Abstract: A light-emitting diode (LED) driver circuit includes a DC-to-AC inverter that provides a primary AC voltage to the primary winding of an output transformer via a resonant tank circuit. The transformer has at least one secondary winding. An AC output voltage from the secondary winding is rectified to generate a DC voltage, which is applied to a load having a plurality of LEDs. An overshoot control circuit electrically connected in parallel with the primary winding of the transformer prevents the DC voltage applied to the load from exceeding the forward bias of the LEDs during startup conditions until the resonant tank circuit is stabilized. The overshoot control circuit includes a first diode and a first capacitor and further includes a second diode and a second capacitor. The first and second capacitors absorb energy during alternate half cycles of the primary AC voltage until the resonant tank circuit is stabilized.

Abstract: A tunable magnetic assembly includes a bobbin, an outer core, and an inner core. The bobbin has a first and second flanges. The bobbin has a passageway extending between the first and second flange. The passageway has a spiral track defined in a passageway surface. The outer core is positioned around the first and second flanges. The outer core includes an opening positioned near the first flange. The inner core is positioned in the opening and in the cylindrical passageway. The inner core includes at least one protrusion extending from an outer surface and configured to engage the spiral track. A gap distance is defined between the inner core and a portion of the outer core near the second flange. The gap distance is adjustable by moving the protrusion within the spiral track. Adjusting the gap distance modifies the inductance.

Abstract: A magnetic connector assembly has three independent magnetic components sharing a common core structure. The magnetic assembly includes first, second, and third bobbins, and includes a magnetic core. The first bobbin includes at least one latch mechanism of a first type. The second bobbin includes at least one latch mechanism of the first type. The third bobbin includes at least one latch mechanism of a second type configured to engage the latch mechanisms of the first and second bobbins. The magnetic core includes first and second core halves, each including a main core body, a first outer leg, a second outer leg, a middle leg, a first intermediate leg, and a second intermediate leg. The first outer leg fits within a passageway of the first bobbin. The second outer leg fits within a passageway of the second bobbin. The middle leg fits within a passageway of the third bobbin.

Abstract: A low profile inductive apparatus is provided via one or more traces in a printed circuit board, the one or more traces defining inductive winding turns about an aperture, and a core comprising an elongate core member configured for positioning through the aperture of the circuit board. The core may be press fit with respect to the printed circuit board, or alternatively the elongate core member and the aperture may be reciprocally threaded. In an embodiment, core flanges may be provided on opposing sides of the printed circuit board, with the elongate core member connected between the core flanges and extending through the aperture. The number of inductive winding turns relates to a required inductance of the inductor when the elongate core member is positioned through the aperture, and a width and thickness of the windings corresponds to a required carrying capacity of the inductor.

Abstract: A common mode choke assembly includes a main core, a shunt core, and first and second two-piece bobbins. The main core has a generally rectangular main core body, and first and second core riser portions. The first and second core riser portions are connected to opposite ends of the main core body. The first core riser portion includes a first riser notch and the second core riser portion includes a second riser notch aligned with the first riser notch. The shunt core spans between and is positioned within the first and second riser notches. The first and second two-piece bobbins are positioned on opposite sides of the main core body adjacent to the first and second core riser portions. Each two-piece bobbin includes at least first and second end flanges, a passageway, and a mating surface. The assembly further includes a mounting header for receiving the main and shunt core.

Abstract: A hinge apparatus and method of use are provided for securing to a slide of a retrofit kit and to an opening of a fixture. The hinge apparatus includes a hinge configured to couple to the opening of the fixture, a top section coupled to the hinge, a lower section coupled to the top section and having a cavity formed therebetween, the cavity configured to be coupleable to the retrofit kit, a hinge brake securement device coupled to the top section, a neck extending outwardly from the hinge brake securement device, a hinge brake coupled to the neck, and a notch coupled to the hinge brake, the notch configured to be receivable at the slide of the retrofit kit.

Abstract: A magnetic component has a variable inductance over a range of DC bias currents. The component includes a bobbin with a coil positioned around a passageway between first and second end flanges. First and second E-cores have respective middle legs positioned in the passageway with end surfaces of the middle legs juxtaposed within the passageway and spaced apart by a first magnetic gap. An I-bar is positioned in the passageway parallel to and spaced apart from respective first longitudinal surfaces of the middle legs to form a second magnetic gap between the I-bar and the longitudinal surface of the middle leg of the first E-core and to form a third magnetic gap between the I-bar and the longitudinal surface of the middle leg of the second E-core. The magnetic component provides higher inductances for lower bias currents and provides lower inductances for higher bias currents.

Abstract: A light fixture, and lighting systems and methods, are provided for selectively receiving one of a modulator or a jumper plug at a connector port of the light fixture. The connector port is coupled between and electrically isolates a driver and a light emitting unit of the light fixture. The modulator, when connected to the connector port, is configured to receive unmodulated power from the driver and to provide modulated power to the light emitting unit. The jumper plug, when connected to the connector port, is configured to provide unmodulated power from the driver to the light emitting unit.

Abstract: A control system for a vehicle parking area includes occupancy sensing devices, which may be associated with light fixtures. During a device commissioning mode, each device emits position signals and identifies signal characteristics of position signals received from proximate devices thereto. A central controller collects the position signals from the devices and generates a data set comprising identified locations for each device relative to predetermined baseline locations, based on the received position signals and the identified signal characteristics. The controller further maps the identified locations for each of the devices to specified locations in the parking area comprising the predetermined baseline locations. During a normal operating mode, the controller may generate signals directing drivers in the parking area to unoccupied parking spaces, and/or regulate a lighting state for light fixtures in the parking area based at least partly on detected occupancy states.

Abstract: An electromagnetic interference (EMI) suppression circuit is interposed between an AC source and a DC power conversion system. The EMI suppression circuit includes a pi-type filter network having first and second filter input terminals and having first and second filter output terminals. The pi-type filter network includes a common mode choke and a differential mode choke between the input terminals and the output terminals. The pi-type filter network includes a first X-type capacitor across the first and second filter input terminals and includes a second X-type capacitor across the first and second filter output terminals. A first Y-type emission reduction capacitor is connected between the first filter input terminal and earth ground. At least a second Y-type emission reduction capacitor and a damping resistor are connected in series to form a series resistor-capacitor combination between the first filter output terminal and earth ground.

Abstract: A resonant power converter and method for limiting the output power using a voltage sensing circuit across the output is provided herein. The voltage sensing circuit feeds a sensed voltage back to a feedback circuit which produces an error voltage based on the difference between the sensed voltage and a reference voltage. The error signal is fed back to a current control circuit to dynamically adjust the operating frequency and maintains a constant output voltage. The current control circuit accurately sets the minimum and maximum operating frequencies of a self-oscillating integrated circuit. By accurately setting the minimum frequency, a maximum output power of the converter can be controlled.

Abstract: An interconnection system includes a first support surface positionable against a respective first surface of a first printed circuit board (PCB) and a second support surface positionable against a respective first surface of a second PCB. The first PCB has a respective second surface spaced apart from the respective first surface by a first thickness. The second PCB has a respective second surface spaced apart from the respective first surface by a second thickness. A separator extends from the first support surface and from the second support surface. A contact pin extends through the separator. A portion of the contact pin extending in first direction from the separator is spaced apart from the first support surface by a distance corresponding to the first thickness. A portion of the contact pin extending in a second direction from the separator is spaced apart from the second support surface by the second thickness.

Abstract: A resonant tank circuit for a DC-to-DC converter includes a resonant inductor having a first terminal connected to a switching node of a half-bridge switching circuit. The resonant inductor has a second terminal connected to resonant tank circuit output node. A first capacitor has a first terminal connected to a voltage reference and has a second terminal connected to a capacitor branch node. A second capacitor has a first terminal connected to the capacitor branch node and has a second terminal connected to the resonant tank output node. A first diode has an anode connected to the voltage reference and has a cathode connected to the capacitor branch node. A second diode has an anode connected to the capacitor branch node and has a cathode connected to a voltage rail.

Abstract: A power supply for providing power to a load includes a main rectifier having first and second rectifier input terminals coupled to an alternating current (AC) power source, which converts AC power from the AC power source into a first direct current (DC) power signal at first and second rectifier output terminals, across which an energy storage device is coupled. A DC-DC power converter (e.g., a PFC circuit) comprises an integrated circuit (IC) and converts the first DC power signal into a second DC power signal in response to a multiplier signal received at a multiplier input of the IC. A multiplier input circuit as disclosed herein is coupled to the first and second rectifier input terminals and provides the multiplier signal to the multiplier signal input terminal, wherein the multiplier input circuit is decoupled from the energy storage device via the main rectifier.

Abstract: A magnetic component has a variable inductance over a range of DC bias currents. The component includes a bobbin with a coil positioned around a passageway between first and second end flanges. First and second E-cores (either conventional or EFD E-cores) have respective middle legs positioned in the passageway with end surfaces of the middle legs juxtaposed within the passageway and spaced apart by a first magnetic gap. An I-bar is positioned in the passageway parallel to and spaced apart from respective first longitudinal surfaces of the middle legs to form a second magnetic gap between the I-bar and the longitudinal surface of the middle leg of the first E-core and to form a third magnetic gap between the I-bar and the longitudinal surface of the middle leg of the second E-core. The magnetic component provides higher inductances for lower bias currents and provides lower inductances for higher bias currents.

Abstract: A magnetic assembly includes a bobbin with two end flanges. A passageway extends longitudinally between the end flanges. An inner core extends through the passageway. The inner core has first and second end surfaces, each end surface proximate to one of the end flanges. A rectangular outer core is positioned around the bobbin with inner surfaces of the outer core close to the outer surfaces of the end flanges of the bobbin. A respective gap is formed between each end surface of the inner core and the adjacent inner surface of the outer core. A protrusion is formed on at least one inner surface of the outer core to control the cavity distance between the inner surfaces of the outer core proximate to the end surfaces of the inner core. The thickness of the protrusion is selectably reduced to increase the cavity distance to control the gaps.

Abstract: A lighting device includes a switch coupled to receive DC input, and driven on/off by received gate drive signals to provide current through a primary transformer winding. A large output capacitor is coupled across output terminals for receiving a load. An output circuit is coupled between a secondary transformer winding and the output capacitor, and includes a small buffer capacitor and a buffer diode. A feedback circuit compares a voltage across the buffer capacitor with a reference signal and provides a feedback control signal for regulating the switch and accordingly the device output to the load. An auxiliary power supply includes a tertiary transformer winding and powers the feedback circuit. By implementing the voltage across the buffer capacitor, the discharge time during a non-standard operating condition (e.g., no load) is small enough to enable continuous operation of the auxiliary power supply, the feedback circuit and the switch.

Abstract: A zero current detector control circuit controls a voltage applied to a zero current detector (ZCD) input of a power factor corrector integrated circuit (PFC IC) that produces a driver output having an on time and an off time. The zero current detector control circuit includes a voltage detection input circuit coupled to a rectified AC input voltage. The detector control circuit generates a control voltage applied to a control terminal of an electronic switch. When the rectified AC input voltage has a phase angle in a first portion or in a last portion of a half-cycle, the electronic switch conducts to connect a capacitor to the ZCD input of the PFC IC. The capacitor causes the fall time of the trailing edge of a pulse applied to the ZCD input to increase, which causes the off time of the driver output of the PFC IC to increase.

Abstract: A portable apparatus is provided for configuring and/or programming lighting drivers without mains power application. An apparatus housing comprises first and second connectors and an antenna. During a first mode wherein the first connector is coupled to an external computing device, a battery receives and stores power therefrom, and a first controller receives and stores at least driver configuration settings therefrom. When the external device is disconnected the battery powers the apparatus, which polls a transceiver circuit to detect a driver antenna proximate to the apparatus antenna. The apparatus housing is configured to mount to a luminaire comprising the detected driver, wherein the second connector is coupled to the driver and the battery provides power to a driver controller. The first controller also during this second mode transfers the stored at least driver configuration settings to the driver controller via the operably proximate antennae, for example via bidirectional negotiations therewith.

Abstract: A sealed sensor apparatus for a light fixture includes a housing. The housing has a base portion configured to house circuitry of the sensor apparatus. The housing include an integral cylindrical extension projecting from the base portion. The cylindrical extension has an interior surface defining an interior cavity. The cylindrical extension has an exterior surface radially spaced from the interior surface. A gasket may be received about the exterior surface of the cylindrical extension. A lens may be sealingly mounted to the cylindrical extension.