Patents by Inventor Ralph Kurt

Ralph Kurt 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: 10798795
    Abstract: Disclosed is a driver that include a switching circuit for guiding current signal during time-intervals for the sequential driving of light emitting circuit. The time-intervals are defined by the fact that amplitudes of a mains signal are in ranges during the time-intervals. More specifically, there is a bypass switching circuit for guiding a bypass current signal which bypasses all light emitting circuit during an initial time-interval. An adaptation circuit adapts amplitudes of the respective current signals during the respective time-intervals, to reduce a total harmonic distortion. Said adapting may comprise an adaptation in response to information derived from the amplitude of the mains signal, and may comprise shaping the amplitudes of the current signals in response to information derived from the amplitude of the mains signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Henricus Marius Joseph Maria Kahlman, Ralph Kurt
  • Patent number: 10225898
    Abstract: The invention describes a dynamic control circuit (1) realized for connection in series with an LED arrangement (2), characterized by a first switching element (Q1) realized to provide a path for the LED current (ILED), and a monitoring arrangement (M) realized to control the first switching element (Q1) according to the level of the LED current (ILED) SO that the dynamic control circuit (1) presents a series impedance (Zdyn), which series impedance (Zdyn) gradually increases in response to a decreasing LED current (ILED) through the LED arrangement (2). The invention also describes a dimmable lighting arrangement (10) comprising an LED arrangement (2); a driver (3) realized to provide an input voltage (Vin) and an input current (ILED) to the LED arrangement (2); and such a dynamic control circuit (1) connected in series with the LED arrangement (2). The invention further describes retrofit LED light-bulb (100); and a method of driving an LED arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Kumar Arulandu, Dmytro Viktorovych Malyna, Ralph Kurt
  • Publication number: 20190053338
    Abstract: Drivers (1-7) comprise respective switching circuits (1, 2) for guiding respective current signals during respective time-intervals for the sequential driving of light emitting circuits (91, 92). The respective time-intervals are defined by the fact that amplitudes of a mains signal are in respective ranges during the respective time-intervals. More specifically, there is a bypass switching circuit (5) for guiding a bypass current signal which bypasses all light emitting circuit (91, 92) during an initial time-interval. An adaptation circuit (6, 7) adapts amplitudes of the respective current signals during the respective time-intervals, to reduce a total harmonic distortion. Said adapting may comprise an adaptation in response to information derived from the amplitude of the mains signal, and may comprise shaping the amplitudes of the current signals in response to information derived from the amplitude of the mains signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: HENRICUS MARIUS JOSEPH MARIA KAHLMAN, RALPH KURT
  • Patent number: 10136480
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement (1), a detection circuit (50, 70) and an LED driver circuit (100, 110) is disclosed for operating at least one lighting unit, such as an LED unit, with a phase-cut operating voltage. The circuit arrangement (1) comprising at least an input (6) for receiving a phase-cut operating voltage from said power supply and/or an output (7) for connection to said at least one lighting unit and a pulse injection circuit, configured to determine a phase-cut operation of said power supply and to draw a current pulse from said power supply within a delay time between 200-700 ?s after said phase-cut operation to provide a stable operation of said LED unit with the phase-cut power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Paul Theodorus Jacobus Boonen, Dmytro Viktorovych Malyna, Ralph Kurt, Harald Josef Günther Radermacher, Bertrand Johan Edward Hontele
  • Patent number: 10076006
    Abstract: Drivers (1-7) comprise respective switching circuits (1, 2) for guiding respective current signals during respective time-intervals for the sequential driving of light emitting circuits (91, 92). The respective time-intervals are defined by the fact that amplitudes of a mains signal are in respective ranges during the respective time-intervals. More specifically, there is a bypass switching circuit (5) for guiding a bypass current signal which bypasses all light emitting circuit (91, 92) during an initial time-interval. An adaptation circuit (6, 7) adapts amplitudes of the respective current signals during the respective time-intervals, to reduce a total harmonic distortion. Said adapting may comprise an adaptation in response to information derived from the amplitude of the mains signal, and may comprise shaping the amplitudes of the current signals in response to information derived from the amplitude of the mains signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Henricus Marius Joseph Maria Kahlman, Ralph Kurt
  • Patent number: 9992852
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lighting device for illuminating a target object with the objective to draw a person's attention to this target object. It alternatingly provides a relatively fast dynamic light output component and a relatively slow dynamic light output component, the former being predominantly for triggering a person's attention towards a target object, while the latter is mainly for enhancing the visual appearance of the target object, thereby keeping someone's attention for that object. For this purpose, the lighting device is arranged to provide a primary light output alternatingly comprising a first light output component and a second light output component. The lighting device comprises a switching controller for switching between the first light output component and the second light output component after a time interval. The primary light output has a perceived light intensity that remains constant over time within a margin of 10%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Ralph Kurt, Wiebe Wagemans, Dragan Sekulovski
  • Patent number: 9986614
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a controller (30) for controlling the light-output of two light-emitting devices (10, 20). The two light-emitting devices are adapted to provide a McCandless effect on an illuminated object (40). The controller (30) comprises a first user interface for a user to set a first color (11) to be output by a first light-emitting device (10) and second user interface for a user to set a desired mixed color (81) of a common area (80) being illuminated by both light-emitting devices (10, 20). The controller (30) further comprises a processing circuitry for determining first lighting parameters resulting in said first color (11) when provided to the first light-emitting device (10), and for determining second lighting parameters resulting in a second color (21) when provided to a second light-emitting device (20). A mix of the first color (11) and the second color (21) provides the mixed color (81).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Stefan Marcus Verbrugh, Ralph Kurt
  • Patent number: 9977169
    Abstract: A lamp and a method for generating high power in laser applications includes a source for emitting optical radiation along an optical path and a holder configured in the optical path having a fluorescent body. The lamp and method further include a collecting unit configured to transmit at least a portion of the optical radiation emitted by the fluorescent body to an output of the lamp. The fluorescent body includes a shape that is elongated in a predetermined direction. Accordingly, providing a small spot and little divergence in conjunction with good heat dissipation leads to a high optical performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Ralph Kurt, Ronald Reindert Drenten, Elvira Johanna Maria Paulussen, Adriaan Valster, Denis Fournier
  • Publication number: 20180027637
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lighting device for illuminating a target object with the objective to draw a person's attention to this target object. It alternatingly provides a relatively fast dynamic light output component and a relatively slow dynamic light output component, the former being predominantly for triggering a person's attention towards a target object, while the latter is mainly for enhancing the visual appearance of the target object, thereby keeping someone's attention for that object. For this purpose, the lighting device is arranged to provide a primary light output alternatingly comprising a first light output component and a second light output component. The lighting device comprises a switching controller for switching between the first light output component and the second light output component after a time interval. The primary light output has a perceived light intensity that remains constant over time within a margin of 10%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventors: RALPH KURT, WIEBE WAGEMANS, DRAGAN SEKULOVSKI
  • Patent number: 9851072
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement (100) comprising a lighting system (110) and a target object (120), wherein the lighting system (110) is arranged to illuminate a target surface of the target object (120) with a primary light output (111) and with a secondary light output (112). Each of these light outputs has an illumination spectrum representing a color. The two illumination spectra are different, but the two colors are substantially the same. The target surface has a first target surface area and a second target surface area. When the first and second target surface areas are illuminated with the primary light output (111), they have a contrast that is lower than when they are illuminated with the secondary light output (112). The arrangement of the invention can be used for atmosphere creation or for attracting attention to the target object (120).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Wiebe Wagemans, Helena Bernadette Jos Plasschaert, Kars-Michiel Hubert Lenssen, Dragan Sekulovski, Ralph Kurt
  • Patent number: 9820348
    Abstract: In a method of lighting at least part of a space, a light emitting diode (LED) string is used. The LED string comprises a first LED segment and at least one further LED segment, which are connected in series, each LED segment comprising at least one LED. The LED string is powered by a rectified AC voltage. The first LED segment is powered when the rectified AC voltage is above a first voltage level, and the first LED segment and the further LED segment are powered when the rectified AC voltage is above a second voltage level higher than the first voltage level. The first LED segment is arranged to radiate light to a first volume of the space, and the further LED segment is arranged to radiate light to a second volume of the space, the first volume being at least partly different from the second volume. The first volume may at least partly overlap the second volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Martinus Petrus Creusen, Ralph Kurt
  • Patent number: 9784805
    Abstract: The invention relates to a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging radio frequency-receiver (112; 216; 308; 404), the receiver (112; 216; 308; 404) being adapted to receive analog signals from at least one radio frequency receiver coil unit (106; 200; 202; 300; 400; 402), the radio frequency receiver (112; 216; 308; 404) comprising: an analog-digital converter (118; 226) to convert the analog pre-amplified magnetic resonance signal into a digital signal, means (120; 230) for digital down converting the digital signal and a first communication interface (130; 252) adapted for transmitting the down converted digital signal via a communication link (e.g. wireless, optical or wire-bound).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Marc Paul Saes, Johan Samuel Van Den Brink, Filips Van Liere, Roel Penterman, Ralph Kurt, Emiel Peeters, Dirk Jan Broer, Michel Paul Barbara Van Bruggen, Hans Van Zon, Miha Fuderer
  • Publication number: 20170270630
    Abstract: A device comprises an image handling module for protecting an image of a scene captured by a camera. The image handling module is configured detect, in association with the image, a watermark signal having been embedded in light illuminating the scene at a respective geographic location. Further, the image handling module is configured to lookup the detected watermark signal in a privacy database, and based thereon to selectively inhibit use of the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: MARTINUS PETRUS CREUSEN, RALPH KURT, FREDERIK JAN DE BRUIJN
  • Patent number: 9743521
    Abstract: A light-emitting module (3a-c; 23; 26; 33a-c) comprising a plurality of light-sources (12a-e; 27a-h) arranged in at least a first and a second column (18a-b; 28a-c) arranged side by side and extending along a first direction of extension (X1) of the light-emitting module (3a-c; 23; 26; 33a-c); and a plurality of connector terminal pairs (13a-b, 14a-b, 15a-b, 16a-b 17a-b), each being electrically connected to a corresponding one of the light-sources (3a-c; 23; 26; 33a-c) for enabling supply of electrical power thereto. Each connector terminal pair (13a-b, 14a-b, 15a-b, 16a-b 17a-b) comprises a first connector terminal (13a, 14a, 15a, 16a 17a) and a second connector terminal (13b, 14b, 15b, 16b 17b) being arranged at opposite sides of the light-emitting module (3a-c; 23; 26; 33a-c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Ralph Kurt, Cornelis Slob, Marc Andre De Samber, Michael Johan Ferdinand Marie Ter Laak, Gerard Kums, Egbert Lenderink, Marcellus Jacobus Johannes Van Der Lubbe, Mark Eduard Johan Sipkes
  • Publication number: 20170238376
    Abstract: Drivers (1-7) comprise respective switching circuits (1, 2) for guiding respective current signals during respective time-intervals for the sequential driving of light emitting circuits (91, 92). The respective time-intervals are defined by the fact that amplitudes of a mains signal are in respective ranges during the respective time-intervals. More specifically, there is a bypass switching circuit (5) for guiding a bypass current signal which bypasses all light emitting circuit (91, 92) during an initial time-interval. An adaptation circuit (6, 7) adapts amplitudes of the respective current signals during the respective time-intervals, to reduce a total harmonic distortion. Said adapting may comprise an adaptation in response to information derived from the amplitude of the mains signal, and may comprise shaping the amplitudes of the current signals in response to information derived from the amplitude of the mains signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: HENRICUS MARIUS JOSEPH MARIA KAHLMAN, RALPH KURT
  • Publication number: 20170223785
    Abstract: A lighting device and a method of operating a lighting device are described. A plurality of LED elements (12) are electrically connected to form at least two groups (1, 2, 3). Each group of LED elements comprises at least one string (30) of at least two LED elements (12) electrically connected in series. A step driver circuit (14) supplies electrical power to the LED elements (12). The step driver circuit (14) operates the groups (1, 2, 3) of LED elements (12) from a periodically varying supply voltage V by activating the groups selectively depending on a momentary voltage value of the supply voltage V. The LED elements (12) are arranged on a carrier (26) forming an arrangement pattern. In order to achieve an improved optical appearance in particular in a dimmed state, the LED elements (12) of at least one of the groups (1, 2, 3) are located on the carrier (26) so as to be evenly distributed over the arrangement pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: RALPH KURT, HENRICUS MARIUS JOSEPH MARIA KAHLMAN
  • Patent number: 9675417
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device comprising a supply unit (2) for supplying ablation energy to a material (4), and a stimuli-responsive substance (3?) for controlling a level of the ablation energy deposited into the material (4). The device allows to limit a temperature of the material (4), so that risks associated to ablation at too high temperatures can be eliminated. The device may comprise at least one illumination unit (7) for illuminating the material (4), and at least one reception unit (8a, 8b) for receiving reflected light in order to obtain information about a state of the material (4). The obtained information can be used to regulate the supplied ablation energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Szabolcs Deladi, Nenad Mihajlovic, Ralph Kurt
  • Publication number: 20170164438
    Abstract: The invention describes a dynamic control circuit (1) realized for connection in series with an LED arrangement (2), characterized by a first switching element (Q1) realized to provide a path for the LED current (ILED), and a monitoring arrangement (M) realized to control the first switching element (Q1) according to the level of the LED current (ILED) SO that the dynamic control circuit (1) presents a series impedance (Zdyn), which series impedance (Zdyn) gradually increases in response to a decreasing LED current (ILED) through the LED arrangement (2). The invention also describes a dimmable lighting arrangement (10) comprising an LED arrangement (2); a driver (3) realized to provide an input voltage (Vin) and an input current (ILED) to the LED arrangement (2); and such a dynamic control circuit (1) connected in series with the LED arrangement (2). The invention further describes retrofit LED light-bulb (100); and a method of driving an LED arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: KUMAR ARULANDU, DMYTRO VIKTOROVYCH MALYNA, RALPH KURT
  • Patent number: 9565725
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a driver device for driving a load, in particular an LED unit having one or more LEDs, comprising input terminals for receiving an input voltage from an external power source for powering the load, and a connection unit for connecting the input terminals to each other and for providing a current path for a bleeding current, wherein the connection unit comprises a first current path for connecting the input terminals in a first current direction and a second current path for connecting the input terminals in a second current direction opposite to the first current direction, wherein the connection unit comprises a first current control unit for controlling the bleeding current in the connection unit, and wherein the first and the second current path each comprises a second current control unit for controlling the bleeding current in the respective current path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Kumar Arulandu, Harald Josef Günther Radermacher, Dmytro Viktorovych Malyna, Lucas Louis Marie Vogels, Ralph Kurt
  • Patent number: 9532424
    Abstract: Drivers (2) comprise converters (21) for converting input signals from dimmers (1) into output signals destined for light emitting diode circuits (3) and controllers (22) for detecting dimming levels of the input signals and for bringing the drivers (2) from first, normal dimming modes into second, eco dimming modes in response to detection results defining the dimming levels being equal to/smaller than threshold levels. In the first/second dimming modes, the first input signals are converted into first/second output signals according to first/second curves (I, II). The second curves (II) define higher light outputs than the first curves (I) for most of the dimming levels. Dimmers (1) comprise indicators (11, 2, 13) for indicating to users the dimming levels of the input signals being equal to/smaller than the threshold levels. The indicators (11, 12, 13) may comprise light emitting diode 10 apparatuses (11), mechanical clicks when turning knobs (12) and markers or markings (13) on the dimmer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Kumar Arulandu, Dmytro Viktorovych Malyna, Harald Josef Günther Radermacher, Lucas Louis Marie Vogels, Ralph Kurt