Patents by Inventor Feng-Kang Hu

Feng-Kang Hu has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10104731
    Abstract: A dimmable driver for an LED light fixture allows multiple types of dimmers to be used with the light fixture. The dimmable driver may be disconnected from one type of dimmer and subsequently connected to another type of dimmer without having to replace or otherwise adjust the driver for each dimmer. Multiple types of dimmers may be connected to dimmable driver at the same time and the dimmable driver may use dimming signals from one or several of these dimmers. In some embodiments, the dimmable driver is configured to accommodate a step dimmer, a 0-10 V dimmer, and a phase-cut dimmer. Other dimmers and dimming protocols may be accommodated by the dimmable driver in alternative embodiments. Such an arrangement maximizes flexibility for lighting specifiers, contractors, and distributors while minimizing potential errors, costs, delays, and obsolete inventory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC
    Inventors: Feng-Kang Hu, Hangyang Wang, Feng Chen, Towfiq Chowdhury, Charles J. Spencer
  • Publication number: 20170164440
    Abstract: A dimmable driver for an LED light fixture allows multiple types of dimmers to be used with the light fixture. The dimmable driver may be disconnected from one type of dimmer and subsequently connected to another type of dimmer without having to replace or otherwise adjust the driver for each dimmer. Multiple types of dimmers may be connected to dimmable driver at the same time and the dimmable driver may use dimming signals from one or several of these dimmers. In some embodiments, the dimmable driver is configured to accommodate a step dimmer, a 0-10 V dimmer, and a phase-cut dimmer. Other dimmers and dimming protocols may be accommodated by the dimmable driver in alternative embodiments. Such an arrangement maximizes flexibility for lighting specifiers, contractors, and distributors while minimizing potential errors, costs, delays, and obsolete inventory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Feng-Kang Hu, Hangyang Wang, Feng Chen, Towfiq Chowdhury, Charles J. Spencer
  • Patent number: 6707260
    Abstract: A self-oscillating bridge circuit comprises a start circuit for rendering one of the switches conductive for the first time at the start of operation. The start circuit is configured in such a way that it does not influence the switching of the bridge switches during stationary operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Nicolaas Hendrik Mario Pol, Feng-Kang Hu, Yimin Chen
  • Patent number: 6577077
    Abstract: In an electronic ballast for operating a discharge lamp at a high frequency, a single feedback and a double pump feedback are implemented in a combined way. The resulting electronic ballast combines the advantageous of a simple topology with favorable properties with respect to power factor, THD, efficacy, crest factor of the lamp current and EMI restrain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Feng-Kang Hu, Zhenggang Yang
  • Publication number: 20030102815
    Abstract: A self-oscillating bridge circuit comprises a start circuit for rendering one of the switches conductive for the first time at the start of operation. The start circuit is configured in such a way that it does not influence the switching of the bridge switches during stationary operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventors: Nicolaas Hendrik Mario Pol, Feng-Kang Hu, Yimin Chen
  • Publication number: 20020097005
    Abstract: In an electronic ballast for operating a discharge lamp at a high frequency, a single feedback and a double pump feedback are implemented in a combined way. The resulting electronic ballast combines the advantageous of a simple topology with favorable properties with respect to power factor, THD, efficacy, crest factor of the lamp current and EMI restrain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Feng-Kang Hu, Zhenggang Yang
  • Patent number: 5808422
    Abstract: A ballast for a gas discharge lamp includes a detection circuit which detects an operating state of the lamp in which the lamp current for the column discharge of one polarity is different from the lamp current for the column discharge of the other polarity by detecting the DC component of the voltage across the discharge lamp. The detection circuit includes (i) a device coupled such that a DC voltage is imposed there across when the lamp current is different for the column discharge according to one polarity verses the other polarity, and (ii) a sensing circuit for sensing the DC voltage across the device. The device may be a capacitive device, and in a particularly inexpensive implementation, is a DC blocking capacitor or a ballast capacitor. The sense circuit senses when the DC voltage across the device exceeds a threshold value, which may corresponds to fully-rectified state of the lamp or more favorably, to a lesser state of imbalance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Philips Electronics North America
    Inventors: Sreeraman Venkitasubrahmanian, Clint Mason, Yongping Xia, Feng-Kang Hu, Jaap Schlejen
  • Patent number: 5107184
    Abstract: A dimming ballast system wherein the light output of the lamp is controlled by a remote source. The ballast output voltage is regulated by a voltage control feedback loop, the dimming function being achieved by varying the set point of the control loop. The remote control signal, coded by interrupting the current flow to the ballast for a short period, is processed digitally by a microcomputer which generates information to vary the control set point. Circuit means are provided to control the filament voltage of the fluorescent lamps such that as the lamps are dimmed down, the filament voltage is maintained or slightly increased, thus prolonging lamp life and stabilizing the lamp light output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: Electronic Ballast Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Feng-Kang Hu, Chung M. Lau, Kevin Yang, Joshua S. Zhu, Peter S. Shen, Thomas C. Jednacz
  • Patent number: 5068576
    Abstract: A dimming ballast system wherein the light output of the lamp is controlled by a remote source. The ballast output voltage is regulated by a voltage control feedback loop, the dimming function being achieved by varying the set point of the control loop. The remote control signal, coded by interrupting the current flow to the ballast for a short period, is processed digitally by a microcomputer which generates information to vary the control set point. Circuit means are provided to control the filament voltage of the fluorescent lamps such that as the lamps are dimmed down, the filament voltage is maintained or slightly increased, thus prolonging lamp life and stabilizing the lamp light output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1991
    Assignee: Electronic Ballast Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Feng-Kang Hu, Chung M. Lau, Kevin Yang, Joshau S. Zhu, Peter S. Shen, Thomas C. Jednacz
  • Patent number: 5055746
    Abstract: A dimming ballast system wherein the light output of the lamp is controlled by a remote source. The ballast output voltage is regulated by a voltage control feedback loop, the dimming function being achieved by varying the set point of the control loop. The remote control signal, coded by interrupting the current flow to the ballast for a short period, is processed digitally by a microcomputer which generates information to vary the control set point. Circuit means are provided to control the filament voltage of the fluorescent lamps such that as the lamps are dimmed down, the filament voltage is maintained or slightly increased, thus prolonging lamp life and stabilizing the lamp light output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: Electronic Ballast Technology, Incorporated
    Inventors: Feng-Kang Hu, Chung M. Lau, Kevin Yang, Joshua S. Zhu, Peter S. Shen, Thomas C. Jednacz