Lighted picture frame

Abstract

A picture frame illuminated and decorated by several LEDs, distributed along the face of parallel sides, as well as top and bottom of the picture frame and controlled by software, which is programmed into a micro-controller. The lighted picture frame comprises of a printed circuit board, a motion detector element, a light sensor element, a push button, battery compartment, one or more one-color, bi-color or tri-color LED independently or collectively connected to printed circuit board by wires, or by printed wires. A current limiting resistor network is connected in series with LEDs. Electronic circuit is powered by a DC power source, which can be either battery or a DC adapter. LEDs flash and illuminate in different patterns and sequences controlled by software. LEDs are individually or collectively controlled by software, making it possible to create a variety of light and pattern combinations. Either the motion detector element or the push button can wake up the controller from sleep mode and restart program flow for a duration specified by software, before the micro-controller goes to sleep mode again. Frame can come in different shape, size and material such as wood, metal, glass, plastic, foam or any combination of different materials, and can be covered and decorated with different shapes and materials such as leather, aluminum, glass, ceramic, metal, etc. The illuminated frame has all elements found in a basic picture frame, such as easel back plate, transparent plate, etc. Printed circuit board and battery can be installed in a compartment within the body of the picture frame, covered by the back plate.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A lighted picture frame comprising: 
 I. A frame, including a flange and a border, defining interior viewing area.    II. A set of at least one LED (Light Emitting Diode), distributed evenly or unevenly alongside the front face of the frame, in a single arrangement or in groups, which are controlled and driven by a micro-controller device under control of software programmed into the micro-controller.    III. A printed circuit board comprising a micro-controller and a battery holder, mounted in a compartment inside the body of the frame.    IV. A motion detector device, exposed through a window on the front face of the picture frame, intended to sense and detect motion near the picture frame and to wake up the micro-controller from sleep mode when a motion detected.    V. A windowed easel back plate wherein a hinged leg is attached to the center window as a stand for the picture frame.    VI. Wires or printed wires connecting LEDs and other electronic components to the printed circuit board.    VII. A transparent plate to hold the display item between the flange and the back plate.    VIII. Frame covering and decorations provided on or around the front face of the picture frame.    
     
     
         2 . A lighted picture frame according to  claim 1 , wherein, LEDs may be of any combination and of any type including but not limited to one-color, bi-color or tri-color, and come in any color combination, including but not limited to red, green, amber, yellow, blue.  
     
     
         3 . A lighted picture frame according to  claim 2 , wherein, each LED is exposed on the face of the frame and wired from the rear, and routed to the printed circuit board through a trench opening provided on the back of the frame.  
     
     
         4 . A lighted picture frame according to  claim 2 , wherein, quantity of LEDs may only be limited by available space on the picture frame and also may be limited by drive capability and pin availability of electronic components in the circuit.  
     
     
         5 . A lighted picture frame according to  claim 1 , wherein, the motion detector can be replaced with a push button or the push button can be added as an extra feature to manually wake up the micro-controller from sleep mode or otherwise put it back into sleep mode. The push button mounted on the printed circuit board is accessible and exposed from the back of the frame.  
     
     
         6 . A lighted picture frame according to  claim 1 , wherein, the motion detector can be replaced with a light sensor such as a photocell, or a light sensor can be added as an extra feature, to prevent the micro-controller from waking up when the light intensity is higher than some specified level, such as in a high lighted environment or in the outside day light to save more battery energy.  
     
     
         7 . A lighted picture frame according to  claim 1 , wherein, the printed circuit board comprises of micro-controller, LED connections, push button if any, resistor network, motion detector connection, light sensing device connection if any, battery holder, Lithium coin battery and battery connection when an external battery holder is used.  
     
     
         8 . A lighted picture frame according to  claim 7 , wherein, the micro-controller is controlled by software, which is embedded and programmed into the controller and different versions of the embedded code, virtually are capable of creating unlimited variety of light patterns and sequences.  
     
     
         9 . A lighted picture frame according to  claim 7 , wherein, a PLD (Programmable Logic Device) or ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or any other device capable of providing electrical current and creating patterns and sequences of light and flashing, is being used instead of a micro-controller.  
     
     
         10 . A lighted picture frame according to  claim 1 , wherein, the battery holder is external to the printed circuit board in a different embodiment and mounted in a compartment inside the body of the frame, instead of being mounted on the printed circuit board. This is the case when higher quantity of LEDs are used, and therefore more power is required.  
     
     
         11 . A lighted picture frame according to  claim 1 , wherein, the wires or printed wires are laid and routed inside a trench opening alongside the back of the frame under the back plate, which is providing a routing path for connections between LEDs or other electronic components and the printed circuit board.  
     
     
         12 . A lighted picture frame according to  claim 11 , wherein, electrical connections between wires and other electronic elements including the printed circuit board and LEDs, may be made by direct soldering, wire wrapping or by any other appropriate connectors and connections.  
     
     
         13 . A lighted picture frame according to  claim 1 , wherein, the frame comprises a flange formed on a rear face thereof, for holding a display item such as a picture or a mirror between the transparent plate and the back plate in the interior viewing area. The flange may have a rectangular geometric shape or any other regular or irregular shape.  
     
     
         14 . A lighted picture frame according to  claim 1 , wherein, a back plate is windowed at the border of viewing area and covers entire frame on the back side, including battery compartment if any and covers the printed circuit board housing. The access window to viewing area is attached to the back plate at one edge which is bendable or hinged and detached from the back plate on other three edges and can be fixed to the back plate by turn buttons mounted on the back plate and provides access to the space designated for receiving a display item viewable in the interior viewing area of the frame.  
     
     
         15 . A lighted picture frame according to  claim 14 , wherein, a different kind of back plate in a different embodiment is windowed at the border of viewing area and covers only the frame from the back side, including battery compartment if any and covers the printed circuit board housing. A separate back piece with a corresponding size and shape of the viewing area is attached to the internal walls of the viewing area by turn buttons mounted on the said separate back piece, and with the hinged leg attached to the said separate back piece.  
     
     
         16 . A lighted picture frame according to  claim 14 , wherein, a battery access window, is provided on the back plate to access battery compartment, for replacing batteries when needed. The battery access window is attached to the back plate at one edge which can be bendable or hinged and detached from the back plate on other three edges and can be fixed to the back plate by a turn button mounted on the back plate.  
     
     
         17 . A lighted picture frame according to  claim 1 , wherein, the picture frame comprises a transparent plate receivable in the flange of the frame, between the frame and the back plate, for holding a display item between transparent plate and the back plate inside the interior viewing area.  
     
     
         18 . A lighted picture frame according to  claim 1 , wherein, the frame has a predetermined geometric shape, and wherein the back plate and the transparent plate have a respective corresponding or complementary shape.  
     
     
         19 . A lighted picture frame according to  claim 1 , wherein, the frame may come in any combination of shape, size, color and may be composed of any material or any combination of materials such as wood, molded plastic, aluminum, glass, ceramic, etc.  
     
     
         20 . A lighted picture frame according to  claim 1 , wherein, the frame may have a decorative pattern formed on the face of the frame or the border thereof, which can have any shape or size and can be composed of any material or any combination of materials such as wood, molded plastic, aluminum, glass, ceramic, etc. The frame may have a decorating covering such as leather, aluminum, glass, etc., instead of or along with the aforementioned decorative pattern formed on the face of the frame.