# How Modules Can Activate Things in a Sequence

> This patent describes a system where an activation signal travels through connected modules, each activating an associated device after a delay before passing the signal to the next module.

- **Patent:** US 12734435
- **Original title:** Sequentially operated modules
- **Granted:** 2026
- **Status:** Active
- **Times cited:** 0
- **Field:** consumer_electronics, software, telecommunications, mechanical, automation, robotics, iot

## What it does

The patent discloses a system of connected modules designed to control various devices, referred to as 'payloads'. An activation signal starts from a 'master module' which has a user-activated switch. This signal then travels from one module to the next. When a module receives the activation signal, it waits for a pre-set or random amount of time. After this delay, it activates its associated payload, and then, after another pre-set or random delay, it transmits the activation signal to the next connected module. The signal can move in one direction or bi-directionally, using a special module to change direction. For example, pressing a button on a master module could trigger a chain reaction: first, a light turns on, then a fan starts after a short pause, and finally, a speaker plays a sound.

## What it does NOT cover

- Does not cover systems where all modules activate simultaneously without a sequential propagation of an activation signal.
- Does not cover systems where modules communicate wirelessly without a defined connection for signal propagation.
- Does not cover systems that activate payloads without an intermediate delay after receiving the activation signal.
- Does not cover systems where the activation signal's propagation direction cannot be reversed if two-way propagation is desired.
- Does not cover systems that do not use a master module with a user-activated switch to initiate the sequence.

## The clever bit

The novelty lies in the controlled, sequential propagation of an activation signal through connected modules, each introducing a delay before activating its payload and passing the signal along. This allows for precise timing and ordering of events in a distributed system, with the flexibility of one-way or two-way signal flow.

## Real-world examples

1. Automated assembly lines where steps must occur in sequence.
2. Theatrical special effects where lights, sounds, and props activate in a timed order.
3. Security systems where alarms trigger sequentially across different zones.
4. Smart home routines where devices activate one after another.
5. Industrial control systems for machinery startups and shutdowns.

## Why it matters

This technology provides a structured way to control multiple devices in a specific order with timed delays. This sequential control is valuable in automation, safety systems, and entertainment, where precise timing and order of operations are crucial. It offers a fundamental building block for creating complex automated sequences from simple, interconnected components.

## Frequently asked questions

### What does How Modules Can Activate Things in a Sequence cover?

This patent describes a system where an activation signal travels through connected modules, each activating an associated device after a delay before passing the signal to the next module.

### When does this patent expire?

This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain.

### What problem does this patent solve?

This technology provides a structured way to control multiple devices in a specific order with timed delays. This sequential control is valuable in automation, safety systems, and entertainment, where precise timing and order of operations are crucial. It offers a fundamental building block for creating complex automated sequences from simple, interconnected components.

### What does this patent NOT cover?

Does not cover systems where all modules activate simultaneously without a sequential propagation of an activation signal.

**Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12734435/sequentially-operated-modules

**Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US12734435

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_Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._