Systems and methods for remotely controlling an imitation candle device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10111307-B2
Application number	US-201615197354-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 29, 2016
Priority date	Jun 17, 2016
Publication date	Oct 23, 2018
Grant date	Oct 23, 2018

Abstract

Imitation candle devices and systems with enhanced features are described that facilitate remote operation and usage of electronic candles. The disclosed features include application programs running on a processor of a mobile device and a detachable wireless transceiver included within an imitation candle to facilitate the electronic candle to be turned on or off remotely. In some embodiments, when a user blows into the microphone of the mobile device the imitation flame of the electronic candle is moved according to the speed of the blow. In some implementations, parameters such as a flicker speed, a flicker color, a duration of flickering, are changed using signals that are received from the mobile device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An imitation candle system, comprising:
an imitation candle device including:
a removable wireless transceiver attached to the imitation candle device and configured to enable a wireless control of the imitation candle device by communicating wirelessly with a mobile user device for controlling one or more operative features of the imitation candle device to produce an appearance of a true fire flame, the removeable wireless transceiver further configured to disable the wireless control of the imitation candle device when detached from the imitation candle device;
a memory including a non-transitory computer-readable medium with processor-executable instructions included within the mobile user device that configure the mobile user device to communicate wirelessly with the wireless transceiver to modulate one or more parameters of a light source included in the imitation candle device based on a pattern corresponding to a speed of movement of a breeze provided by a sensor on the mobile user device, wherein the one or more parameters of the light source include a flicker speed and a flicker color that are set to:
a first predetermined flicker speed and a first predetermined flicker color upon the speed of movement of the breeze falling within a first range of speeds, and
a second predetermined flicker speed and a second predetermined flicker color upon the speed of movement of the breeze falling within a second range of speeds,
wherein the first range of speeds is different from the second range of speeds, the first predetermined flicker speed is different from the second predetermined flicker speed, and the first predetermined flicker color is different from the second predetermined flicker color, and
wherein the memory including the non-transitory computer-readable medium with processor-executable instructions included within the mobile user device further configure the mobile user device to communicate wirelessly with the wireless transceiver to override the flicker speed and the flicker color that correspond to the speed of movement of the breeze with a third predetermined flicker speed and a third flicker color that correspond to a pre-set option selected by a user, the pre-set option reflecting a mood or an environment and displayed by the mobile user device; and
an audio player configured to play an acoustic signal in response to the pre-set option, the acoustic signal corresponding to the mood or the environment associated with the pre-set option.

2. The imitation candle system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes at least one of: a microphone on the mobile user device or an accelerometer coupled to the mobile user device.

3. The imitation candle system of claim 1 , wherein the flicker speed of the light source calculated in real-time and based on the speed of movement of the breeze.

4. The imitation candle system of claim 1 , wherein the flicker speed that is set to a zero value or a near zero value, upon the speed of movement of the breeze being zero or a near zero value.

5. The imitation candle system of claim 1 , wherein the memory including the non-transitory computer-readable medium with processor-executable instructions included within the mobile user device further configure the mobile user device to:
in response to detection of an acoustic wave received via a microphone on the mobile user device, convert the acoustic wave to a digital signal, and
transmit the digital signal to the removable wireless transceiver for activation of a blow off feature of the imitation candle device, thereby turning off the imitation candle device.

6. The imitation candle system of claim 1 , wherein the breeze is generated due to one or more of the following factors: a movement of the mobile user device, a wind blowing in close proximity to the mobile user device, or a user blowing air into a microphone of the mobile user device.

7. The imitation candle system of claim 1 , wherein the speed of movement of the breeze is calculated according to a predetermined schedule.

8. The imitation candle system of claim 7 , wherein the predetermined schedule is a first predetermined schedule, wherein the memory including the non-transitory computer-readable medium with processor-executable instructions included within the mobile user device further configure the mobile user device to:
upon detecting a request to over-ride the first predetermined schedule, receive a user selection of a second schedule; and
set the second schedule for calculating a speed of movement of the breeze.

9. The imitation candle system of claim 1 , wherein the imitation candle device includes a movable flame element, and
the memory including the non-transitory computer-readable medium with processor-executable instructions included within the mobile user device further configure the mobile user device to communicate wirelessly with the wireless transceiver to modulate a physical movement of the flame element of the imitation candle device.

10. The imitation candle system of claim 9 , wherein the imitation candle device includes a coil configured to generate a magnetic field that interacts with a magnetic component of the movable flame element, and
the memory including the non-transitory computer-readable medium with processor-executable instructions included within the mobile user device configure the mobile user device to communicate wirelessly with the wireless transceiver to modulate the magnetic field generated by the coil, thereby inducing a movement of the movable flame element in accordance with the speed of movement of the breeze.

11. The imitation candle system of claim 1 , wherein:
the processor-executable instructions included within the mobile user device further configure the mobile user device to:
present a user interface that includes one or more user-selectable controls that include:
a candle group or a candle device selection control,
an on-off control,
a timer control, or
a flicker control;

upon receiving an indication of a selection of the one or more user-selectable controls, process the indication to identify the one or more selected controls and to obtain information associated with the one or more selected control; and
generate a sequence of data symbols to communicate with the imitation candle device or a selected group of candle devices.

12. The imitation candle system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more user-selectable controls include a blow out control, and wherein
the processor-executable instructions included within the mobile user device configure the mobile user device to, upon receiving an indication of a selection of the blow out control for the imitation candle device or a particular selected group of candle devices,
generate the pattern corresponding to the speed of movement of the breeze for the imitation candle device or a particular selected group of candle devices.

13. The imitation candle system of claim 11 , wherein:
the timer control presented on the user interface includes:
a user-selectable timer on-off field that allows operation of the imitation candle device or the selected group of candle devices to be limited within a particular time period,
a user-settable time of day selection field that allows selection of time period within a 24-hour period, and
a user-settable day of week field that allows selection of one or more days in a week.

14. The imitation candle system of claim 11 , wherein:
the flicker control presented on the user interface includes:
a user-selectable light intensity selection field that allows selection of one of a plurality of light intensity level fo

Assignees

• Li Xiaofeng

Inventors

• Li Xiaofeng

Classifications

• F21V23/0435 Primary

  activated by remote control means · CPC title

• H05B45/00

  Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• H05B47/16

  by timing means · CPC title

• H05B47/12

  by detecting audible sound · CPC title

• H05B45/20

  Controlling the colour of the light · CPC title