Color organ and electrical control circuit therefor

Claim 2

An electrical circuit for operating a signal light in response to an input signal comprising a first light source adapted to be connected to a source of electrical power, relay means operatively associated with the first light source for disconnecting the first light source from the power source when the relay is activated, time delay means connected to the relay means for delaying the deactivation of the relay means, and gating means connected to the relay means and adapted to be connected to the power source and to the signal light, the gating means adapted to be operatively connected to the input signal whereby the input signal closes the gating means to activate the relay means and connect the power source to the signal light and cessation of the input signal opens the gating means and disconnects the power source from the signal light, the time delay means delaying the connecting of the first light source to the power source for a discrete time period after cessation of the input signal.

Claim 3

The circuit of claim 1 including a signal light connected in series to the gating means and adapted to be connected to the power source, the signal light and the relay means being connected in parallel.

Claim 4

The circuit of claim 1 in which the relay means includes contacts for connecting the light source to the power source, the relay contacts being normally closed, the time delay means including capacitor means and resistance means, rectifier means between the gating means and the relay means for permitting the capacitor means to be charged when the gating means is closed but preventing discharge of the capacitor means therethrough, the capacitor means discharging through the resistance means and the relay means when the gating means opens.

Claim 5

The circuit of claim 1 in which the gating means includes a triac having a gate and a pair of anodes, and a bias resistor connected between one of the triac anodes and the triac gate for decreasing the voltage required to switch the triac to an on stage.

Claim 6

The circuit of claim 1 including a filter network connected to the gating means for passing certain frequencies of the input signal to the gating means and screening other frequencies from the gating means.

Claim 7

The circuit of claim 5 in which the filter network includes a transformer having primary and secondary windings, the primary winding adapted to be connected to the source of the input signal, the secondary winding being connected to the gating means, and a capacitor connected across the secondary winding.

Claim 8

The circuit of claim 5 in which the filter network includes a transformer having primary and secondary windings, the primary winding adapted to be connected to the source of the input signal, the secondary winding being connected to the gating means, and an inductance connected in series with the primary winding.

Claim 9

The circuit of claim 5 in which the filter network includes a transformer having primary and secondary windings, the primary winding adapted to be connected to the source of the input signal, the secondary winding being connected to the gate, and a capacitor connected in series to the primary winding.

Claim 10

A color organ device comprising a first electrical network including gating means for opening and closing the first network, a first light connected in series with the gating means, relay means connected in series with the gating means, capacitor means connected in parallel with the relay means, the gating means adapted to be operatively connected to the electrical circuit of an audio source whereby the gating means closes in response to a signal from the audio source and opens upon cessation of the signal, a second network including contact means associated with the relay means for operation thereby and a second light connected in series with the contact means, the contact means being closed When the gating means is open, the relay means opening the contact means when the relay means is activated upon closing of the gating means, whereby the second network is closed when no signal is received by the gating means from the audio source, the capacitor delaying the closing of the second network for a discrete period of time after cessation of the signal to the gating means.

Claim 11

A color organ device comprising a first electrical network including gating means for opening and closing the first network, a first light connected in series with the gating means, relay means connected in series with the gating means, capacitor means connected in parallel with the relay means, the gating means adapted to be operatively connected to the electrical circuit of an audio source whereby the gating means closes in response to a signal from the audio source and opens upon cessation of the signal, a second network including contact means associated with the relay means for operation thereby and a second light connected in series with the contact means, the contact means being closed When the gating means is open, the relay means opening the contact means when the relay means is activated upon closing of the gating means, whereby the second network is closed when no signal is received by the gating means from the audio source, the capacitor delaying the closing of the second network for a discrete period of time after cessation of the signal to the gating means.

Claim 12

The device of claim 9 in which the first signal light and the relay means are connected in parallel, and a rectifier connected in series between the gating means and the capacitor for permitting the capacitor to be charged when the gating means is closed but preventing discharge of the capacitor therethrough.

Claim 13

The device of claim 9 in which the first network includes a second gating means and a third light connected in series to each other and connected in parallel to the first gating means, the second gating means adapted to be operatively connected to the electrical circuit of the audio source whereby the second gating means closes in response to the signal from the audio source and opens upon cessation of the signal, and filter means operatively connected to the first and second gating means for passing certain frequencies of the signal from the audio source to each gating means and screening other frequencies from each gating means.

Claim 14

The device of claim 11 including first and second rectifiers, the first gating means being connected in series with the relay means through the first rectifier and the second gating means being connected in series with the relay means through the second rectifier.

Claim 15

The device of claim 11 in which the filter means includes first and second transformers, each of the transformers having primary and secondary windings, the primary winding of the first transformer adapted to be connected to the audio source and the secondary winding of the first transformer being connected to the first gating means, the primary winding of the second transformer adapted to be connected to the audio source and the secondary winding of the second transformer being connected to the second gating means, capacitor means connected across the secondary winding of the first transformer, and capacitor means connected in series with the primary winding of the second transformer.

Claim 16

The device of claim 11 in which each of the gating means includes a triac having a gate and a pair of anodes, and a bias resistor for each gating means connected between the gate and one of anodes of the triac of the gating means.