Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
IMITATION CANDLE AND FLAME SIMULATION ASSEMBLY THEREOF
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent document claims priority to the Chinese patent
application no.
CN201620081309.2 filed on January 27, 2016, and the Chinese patent application
no.
CN201620080755.1, filed on January 27, 2016 and US 15/137,951 filed on April
25, 2016.
FIELD
[0002] The subject matter of this patent document relates to candle
devices that use an
imitation flame, and particularly, to features that enhance the use and
realistic appearance of
imitation candle devices.
BACKGROUND
[0003] An electronic candle (sometimes referred to as an electronic
candle or an LED
candle) has evolved from a simple model that simulates the shape of a candle
using an LED
light to more sophisticated models with advanced features such as additional
flame colors and
additional styles. With no open flame or hot melted wax, flameless candles
provide a longer-
lasting, safe, and clean alternative to real candles, and, at the same time,
can be used as
ornaments, and for creating various lighting options.
[0004] Some electronic candles use a movable flame element, which, when
illuminated
by light from a light source, such as an LED, provides an illusion of a
flickering candle flame.
In other electronic candles, the flame element can be stationary and a
flickering flame effect is
simulated by, for example, changing the manner in which the flame element is
illuminated.
SUMMARY OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS
[00051 Embodiments described herein relate to devices and methods
for producing a
more realistic flame element for use in imitation candle devices and may
further facilitate the
operations and usage of electronic candle devices.
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[0006] One disclosed embodiment relates to an imitation candle device
that includes a
flame element shaped to resemble a candle flame and protruding from top of the
imitation
candle device, as well as a plurality of light emitting elements located
within the imitation
candle device and positioned to illuminate a plurality of areas on the flame
element. The
imitation candle device also includes electronic circuitry coupled to the
plurality of light
emitting elements to selectively modulate an intensity of each of the
plurality of light emitting
elements to simulate a flame movement in one or both of a vertical and a
horizontal direction,
wherein selective modulation of the plurality of light emitting elements
includes generation of
electric signals to modify an intensity of one or more of the plurality of
illuminated areas
positioned on a lower section of the flame element separately from one or more
other
illuminated areas on the flame element.
[0007] Another disclosed embodiment relates to a light-emitting
control assembly for
use in an electronic candle that includes a plurality of light emitting
elements positioned at an
angle with respect to a vertical axis that passes through center of the light-
emitting control
assembly. Each of the plurality of light emitting elements are positioned to
project a spot of
light for illuminating a particular area of a flame element, and the plurality
of light emitting
elements are positioned to project a set of partially overlapping light spots
and a set of
substantially non-overlapping light spots. The a light-emitting control
assembly further
includes a circuit board comprising a microcontroller coupled to the plurality
of light emitting
elements to produce electrical signals to modulate an intensity of a first
group of light emitting
elements separately from a second group of light emitting elements and to
simulate an
appearance of a moving flame upon projection of the overlapping light spots
and the
substantially non-overlapping light spots on the flame element.
[0008] In another embodiment, there is provided a light-emitting
control assembly for
use in an electronic candle. The light-emitting control assembly includes a
plurality of light
emitting elements positioned at an angle with respect to a vertical axis that
passes through
center of the light-emitting control assembly, each of the plurality of light
emitting elements
projecting a spot of light for illuminating a particular area of a flame
element, the plurality of
light emitting elements positioned to project a set of partially overlapping
light spots and a set
of substantially non-overlapping light spots. The light-emitting control
assembly further
includes a circuit board including a microcontroller coupled to the plurality
of light emitting
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elements to produce electrical signals to modulate an intensity of a first
group of light emitting
elements separately from a second group of light emitting elements and to
simulate an
appearance of a moving flame upon projection of the overlapping light spots
and the
substantially non-overlapping light spots on the flame element.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates a flame simulation assembly in accordance
with an exemplary
embodiment.
[0010] FIG. 2(A) illustrates two exemplary light producing devices
that are used in the
flame simulation assembly of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 2(B) illustrates projection of light spots produced by
light producing
elements in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.
[0012] FIG. 2(C) illustrates an imitation candle device in accordance
with an
exemplary embodiment.
[0013] FIG. 2(D) illustrates an exemplary projection of light spots
produced by
imitation candle device of FIG. 2(C) in accordance with an exemplary
embodiment.
[0014] FIG. 2(E) illustrates an alternate positioning of light
producing devices in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment.
[0015] FIG. 3 illustrates a flame simulation assembly having a
mounting rack in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment.
[0016] FIG. 4 illustrates a shell that is used in an imitation candle
device in accordance
with an exemplary embodiment.
[0017] FIG. 5 illustrates certain components of an imitation candle
device in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment.
[0018] FIG. 6 illustrates certain components of a partially-assembled
imitation candle
device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.
[0019] FIG. 7 illustrates components of an imitation candle device
that are positioned
under a shell in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.
[0020] FIG. 8 is an exemplary circuit diagram associated with
electronic components
of an imitation candle device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.
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[0021] FIG. 9 illustrates another exemplary imitation candle device
that includes a wax
cylinder in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.
[0022] FIG. 10 illustrates certain components of the imitation candle
device of FIG. 9.
[0023] FIG. 11 illustrates another exemplary imitation candle device
with a
microphone for capturing sounds in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS
[0024] In this patent document, the word "exemplary" is used to mean
serving as an
example, instance, or illustration. Any embodiment or design described herein
as "exemplary"
is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other
embodiments or
designs. Rather, use of the word exemplary is intended to present concepts in
a concrete
manner.
[0025] Imitation candle devices can simulate a real candle with a
flame that resembles
a real-life flame with flickering effects using optical, mechanical and
electrical components.
The disclosed embodiments relate to features that enhance the appearance of a
real candle
flame, and further facilitate the operations of imitation candle devices, and
expand the
functionalities of such devices.
[0026] In one embodiment, an imitation candle device for producing a
simulated flame
is provided that includes a flame simulation assembly for controlling light
emitting elements
that produce a flickering effect resembling a real flame.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary flame simulation assembly is
shown that
includes a flame element 100 that is shaped to resemble a flame, at least one
light source 200
that is used to simulate flame, and a circuit board 300 that controls the
light source 200
connected thereto. The flame element 100 is disposed on top of a switch 310
that is connected
to the circuit board 300. An operator may trigger the touch switch 310 by
moving (e.g.,
pressing down on) the flame piece 100, without a need to hold the electronic
candle, which
makes this on-off mechanism very convenient. Moreover, the use of the flame
element 100 as
a control switch improves the appearance of the imitation candle device since
no external
buttons or switches are needed.
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[0028] In the configuration of FIG. 1, the light source 200 includes
two light producing
devices 210 and 220 that are positioned to transmit light onto a surface of
the flame element
100. The light producing devices 210 and 220 can illuminate different areas on
the same side
of the flame element 100. The circuit board 300 controls different light
producing devices of
the light source 200 to, for example, turn the light producing devices on or
off, and to vary the
brightness of the illuminated areas on the flame element 100, and to thereby
create a flickering
candle light effect.
[0029] The control of light producing devices 210 and 220 may be
governed by the
circuit board 300 according to a regular pattern, or in accordance with an
irregular pattern,
depending on the desired visual effects. Generally, the light producing
devices 210 and 220
may be turned on or off alternatively, so that the flame element 100 looks
more like a
flickering candle light.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 2(A), the two light producing devices 210
and 220 of the light
source 220 are illustrated as each including two light emitting elements. In
particular, light
emitting elements A and B of the light producing device 220 are disposed in a
horizontal
configuration, and the light producing device 210 includes light emitting
elements C and D that
are disposed in a vertical configuration. Referring to FIG. 2(B), the surface
of the flame
element 100 can be generally divided into four areas: an upper area, a lower
area, a left area
and a right area. The light emitting elements A, B, C, and D are positioned in
such way to
illuminate the flame element 100 on the left, right, upper and lower areas,
respectively. It
should be noted that the depicted illumination areas corresponding to light
emitting elements
A, B, C, and D are only approximations of the illuminated areas, and their
corresponding sizes
may be modified as needed, and the illumination spots can at least partially
diffuse into one
another.
[0031] In some embodiments, each of the light producing devices 210 and 220
is an
LED device, and each LED device includes a plurality of chips or light
emitting elements
disposed therein. The light emitting elements can produce corresponding
illuminations with
different divergence characteristics. In some embodiments, all light emitting
elements that are
packaged within a light producing device have the same color. In some
embodiments, all light
emitting elements of the electric candle device have the same color.
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[0032] The flickering appearance of a flame may be improved under a
controlled
modulation of the four different light sources. For example, in a real flame,
the wick absorbs
part of the flame movements in the vertical direction, and thus our studies of
the movement and
flicker of real flames have revealed that independent control of the
horizontal versus vertical
illumination of an the artificial flame surface can improve the appearance of
a real flame. In
this regard, the configurations that are presented in FIGS 2(A) and 2(B) can
be used to
effectuate a more realistic flickering effect. For example, by turning the
light emitting element
A on and light emitting element B off, followed by turning the light emitting
element A off and
light emitting element B on, a visual simulation of horizontally flickering
may be formed.
Likewise, turning the light emitting elements C and D on and off can create a
visual simulation
of a vertical flickering.
[0033] The above described flame simulation assembly adopts a
structure of a light-
emitting unit having at least two elements or chips that illuminate different
areas on the same
side of a flame element. By controlling the on-off pattern of the light
emitting elements, a
visual simulation of a flickering flame in various directions is formed.
[0034] In some embodiments, more than four light emitting elements
are used to
enhance the controlled illumination of the flame element 100. In some
embodiments, in
addition to the four illumination directions for projecting light onto the
upper, lower, left and
right areas of the flame element, the direction and placement of the light
producing devices and
light emitting elements may be arranged randomly to produce any desired visual
effect, thereby
allowing the illuminated flame areas on the flame element 100 to be modified
to enable
different visual effects.
[0035] FIG. 2(C) illustrates an exemplary imitation candle device
with a flame element
100 and two light producing devices 210 and 220 positioned to illuminate the
flame element
100. FIG. 2(D) is a close up version of the flame simulation assembly, which
more clearly
shows the location of light producing devices 210 and 220 and the associated
spots on the
flame element 100. As evident from FIG. 2(D), the spots that illuminate the
top section of the
flame element 100 partially overlap with one another, whereas the spots that
illuminate the
lower portion of the flame element do not overlap. It should be noted,
however, that the
depicted spots only illustrate approximate illumination regions (e.g., areas
that receive the
brightest section of the incident light). Thus a small degree of overlap
between the illuminated
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areas at the lower section of the flame element 100 may occur due to, for
example, finite fall-.
off of light intensity. The overlap of the spots that illuminate the top
section of the flame
element 100 produces a brighter central section of the flame element 100 when
both top spots
are illuminated. By producing the proper modulation sequence of the different
light emitting
elements, proper movement of a flickering flame can be simulated on the
stationary flame
element 100. In one exemplary embodiment, the light assembly produces light
for illumination
of the flame element with a divergence angle of approximately 8 degrees (see
FIG. 2(D)). In
some embodiments, all light emitting elements of the imitation candle device
produce light
having the same color and the same maximum intensity. In some embodiments, the
intensity
of light can be modulated to produce the proper flickering effect. Such
intensity modulation
can be effectuated through on-off modulation, amplitude modulation, or other
modulation
techniques. In some embodiments, each light emitting element can operate at a
color
temperature in the range 1700-2350 K.
[0036] FIG. 2(E) shows another configuration for use in the flame
simulation assembly
that includes light producing devices 2221 and 2222 positioned to illuminate
both sides of the
flame element 100. The principles of operation for producing a flickering
flame effect for the
configuration in FIG. 2(E) are similar to those described earlier. The
configuration in FIG.
2(E) produces a realistic flickering flame effect when the flame element 100
is viewed from
both directions. In some embodiments, the patterns of illumination on both
sides of the flame
element 100 are synchronized with one another. In some embodiments, the flame
element 100
is made of a translucent material that allows light that is incident thereupon
to be diffused.
[0037] In some embodiments, the flame element 100 is positioned
within a mounting
rack. In particular, FIG. 3 shows a mounting rack having a mounting cavity 500
that allows
the flame element 100 to be mounted in the mounting cavity 500. In FIG. 3, the
flame element
100 is disposed vertically, and the touch switch 310 is disposed under the
flame element 100,
below an opening at the lower end of the mounting cavity 500. The flame
element 100 can be
moved vertically in the mounting cavity 500. Thus, when a user pushes down on
the flame
element 100, the flame element 100 moves downward to trigger the switch 310.
Specifically,
the mounting rack includes a left bracket 510 and a right bracket 520, each
having a groove
such that after the left bracket 510 and the right bracket 520 are combined
the flame sheet 100
can move vertically within the grooves.
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[0038] FIGS. 4 through 7 illustrate an exemplary imitation candle
device that includes
a flame element 100 and a shell 400 that covers the internal components of the
imitation candle
device. In particular, the shell 400 covers the base 700, the light source 200
(see, e.g., FIG. 1)
and the circuit board 300. As noted earlier, a light producing device 210, 220
can include at
least two light emitting elements to illuminate different areas on at least
one side of the flame
element 100.
[0039] The flame element 100 and the light-emitting unit are mounted
on a mounting
rack. As described above, the mounting rack includes a left bracket 510 and a
right bracket
520 that combine to form a support structure of the light source 200 and the
flame element 100.
In the depicted embodiment, a holder is used to mount the light-emitting unit.
The holder is
mounted on the combined structure of the left bracket 510 and the right
bracket 520, and
provides a platform for mounting the light source 200. At least part of the
light emitting
devices 210 and 220 protrude above a cavity formed by the holder. In some
embodiments, the
holder may also be divided into a left holder 610 and a right holder 620 (as
shown in FIG. 5);
when the two holder sections are brought together, they form the cavity that
accommodates the
light producing devices 210 and 220.
[0040] The circuit board 300 is located under the light-emitting
unit, and is electrically
connected to the light-emitting unit so as to control the modulation of light
produced by the
light emitting elements. Further, the circuit board 300 may include a touch
switch 310. As
noted earlier, the flame element 100 is disposed movably in the imitation
candle device such
that pushing on the flame element 100 triggers the touch switch 310, causing
the imitation
candle device to be turned on or off.
[0041] As noted earlier, the left bracket 510 and the right bracket
520 are provided with
grooves 511 and 521, so as to form a mounting cavity for the flame element 100
when the left
bracket 510 and the right bracket 520 are brought together. Thus, the flame
element 100 may
be mounted in the mounting cavity so as to enable its vertical movement. Such
a vertical
movement activates or deactivates the switch 310 that is placed below the
flame element 100.
[0042] The base 700 of the imitation candle device further includes a
battery container
710 and a battery cover 720. The battery cover 720 is fixed with a screw 730.
A battery 800
may be placed in the battery container 710. The circuit board 300 is
electrically connected to
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the battery 800 by, for example, an anode piece 330 and a cathode piece 320,
and the battery
800 supplies power for the circuit board 300 and the light source 200.
[0043] FIG. 8 shows an exemplary the circuit diagram for implementing
various
operations of the imitation candle device. The power supplied to the
components in FIG. 8 is
provided through two different power sources. The first power source (shown as
being
supplied through VDD in the upper left corner) is a battery (e.g., a CR2450
lithium-manganese
dioxide button cell) that provides a DC supply volatage (e.g., 3V). The first
supply is
connected to a booster circuit having a capacitor C5, an inductor L1, a
booster IC U1, one or
more capacitors C3, C8, and other devices, so as to provide a stable (e.g.,
3.3V) voltage. The
second supply is a DC voltage (e.g., 3.3V) that is output from pin 5 of Ul,
and supplies power
to the microcontroller unit (MCU) U2, to bi-color light sources LED1 and LED2
having yellow
light and white light respectively, and to a remote receiver IR1. As such, in
some
embodiments, the imitation candle device of the present application can be
controlled with a
remote control device.
[0044] In operation, pins 2 and 3 of chip U2 form complementarily outputs
that provide
a square wave pattern to control the bi-color LED1 to be switched on and
switched off in a
periodic fashion so as to simulate a flickering flame. After a predetermined
time interval (e.g.,
one minute), pins 9 and 10 of chip U2 complementarily output a pattern of
square waves to
control the LED2, and to allows it to be switched on and switched off in a
similar manner as
described above. These operations are continued to produce a realistic
flickering flame effect.
[0045] Remote operation of the imitation candle device is enabled
when the infrared
receiver IR1 receives an infrared remote control signal. The signal is
received on a pin of chip
U2, causing the instructions that are embodied on a non-transitory storage
medium (e.g., a
ROM, a RAM, etc.) to be executed to implement the desired functionality. For
example, the
received IR signal, once decoded, can turn the imitation candle device on or
off
[0046] The components R3, R7, Q1 and R8 on the left hand side of FIG.
8 form a
power supply detection circuit that can be coupled to chip U2. For example,
when the battery
is running out, such a circuit can generate a signal to stop the operations of
the imitation candle
device and to turn it off The components C1, C2 and X1 form a timed
oscillating circuit and
components R5, S1, and pin 1 of U2 form an on/off switch circuit.
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[0047] FIG. 9 shows another exemplary embodiment of the disclosed
imitation candle
device that additionally includes an outer cylinder 900 that can be made of a
waxy substance,
such as of paraffin wax, to resemble a real candle body. The cylinder 900
overs the shell 400
that was shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0048] FIG. 10 shows various components of the imitation candle device that
are
accommodated within the outer cylinder 900. Specifically, the electronic
candle includes a
flame element 100, a first LED 210, a second LED 220, a circuit board 300, a
shell 400, a left
bracket 510, a right bracket 520, a left holder 610, a right holder 620, a
base 700, a battery 800,
and a wax cylinder 900. The shell 400 covers the base 700, the left bracket
510 and the right
bracket 520 serve as a support structure for the flame element 100 and for the
LEDs. The left
holder 610 and the right holder 620 are combined to form a cavity that
accommodates the
placement of the LEDs. The light emitting elements within the LEDs illuminate
different areas
of the flame element 100. The flame element 100 is movable in a vertical
direction. The
circuit board 300 is located under the flame element 100 and has a touch
switch 310, which
may be triggered by vertical movement of the flame element 100.
[0049] In some embodiments, the flame element is formed such that its
top portion
extends upward parallel to the vertical axis that passes through the top
surface of the imitation
candle device (e.g., the vertical axis that passes through the center of the
imitation candle
device) (see e.g., FIGS. 1 and 6). In some embodiments, the top portion of the
flame element
that protrudes from the top of the candle body is curved away from the
vertical axis at a small
angle. Having such a curved top portion improves the simulation of a real life
candle and
facilitates proper focusing of the light spots on the flame surface.
[0050] In some embodiments, a microphone is positioned within the
imitation candle
device for capturing the sound of a blow that is directed to the flame
element. FIG. 11
illustrates an imitation candle device that incorporates a microphone 1100
positioned within
the imitation candle device. The microphone 1100 converts acoustic signals
into electrical
signals that are provided to an electronic component on the circuit board 300.
The microphone
1100 is positioned closer to the top surface of the imitation candle device to
intercept sound
waves that travel into the interior of the imitation candle device. For
example, the top section
of the imitation candle device can include an opening (e.g., the same opening
that allows light
from the light source 200 to reach the flame element 100) that allows the
microphone 1100 to
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capture acoustic waves that travel down into the interior of the imitation
candle device. In this
way, when a user blows in the direction of the imitation flame element 100,
the blow is
captured by the microphone 1100, and the appropriate signals are generated to
turn off the
imitation candle device.
[0051] The electrical signals produced by the microphone 1100 can be
processed by the
components of the circuit board 300. The circuit board 300 can, for example,
include filters,
analog-to-digital circuits, transistors, resistors, capacitors, and/or a
processor or controller (e.g.,
a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an FPGA, an ASIC, etc.)
that receive
signals representing the captured sound waves. The processor can execute
program code
stored on a non-transitory storage medium, such as ROM, a RAM or other memory
device, to
process the signals corresponding to the sound waves and to determine that a
blow has
occurred. Upon detection of a blow, a corresponding signal can be produced to
turn off the
light source 200 and/or the entire imitation candle device. The program code
that is executed
by the processor can include an algorithm that differentiates between captured
sounds of
blowing air and other sounds such as clapping or human conversation. In some
embodiments,
the blow detection circuitry can be implemented as a separate component from
other
components of the circuit board 300. For example, the blow detection circuity
can be
implemented using analog or digital circuits that receive the signals from the
microphone,
produce a voltage or current value in a predetermined range that is indicative
of a blow, and
provide such a voltage or signal to another component (e.g., a microcontroller
on the circuit
board 300) to turn the imitation candle off.
[0052] One disclosed embodiment relates to an imitation candle device
that includes a
flame element shaped to resemble a candle flame and protruding from top of the
imitation
candle device, and a plurality of light emitting elements located within the
imitation candle
device and positioned to illuminate a plurality of areas on the flame element.
The imitation
candle device also includes electronic circuitry coupled to the plurality of
light emitting
elements to selectively modulate an intensity of each of the plurality of
light emitting elements
to simulate a flame movement in one or both of a vertical and a horizontal
direction. Selective
modulation of the plurality of light emitting elements includes generation of
electric signals to
modify an intensity of one or more of the plurality of illuminated areas
positioned on a lower
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section of the flame element separately from one or more other illuminated
areas on the flame
element.
[0053] In one exemplary embodiment, the plurality of light emitting
elements are
positioned to project light onto four areas of the flame element such that a
first light emitting
element projects light onto a first area of the flame element, a second light
emitting element
projects light onto a second area of the flame element, a third light emitting
element projects
light onto a third area of the flame element, and a fourth light emitting
element projects light
onto a fourth area of the flame element. In another exemplary embodiment, the
first area is
located at a left section of the flame element, the second area is located at
a right section of the
flame element, the third area is located at a top section of the flame
element, and the fourth
area is located at a bottom section of the flame element. In yet another
exemplary embodiment,
the electric signals generated by the electronic circuitry modulate the
intensity of the first and
the second light emitting elements to produce an appearance of flame movement
in the
horizontal direction. In still another exemplary embodiment, the electric
signals generated by
the electronic circuitry modulate the intensity of the third and the fourth
light emitting elements
to produce an appearance of flame movement in the vertical direction.
[0054] According to one exemplary embodiment, the electric signals
generated by the
electronic circuitry modulate the intensity of the first and the second light
emitting elements to
produce an appearance of flame movement in the horizontal direction, and
modulate the
intensity of the third and the fourth light emitting elements to produce an
appearance of flame
movement in the vertical direction. In another exemplary embodiment, each of
the plurality of
light emitting elements produces an output light having a color temperature in
the range 1700-
2350 K. In still another exemplary embodiment, each of the plurality of light
emitting
elements produces light having the same color.
[0055] In one exemplary embodiment, each of the plurality of light emitting
elements is
positioned to illuminate only one area of the flame element with substantially
no overlap with
other areas of the flame element. In another exemplary embodiment, the first
and the second
light emitting elements are positioned such that the light projected onto the
first area of the
flame element partially overlaps with the light projected onto the second area
of the flame
element, where the first area and the second area are located on a top section
of the flame
element. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the third and the fourth light
emitting
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elements are positioned such that the light projected onto the third area of
the flame element
does not substantially overlap with the light projected onto the fourth area
of the flame
element, where the third area and the fourth area are located on a bottom
section of the flame
element. In still another exemplary embodiment, the electric signals generated
by the
electronic circuitry modulate the intensity of the first and the second light
emitting elements
separately from the intensity of the third and the fourth light emitting
elements to simulate
differing flame movements at the top and at the bottom sections of the flame
element.
[0056] In another exemplary embodiment, the above noted imitation
candle device also
includes a switch positioned below the flame element within the imitation
candle device, where
the flame element is movably positioned within the imitation candle device
such that a vertical
movement of the flame element activates the switch to turn the imitation
candle device on or
off. In one exemplary embodiment, the plurality of the light emitting elements
are positioned
within the imitation candle device to illuminate the plurality of areas that
are located on one
side of the flame element. In another exemplary embodiment, the plurality of
the light emitting
elements are positioned within the imitation candle device to illuminate the
plurality of areas
that are located on two sides of the flame element.
[0057] In another exemplary embodiment, at least two of the plurality
of the light
emitting elements are formed as a first light emitting device (LED) that is
oriented in a first
direction to project a first set of spots onto the flame element, and at least
two other of the
plurality of the light emitting elements are formed as a second light emitting
device (LED) that
is oriented in a second direction to project a second set of spots onto the
flame element. In one
exemplary embodiment, the imitation candle device further includes a mounting
rack that
includes a cavity, where the mounting rack is positioned within the imitation
candle device to
allow the flame element to be mounted in the cavity of the mounting rack. In
another
exemplary embodiment, the mounting rack includes a pair of grooves to receive
the flame
element and to allow the flame element to move along the grooves of the
mounting rack.
[0058] In one exemplary embodiment, the imitation candle device
further includes a
cylindrical outer shell made of a wax-like material to resemble a body of a
true candle. In
another exemplary embodiment, the imitation candle device also includes a
microphone that is
electrically coupled to the electronic circuitry and is positioned within the
imitation candle
device to detect a sound of a blow of air directed at the flame element and to
generate an
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electrical signal in response to the sound of the blow of air for turning off
the imitation candle
device. In another exemplary embodiment, a top portion of the flame element is
curved away
from a vertical axis that passes through top of the imitation candle device.
[0059] Another aspect of the disclosed technology relates to a light-
emitting control
assembly for use in an electronic candle. The light-emitting control assembly
includes a
plurality of light emitting elements positioned at an angle with respect to a
vertical axis that
passes through center of the light-emitting control assembly. Each of the
plurality of light
emitting elements projects a spot of light for illuminating a particular area
of a flame element,
and the plurality of light emitting elements are positioned to project a set
of partially
overlapping light spots and a set of substantially non-overlapping light
spots. The light-
emitting control assembly also includes a circuit board including a
microcontroller coupled to
the plurality of light emitting elements to produce electrical signals to
modulate an intensity of
a first group of light emitting elements separately from a second group of
light emitting
elements and to simulate an appearance of a moving flame upon projection of
the overlapping
light spots and the substantially non-overlapping light spots on the flame
element.
[0060] In one exemplary embodiment, the plurality of light sources
are positioned to
project the set of partially overlapping light spots upon a top portion of the
flame element, and
the substantially non-overlapping light spots upon a lower section of the
flame element. In
another exemplary embodiment, the plurality of the light emitting elements are
positioned with
respect to the flame element such that a divergence angle of the combined
light emanating
from the plurality of the light emitting elements and reaching the flame
element is about 8
degrees. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the microcontroller is
configured to produce
an on-off modulation signal to modulate the intensity of the first group of
light emitting
elements, and another on-off modulation signal to modulate the intensity of
the second group
of light emitting elements to produce an appearance of a flame movement in a
vertical
direction.
[0061] In another exemplary embodiment, the microcontroller is
configured to produce
modulation signals to cause a different pattern of intensity variations for
those light emitting
elements that illuminate a bottom portion of the flame element and those light
emitting
elements that illuminate a top portion of the flame element. In yet another
exemplary
embodiment, the first group of light emitting elements produce illumination
spots that are
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aligned in a horizontal direction, and the second group of light emitting
elements produce
illumination spots that are aligned in a vertical direction.
[0062] Another exemplary embodiment relates to an electronic candle
and a flame
simulation assembly thereof The flame simulation assembly includes a flame
element used to
simulate the shape of flame, at least one source to simulate the flame
element, and a circuit
board to control the light-emitting element. The source has at least two light-
emitting
elements. Such light emitting elements from the same light producing device
irradiate different
areas at the same side of the flame element. The circuit board controls
different light emitting
elements, causing them to, for example, be turned on or off, so that areas on
the flame elements
irradiated are bright or dark, thereby creating an effect of flickering candle
light.
[0063] In one embodiment, an electronic candle includes a base, a
shell that covers the
base, a flame element, where the flame element is at least partially exposed
outside the shell.
The electronic candle further includes a source to simulate the flame effect,
where the light
source is positioned to provide light to a surface of the flame element. The
electronic candle
also includes a circuit board to control the light source, wherein one light
source has at least
two light-emitting chips, and the chips of the same source irradiate different
areas on one side
of the flame element.
[0064] Some of the embodiments described herein are described in the
general context
of methods or processes, which may be implemented in one embodiment by a
computer
program product, embodied in a computer-readable medium, including computer-
executable
instructions, such as program code, executed by computers in networked
environments. A
computer-readable medium may include removable and non-removable storage
devices
including, but not limited to, Read Only Memory (ROM), Random Access Memory
(RAM),
compact discs (CDs), digital versatile discs (DVD), etc. Therefore, the
computer-readable
media can include a non-transitory storage media. Generally, program modules
may include
routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perfoim
particular tasks or
implement particular abstract data types. Computer- or processor-executable
instructions,
associated data structures, and program modules represent examples of program
code for
executing steps of the methods disclosed herein. The particular sequence of
such executable
instructions or associated data structures represents examples of
corresponding acts for
implementing the functions described in such steps or processes.
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[0065] Some of the disclosed embodiments can be implemented as
devices or modules
using hardware circuits, software, or combinations thereof. For example, a
hardware circuit
implementation can include discrete analog and/or digital components that are,
for example,
integrated as part of a printed circuit board. Alternatively, or additionally,
the disclosed
components or modules can be implemented as an Application Specific Integrated
Circuit
(ASIC) and/or as a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) device. Some
implementations
may additionally or alternatively include a digital signal processor (DSP)
that is a specialized
microprocessor with an architecture optimized for the operational needs of
digital signal
processing associated with the disclosed functionalities of this application.
Similarly, the
various components or sub-components within each module may be implemented in
software,
hardware or filmware. The connectivity between the modules and/or components
within the
modules may be provided using any one of the connectivity methods and media
that is known
in the art, including, but not limited to, communications over the Internet,
wired, or wireless
networks using the appropriate protocols.
[0066] The foregoing description of embodiments has been presented for
purposes of
illustration and description. The foregoing description is not intended to be
exhaustive or to
limit other embodiments to the precise foint disclosed, and modifications and
variations are
possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of
various
embodiments. The embodiments discussed herein were chosen and described in
order to
explain the principles and the nature of various embodiments and their
practical application to
enable one skilled in the art to utilize the various embodiments and with
various modifications
as are suited to the particular use contemplated. The features of the
embodiments described
herein may be combined in all possible combinations of methods, apparatus,
modules, systems,
and computer program products.
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