Plural Load Device Systems Patents (Class 315/121)
  • Publication number: 20130106289
    Abstract: A novel safety harness is disclosed. The safety harness has straps for securing upon a subject. Arranged around the straps are several light emitting diodes (LEDs). The LEDs are driven by pulses of current that exceed the power rating of the LED, but the current is driven for a very short period of time, such that the LEDs are not destroyed. These LEDs blink when turned on and emit substantially more light than is typically found in LEDs, such that the subject is visible from a distance of up to two thousand feet. Multiple safety harnesses may be strapped together, allowing the safety device to be used in a variety of settings, both for human and non-human subjects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventors: Brad BENESKI, Paul MORGENSTERN
  • Publication number: 20130106290
    Abstract: An illuminating apparatus is disclosed. The illuminating apparatus includes a detecting unit, an illuminating unit, and a control unit. The illuminating unit includes multiple illuminating sets and a switching unit for adjusting a connection relationship among the illuminating sets to ensure a conducting voltage of the illuminating set to swing between a minimum conducting voltage and a maximum conducting voltage. The detecting unit is for detecting an inputted power source received by the illuminating unit. The control unit based on a detected inputted power source controls an operation of the switching unit for extending a conducting time in a single period of the inputted power source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: PARAGON SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD .
    Inventors: CHIA-TIN CHUNG, SHIH-NENG TAI
  • Publication number: 20130093326
    Abstract: A device and method for detecting a short circuit in an electrical component during a start-up routine. In an embodiment, a device may have a problematic display having a short circuit that may result in damage to other components of the device if the device were allowed to fully startup during a normal start-up routine. Thus, power supplied to the panel may be initiated in stages so as to monitor any current that may be flowing through the panel, which in turn, may be indicative of a short circuit in the panel. If enough “leakage” current is detected through the panel during this staged startup routine, then a short-circuit detection circuit may interrupt the startup routine and lock out the operation of the device until the detected short circuit in the panel can be addressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS (SHENZHEN) R&D CO. LTD,
    Inventor: STMICROELECTRONICS (SHENZHEN) R&D CO.
  • Publication number: 20130076245
    Abstract: A driver circuit for one or more LEDs includes a power circuit having an output terminal, a capacitor coupled to the output terminal and a switch, and a control circuit coupled to the power circuit for controlling the power circuit. The control circuit is configured to operate the switch for coupling a resistance in series with the capacitor in response to detecting an open circuit condition at the output terminal. Additionally, or alternatively, the driver circuit may include a switched mode power supply, and the control circuit may be configured to switch operation of the switched mode power supply from a current control mode to a voltage control mode, and reduce a current setting for the current control mode, in response to detecting an open circuit condition at the output terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: Astec International Limited
    Inventor: Vijay G. Phadke
  • Publication number: 20130076246
    Abstract: A light-emitting-element lighting circuit for dimming a light emitting element having a diode characteristic by a PWM dimming signal is provided. The lighting circuit includes a dimming signal conversion unit configured to generate the PWM dimming signal having a duty ratio corresponding to an emission level specified by an input dimming signal. The lighting circuit further includes a minimum current generating circuit configured to flow a minimum current during an OFF period of the PWM dimming signal generated by the dimming signal conversion unit such that a voltage greater than a threshold voltage designed to allow the light emitting element to emit a light is applied to the light emitting element, and the light emitting element emits a light of a brightness equal to or less than a lowest emission level specified by the dimming signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: PANASONIC CORPORATION
  • Publication number: 20130069535
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a current control circuit configured to selectively provide current responsive to a varying voltage to at least one LED coupled in series with the first current control circuit and to at least one capacitor coupled to the at least one LED and the first current control circuit. The current control circuit may be configured to cause the at least one capacitor to be selectively charged from a current source and to be discharged via the at least one LED responsive to a varying input, such as a varying current from the current source or a varying voltage applied to the current source. For example, the current control circuit may be configured to limit current through the at least one LED to less than a current provided by the current source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Inventor: Praneet Jayant Athalye
  • Publication number: 20130063033
    Abstract: Driver circuits (1) for driving load circuits (2) comprising first and second light circuits (21-22, 71-72) are in first/second modes for input voltages having first/second voltage amplitudes, the second voltage amplitudes being larger than the first voltage amplitudes. The first light circuits (21, 71) are on in the first and second modes. The second light circuits (22, 72) are off in the first modes and are on in the second modes. A control circuit (21, 71) in dependence of the modes to extend control. These currents may get smaller current amplitudes in higher modes. Light outputs of the first light circuit (21, 71) may get smaller in higher modes. A total light output of all light circuits (21-22, 71-72) may remain substantially constant during all modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS, N.V.
    Inventor: Carsten Deppe
  • Publication number: 20130057155
    Abstract: A method for supplying power to a plurality of light generators (CH1, CH2, CH3) which emit respective chromatically different light radiations that can be mixed with one another to produce a mixed light radiation by selectively activating said generators with respective supply powers (P1, P2, P3) over respective activation intervals (T1, T2, T3) included in an activation period (T), provides for: identifying (102) at least one pair of generators (CH1, CH2; CH2, CH3) for which the sum of the respective activation intervals (T1, T2; T2, T3) is less than said activation period (T), and temporally offsetting the activation (106) of the generators (CH1, CH2; CH2, CH3) in the one pair, avoiding simultaneous activation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Inventors: Filippo Branchetti, Paolo De Anna, Tobias Frost
  • Patent number: 8384291
    Abstract: A backlight protection circuit includes a driving circuit, two lamps, a pulse modulator, and a feedback circuit. The pulse modulator controlling the operating state of the driving circuit includes an over-voltage sampling end. Each of the two lamps includes a high voltage end connected to the driving circuit, and a low voltage end connected to the over-voltage sampling end through the feedback circuit. The pulse modulator stops the operation of the driving circuit when the voltage of the low voltage end exceeds a reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Chimei InnoLux Corporation
    Inventor: Ching-Chung Lin
  • Publication number: 20130043791
    Abstract: A lighting system and protection means are disclosed. In particular, a Zener diode with pre-selected characteristics is used in parallel with an LED such that current will continue to flow through the circuit in case of LED failure. This adaptation in turn may be used in a series string combination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: Q TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Q Technology, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130020944
    Abstract: A light-emitting system includes: a driver device operable to generate a driving signal that alternates between a first state, where voltage of the driving signal is higher than a predetermined threshold voltage, and a second state, where voltage of the driving signal is lower than the predetermined threshold voltage; and a light-emitting device connected electrically to the driver device for receiving the driving signal therefrom, and operable to enter a light-emitting state when the driving signal is in one of the first and second states, and to enter a non-light-emitting state when the driving signal is in the other of the first and second states. The light-emitting device includes at least one light-emitting diode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventors: Kun-Chieh CHANG, Shu-Ping Liu
  • Publication number: 20130002139
    Abstract: There is provided a semiconductor light emitting device package including: a semiconductor substrate having a first principal surface and a second principal surface opposed thereto; a light source disposed on a first principal surface side of the semiconductor substrate; a plurality of electrode pads disposed on a second principal side of the semiconductor substrate; a conductive via extended from the plurality of electrode pads and penetrating the semiconductor substrate; and a driving circuit unit including a plurality of diodes obtained through a pn junction formed by a p-type region and an n-type region, and electrically connected to the conductive via and the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Tae Hun KIM, Seung Wan Chae, Sung Tae Kim, Su Yeol Lee
  • Publication number: 20120319586
    Abstract: Operation of an LED as a light source may be temporarily interrupted to facilitate measurement of the ambient light level, as well as control of the operation of the LED(s) based thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventor: Scott Riesebosch
  • Publication number: 20120313528
    Abstract: Multiple output channel light source power supply circuits, and methods for protecting the output channels, are provided. A front end circuit receivess an input voltage and provides a regulated front end DC voltage. A plurality of voltage converter circuits are each configured to receive the regulated front end DC voltage and provide a separate associated DC output for an associated one of the multiple output channels. A protection switch is coupled therebetween, and includes a conducting state, to couple the front end DC voltage to the plurality of voltage converter circuits, and a non-conducting state, to decouple the front end DC voltage. A current sense circuit is coupled to the voltage converter circuits, and provides a current sense output representative of current through at least one voltage converter circuit. A controller circuit places the protection switch in the non-conducting state in response to the current sense output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: OSRAM SYLVANIA INC.
    Inventors: Keng Chen, Christian Breuer, Peng Xiao
  • Publication number: 20120313529
    Abstract: Multiple output channel light source power supply circuits, and methods for protecting, are provided. A front end circuit receives an input voltage and provides a regulated front end DC voltage (FEDC). Voltage converter circuits (VCCs) receive the FEDC and provide a separate associated DC output for each associated output channel. A protection switch is coupled between. In its conducting state, the FEDC is coupled to the VCCs. In its non-conducting state, the FEDC is decoupled. A current sense circuit of a current sensor in parallel with a bypass switch is coupled to the VCCs to provide a current sense output representing current through at least one VCC. A controller circuit places the protection switch in the non-conducting state in response to the current sense output. The bypass switch may be placed in a conducting state to shunt current around the current sensor during normal operation to reduce or eliminate inefficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: OSRAM SYLVANIA INC.
    Inventors: Keng Chen, Christian Breuer, Peng Xiao
  • Publication number: 20120306374
    Abstract: A dual-pixel circuit includes first and second OLEDs, and a driving circuit that includes first and second driving transistors, a capacitor, and a switching module operable between first and second modes based on a data voltage, first and second scan voltages, and first and second bias signals. When the switching module is operated in the first mode, the first OLED is forward-biased to emit light, and the second OLED is reverse-biased. When the switching module is operated in the second mode, the first OLED is reverse-biased, and the second OLED is forward-biased to emit light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: NATIONAL CHIAO TUNG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Kuei-Yu LEE, Paul C.P. CHAO
  • Publication number: 20120299483
    Abstract: An apparatus and computer readable storage medium are disclosed for supplying power to a load such as a plurality of light emitting diodes. A representative apparatus comprises a primary module, a first secondary module couplable to a first load, and a second secondary module couplable to a second load. The primary module comprises a transformer having a transformer primary. The first secondary module comprises a first transformer secondary magnetically coupled to the transformer primary, and the second secondary module comprises a second transformer secondary magnetically coupled to the transformer primary, with the second secondary module couplable through the first or second load to the first secondary module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: POINT SOMEE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
    Inventor: Patrice R. Lethellier
  • Publication number: 20120293072
    Abstract: A frequency-variable dimming control apparatus for a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and a method for operating the same are disclosed. The frequency-variable dimming control apparatus is provided for dimming the LEDs. The frequency-variable dimming control apparatus includes a DC/AC converter, a resonance circuit, a transformer, a current-sensing unit, and a control unit. The DC/AC converter receives and converts a DC input voltage into an AC voltage. The resonance circuit is electrically connected to the DC/AC converter to receive and converter the AC voltage into a resonance voltage. The transformer receives the resonance voltage and outputs an AC driven voltage. The current-sensing unit is electrically connected to a secondary-side winding of the transformer to output a current frequency signal. The control unit is electrically connected to the current-sensing unit and the DC/AC converter to receive a dimming control signal for dimming the LEDs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Inventors: Shih-Hsien CHANG, Po-Nien Ko
  • Publication number: 20120268012
    Abstract: A circuit is disclosed for determining which of a multiplicity of LED strings in an illumination system has a fault. A group of circuits determines the maximum, minimum, midpoint between maximum and minimum, and average voltage of the group of LED string voltages in use, and examines the statistical properties of the LED string voltages. Comparators are used to find the strings which have the highest and lowest operating voltages, and to compare the midpoint and average voltages to determine whether the highest or lowest voltage string is responsible for causing a fault in the illumination system operation. Memory means are used to keep the said determined string turned off to prevent faulty operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventor: James T. Walker
  • Publication number: 20120268011
    Abstract: An LED driving circuit includes a first and a second LED modules, a first and a second switching converters, an extreme voltage detecting and selecting circuit, a current balance circuit and a controller. The first switching converter transforms electric power of an input power supply into a first output voltage for lighting the first LED module. The second switching converter transforms electric power of the input power supply into a second output voltage for lighting the second LED module. The current balance circuit balances the currents flowing through the first and the second LED modules. The extreme voltage detecting and selecting circuit detects the first and the second LED modules and selects to output one of detecting results. The controller controls the transforming of the first switching converter and the second switching converter to light the first and the second LED modules in response to the outputted detecting result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2011
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: GREEN SOLUTION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shian-Sung Shiu, Li-Min Lee, Chung-Che Yu, Xi Tu, Ying Wang
  • Publication number: 20120242230
    Abstract: A driving arrangement for light emitting diode (LED) based illumination constituted of: a comparison circuitry arranged to compare an integral of a target current over a target illumination time for at least one LED based luminaire with an integral of an illumination current over an illumination time for the at least one LED based luminaire, the comparison circuitry arranged to output a comparison signal; and a control circuitry in communication with the comparison circuitry and arranged to alternately: allow the flow of electrical current through the at least one LED based luminaire responsive to a first condition of the comparison signal; and prevent the flow of electrical current through the at least one LED based luminaire responsive to a second condition of the comparison signal, the second condition different from the first condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: MICROSEMI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Xiaoping JIN
  • Publication number: 20120235570
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an LED driving circuit and controller, capable of maintaining an average value of a current flowing through an LED module at a predetermined current value. The LED driving circuit and controller compensates influences of any factors deviating the average value of the current flowing through the LED module by modulating a period of constant on time or constant off time, or by modulating the determining value(s) of current peak value and/or current valley value according to a difference between an actual average value and the preset current value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: GREEN SOLUTION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chung-Che Yu
  • Publication number: 20120194077
    Abstract: A light-emitting-diode (LED) protection circuit, comprising: a light-emitting-diode module; two fuse elements, connected respectively to said LED module; and a discharge protection element, connected to said LED module and said two fuse elements. When current flowing through said fuse element exceeds a current protection value, said fuse element will turn into an open circuit state, to cut off an over current and prevent it from flowing to said LED module to avoid damages. In addition, when instantaneous high voltage occurs, such as incurred by a spike or a lightning, said discharge protection element can be used as an over current discharge route, to provide said LED module with a current bypass route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventors: Tao-Chin WEI, Kuo-Yi Yu
  • Publication number: 20120187846
    Abstract: A light-emitting diode includes at least one light-emitting diode chip, at least one control device, wherein each of the light-emitting diode chips is electrically connected to one of the at least one control devices, each of the at least one control devices including a data storage device in which brightness data for each light-emitting diode chip which is connected to the control device is stored, and the control device drives the connected light-emitting diode chip with a current which is selected according to stored brightness data for the light emitting-diode chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: OSRAM OPTO SEMICONDUCTORS GMBH
    Inventors: Francis Nguyen, John McNatt, Sven Weber-Rabsilber, Peter Brick
  • Publication number: 20120181933
    Abstract: A first device that may include a short tolerant structure, and methods for fabricating embodiments of the first device, are provided. A first device may include a substrate and a plurality of OLED circuit elements disposed on the substrate. Each OLED circuit element may include a fuse that is adapted to open an electrical connection in response to an electrical short in the pixel. Each OLED circuit element may comprise a pixel that may include a first electrode, a second electrode, and an organic electroluminescent (EL) material disposed between the first and the second electrodes. Each of the OLED circuit elements may not be electrically connected in series with any other of the OLED circuit elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: Universal Display Corporation
    Inventors: Ruiqing Ma, Huiqing Pang, Peter Levermore, Prashant Mandlik, Jeffery Silvernail, Kamala Rajan, Jason Paynter
  • Publication number: 20120161636
    Abstract: A method for saving energy in locations using a plurality of luminaires situated in close proximity to each other, the method including providing each luminaire with a sensor for detecting presence of a person in proximity to the luminaire, a component for enabling passage of current through to the luminaire when the presence is detected and disabling the passage of the current through to the luminaire after a predetermined timeout, and a switch coupled between the component and the luminaire for enabling powering of the luminaire ON, wherein passage of power to each luminaire is enabled by the component when the presence is detected and the luminaire is powered ON by the switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: MOHAMED ASLAM KHAZI, KENNETH WALTER CZECH
  • Publication number: 20120153831
    Abstract: A lighting unit includes, a plurality of light emitting elements which has a first substrate, a supporting electrode, light emitting functional layers, first electrodes, and a second electrode; a plurality of fuse units,; an insulating first partitioning wall which separates each of the light emitting functional layers from each other, and each of the first electrodes from each other; and an insulating second partitioning wall which separates each of fuse units from each other. One of the plurality of fuse units electrically connects one of the first electrodes and the supporting electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshiyuki KASAI
  • Publication number: 20120153832
    Abstract: An LED lighting device includes a step-up chopper which includes a first switching element and increases an output voltage applied from a DC power supply, a step-down chopper which includes a second switching element and decreases the output voltage from the step-up chopper to apply the decreased output voltage to a light source unit having light emitting diodes, a controller which controls operations of the first and the second switching element, a current limiter which includes a current limiting element and a switch; and a voltage detection unit. The controller stops an operation of the first switching element when the voltage detection unit detects the voltage applied to the light source unit exceeding a predetermined voltage value, and the switch allows a current to flow through the path passing through the current limiting element when the operation of the first switching element is stopped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katunobu Hamamoto, Masafumi Yamamoto, Keisuke Ueda, Hisaya Takikita
  • Publication number: 20120133285
    Abstract: A method and circuit for correcting a power factor in an alternating current/direct current power transformer. The circuit has an inductance fed by a rectified AC voltage, and a switch by which the inductance can be charged and discharged by closing and opening the switch, and further has a diode by which the discharge current of the inductance is fed to the output of the circuit. During the discharge phase, a voltage Vmon corresponding to the output voltage VBUS is measured, and the measured values are stored. It is further determined when the discharge current reaches or crosses the zero line at the end of a discharge phase. Switch-on and switch-off signals for actuating the switch are generated by analyzing the information determined. The switch should not be switched on again until a particular minimum switch-off time has been reached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: Tridonic GMBH & CO KG
    Inventor: Jamie Kelly
  • Publication number: 20120133284
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a plurality of light-emitting diode (LED) modules in series are monitored. When an LED module is detected as failing or operating inadequately, a bypass switch removes the particular LED module from the series and the voltage provided to the series is modified. When the LED modules are detected as having too high of a temperature, the current provided to the LED modules is limited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics Asia Pacific Pte Ltd., STMicroelectronics (Shenzhen) R&D Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Henry Ge, Leslie Leong
  • Publication number: 20120126698
    Abstract: Methods and systems for easily integrating a light-emitting diode (LED) light assembly with an existing xenon power supply. An exemplary system includes a xenon power supply that includes an energy storage device and a device that commands the energy storage device to discharge the stored energy and transmit a trigger signal after a predefined amount of time since at least one of a previous discharge or a beginning of initial charge of the energy storage device. The LED light assembly includes one or more LEDs and a current regulator that receives the discharge from the storage device and regulates current to the LEDs based on LED requirements. The LED light assembly also includes a processing device that receives the trigger signal, resets and begins a timer upon reception of the trigger signal and deactivates the current regulator when the timer has reached predefined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Len De Oto, Don Kulasekera, Brian Barnhart
  • Publication number: 20120074846
    Abstract: A semiconductor component and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor component, wherein the semiconductor component includes one or more transient voltage suppression structures. In an embodiment, the semiconductor component may include an over-voltage detection circuit, an over-current detection circuit, an over-temperature detection circuit, an ESD protection circuit, or combinations of these circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventors: David D. Marreiro, Sudhama C. Shastri, Stefan Gueorguiev
  • Patent number: 8132933
    Abstract: A blackout light bulb has a housing with an Edson screw at one end for screwing into a light fixture socket and a plurality of spaced apart LEDs mounted to its opposite end. A flexible stalk is connected to the housing between the Edison screw and the LEDs and can be bent into a selected shape for positioning a free end of the stalk as desired. A circuit board in the housing has an electronic circuit connected to the Edison screw, to the LEDs and to a photo cell at the free end of the stalk. A rechargeable battery in the housing is connected to the circuit board so that it is charged under certain normal conditions and so that it lights up the LEDs under other blackout conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Inventor: Albert Chao
  • Publication number: 20120056544
    Abstract: An apparatus for driving a light emitting device includes: a current control unit generating a current control signal according to a preset current setting value; a constant current circuit unit varying a current resistance value according to the current control signal of the current control unit, detecting a current flowing in a light emitting unit including a plurality of emitting devices by using the current resistance value, and controlling the current flowing in the light emitting unit based on the detected current; and a voltage control unit varying a voltage resistance value according to a preset voltage setting value, detecting a voltage supplied to the light emitting unit by using the voltage resistance value, and determining whether or not the voltage is in an over-voltage state, based on the detected voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventors: Nak Jun JEONG, Jae Eun Kim, Jong Duck Kim, Kwang Hee Sung
  • Publication number: 20120049740
    Abstract: A luminescence driving apparatus, a display apparatus, and a driving method thereof are provided. The luminescence driving apparatus drives a plurality of light-emitting units and includes: a voltage sensor which senses internal voltages of the plurality of light-emitting units; a current sensor which senses internal currents of the plurality of light-emitting units; a sensing signal generator which receives the internal voltages of the plurality of light-emitting units from the voltage sensor to generate an overvoltage sensing signal; a controller which, if it is determined that an overvoltage state has occurred, according to a level of the overvoltage sensing signal, searches for at least one of the plurality of light-emitting units in which the overvoltage state has occurred, according to levels of the internal currents sensed by the current sensor; and a protector which performs an overvoltage protection (OVP) operation with respect to the searched light-emitting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jeong-il KANG, Gil-yong CHANG, Young-deok CHOI, Hyo-soon CHOI
  • Publication number: 20120050606
    Abstract: A controllable lighting system may include a plurality of light source groups, a group controller for each light source group, a master controller, and a network communication system. Each group controller may be configured to control the light sources in its light source group based on a group control command. The master controller may be configured to receive a master control command relating to the light sources and to issue a group control command to each of the group controllers that collectively effectuate compliance with the master control command. The network communication system may be configured to communicate the group control commands from the master controller to the group controllers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Paul E. Debevec, Xueming Yu, Mark Bolas, Graham Fyffe, Jay Busch, Pieter Peers, Abhijeet Ghosh
  • Publication number: 20120043892
    Abstract: The invention relates to an LED tube system for driving at least one LED assembly comprising: an LED tube housing for containing the at least one LED assembly, two pairs of mains input terminals (A, B) provided at ends of the LED tube housing for receiving a mains supply voltage (Vmns) and for supplying the mains supply voltage (Vmns) to an internal part of the LED tube system for driving the at least one LED assembly, and further comprising a switching circuit being electrically connected with all mains input terminals (A, B, C, D) and being arranged for electrically connecting the pairs of mains input terminals together in a first state (2/ON) and electrically separating the pairs in a second state (1/OFF) of the switching circuit. The switching circuit being further arranged for providing a coupling capacitor (C10, C11) between the first pair and the second pair of input terminals in the first state (2/ON) and removing the coupling capacitor (C10, C11) in the second state (1/OFF) of the switching circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: LEDNED HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Jurjen Hilwert Visser, Guang Zhi Yu, Shuang He Zeng, Michael Friedrich Albert Staudt, Shu Kei Shea, Carl Rudolf Eduard Staudt
  • Publication number: 20120032598
    Abstract: A projection-type display device according to an embodiment of the invention modulates light emitted from a solid-state light source array and projects the modulated light on a screen. The projection-type display device includes a power source device that generates power used for driving the solid-state light source array using power supplied from a power source, an instant interruption detecting circuit that detects an instant interruption of the power source, and a control device that, in a case where the instant interruption of the power source is detected by the instant interruption detecting circuit, performs control of extinguishing the solid-state light source array during at least a part of an instant interruption period until recovery after the detection of the instant interruption of the power source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Shioiri, Masahide Tsuda, Osamu Saito, Shigehiro Yanase
  • Publication number: 20120025712
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a backlight module applied to a liquid crystal display device. The backlight module includes: a control circuit for outputting a driving signal according to an analog adjustment signal or a digital adjustment signal; a driving circuit for outputting a lamp voltage according to the driving signal; a fluorescent lamp set, including a plurality of lamps, for receiving the lamp voltage and thereby generating a lamp current; a lamp feedback circuit c for outputting a feedback signal according to the lamp voltage; and a dynamic protection circuit, for dynamically adjusting a protection command signal according to the analog dimming signal or the digital dimming signal, comparing the protection command signal and the feedback signal and thereby outputting a comparing result signal to the control circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: AU OPTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Shih-Wen Wei, Tsung-Shiun Lee, Yun-Pei Huang, Chun-Liang Kuo
  • Publication number: 20120019146
    Abstract: A detector circuit for controlling at least one fluorescent lamp is provided, wherein the detector circuit is configured such that an inactive fluorescent lamp can be detected if a first signal is present at least one of a first input and a second signal is present at a second input in a detection interval after a start-up phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: OSRAM GESELLSCHAFT MIT BESCHRAENKTER HAFTUNG
    Inventors: Juergen Klier, Richard Pfaller
  • Patent number: 8098015
    Abstract: A lamp operation device includes a mode setting part that sets an operation mode for lamps, and a lamp operation part that controls switching between the lamps in accordance with the set operation mode. The lamp operation part includes a process corresponding to a manual switching mode in which a lamp selected by a user is set as an illumination lamp, and a process corresponding to an automatic switching mode in which the plurality of lamps is automatically set in sequence as an illumination lamp. In the automatic switching mode, after one lamp has been set as the illumination lamp, cumulative illuminating time (amount of change) of the lamp is measured. Then, the illumination lamp is switched to the other lamp, depending on whether a measurement result has exceeded predetermined threshold time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunori Kotani, Hirofumi Kazumori, Shigeyuki Hashizume
  • Publication number: 20110316424
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a backlight control circuit, comprising: a voltage supply circuit for receiving an input voltage and generating an output voltage under control by a control signal; at least one voltage comparison path respectively coupled to at least one light emission device path; a voltage operative amplifier circuit for generating the control signal according to a lowest voltage on the at least one voltage comparison path; and at least one under current detection circuit for detecting whether a corresponding one of the at least one light emission device path is in an under current status, whereby when anyone of the under current detection circuits detects the under current status, it sends an exclusion signal excluding a corresponding one of the at least one voltage comparison path from being an effective input of the voltage operative amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: CHIAWEI LIAO, JING-MENG LIU
  • Publication number: 20110298377
    Abstract: A LED circuit is provided. The LED circuit comprises: a plurality of LED channels, a driving module and a feedback-selecting module. The driving module supplies a driving voltage to the plurality of LED channels according to a feedback voltage. The feedback-selecting module comprises an open detection unit and a minimum-selecting unit. The open detection unit performs an open detection mechanism to separate the plurality of LED channels into a plurality of open LED channels and a plurality of non-open LED channels having an output voltage respectively. The minimum-selecting unit performs a selection mechanism to select a minimum output voltage as the feedback voltage from the output voltage of each of the plurality of non-open LED channels. A LED circuit operation method adapted in the LED circuit is provided herein as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: HIMAX ANALOGIC, INC.
    Inventors: Aung Aung Yinn, Chow-Peng Lee
  • Publication number: 20110273096
    Abstract: A detector circuit for actuating at least one fluorescent lamp may be configured such that the actuation of at least one fluorescent lamp occurs as a function of a first signal at a first input and as a function of a second signal at a second input if the first signal and the second signal are each greater than a first prescribed voltage and less than a second prescribed voltage during a start-up phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: OSRAM GESELLSCHAFT MIT BESCHRAENKTER HAFTUNG
    Inventors: Juergen Klier, Richard Pfaller
  • Publication number: 20110266953
    Abstract: A garden light (10) having a body (11) with a post (12), the lower end of which is provided with a spike (13). The upper end of the post (12) receives a lens assembly (14). Secured to the lens assembly (14) is a cap assembly (24) that has three LEDs that are activated to produce a varying colour light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventor: Simon N. Richmond
  • Publication number: 20110254450
    Abstract: A traffic sign having one or more easily replaceable LED assemblies that can easily be removed or replaced and that make reliable water resistant electrical connection with one or more suitably-designed LED holders, which are installed in various locations as desired on the traffic sign or structure, is disclosed. A control circuit that supplies direct current at suitable levels of DC voltage and DC current to the one or more LED holders that are connected together using series, parallel or combination series and parallel wiring connections in order to provide electrical power to the one or more LED assemblies is provided. Wherein the one or more LED holders also include compensation circuits that enable any failed LED assembly to be electrically bypassed so that the control circuit then automatically adjusts the DC current or DC voltage levels supplied to the remaining traffic sign LEDs so that the remaining LED Assemblies continue to operate properly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Inventors: Rick Bergholz, Brian Scharles, Jason Kugel, Dale G. Jones
  • Patent number: 8008864
    Abstract: A solid state lighting unit constituted of: a control circuitry; a single string of light emitting diodes, the single string constituted of a plurality of sections each comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes; and a plurality of bypass paths each responsive to the control circuitry, each of the plurality of bypass paths arranged to provide bypass to a particular one of the plurality of sections, wherein the control circuitry is operative to identify an open circuit condition of a particular one of the plurality of sections, and activate the bypass path arranged to bypass the open circuit section, thereby providing light through sections not exhibiting an open circuit condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Microsemi Corporation
    Inventors: Chien Nguyen, Ekrem Cengelci, Mlchael Tran
  • Publication number: 20110181625
    Abstract: A backlight assembly includes; a plurality of light source strings which receive a driving voltage to generate a light, a driving circuit including a channel terminal commonly connected to output terminals of the plurality of light source strings and which receives a feedback voltage through the channel terminal to control the driving voltage according to the feedback voltage, and a current detection circuit connected to the output terminals of the plurality of light source strings to receive currents from the plurality of light source strings and which turns off the driving circuit when at least one of the received currents is larger than a predetermined reference current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ho-Sik SHIN, Seokhyun NAM, Young-Min PARK, Yu-Dong KIM, Jung-Hyun YANG
  • Patent number: 7986107
    Abstract: An electrical circuit is disclosed for driving color strings that have at least one lamp, preferably a light emitting diode (LED). The color strings can be different lengths. In some embodiments, a switch is coupled in parallel to one of the LED strings to shunt power away from the LED string to a power supply or to one or more other LED strings. In some embodiments, a current injector is configured to remove current from or inject current into a node adjacent to an LED string. Methods are disclosed for producing a desired light output utilizing color strings that may be of dissimilar length and that may contain light emitting diodes of different colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Lumenetix, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Weaver, Herman Ferrier
  • Patent number: 7973670
    Abstract: An object is to provide a display device, in a part of which a monitor light emitting element is provided and in which an anode and a cathode of the monitor light emitting element are prevented from short-circuiting in an early stage and over time by using a circuit which corrects a voltage or a current to be supplied to a light emitting element in consideration of electrical property fluctuation of the monitor light emitting element, and a method for inspecting the display device. A monitor light emitting element is provided, which is electrically connected to a monitor line for supplying a current is provided, and a circuit is provided, which electrically disconnects the monitor light emitting element when an anode and a cathode of the monitor light emitting element are short-circuited in an early stage or over time. Further, a circuit for checking circuit operation before or after a step of providing the monitor light emitting element is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Iwabuchi, Tatsuro Ueno