Abstract: A method for regenerating different types of copper-containing aluminum alloys using aluminum alloy scrap from aeronautical industry includes detecting a chemical composition of said aluminum alloy scrap and optionally adding a suitable amount of a metal or alloy additive according to a composition requirement of a target aluminum-copper alloy, thereby obtaining a mixture of aluminum alloy scrap and metal or alloy additive; vacuum smelting the mixture of aluminum alloy scrap and metal or alloy additive in a vacuum furnace, wherein impurities are removed and an aluminum alloy solution is formed; filtering the aluminum alloy solution using a filter to obtain a melt comprising a target aluminum alloy composition; and casting the target aluminum alloy composition from said melt.

Abstract: A driver comprises a controller coupled with a LED, and an interface circuit configured to be coupled between the controller and an external device. The interface circuit comprises an interface port configured to be coupled to the external device, an analog interface module, a digital interface module and a power supply module. The analog interface module is coupled between the interface port and the controller and configured to transmit an analog signal therebetween the external device and the controller in a first mode. The digital interface module is coupled between the interface port and the controller and configured to transmit a digital signal between the external device and the controller in a second mode and a third mode. The power supply module is coupled to the interface port and configured to provide energy to the external device in the first mode and the third mode.

Abstract: A driver comprises a controller coupled with a LED, and an interface circuit configured to be coupled between the controller and an external device. The interface circuit comprises an interface port configured to be coupled to the external device, an analog interface module, a digital interface module and a power supply module. The analog interface module is coupled between the interface port and the controller and configured to transmit an analog signal therebetween the external device and the controller in a first mode. The digital interface module is coupled between the interface port and the controller and configured to transmit a digital signal between the external device and the controller in a second mode and a third mode. The power supply module is coupled to the interface port and configured to provide energy to the external device in the first mode and the third mode.

Abstract: A power converter comprising a first capacitor, a flyback conversion module, a soft-start module, and a feedback control module. The flyback conversion module is coupled with the first capacitor and configured to receive a first control voltage across the first capacitor. The soft-start module is coupled with the first capacitor and is configured to charge the first capacitor during a startup stage, to increase the first control voltage to an expected voltage value at the end of the startup stage. The feedback control module is coupled with the flyback conversion module and is configured to control the flyback conversion module to output a substantially constant voltage or current after the startup stage. Wherein the expected voltage value is a value of the first control voltage when the flyback conversion module outputs a substantially constant voltage or current after the startup stage.

Abstract: A driver comprises a front-end stage, a back-end stage, and an intermediate controller. The front-end stage comprises a front-end main circuit and a front-end controller, and is configured to rectify an AC input voltage from an external power supply and output a DC bus voltage through output terminals. The back-end stage comprises a buck circuit, and configured to receive the bus voltage from the front-end stage and output a desired DC drive voltage to a load according to an operating voltage of the load. The intermediate controller is configured to obtain a difference voltage signal indicative of an electric potential difference between the bus voltage and the drive voltage, and provide a feedback signal generated based on the difference voltage signal to the front-end controller. The front-end controller controls the front-end main circuit based on the feedback signal to change the bus voltage with change of the drive voltage.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a light-emitting diode (LED) driver comprising a controller and a main circuit. The controller is configured to receive a dimming signal for dimming an LED load and use a current hysteresis control to generate a control signal, wherein a hysteresis width of the current hysteresis control varies with the dimming signal. The main circuit comprises a front-end stage configured to receive an AC input voltage and output a DC bus voltage, and a back-end stage configured to receive the bus voltage and responsive to the control signal, output a desired drive current through output terminals to the LED load so as to produce a target illumination intensity. The present disclosure widens the dimming depth of analog dimming in the LED dimming technology, achieves deep dimming and satisfies good dimming linearity in the entire dimming range.

Abstract: A power converter comprising a first capacitor, a flyback conversion module, a soft-start module, and a feedback control module. The flyback conversion module is coupled with the first capacitor and configured to receive a first control voltage across the first capacitor. The soft-start module is coupled with the first capacitor and is configured to charge the first capacitor during a startup stage, to increase the first control voltage to an expected voltage value at the end of the startup stage. The feedback control module is coupled with the flyback conversion module and is configured to control the flyback conversion module to output a substantially constant voltage or current after the startup stage. Wherein the expected voltage value is a value of the first control voltage when the flyback conversion module outputs a substantially constant voltage or current after the startup stage.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include a dimming device comprising a dimming signal interface module which includes an optical coupling module and an analog-digital converter module having its input terminal connected to the input terminal of the dimming signal interface module and its output terminal selectively connected to the optical coupling module. The dimming signal interface module may receive digital signals and analog signals. When the analog signals are received by the input terminal of the dimming signal interface module, the analog-digital converter module may convert the analog signals to square-wave signals and output the square-wave signals to the optical coupling module. When digital signals are received by the input terminal of the dimming signal interface module, the output terminal of the analog-digital converter module may be disconnected from the optical coupling module. The dimming device may be able to receive digital and analog control signals to be used for dimming.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a light-emitting diode (LED) driver comprising a controller and a main circuit. The controller is configured to receive a dimming signal for dimming an LED load and use a current hysteresis control to generate a control signal, wherein a hysteresis width of the current hysteresis control varies with the dimming signal. The main circuit comprises a front-end stage configured to receive an AC input voltage and output a DC bus voltage, and a back-end stage configured to receive the bus voltage and responsive to the control signal, output a desired drive current through output terminals to the LED load so as to produce a target illumination intensity. The present disclosure widens the dimming depth of analog dimming in the LED dimming technology, achieves deep dimming and satisfies good dimming linearity in the entire dimming range.

Abstract: A driver comprises a front-end stage, a back-end stage, and an intermediate controller. The front-end stage comprises a front-end main circuit and a front-end controller, and is configured to rectify an AC input voltage from an external power supply and output a DC bus voltage through output terminals. The back-end stage comprises a buck circuit, and configured to receive the bus voltage from the front-end stage and output a desired DC drive voltage to a load according to an operating voltage of the load. The intermediate controller is configured to obtain a difference voltage signal indicative of an electric potential difference between the bus voltage and the drive voltage, and provide a feedback signal generated based on the difference voltage signal to the front-end controller. The front-end controller controls the front-end main circuit based on the feedback signal to change the bus voltage with change of the drive voltage.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include a dimming device comprising a dimming signal interface module which includes an optical coupling module and an analog-digital converter module having its input terminal connected to the input terminal of the dimming signal interface module and its output terminal selectively connected to the optical coupling module. The dimming signal interface module may receive digital signals and analog signals. When the analog signals are received by the input terminal of the dimming signal interface module, the analog-digital converter module may convert the analog signals to square-wave signals and output the square-wave signals to the optical coupling module. When digital signals are received by the input terminal of the dimming signal interface module, the output terminal of the analog-digital converter module may be disconnected from the optical coupling module. The dimming device may be able to receive digital and analog control signals to be used for dimming.

Abstract: Provided is a method to detect an arcing condition in an arc discharge lamp ballasts is disclosed. An AC current signal flows from the lamp load to ground via at least one ring core. The ring core is provided for detecting an arcing condition in AC current signal and the ballast circuit by detecting a current spike along the ring core. When there is a current spike in the primary core, created by the arcing condition, a proportional increase in voltage within a control signal occurs on the secondary core. A rectifier circuit is used for conditioning the increase in voltage within the control signal. A control circuit, responsive to the increase in voltage within the control signal, dynamically adjusts the operating frequency of a resonant inverter so that the arcing condition is extinguished.

Abstract: A ballast for driving a gas discharge lamp includes an inverter configured to generate a lamp supply voltage signal, and a voltage regulator coupled to the inverter and configured to generate a regulation signal. The regulation signal is used by the inverter to maintain the lamp voltage signal at a substantially constant voltage. A thermistor circuit is coupled between the lamp supply voltage signal and the voltage regulator and configured to detect a temperature of the ballast. The lamp supply voltage signal is varied by the regulation signal in accordance with the detected temperature of the ballast.

Abstract: A filament preheat module for preheating a filament of a lamp powered by a power circuit including an inverter, the inverter comprising an inductively coupled conductor, an inductively coupled conductor of the filament preheat module magnetically coupled to the inductively coupled conductor of the inverter to power the filament during preheating, and a switching circuit configured to electrically connect the power from the inductively coupled conductor of the filament preheat module to the filament. The switching module is configured to cutoff the power to the filament from the filament preheat module after a predetermined time period during preheating.

Abstract: A filament preheat module for preheating a filament of a lamp powered by a power circuit including an inverter, the inverter comprising an inductively coupled conductor, an inductively coupled conductor of the filament preheat module magnetically coupled to the inductively coupled conductor of the inverter to power the filament during preheating, and a switching circuit configured to electrically connect the power from the inductively coupled conductor of the filament preheat module to the filament. The switching module is configured to cutoff the power to the filament from the filament preheat module after a predetermined time period during preheating.

Abstract: A ballast for driving a gas discharge lamp includes an inverter configured to generate a lamp supply voltage signal, and a voltage regulator coupled to the inverter and configured to generate a regulation signal. The regulation signal is used by the inverter to maintain the lamp voltage signal at a substantially constant voltage. A thermistor circuit is coupled between the lamp supply voltage signal and the voltage regulator and configured to detect a temperature of the ballast. The lamp supply voltage signal is varied by the regulation signal in accordance with the detected temperature of the ballast.