increase the ease of use and reduce the learning curve in the hands of a new user.

[0121] The foregoing detailed description of the present invention is provided for purposes of illustration, and it is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the particular embodiment shown. The embodiments may provide different capabilities and benefits, depending on the configuration used to implement key features of the invention.