Periodic Switch In The Primary Circuit Of The Supply Transformer Patents (Class 315/219)
  • Patent number: 8305004
    Abstract: A single-stage integrated circuit drives LED sources in a constant power mode to eliminate the need for LED current sensing, while reshaping the waveform of the inductor current near line zero crossing to achieve high power factor. The integrated circuit achieves substantially constant input power by maintaining a constant voltage at a power factor corrector controller through an input voltage feedforward system. Accordingly, the disclosed circuit provides a high power factor, high efficiency, simple, and cost-effective solution with substantially consistent input power for both isolated and non-isolated offline LED applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Jianwen Shao
  • Patent number: 8294377
    Abstract: A power converter for constant loads includes an energy transfer element, a switch, a controller, and a compensation circuit. The energy transfer element is coupled to receive a rectified voltage having a non-blocked portion and a blocked portion, where an amount of the blocked portion corresponds to a phase angle. The controller is coupled to control switching of the switch to regulate an output current of the power converter in response to a plurality of signals. The plurality of signals includes a peak input voltage signal and a feedback signal, where the peak input voltage signal is representative of a peak input voltage of the power converter and the feedback signal is representative of the output voltage of the power converter. The compensation circuit is coupled to adjust at least one of the plurality of signals in response to the phase angle exceeding a phase angle threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Kang, John A. Carpenter, Taher M. Savliwala
  • Patent number: 8294378
    Abstract: A process for controlling a brightness of a lamp includes, in at least one aspect, detecting input to control a brightness of a fluorescent lamp operated by a driving signal, and in response to detecting the input, modifying the driving signal to control the brightness of the fluorescent lamp, wherein modifying the driving signal comprises alternately applying a first duty cycle and a second duty cycle to the driving signal, wherein the first duty cycle and the second duty cycle are substantially complementary to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Hubertus Notohamiprodjo, Radu Pitigoi-Aron
  • Patent number: 8289305
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device, includes: a liquid crystal panel; a point light source which emits light to the liquid crystal panel; and a light source driver which comprises a power input terminal to receive initial power, a power supply to supply power to the point light source according to the initial power and a reference current, and a reference current controller to output the changed reference current according to the changed initial power, to the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeong-il Kang, Sang-hoon Lee, Su-gun Kim
  • Patent number: 8288954
    Abstract: A power control system includes a transformer and a controller regulates a current on a secondary-side of the transformer based on a primary-side signal value. In at least one embodiment, the secondary-side current is a current out of a filter coupled to a rectifier and the secondary-side of the transformer and into a load. In at least one embodiment, the primary-side signal value is a sample of a current in the primary-side windings of the transformer. In at least one embodiment, the primary-side signal value represents a sample value of a primary-side transformer current. Proper timing of sampling the primary-side signal value substantially eliminates contributions of a transformer magnetizing current from the primary-side transformer current sample. Sampling the primary-side signal value when contributions of the transformer magnetizing current are substantially eliminated allows at least an average of the secondary-side current to be determined from the primary-side signal value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventor: John L. Melanson
  • Patent number: 8278843
    Abstract: A method for operating a switching power supply is provided. A switching element is switched on and off by a switching signal with a variable switching frequency. A frequency bandwidth is predefined for determining average levels of a frequency spectrum of the switching signal. The switching frequency is modulated by a modulation frequency greater than a frequency bandwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Harald Demoulin, Ewald Lohninger
  • Patent number: 8278832
    Abstract: An isolated configuration dimmer circuit of a light emitting diode (LED) applied to a conventional triac dimmer and a dimmer method are provided. When a dimmer phase angle of the triac dimmer is regulated, a second side winding of a transformer of the isolated configuration produces a pulse width corresponding to a modulated alternating current (AC) voltage, so as to regulate the pulse width of a driving signal output by the second side winding of the transformer. In addition, the dimmer circuit regulates the magnitude of a current flowing through the light emitting diode (LED) according to the pulse width corresponding to the modulated AC voltage. Accordingly, the dimmer circuit regulates the pulse width and the magnitude of the current flowing through the LED according to the dimmer phase angle of the triac dimmer. Therefore, a dimmer range of the LED can be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Novatek Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chen-Ming Hung, Maung Maung Win, Lan-Ting Hsu, Chih-Yuan Hsieh
  • Patent number: 8274235
    Abstract: An inverter according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention generates a plurality of feedback voltages corresponding to driving voltages of discharge lamps. The inverter generates a first minimum voltage having a smaller feedback voltage of a plurality of feedback voltages and compares the first minimum voltage and a short circuit reference voltage to determine a short circuit of at least two discharge lamps. Also, the inverter generates a plurality of feedback voltages corresponding to driving currents of a plurality of discharge lamps, generates a second minimum voltage having a smaller feedback voltage of a plurality of the feedback voltages, and compares the second minimum voltage and an open circuit reference voltage to determine the open circuit of the at least two discharge lamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Fairchild Korea Semiconductor Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Soon Choi, Hak-Hee Lee, Il-Young Jung, Eung-Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 8274236
    Abstract: The current invention provides a power supply that includes an igniter that generates an ignition voltage for igniting a DC lamp; an auxiliary power stage that outputs an auxiliary voltage for sustaining sufficient current in the DC lamp after the DC lamp is ignited; a voltage conversion stage coupled to the auxiliary power stage and generating a voltage at a level that is higher than the auxiliary voltage; and a switch that couples the auxiliary voltage to the DC lamp and the voltage conversion stage for a predefined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuequan Hu, Milan M. Jovanović
  • Patent number: 8274234
    Abstract: An electronic ballast is provided for powering one or more discharge lamps independently connected in parallel. An inverter having a pair of switching elements converts a DC supply signal into AC power. A transformer has a primary winding coupled to an output terminal of the inverter. A load circuit includes independently operable discharge lamp circuits coupled in parallel with each other and across a secondary winding of the transformer. An inductance control circuit includes an inductive element coupled in series with the primary winding of the transformer and a bi-directional switch coupled in parallel across the inductive element. A switch state of the bi-directional switch is controllably adjustable between first and second switch states and in accordance with a desired duty ratio. A magnitude of a voltage across the secondary winding of the transformer and thereby across each lamp circuit is dependent on the switch state of the bi-directional switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Universal Lighting Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Wei Xiong
  • Publication number: 20120235588
    Abstract: Solid state light sources are compatible with AC phase-cut dimmers. The light sources may have switching mode power supplies having primary and secondary sides that are in first and second circuit parts that are electrically isolated from one another. Information regarding a waveform of input electrical power is extracted in the first circuit part and passed to a controller in the second circuit part by way of a galvanic isolator. Additional isolated paths may be provided to provide bi-directional exchange of information between the first and second circuit parts and/or to provide for the exchange of additional information relevant to control. The signal path from the first side to the second side may have a low latency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: LIGHT-BASED TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Miroslaw Marek Grotkowski, Gregory Bernard Sheehan
  • Patent number: 8253391
    Abstract: A capacitor charging apparatus includes a transformer and an output capacitor which is to be charged using the current that flows through the secondary coil of the transformer. A control circuit charges the output capacitor by controlling the switching operation of a switching transistor provided on a path of the primary coil of the transformer. A voltage monitoring terminal is connected to a tap provided to the secondary coil of the transformer. A switching control unit receives a monitoring voltage that occurs at the voltage monitoring terminal, and controls the switching operation of the switching transistor according to the monitoring voltage. A protection circuit monitors the monitoring voltage. In a case in which continues to be satisfied with respect to the monitoring voltage, the switching control operation of the switching control unit for the switching transistor is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinya Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20120212147
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a flyback energy converter comprising a transformer having a primary winding, a secondary winding and an auxiliary winding, a load electrically connected with the secondary winding, a switch serially connected with the primary winding and a primary controlling circuit. The primary controlling circuit comprises a voltage measurement terminal and a switch controlling terminal. The voltage measurement terminal measures an output voltage wave provided from the auxiliary winding to get a part of times in the part of the output voltage wave, so as to enlarge the part of times to a total time. According to a predetermined timing transferred from the total time, the switch controlling terminal controls the switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: ANWELL SEMICONDUCTOR CORP.
    Inventors: Chun-Chien Kuo, Shao-Wei Chiu, Ke-Horng Chen, Wei-Lun Wang
  • Patent number: 8247983
    Abstract: The present invention provides a lamp driving circuit. When it is used to drive a number of lamps arranged in a hybrid serial-parallel configuration, the lamp driving circuit eliminates the parasitic current in series branch circuits by using an inverse transformer, which makes the current passing each of the lamps in each of the series branch circuits consistent and consequently eliminates the imbalance of each of the lamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Zhihua Song, Paul Robert Veldman
  • Patent number: 8247978
    Abstract: An illumination device includes a light source, an AC power source and a balance sensing switch. The AC power source is adapted for supplying an alternating current to the light source. The balance sensing switch is connected between the light source and the AC power source for automatically cutting off an electrical connection between the light source and the AC power source when the illumination device topples down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignees: Fu Zhun Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd., Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Qing-Hai Ruan, Chin-Long Ku
  • Publication number: 20120200232
    Abstract: An electronic ballast with dimming circuit including an electronic ballast dimming circuit receiving an analog dimming signal, the electronic ballast dimming circuit including an input dimming circuit (210) operable to receive the analog dimming signal (252) at an analog dimming signal input (212); and an output dimming circuit (220) operably connected to the input dimming circuit (210), the output dimming circuit (220) being operable to receive a fixed frequency signal (222) having a variable duty cycle and to generate an analog dimming control signal (224) in response to the analog dimming signal (252). Output voltage at the analog dimming signal input (212) is a function of the variable duty cycle of the fixed frequency signal (222) when the analog dimming signal (252) is not present at the analog dimming signal input (212).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Robert A. Erhardt, William Lawrence Keith, Raman Nair Harish Gopala Pillai, Jerzy Janczak, Ningliang Mi, Srinivasa Baddela
  • Patent number: 8222826
    Abstract: Systems and techniques to control of delivery of current through one or more lamps include, in at least one aspect, a method comprising: receiving an electric signal from a resistor in a circuit, where the resistor is selected based on a lamp; determining that a value associated with the electric signal falls in a preset range of values, the preset range having one or more parameters that correspond to the lamp; and outputting the one or more parameters to operate the lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Hubertus Notohamiprodjo, Radu Pitigoi-Aron
  • Patent number: 8212489
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement for starting and operating one or more discharge lamps comprising a self-oscillating inverter (1), a resonant circuit (2), a low-pressure discharge lamp (5), a starting voltage controller (3) with a variable resistor (R1), and a lamp filament heating controller (4), wherein the lamp filament heating controller includes an additional variable resistor (R2) in the resonant circuit, which variable resistor measures the current flowing in the resonant circuit, and, in the event of a threshold value being exceeded, disconnects the half-bridge transistor (Q2) and thus limits the current flowing in the resonant circuit, this additional variable resistor (R2) being bypassed by a switch (Q3), depending on the lamp state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Osram AG
    Inventor: Harald Schmitt
  • Patent number: 8207687
    Abstract: A circuit for dimming a light emitting diode is provided. The circuit includes an alternating current input voltage that is delivered to a light emitting diode. The circuit also includes a correction circuit configured to monitor the input voltage, which also delivers a current to the light emitting diode, wherein the current delivered to the light emitting diode is commensurate with the input voltage. The circuit also includes a simulation circuit electrically coupled to the correction circuit and configured to deliver an additional voltage to the correction circuit to modify a setpoint voltage when the input voltage falls below a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventor: Scott Edward Rhodes
  • Publication number: 20120153856
    Abstract: A driving device of a Light Emitting Diode (LED) and a lighting apparatus using the same are provided. The driving device of the LED is adapted for receiving an Alternating Current (AC) power source adjusted by a dimmer and a transformer unit, and includes a dimming driving unit and a voltage multiplier unit. The dimming driving unit receives a driving Direct Current (DC) power source produced by the voltage multiplier unit, so as to drive and adjust the brightness of a light source of an LED unit. The voltage multiplier unit multiplies the AC power source according to a power specification of the dimming driving unit, so as to transform and supply the driving DC power source to the dimming driving unit, and thus flicker on the light source of the LED unit can be avoided during dimming.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicants: Kinpo Electronics, Inc., Cal-Comp Electronics & Communications Company Limited
    Inventors: Yao-Sheng Liu, Hung-Yen Su, Hao-Yung Wang
  • Publication number: 20120146530
    Abstract: The present, invention relates to a light emitting diode driver that integrates a light emitting diode control function and a power switching control function at a secondary side insulated from a primary side in a power supply circuit, without using a photo coupler to control power switching at the primary side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dae Hoon HAN, Jeong In CHEON, Jae Shin LEE
  • Patent number: 8193717
    Abstract: A flicker-free method and a control circuit is used in conjunction with a conventional AC dimmer coupled to a main-AC supply to continuously control an intensity of a Light Emitting Diode (LED) over substantially a full range of the dimmer. The control circuit has a controllable source of DC voltage that is configured for coupling to at least one LED and that is powered independently of an output of the AC dimmer thereby isolating the LED voltage from the output of the AC dimmer; and a controller coupled to the source of DC voltage. The controller is powered independently of the output of the AC dimmer and is responsive to a firing angle of the AC dimmer for varying a level of the DC voltage as a function of said firing angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Lightech Electronic Industries Ltd.
    Inventor: Slava Leiderman
  • Patent number: 8193723
    Abstract: An LED current-balance driving circuit for driving a plurality of LED strings comprises a feedback transformer, a plurality of current-balance transformers, a plurality of full-wave rectifiers and a current control circuit. The feedback transformer has a detecting winding and an outputting winding for outputting a feedback signal. Each of the current-balance transformers has a primary winding and a secondary winding. The primary windings of the current-balance transformers and the detecting winding of the feedback transformer are coupled in series to compose a current-balance loop with an AC power being supplied thereto. Each of the full-wave rectifiers is coupled between a corresponding secondary winding of the current balance transformers and a corresponding LED string of the LED strings. The current control circuit receives the feedback signal and controls the AC power according to the feedback signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Top Victory Investments Ltd.
    Inventors: Shin-An Li, Chi-Hsin Li
  • Patent number: 8179052
    Abstract: An electronic ballast is disclosed, in particular for operation of gas-discharge lamps, in which a further power semiconductor is provided in addition to the conventional power semiconductor, and provides the power required for steady-state operation. This avoids the high-power MOSFET transistors, whose power losses are high, also being used for steady-state operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: OSRAM AG
    Inventor: Michele Tiso
  • Patent number: 8148919
    Abstract: A driving circuit for powering a light-emitting diode (LED) light source includes a converter circuit, an energy storage element and a switch element. The converter circuit provides a first output voltage on a first power line to provide power to the LED light source and provides a second output voltage on a second power line that is less than the first output voltage. The energy storage element is charged and discharged to regulate a current through the LED light source. The switch element operates in a first state during which the energy storage element is charged and operates in a second state during which the energy storage element is discharged. The converter circuit provides the second output voltage to maintain an operating voltage across the switch element less than the first output voltage during both the first state and the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: O2Micro, Inc
    Inventors: Da Liu, Yung Lin Lin
  • Patent number: 8148906
    Abstract: In a constant current switching power supply, the current flowing through the load, is feedback-controlled based on the deviation of the detection value (Id) from the target value (Ir), multiplied by a proportional gain (PG), the value of the gain is set to a predetermined value immediately after the load switching element (5) is turned on, and is thereafter gradually reduced with elapse of time. When the current to the load (4) is supplied by a PWM controlled switching circuit (1), the PWM signal is determined based on a product of the deviation and a proportional gain. It is possible to shorten the rise time of a pulsative load current in a situation where the current is relatively large.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiko Yamamuro, Akihiro Nagase, Kouji Okazaki
  • Patent number: 8143800
    Abstract: A circuit for driving a load includes a power line, converter circuitry, and a controller. The power line is operable for providing an input current and an input voltage. The converter circuitry coupled to the power line is operable for converting the input voltage to a regulated voltage to drive the load, and for providing a current detection signal indicating whether a converter current flowing through the converter circuitry drops to a predetermined level. The controller coupled to the converter circuitry is operable for correcting a power factor of the circuit based on the current detection signal and the input voltage such that a waveform of the input current follows a waveform of the input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: O2Micro, Inc.
    Inventors: Da Liu, Ching-Chuan Kuo, Sheng-Tai Lee
  • Patent number: 8138682
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) power supply for an electrodeless lamp includes a pair of DC rails, an RF inverter having power input terminals connected between the rails, a first inductor arranged to inductively couple with an electrodeless lamp, first and second resonance capacitors that each connects a respective one of two input terminals of the first inductor to a same first rail of the pair of DC rails, and a second (ballasting) inductor connecting an output of the RF inverter to one of the two input terminals of the first inductor. Thus, the first inductor is connected in a symmetrical ?-filter and supplied by two equal but phase-opposite voltages whose sum is the lamp voltage. The inductance of the ballasting inductor is significantly reduced so that the RF efficiency of the power supply is 96%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: OSRAM SYLVANIA Inc.
    Inventors: Valery A. Godyak, Eugen Statnic, Felix Franck
  • Patent number: 8134302
    Abstract: An offline LED driving circuit includes a controller, a shunt regulator, an opto-coupler, and a dimming circuit. The controller generates a switching signal to switch a transformer for providing an output voltage and an output current. The shunt regulator is coupled to an output terminal of the LED driving circuit for providing a feedback signal to the controller via the opto-coupler. The dimming circuit coupled to the shunt regulator modulates the feedback signal at a first feedback level and a second feedback level in response to a dimming signal. The output voltage is respectively regulated at a first output level and a second output level in response to the first feedback level and the second feedback level of the feedback signal. The duty cycle of the switching signal will be varied in a soft-start manner when the feedback signal changes from the second feedback level to the first feedback level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: System General Corporation
    Inventors: Ta-Yung Yang, Chien-Yuan Lin, Chien-Tung Lan
  • Publication number: 20120056549
    Abstract: A discharge lamp lighting circuit includes a DC/DC converter which generates from an input voltage a drive voltage to be applied to a discharge lamp of a driven object. A first drive voltage generating path has one end to which the input voltage is applied, and at the other end of which is an output capacitor on an output side of the DC/DC converter. A second drive voltage generating path has one end to which the input voltage is applied, and at the other end of which is the output capacitor. The second drive voltage generating path is different from the first drive voltage generating path. A control circuit controls ON/OFF of the first drive voltage generating path. The discharge lamp lighting circuit is arranged so that the voltage of the output capacitor when the first drive voltage generating path is in an ON-state becomes higher than the voltage of the output capacitor when the first drive voltage generating path is not so.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takao Muramatsu, Masayasu Ito
  • Patent number: 8129922
    Abstract: A method for controlling a high-frequency transformer by which the acoustic transformer noises occurring during intermittent operation (burst operation) are reduced. This is achieved according to the invention by halving a length of the first and the last pulse of an AC voltage pulse train or the first and the last half-wave in the ON interval (Tn). This goes to avoid magnetizing peaks in the core that cause a major part of the background noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Mineba Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Robert Weger
  • Patent number: 8120275
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an inverter and a lamp driver having the same. The inverter includes a first switch having a first body diode, a second switch having a second body diode, a transformer including a first side coil in which a first current and a first voltage are generated according to switching operations of the first switch and the second switch and a second side coil having a predetermined winding ratio with respect to the first side coil, and a controller for controlling each switching operation of the first switch and the second switch. The controller turns on one of the first switch and the second switch corresponding to one of the first body diode and the second body diode, and a current flows through the first switch and the second switch during a dead time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Fairchild Korea Semiconductor Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Soon Choi, Dong-Hun Lee, Hak-Hee Lee
  • Patent number: 8115406
    Abstract: A fluorescent lamp driver circuit is provided. The fluorescent lamp driver circuit uses reversed current detecting signal to achieve feedback control and circuit protection so as to simplify the driver circuit and reduces the number of the required electronic components. The driver circuit needs a single control unit to control the whole circuit, which not only reduces cost, but also simplifies circuit design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Niko Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chen-Hsung Wang, Shu-Ming Chang
  • Patent number: 8115402
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for driving multiple parallel discharge lamps, which increases the switching frequency once the open lamp condition is detected to provide an output voltage that is high enough to ignite the lamp again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Naixing Kuang, Lei Du, Junming Zhang, Yuancheng Ren
  • Publication number: 20120032605
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed that is capable of delivering substantially constant power to a luminous load with variation in the input voltage and the environment temperature. The apparatus may be further adapted to vary the power supplied to the luminous load based on changes in the input voltage produced by a phase control dimmer or external device. Additionally, if the input voltage is changed due to a user controlling a dimmer device to control the brightness of the luminous load, the apparatus is able to control the power delivered to the load in response to the dimmer device. Additionally, the apparatus is adapted to allow the luminous output light intensity to be controlled by changes in a remote control voltage source or variable resister and draws near unity power factor power from the AC input throughout the dimming range when not used with phase control dimmer. The remote control or variable resistor can operate simultaneously with a dimmer to achieve multiple controls for the light output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: ACE POWER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Chunghang Peng
  • Patent number: 8106596
    Abstract: A light source driving circuit includes a transformer, a switching circuit, a control circuit, a brightness adjusting circuit and an isolator circuit. The brightness adjusting circuit is connected to a secondary winding assembly of the transformer and the light-emitting element for detecting an output voltage and/or an output current and generating a control signal according to the brightness adjusting signal. The isolator circuit is used for isolating the primary winding assembly of the transformer from the brightness adjusting circuit. The isolator circuit generates a feedback current according to the control signal. According to the feedback current, the switching circuit is controlled by the control circuit. As a status of the brightness adjusting signal is changed, a status of the control signal is changed and a time period of changing the status of the control signal is longer than a time period of changing the status of the brightness adjusting signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Shih-Hsien Chang, Ming-Chih Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20120013263
    Abstract: An electronic operating device for a gas discharge lamp having a voltage transformer which converts an input voltage into an intermediate circuit voltage, and an inverter with a lamp inductor and a bridge circuit with at least two switches which converts the intermediate circuit voltage into a lamp voltage, the operating device being designed to adjust the intermediate circuit voltage present between the DC voltage transformer and the inverter to a predetermined value which is dependent on the lamp state. Also disclosed is a method for operating an operating device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: OSRAM Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung
    Inventors: Jürgen Fischer, Walter Limmer, Maximilian Schmidl, Hannes Wagner
  • Patent number: 8097976
    Abstract: A lighting controller has current driving means which include a shunt resistor connected in series to each of multiple LEDs to detect an LED driving current, a PMOS transistor connected to the positive electrode side of each of the LEDs, and an amplifier for sending an output according to the result of comparison between the respectively detected driving current values and a reference value, and which subject each of the PMOS transistors to ON/OFF operation. Control means includes a Zener diode ZD1 and a Zener diode ZD2 for detecting an abnormality occurring in the current driving means and for sending the abnormality detection result. The control means controls the PMOS transistor to be turned OFF after elapse of a predetermined time upon receipt of the abnormality detection result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayoshi Kitagawa, Yasushi Noyori, Masayasu Ito
  • Patent number: 8093832
    Abstract: In a backlight unit and an LCD apparatus having the backlight unit, in which the backlight unit includes a plurality of lamps and an inverter, the inverter provides the lamps with current. The inverter reduces current provided to the lamps to turn off the lamps. Therefore, currents are gradually decreased to reduce noise generated by the transformer when the lamps are turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyeon-Yong Jang
  • Patent number: 8084953
    Abstract: The present disclosure thus provides a technique for providing multi-level operation of ballast circuitry for discharge lamps. In one version, an auxiliary capacitance is switched in and out of circuit by a user controlled switch for lower the frequency of the voltage from the inverter to the transformer resulting in lower power output to the lamps. In another version, the auxiliary capacitance may be switched in and out of circuit by a user operated switch wherein the capacitance is connected to the secondary or output winding of the transformer for selectively reducing power to the lamps for reduced illumination. In other versions, auxiliary inductances are selectively switched in and out of circuit to alter the frequency of the primary voltage to the transformer. In another version, an auxiliary winding is selectively switched in and out of the secondary of the transformer for providing normal and reduced level power to the lamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xuefei Xie, Gang Yao, Chenghua Zhu, Bo Zhang
  • Publication number: 20110309762
    Abstract: Converters (1) for supplying pulsed power to light sources (8) comprise switching parts (2) and controlling parts (3) for adapting switching parameters of the switching parts (2) for improving a performance. The switching part (2) may comprise first/second switches (41, 42) that are in first/second modes during a first time interval of a cycle and vice versa during a second time intervals of a cycle. A group of cycles results in a pulse of the pulsed power. A switching parameter such as the first time interval of a first cycle may be shortened to reduce overshoot. A switching parameter such as the second time interval of the first cycle may be shortened or lengthened. A switching parameter such as the second time interval of a last cycle may be lengthened or shortened to reduce overshoot. A third switch (93) for switching the light source (8) is activated and de-activated delayedly to improve transient behavior.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Carsten Deppe, Reinhold Elferich
  • Publication number: 20110291573
    Abstract: A resonant power supply for light-emitting devices comprises an inverter including two DC input terminals and two AC output terminals, a resonant circuit connected in series to at least one of the two AC output terminals, and an LED circuit connected in series to the resonant circuit. The inverter is configured to convert a direct current from the two DC input terminals into an alternating current through the two AC output terminals, and the LED circuit emits lights as the alternating current is applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: INERGY TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventor: KAN SHENG KUAN
  • Patent number: 8063583
    Abstract: The present invention provides a dimming circuit for controlling the luminance of a light source and the method for controlling luminance. The dimming circuit comprises an inverter circuit and a driving circuit. The inverter circuit is electrically coupled to a light source to be controlled, to convert a direct current (DC) power input into an alternating current (AC) power. The inverter circuit comprises a transformer, a capacitor connected in parallel to the transformer, a plurality of switches located at both ends of the capacitor, and an oscillating circuit electrically connected to both ends of the transformer. The driving circuit is electrically connected to the inverter circuit, for regulating the AC voltage to control the time period that the light source is turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Chunghwa Picture Tubes, Ltd.
    Inventor: Chun-Fu Liu
  • Patent number: 8063569
    Abstract: An AC conversion circuit includes a main transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding to electrically insulate the AC power source side and the discharge tube side from each other, an IC1 arranged on the AC power source side, a plurality of switching elements arranged on the AC power source side and driven by the IC1, to pass a current through the primary winding of the main transformer based on the DC power, an IC2 arranged on the discharge tube side, to generate a pair of rectangular-wave signals for conducting PWM control on a current passing through the discharge tube and having the same pulse width with a duty ratio of less than 50% and a phase difference of about 180 degrees, and one or more signal transfer insulated elements to send the pair of rectangular-wave signals from the IC2 to the IC1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kengo Kimura
  • Patent number: 8053998
    Abstract: An inverter for driving at least one light-emitting unit includes a switching circuit, an electric-isolated circuit and a transforming circuit. The switching circuit generates at least one switching signal according to a DC signal and at least one switching control signal. The electric-isolated circuit has an electric-isolated side and a non-electric-isolated side, which is electrically connected to the switching circuit electrically and generates a first power signal according to the switching signal. The transforming circuit is electrically connected to the electric-isolated side of the electric-isolated circuit, and generates a second power signal to drive the light-emitting unit according to the first power signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Gigno Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Feng-Li Lin
  • Patent number: 8054003
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic ballast for operating a lamp (L) which has a Class E converter (T1, L1). When a lamp (L) is connected, the output current of the Class E converter (T1, L1) once a switching element (T1) of the Class E converter (T1, L1) has been switched off has a first and a second half-cycle of opposite polarity. The electronic ballast has a measurement apparatus for measuring the output current and a regulating apparatus for adjusting a switch-on time of the switching element. In this case, the measurement apparatus is designed to determine a first output current value of the first half-cycle and a second output current value of the second half-cycle, wherein the regulating apparatus for adjusting the switch-on time is fed a control variable based on the discrepancy between the two output current values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Osram AG
    Inventor: Wolfram Sowa
  • Patent number: 8044601
    Abstract: A high-voltage discharge lamp lighting device provides a starting pulse voltage sufficient to turn on a high-voltage discharge lamp having terminal wire connections of variable length. A power conversion circuit is coupled to a commercial AC power source input and rectifies the AC input into a predetermined DC voltage output. A charging capacitor is coupled to the power conversion circuit. A full bridge circuit is coupled to the power conversion circuit and the charging capacitor and provides a rectangular wave AC output signal to a transformer primary winding circuit of at least a capacitor, a single switching element and a primary winding of a transformer. A low pulse voltage is induced in the primary winding and a transformer secondary winding is connected on one end to the high-voltage discharge lamp, wherein the low pulse voltage is stepped up to a high pulse voltage and applied to the high-voltage discharge lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobutoshi Matsuzaki, Hiroyasu Eriguchi, Takeshi Goriki, Takeshi Kamoi, Naoki Komatu, Jun Kumagai, Satoru Nagata, Daisuke Yamahara, Akira Yufuku
  • Patent number: 8044643
    Abstract: A power supply and methods are provided. In one implementation, the power supply includes a switching circuit and a converter. The switching circuit includes a first transistor and a second transistor, and the converter includes a capacitor and an inductor. The switching circuit alternately switches an input voltage to the converter. The power supply further includes a controller operable to adjust a switching frequency of the first transistor and the second transistor to substantially match a resonant frequency of the capacitor and the inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Hubertus Notohamiprodjo, Liang Chen
  • Patent number: 8044600
    Abstract: A brightness-adjustable LED driving circuit includes a rectifying and filtering circuit, a power factor correction power conversion circuit, and a detecting and controlling circuit. The rectifying and filtering circuit is used for filtering and rectifying a brightness adjusting voltage into a first DC voltage. The power factor correction power conversion circuit is electrically connected to the rectifying and filtering circuit and at least one LED string for generating an output current required for powering the at least one LED string. The detecting and controlling circuit detects phase data of the brightness adjusting voltage and the output current generated by the power factor correction power conversion circuit. The detecting and controlling circuit generates a control signal to the power factor correction controller according to the phase data of the brightness adjusting voltage, so that the magnitude of the output current is changed according to the phase data of the brightness adjusting voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Shang-Jin Yan, Chung-Tsai Huang, Po-Yi Lee
  • Publication number: 20110227492
    Abstract: LED driver systems and associated methods of control are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the LED driver system comprises a converter and a controller. The controller is responsive to the LED current feedback signal and a dimming signal, and operable to generate a continuous gate drive signal to control the primary side switch of the converter. Thus, the controller regulates the output current of the converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventors: Lei Du, Bairen Liu, Kaiwei Yao, Junming Zhang, Yuancheng Ren