Programmable base to hold and illuminate a panel assembly

Abstract

A universal base for one or more panel assemblies has a processor that receives and processes instructions from at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium. The instructions direct an illumination sequence to be executed by the processor to illuminate lights in the base. The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium is removably connected to the base such that when it is removed and a different second non-transitory computer readable storage medium is connected with the base, the lights are illuminated in a second illumination sequence in accordance with a set of second illumination instructions.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A base for receiving a panel assembly to be illuminated, the base comprising:
 a plurality of individually controllable and independent lights positioned within an upwardly open channel formed in the base;   a portion of the upwardly open channel is sized to support an etched acrylic panel assembly to be illuminated, wherein the etched acrylic panel assembly is formed from a plurality of individual acrylic panels that are aligned tandemly;   wherein the plurality of individually controllable and independent lights are arranged in rows below each one of the acrylic panels and each light is positioned to direct light upwardly into one panel;   a first processor in operative communication with a plurality of second processors, each second processor coupled to one light within the plurality of lights receiving a set of instructions encoded in an at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium;   a receiving port that releasably connects with the at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium to pass the instructions therethrough as the instructions are sent to the first processor and the plurality of second processors; and   wherein the instructions are sent with a number of bytes from the first processor to the plurality of second processors that dictate an illumination sequence for the plurality of individually controllable and independent lights to illuminate the etched acrylic panel assembly by directing one of a color change, an intensity change, an alternate start time, and an alternate interval time of at least two different lights from the plurality in a first sequenced manner.   
     
     
         2 . The base of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a bottom surface of the channel;   a ledge projecting into the channel positioned above the bottom surface for releasably supporting the panel assembly thereon; and   wherein the plurality of individually controllable and independent lights are supported by the bottom surface of the channel beneath the panel assembly and at least one light is not embedded in one of the individual acrylic panels.   
     
     
         3 . The base of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a width of the channel near the bottom surface beneath the ledge that is wider than a width of the channel above the ledge; and   a circuit board carrying the plurality of individually controllable and independent lights disposed in the channel beneath the ledge having a width complementary to the width of the channel near the bottom surface.   
     
     
         4 . The base of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 instructions sent with a number of bytes from the first processor to the plurality of second processors that turn off lights in a row below the spacer when a spacer is present on the panel assembly and that turn on lights in a row below one individual acrylic panel when a space is absent from the panel assembly.   
     
     
         5 . The base of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 instructions sent with a number of bytes from the first processor to the plurality of second processors that control a broadcast pattern of each light illuminating upwardly into one individual acrylic panel of the panel assembly to prevent light from projecting into an adjacent panel of the panel assembly.   
     
     
         6 . The base of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions include:
 a first set of instructions; and   a second set of instructions different from the first set of instructions;   wherein the first set of instructions and the second set of instructions are coded via hex code and stored on the at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium.   
     
     
         7 . The base of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 wherein the first set of instructions and the second set of instructions are programmed by an end user of the base and not a manufacturer thereof.   
     
     
         8 . The base of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a computer program provided to the end user by the manufacturer of the base to enable the end user to self-code the first set of instructions and store the first set of instructions on the at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium.   
     
     
         9 . The base of  claim 8 , wherein the computer program provided to the end user by the manufacturer is a visual basic editor. 
     
     
         10 . The base of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a selection device to enable a user to selectively control an illumination sequence in a selective manner based on the first set of instructions and the second set of instructions.   
     
     
         11 . The base of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first set of instructions, wherein the first set of instructions are coded via hex code and stored on the at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium; and   hex code that individually controls each individual light in the plurality of individually controllable and independent lights.   
     
     
         12 . The base of  claim 11 , wherein the hex code is operative to turn each individual light on and off from the plurality of individually controllable and independent lights. 
     
     
         13 . The base of  claim 11 , wherein the hex code is operative to control an intensity of each individual light from the plurality of individually controllable and independent lights. 
     
     
         14 . The base of  claim 11 , wherein the hex code is operative to control a time of illumination for each individual light from the plurality of individually controllable and independent lights. 
     
     
         15 . The base of  claim 11 , wherein the hex code is operative to control a collective illumination sequence of the plurality of individually controllable and independent lights. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 providing a base defining a channel sized to receive a first panel assembly formed from an at least one acrylic-based panel having a design thereon, and the base including a plurality of individually controllable and independent lights configured to illuminate the first panel assembly;   inserting the first panel assembly into the channel;   providing a set of first instructions encoded on a first non-transitory computer readable storage medium that, when executed by a first processor, results in sending a number of bytes to a second processor coupled to one light within the plurality of lights;   selectively connecting the first non-transitory computer readable storage medium to the first processor;   executing the set of first instructions in the first processor;   receiving, in the second processor, the number of bytes from the first processor;   illuminating the first panel assembly with the plurality of individually controllable and independent lights in the first sequenced manner in accordance with the set of first instructions;   removing the first panel assembly from the channel;   inserting a second panel assembly into the channel; and   providing a set of second instructions encoded on one of the first second non-transitory computer readable storage mediums and a second non-transitory computer readable storage medium that, when executed by the first processor, results sending a different number of bytes to the second processor to illuminate the second panel assembly in a second sequenced manner.   
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 providing a base defining a channel sized to receive a first panel assembly formed from at least one first panel having a design thereon, and the base including a plurality of individually controllable and independent lights configured to illuminate the at least one first panel;   inserting the at least one first panel into the channel;   providing a set of first instructions encoded on a first non-transitory computer readable storage medium that when executed by at least one processor, results in illuminating the at least one first panel with the plurality of individually controllable and independent lights by directing one of a color change, an intensity change, an alternate start time, and an alternate interval time of at least two different lights from the plurality in a first sequenced manner;   selectively connecting the first non-transitory computer readable storage medium to the at least one processor;   executing the set of first instructions in the at least one processor;   illuminating the at least one first panel with the plurality of individually controllable and independent lights in the first sequenced manner in accordance with the set of first instructions;   removing the at least one first panel from the channel and disconnecting the first non-transitory computer readable storage medium;   inserting at least one second panel into the channel;   providing a set of second instructions encoded on a second non-transitory computer readable storage medium that when executed by the at least one processor, results in illuminating the at least one second panel with the plurality of individually controllable and independent lights by directing one of a color change, an intensity change, an alternate start time, and an alternate interval time of at least two different lights from the plurality in a second sequenced manner; and   wherein when a spacer is connected to the at least one first panel or the at least one second panel, then turning off lights in a row below the spacer, and when the spacer is absent from the at least one first panel or the at least one second panel, then illuminating the plurality of individually controllable and independent lights in accordance with the set of first instructions or the set of second instructions, respectively.