Patents Examined by Jimmy Vu
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Patent number: 9715262Abstract: A wired-line transmitter may include architecture that provides control of the current profile during power-up and/or power-down of the transmitter. The current profile may include a sloped ramp up during power-up and/or a sloped ramp down during power-down. The sloped ramps of the current profile mitigate supply bouncing during power-up and/or power-down. Individual enable signals may be derived from an enable signal provided to the transmitter. These individual enable signals may be provided (or turned off) in a time delayed (e.g., staggered) manner to provide the sloped ramps for the current profile.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2014Date of Patent: July 25, 2017Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Wenbo Liu, Raman S. Thiara, Shingo Hatanaka
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Patent number: 9717123Abstract: An LED controller for a multiple LED channel system using PWM method for LED dimming function incorporates a digital dimming control circuit to generate the PWM signals for driving the LED channels to spread out or cancel out the power supply transients generated by the LED transient current during PWM modulation for dimming operation. The digital dimming control circuit implements an audible noise reduction method whereby the active period of the PWM signals for some of the LED channels are shifted within the switching cycle to align at least some of the rising signal edges with some of the falling signal edges so as to cancel out the voltage transients on the LED power rails generated at the signal transitions. Furthermore, the rising and falling signal edges that are not lined up are spread out through the PWM switching cycle so that the power supply transients are spread out.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2016Date of Patent: July 25, 2017Assignee: Integrated Silicon Solution, Inc.Inventor: ChungTing Yao
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Patent number: 9713237Abstract: A dynamically optimized ballast includes a ballast and a circuit board as main components combined together. Said circuit board is provided with a microcontroller, a timer and a current-switching device; wherein said microcontroller is provided with a timed step-up module which can start the timer and maintain a low current output to HID lamp at the time the circuit board is powered, and the timer will transmit a signal to the microcontroller to start the current-switching device and automatically switch to a high current output to HID lamp when a preset time of the timer has been reached. So that this invention can protect HID lamp and extend the service life of HID lamp, even the HID lamp pulsing for a long time, the power source repeated power supply and power out will not cause great damage to HID lamp and it will not be out of function. Besides, this invention enables user to reduce the brightness of HID lamp to reduce the loss of electric power and the deterioration of HID lamp.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2016Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: LoPresti Speed MerchantsInventor: Bobby Leang
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Patent number: 9711913Abstract: In one embodiment an electronic device comprises a housing, a socket in the housing to receive a connector, and an illumination source proximate the socket to illuminate the socket. Other embodiments may be described.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2013Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Ron Aviv, Tomer Rider, Yair Giwnewer, Yevgeniy Kiveisha
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Patent number: 9705358Abstract: An emergency lighting system includes an electrical panel board having a phase layout that includes consecutively arranged phases wherein one or more pairs of consecutively arranged phases are of the same phase. A 2-pole branch circuit breaker may be electrically connected to a consecutive pair of same phases, and a 1-pole remotely-operated-relay may be electrically connected to one pole of the 2-pole branch circuit breaker. The emergency lighting system may further include an emergency lighting fixture having a normal power input and an emergency power input. The normal power input may be electrically connected to the 1-pole remotely-operated-relay such that the normal power input is connected to one phase, and the emergency power input may be electrically connected to the 2-pole branch circuit breaker such that the emergency power input is electrically connected to a consecutive pair of same phases.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2016Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.Inventors: Michael J. Mennes, Ronnie H. Ridgeway, David A. Bradley, Kevin S. Koder, William O. Scoggins, Jr., Seshagiri R. Marellapudi, Jeffrey D. Lord
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Patent number: 9706610Abstract: A circuit for driving light emitting elements, such as LEDs, includes a first transistor having a source coupled to ground through a first resistive element, and a second transistor having a gate electrically coupled to a gate of the first transistor, a source electrically coupled to ground, and a drain for electrical connection to a first group of light emitting elements. The circuit also includes circuitry to provide a predetermined voltage at the source of the first transistor, circuitry to compensate for a difference in respective gate-source voltages of the first and second transistors, and circuitry to compensate for a difference in respective drain-source voltages of the first and second transistors. In some implementations, the circuit can achieve relatively low power consumption.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2011Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: Atmel CorporationInventors: Sean S. Chen, Wenbo Liang
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Patent number: 9688193Abstract: A system and a method for controlling a lamp in a vehicle capable of recognizing turn on/off of the lamp in the vehicle when a driver or a passenger enters or exits the vehicle and improving sensitivity quality of the driver or the passenger by entering a breathing mode in which a lamp in the vehicle is repeatedly brightened and darkened at a specific period when the driver or the passenger enters or exits the vehicle and changing a period of a luminance of the lamp in proportion to a speed of the vehicle are provided. The system for controlling a lamp in a vehicle includes: a lamp controlling unit configured to receive a door opening signal or a door closing signal of the vehicle or receive a start on or off signal of the vehicle and to change a mode of the lamp into a standby mode, a breathing mode, or an operating mode; and a lamp configured to be driven by the lamp controlling unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2015Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventor: Hui Sung Lee
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Patent number: 9693413Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an LED-based lighting system includes a comparison circuit configured to compare at least one signal representative of a supply voltage with at least one other signal representative of a series voltage drop over at least some of a plurality of LEDs connected electrically in series. The apparatus includes a controller, connected to the comparison circuit; and a power section connected to the controller. The power section is configured to operate at least one switch such that the number of LEDs operated in series may be changed in response to the comparison circuit.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2009Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.Inventor: Ihor Lys
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Patent number: 9693415Abstract: There is provided a photoelectric switch that prevents erroneous detection at the time of detecting a label pasted on a workpiece, a component assembled to a workpiece, a register mark printed on a sheet-like member, or the like, to improve detection accuracy. The photoelectric switch includes: a first light projecting unit; a second light projecting unit a light receiving unit for receiving a reflected light from the first detection area to generate a first light reception signal, and receiving a reflected light from the second detection area to generate a second light reception signal; a casing accommodating the first light projecting unit, the second light projecting unit, and the light receiving unit; and a detection signal generating unit for generating a detection signal based on at least one of the specific wavelength components of the first light reception signal and the second light reception signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2016Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: Keyence CorporationInventors: Hiroki Inubushi, Tomoyuki Saito
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Patent number: 9686829Abstract: A light emitting device current regulator circuit is disclosed. A light emitting device circuit has a first end for receiving light emitting device operation power, and a second end. The light emitting device current regulator circuit includes: an internal voltage generation circuit coupled to the second end, for generating an internal voltage according to a second end voltage to supply electrical power to the light emitting device current regulator circuit, wherein the supply voltage generation circuit includes a charge storage device for storing charges from the second end voltage to generate the supply voltage; and a current control circuit coupled to the second end, the current control circuit regulating the light emitting device current according to a control signal, wherein the control signal at least intermittently reduces the light emitting device current to zero or low current in order to raise the second end voltage.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2012Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventor: Jing-Meng Liu
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Patent number: 9681512Abstract: A control system for a light emitting diode (LED) driver is provided. The control system includes a control module, a command interface, and a combined signal interface. The control module includes a microcontroller configured to receive at least one signal and to determine an LED driver command signal and a command module connected to the microcontroller and capable of communicating with both the lighting dimmer and the wireless control module. The control system includes a command interface which communicatively couples the control module to the LED driver. A combined signal interface communicatively couples the command module and at least one of the lighting dimmer and the wireless control module. The combined signal interface conveys one or more signals between the control module and at least one of the lighting dimmer and the wireless control module. Associated methods and modules are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2016Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: UNIVERSAL LIGHTING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Wei Xiong, Keith Davis, John J. Dernovsek, Stephen D. Mays, II
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Patent number: 9677723Abstract: LED lamp systems having improved light quality are disclosed. The lamps emit more than 500 lm and more than 2% of the power in the spectral power distribution is emitted within a wavelength range from about 390 nm to about 430 nm.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2016Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: Soraa, Inc.Inventors: Aurelien J. F. David, Troy A. Trottier, Michael R. Krames
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Patent number: 9681519Abstract: Disclosed is a fear-reducing device including a light for providing illumination in a dark room occupied by a person and including a controller for controlling the light output levels of the light. The light has variable lumen output levels in response to light control signals from the controller for helping overcome night-fear of the person. The control unit automatically reduces the output levels over a tapering period of time extending for multiple weeks. The control unit automatically reduces the output levels over a dimming period for each day of the tapering period. The controller is remote from the light and communicates with the light with wireless communication.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2014Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Inventor: Roger S. Smith
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Patent number: 9681521Abstract: A first lighting device comprises an electromagnetic sensor operable to receive an electromagnetic signal from at least one other lighting device, an acoustic sensor operable to receive an acoustic signal from the other lighting device, and a signal processing module. The signal processing module is configured to determine a distance between the first lighting device and the other lighting device by comparing the acoustic and electromagnetic signals received from the other lighting device. For example, the signals may be emitted when the other device detects occupancy in a space, and the first device may control its light output in dependence on receipt of the signals and the distance from the device that detected the occupancy.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2014Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.Inventors: Kumar Arulandu, Willem Franke Pasveer, Antonius Petrus Marinus Dingemans
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Patent number: 9674923Abstract: A lighting circuit (1) includes a controller integrated circuit (U1) for on and off control of a switching element (Q1), a transformer (T1) having a primary coil (T11) that is connected in series to the switching element and a secondary coil (T12), a first voltage supply circuit supplying a voltage that occurs across both ends of the primary coil to an LED module (2), and a second voltage supply circuit supplying a voltage induced in the secondary coil to a power source terminal (Vcc) when the switching element is on. A turns ratio N of the primary coil to the secondary coil satisfies Equation 1, where X1 V denotes a voltage that an AC power source supplies, Y V denotes the maximum value of a power source voltage of the control unit at which normal operation is guaranteed, and Z V denotes the minimum value of the power source voltage.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2012Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yasuhisa Ueda, Toshiaki Isogai, Kazushige Sugita
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Patent number: 9674912Abstract: A light-emitting diode (LED) driving circuit configured to drive LED units includes a rectification circuit unit to receive an alternating current (AC) power voltage and rectify the AC power voltage to output a unidirectional ripple voltage, a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal generation unit to generate PWM decision signals. The PWM signal generation unit is configured to sequentially drive the LEDs according to the PWM decision signals.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2015Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Assignee: Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Young Do Jong, Hyun Gu Kang, Hye Man Jung, Kang Nyung Lee
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Patent number: 9661706Abstract: A driver is connectable to an external power supply and configured to output a variable driving current for one or more loads, such as LEDs. A low intensity dimming module is operable to divert some or all of the driving current away from the LEDs when a user selects a very low level of light intensity so that the driver has a constant minimum load. The low intensity dimming module prevents performance issues that commonly affect drivers under light load conditions.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2012Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: Cree, Inc.Inventor: Matthew K. Murphy
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Patent number: 9660535Abstract: A switch mode power supply (SMPS) converter is periodically run backwards by using a synchronous switch instead of the normally used commutating diode. By running the SMPS converter backwards the SMPS output capacitor can be discharged very quickly to provide a fast turn off of (no current through) the LED's, thereby solving the color shift problem. This enables positioning the output voltage of the SMPS up or down by actively charging or discharging the bulk output capacitor. Having the capability of actively charging or discharging the bulk output capacitor allows generation of a current source comprising substantially square, e.g., substantially full current when on and substantially no current when off, current pulses that are preferable for driving LED lighting applications.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2012Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATEDInventors: Scott Dearborn, Terry Cleveland
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Patent number: 9657915Abstract: In an illumination device, a surface light emission module includes a panel power input unit connected to a base power input unit and a panel power output unit connected to a base power output unit for supplying power to a surface light emission panel. A connection panel, by being installed in an unselected scheduled light emission region, directly connects the base power input unit to the base power output unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2015Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventors: Masatoshi Yoneyama, Nobuya Miki, Yasuhiro Sando, Junya Wakahara
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Patent number: 9659915Abstract: Various embodiments may relate to a lighting module which is equipped with several semiconductor light sources, in particular LED-chips and includes a metallic carrier plate. Several metallic carrier substrates are arranged on the carrier plate and are electrically insulated therefrom. At least one semiconductor light source is arranged on the carrier substrates and the carrier substrates are electrically connected in series.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2014Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: OSRAM GMBHInventors: Farhang Ghasemi Afshar, Axel Kaltenbacher