Abstract: A decorative ornament powered by a vertical axis wind turbine. The turbine includes blades that rotate about a centrally located vertical shaft. An LED illuminated globe is centrally located within the rotating blades and is secured atop the shaft. An alternator is located below the globe and is coupled to the rotating blades. The blades are shaped having a leading cupped section joined to a lagging airfoil section. The leading cup section is defined by a cup radius r and the lagging airfoil section is defined by an airfoil chord length CL. The cup radius r and chord length CL both decrease towards the terminal bottom and top ends of the blade. Also, the airfoil section is located a radial distance Cd from the vertical axis and the radial distance Cd decreases towards the terminal bottom and top ends of the blade.

Abstract: A decorative ornament powered by a vertical axis wind turbine. The turbine includes blades that rotate about a centrally located vertical shaft. An LED illuminated globe is centrally located within the rotating blades and is secured atop the shaft. An alternator is located below the globe and is coupled to the rotating blades. The blades are shaped having a leading cupped section joined to a lagging airfoil section. The leading cup section is defined by a cup radius r and the lagging airfoil section is defined by an airfoil chord length CL. The cup radius r and chord length CL both decrease towards the terminal bottom and top ends of the blade. Also, the airfoil section is located a radial distance Cd from the vertical axis and the radial distance Cd decreases towards the terminal bottom and top ends of the blade.

Abstract: An improved vertical axis wind turbine for generating electric power which includes blades that provide improved performance per unit of surface area. The blades are adapted to rotate about a vertical axis and are shaped having a leading cupped section joined to a lagging airfoil section. The leading cup section is defined by a cup radius r and the lagging airfoil section is defined by an airfoil chord length CL. The leading cupped section and lagging airfoil section extend vertically a distance h between terminal bottom and top ends. The cup radius r and chord length CL both decrease towards the terminal bottom and top ends of the blade. Also, the airfoil section is located a radial distance Cd from the vertical axis and the radial distance Cd decreases towards the terminal bottom and top ends of the blade.

Abstract: An ornament designed for both indoor and outdoor use incorporates a method for automatically detecting if the ornament is being used indoors or outdoors and for thereby activating the ornament at the appropriate desired time for a desired period of time. The method monitors ambient light levels throughout the day to determine if the monitored values match the characteristics expected from either indoor or outdoor operation. When used indoors, the ornament is activated at the same time each day for a predetermined number of hours. When used outdoors, the ornament is activated each day at sunset for a predetermined number of hours. In addition, when used outdoors, the method measures night lengths and adjusts its activation time to run longer when nights are long, as in winter, or shorter when nights are short, as in summer.

Abstract: An artificial flame device that produces a visual effect similar to areal candle flame includes a flame structure made of partially opaque material. The flame structure defines an exterior surface and has a hollow region extending therein. An LED and an optical barrier are provided within the hollow region with the optical barrier located between the LED and a closed end of the flame structure. A second LED is preferably provided between the optical barrier and the flame structure closed end. The first LED is maintained at a constant intensity while the intensity of the second LED is varied between low and high intensities. Alternatively, the intensity of the second LED is inversely varied relative to said intensity of the first LED.

Abstract: An ornament designed for both indoor and outdoor use incorporates a method for automatically detecting if the ornament is being used indoors or outdoors and for thereby activating the ornament at the appropriate desired time for a desired period of time. The method monitors ambient light levels throughout the day to determine if the monitored values match the characteristics expected from either indoor or outdoor operation. When used indoors, the ornament is activated at the same time each day for a predetermined number of hours. When used outdoors, the ornament is activated each day at sunset for a predetermined number of hours. In addition, when used outdoors, the method measures night lengths and adjusts its activation time to run longer when nights are long, as in winter, or shorter when nights are short, as in summer.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for a decorative outdoor light fixture that can include an adjustable motion sensor with a rectangular coverage pattern. An adjustable motion sensor for a light fixture can include an outer housing connected to a light fixture frame, a movable sensor assembly including a motion detector contained within the outer housing, a lens covering a portion of the outer housing in the path of the motion detector sensing beams to direct the sensing beams in a rectangular coverage pattern, and a sensor adjustment mechanism accessible from an exterior of the outer housing to allow a user to rotate the sensor adjustment mechanism to cause the motion detector to move upward and downward. The adjustable motion sensor covered with a fixed window that hides the motion sensor assembly from view.

Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, a flameless candle includes a housing, a reservoir, and a lamp. The reservoir can retain a fragrant source (e.g., solid, liquid, or mix thereof. The housing has a hollow region and a recessed area within the top surface of the housing. The recessed area is bounded by a bottom surface and a sidewall. There one or more vent holes in the sidewall. If there is a plurality of vent holes, then they may encircle the sidewall. The vent hole(s) allow an airflow from the hollow region and into the recessed area above the fragrant source. The lamp can emit a light through the bottom surface of the recessed area and through fragrant source.

Abstract: An artificial flame device that produces a visual effect similar to areal candle flame includes a flame structure made of partially opaque material. The flame structure defines an exterior surface and has a hollow region extending therein. An LED and an optical barrier are provided within the hollow region with the optical barrier located between the LED and a closed end of the flame structure. A second LED is preferably provided between the optical barrier and the flame structure closed end. The first LED is maintained at a constant intensity while the intensity of the second LED is varied between low and high intensities. Alternatively, the intensity of the second LED is inversely varied relative to said intensity of the first LED.

Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, a flameless candle includes a housing, a reservoir, and a lamp. The reservoir can retain a fragrant source (e.g., solid, liquid, or mix thereof. The housing has a hollow region and a recessed area within the top surface of the housing. The recessed area is bounded by a bottom surface and a sidewall. There one or more vent holes in the sidewall. If there is a plurality of vent holes, then they may encircle the sidewall. The vent hole(s) allow an airflow from the hollow region and into the recessed area above the fragrant source. The lamp can emit a light through the bottom surface of the recessed area and through fragrant source.

Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, a flameless candle includes a housing, a reservoir, and a lamp. The reservoir can retain a fragrant source (e.g., solid, liquid, or mix thereof. The housing has a hollow region and a recessed area within the top surface of the housing. The recessed area is bounded by a bottom surface and a sidewall. There one or more vent holes in the sidewall. If there is a plurality of vent holes, then they may encircle the sidewall. The vent hole(s) allow an airflow from the hollow region and into the recessed area above the fragrant source. The lamp can emit a light through the bottom surface of the recessed area and through fragrant source.

Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, a flameless candle includes a housing, a reservoir, and a lamp. The reservoir can retain a fragrant source (e.g., solid, liquid, or mix thereof. The housing has a hollow region and a recessed area within the top surface of the housing. The recessed area is bounded by a bottom surface and a sidewall. There one or more vent holes in the sidewall. If there is a plurality of vent holes, then they may encircle the sidewall. The vent hole(s) allow an airflow from the hollow region and into the recessed area above the fragrant source. The lamp can emit a light through the bottom surface of the recessed area and through fragrant source.

Abstract: An artificial candle includes a tube that simulates a wax candle and has top and bottom ends. A post extends upward from the top end. A nub, mounted on the post, is diametrically larger than the post. A flame piece simulating a candle flame has a bore configured to receive the nub as the piece is slid down over the post by a user. The bore has a diametrically enlarged section that is axially and radially the same size as the nub to provide the flame piece being slid down over the post with a tactile detent position, and enabling the piece to be slid downward beyond the detent position.

Abstract: A method and circuit arrangement dynamically calibrate a photosensitive control for a light source that includes a voltage divider circuit coupled to a resistive light detector and configured to output to a comparison circuit a variable voltage signal that varies with the resistance of the resistive light detector. To calibrate the photosensitive control, a variable impedance circuit in the voltage divider circuit is adjusted to null out any changes in voltage caused by feedback from the controlled light source. The amount of correction is proportional to the amount of light feedback. Based on the amount of correction needed, a new reference voltage is selected that will accurately detect the next dusk to dawn transition while the light feedback is present.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus having a horizontally elongated base and a simulated candle projecting upward from the base. The base defines a horizontally elongated battery compartment. A pair of battery contacts are located in the battery compartment, and the compartment is configured to hold a row of batteries in end-to-end horizontal positions.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus having a horizontally elongated base and a simulated candle projecting upward from the base. The base defines a horizontally elongated battery compartment. A pair of battery contacts are located in the battery compartment, and the compartment is configured to hold a row of batteries in end-to-end horizontal positions.

Abstract: An infrared motion sensing apparatus mounted within the canopy of a decorative lighting fixture where the apparatus may be vertically adjusted. The apparatus comprises a pyroelectric infrared sensor located in a stationary base. Mounted over the sensor and movable in a vertical direction is a Fresnel lens array. The array is mounted to a frame that is constrained to ride on the base in a vertical direction in response to the rotation of a screw. The canopy has an opening to allow radiation to be received by the sensor and a second opening for a stem of the screw so that manipulation of the stem may take place without disassembly of any part of the lighting fixture.

Abstract: A doorbell circuit detects when one of a plurality of doorbell switches is depressed and provides an audible indication of the particular doorbell switch depressed. The doorbell circuit includes a detector circuit which will function properly with the diode, normally connected in parallel across one of the doorbell switches, connected with either polarity. A power supply is developed for the detector circuit from the doorbell transformer by way of the diode connected in parallel across one of the doorbell switches. The detector circuit includes one or more full-wave rectifiers, which provide a positive DC output signal irrespective of the polarity of the diode connected in parallel across the doorbell switch. Each of the doorbell switches is connected to an amplifier, which, in turn, is connected to a comparator.