Method and apparatus for providing power to light strings

摘要

A light string power module is provided for providing power to light strings while replicating a lighting pattern from a first light string in providing said power. The illumination pattern of the first light string, which is not powered by the light string power module, is detected by examining the voltage polarities presented on the leads of a first connector to which the first light string is attached. These detected polarities are replicated by a switching module at matching leads on a second connector to which a second light string is attached. A power processing module accepts input power and provides output DC power to the switching module such that the second light string is powered by said output DC power in concert with the replicated voltage polarities so as to replicate the light pattern presented by the first light string on the second light string.

主权项

1. A light string power module coupled to a first light string and a second light string, said power module comprising:
a power processing module for receiving input AC power and providing output DC power; a first connector used to provide a connection to said first light string, a second connector used to provide a connection to said second light string, each of said first and second connectors having a plurality of leads, each of said leads of said first connector having a matching lead in said second connector; a switching module coupled to said power processing module and said first and second connectors, said switching module having a high impedance section for detecting a voltage polarity at said leads of said first connector, a switching section for accepting said detected voltage polarity of said leads of said first connector and providing the same voltage polarity to each of said matching leads of said second connector thereby passing said output DC power provided by said power processing module to said second light string.