Automatic Regulation Patents (Class 315/297)
  • Patent number: 9883569
    Abstract: A lamp control system includes at least one first lamp network, at least one second lamp network and a lamp control gateway. The first lamp network is configured to emit light and to transmit a first message, and includes a first physical layer. The second lamp network is configured to emit light and to transmit a first message, and includes a second physical layer different from the first physical layer. The lamp control gateway includes a processing module that is configured to receive the first message and the second message and to convert the first message and the second message in such a way that a first converted message and a second converted message comply with a predefined protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Radiant Opto-Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Wei-Wen Hu, Peng-Hsiang Wu, Jon-Hong Lin, Chun-Yi Sun
  • Patent number: 9883556
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for current regulation. An example system controller includes: a first controller terminal configured to receive an input voltage, the first controller terminal being further configured to allow a first current flowing into the system controller based at least in part on the input voltage in response to one or more switches being closed; a second controller terminal configured to allow the first current to flow out of the system controller through the second controller terminal in response to the one or more switches being closed; a fourth controller terminal coupled to the third controller terminal through a first capacitor, the first capacitor not being any part of the system controller; and an error amplifier configured to generate a compensation signal based at least in part on the current sensing signal, the error amplifier including a second capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Meng Li, Mingli Kang, Liqiang Zhu, Lieyi Fang
  • Patent number: 9877366
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an LED dimming driver circuit, which includes: a TRIAC dimmer configured to adjust an inputted alternating voltage; and a RCC connected to the TRIAC dimmer and configured to adjust the alternating voltage from the TRIAC dimmer to provide a driving current for an LED load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., BOE OPTICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Wei Xie
  • Patent number: 9869758
    Abstract: A signal processing module for use with a receiver for receiving echoes of an emitted signal. The signal processing module comprises sensing logic for sensing presence of a being or object in a space using echoes of the signal as reflected from the being or object, wherein the echoes are received with an associated frequency band. The signal processing module further comprises control logic for detecting disturbance having potential to compromise said sensing, wherein the signal processing module is configured to detect this disturbance by listening for an unwanted signal in a region of the spectrum outside the frequency band of the echoes, and to adapt the sensing in dependence on the detected disturbance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Jurgen Mario Vangeel, Roger Peter Anna Delnoij, Johannes Jozef Wilhelmus Kalfs, Michel Albertus Theodorus Klein Swormink, Petrus Antonius Verbeek, Johannes Martinus Maria Hensing
  • Patent number: 9867249
    Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a method and apparatus includes an input having a first input terminal and a second input terminal for receiving an input waveform. In one example, the apparatus includes a capacitor having a first capacitor terminal and a second capacitor terminal, wherein the first capacitor terminal is coupled to the first input terminal, and at least one light-emitting diode coupled in series with the capacitor between the second capacitor terminal and the second input terminal, such that the light-emitting diode generates light in conformity with at least one of an amplitude modulation and a frequency modulation of the input waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: John L. Melanson, Eric J. King
  • Patent number: 9844106
    Abstract: A LED linear constant power driver circuit comprises an AC power supply, a rectifier bridge, a LED light string, a master chip, a voltage adjustment resistance, a regulated capacitor, a compensation capacitor and a current adjustment resistance; an input end of the rectifier bridge is connected with the AC power supply, an output end of the rectifier bridge is connected with the LED light string and the master chip, the peripheral circuit of the master chip includes the voltage adjustment resistance, the regulated capacitor, the compensation capacitor and the current adjustment resistance that regulates the output average current of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: SUZHOU INTELLI CHIPLINK ELECTRONIC POLYTRON TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Yajun Cao, Bin Bian, Chang Chen, Quan Yang
  • Patent number: 9837925
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a capacitor-less AC/DC converter power supply system. The power supply system includes one or more rectifier cells having inductive and synchronous elements, and removing any capacitive filter elements thus ensuring a very high Mean Time Before Failure (MTBF) on the rectifier stage. The output voltage and current generated by the one or more inductive cells is a DC signal having a ripple amount dependent upon the number of cells implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Inventors: Jacobo Aguillón-García, Pedro Bañuelos-Sánchez, Juan Antonio Navarro-Martínez
  • Patent number: 9819186
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling power transfer between a power grid and at least one load. In at least one embodiment, the system includes a controller having a power regulator. The controller obtains grid data related to the power grid. The power regulator of the controller enables or disables and/or increases or decreases the power transfer between the power grid and a first load based at least in part on the obtained grid data and data relating to a power requirement of the first load. The power regulator may be coupled in line between an electric panel connected to the power grid and the first load. The controller may be coupled to the first load through a wiring system of a building. Multiple controllers may be coupled respectively to multiple loads, wherein each controller is configured to control a power transfer between the power grid and a respective load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel C. Rogers, Jr., Alexander H. Hills
  • Patent number: 9814113
    Abstract: A voltage converter is proposed, for providing a DC voltage (Vout) for operating at least one LED strip (1), wherein the converter is configured to: a) output a DC voltage increasing or decreasing at least once, preferably in a voltage range lying above the flux voltage of the LED strip (1) while measuring the LED current (iL), and b) set the operating point of the DC voltage (Vout) as a function of this measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Tridonic GmbH & Co KG
    Inventors: Thomas Ondrisek, Klaus Mündle
  • Patent number: 9794995
    Abstract: An LED lamp arrangement is disclosed to replace a fluorescent lamp in a luminaire with a ballast. The LED lamp arrangement has a rectifier, LEDs, a LED driver, an impedance balance circuit, a line-voltage controller. The rectifier has two inputs connected to the ballast to provide a rectified power line and a ground power line. The LEDs and a LED driver are connected in series between the rectified power line and the ground power line, and the LED driver regulates a LED driving current through the LEDs. The impedance balance circuit is coupled between the inputs. The line-voltage controller controls the impedance balance circuit in response to a line voltage at the rectified power line, so as to tune an impedance between the inputs and make the line voltage approach to a predetermined target voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Analog Integrations Corporation
    Inventor: Jing-Chyi Wang
  • Patent number: 9788394
    Abstract: A lighting system has a first lighting unit for providing general lighting and a second lighting unit for providing directed lighting. The lighting units are controlled based on sensed light conditions, in order to maintain an intensity and/or color contrast between the general lighting and the directed lighting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventor: Lucas Leo Desire Van Der Poel
  • Patent number: 9781814
    Abstract: Lighting control devices, network systems, and methodologies, including methods for providing closed-loop dimming control of such systems, are described. In some examples, disclosed methods and device configurations may include an intelligent photo control configured to accept target dimmed fixture wattage value commands from a user, and provide closed-loop control at the fixture to achieve that target wattage via real-time adjustment of the 0-10V dimming control signal sent to the LED driver. As such, the need for trial-and-error adjustments of the 0-10V analog control voltage, or derivation of dim voltage to fixture wattage response curves in order to achieve a desired fixture wattage level, may be reduced or eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC
    Inventors: Phillip Ryan Wagner, Robert Burt, Christopher Scott Shelton
  • Patent number: 9780650
    Abstract: A current compensation circuit includes a current compensator configured to measure a compensation time in which a sensing voltage generated by a driving current passing through a driving switching element drops below a first certain voltage in response to the driving switching element being turned on and configured to delay a turn-off point of the driving switching element from a point in which the sensing voltage reaches a second certain voltage during the measured compensation time and a switching controller configured to provide a switching control signal at a turn-off point of the delayed driving switching element. Such a current compensation circuit accurately controls an average driving current regardless of change of an input voltage and an output voltage and is able to use a peak current mode control method to operate a light emitting diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Magnachip Semiconductor, Ltd.
    Inventor: Seung Woo Hong
  • Patent number: 9763310
    Abstract: Embodiments are provided for commissioning a lighting system that includes a plurality of luminaires. According to certain aspects, an electronic device can, for each of the plurality of luminaires, connect to a luminaire and retrieve an identification of the luminaire. The electronic device can associate its location as the location of the luminaire, as well as prompt a user to associate a layout tag of existing layout data for the lighting system with the luminaire. The electronic device can transmit the commissioning data for the lighting system to a server for remote storage. The server enables remote access to the commissioning data by various electronic devices and users thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: KENALL MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventor: Kevin Dahlen
  • Patent number: 9763306
    Abstract: Methods, devices, systems, and non-transitory process-readable storage media for controlling lighting nodes of a lighting system associated with a lighting infrastructure based on composited lighting models. An embodiment method performed by a processor of a computing device may include operations for obtaining a plurality of lighting model outputs generated by lighting control algorithms that utilize sensor data obtained from one or more sensor nodes within the lighting infrastructure, combining the plurality of lighting model outputs in an additive fashion to generate a composited lighting model, calculating lighting parameters for a lighting node within the lighting infrastructure based on the composited lighting model and other factors, and generating a lighting control command for configuring the lighting node within the lighting infrastructure using the calculated lighting parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Sensity Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher David Sachs, Peter Raymond Florence
  • Patent number: 9763290
    Abstract: The semiconductor light source drive device according to the present disclosure includes: a switching power source that is connected in series with a semiconductor light source element and a constant current circuit to output a predetermined voltage to the semiconductor light source element and the constant current circuit; a detection circuit that detects a voltage at a connecting point between the semiconductor light source element and the constant current circuit; and a controller that controls the voltage output from the switching power source based on the voltage detected by the detection circuit, and controls a current value of the constant current circuit based on a switching signal. The controller, prior to varying the current value of the constant current circuit, varies the voltage output from the switching power source in accordance with an amount to be varied in the current value of the constant current circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takaaki Gyoten
  • Patent number: 9750113
    Abstract: A control circuit of a driving circuit for supplying a driving current to a light source includes: a pulse width modulation (PWM) input terminal configured to receive an input dimming pulse having an input duty ratio corresponding to a target light quantity of the light source, the input dimming pulse being pulse-width modulated; and a dimming controller configured to convert a period and a pulse width of the input dimming pulse into digital values, reconvert the digital values into an output dimming pulse having an output duty ratio which is the same as or different from the input duty ratio, and control the driving current to be on and off based on the output dimming pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Nozawa, Shingo Haruta
  • Patent number: 9750102
    Abstract: A controller for use in a power converter includes a first edge detection circuit that receives a first input sense signal representative of an input of the power converter coupled to a dimmer circuit, and generates a first edge detection signal in response to the first input sense signal. A shaping circuit receives the first edge detection signal from the first edge detection circuit. The shaping circuit generates a first shape signal in response to the first edge detection signal. A drive circuit receives the first shape signal and a feedback signal representative of an output of the power converter. The drive circuit generates the drive signal in response to the feedback signal to control switching of a power switch of the power converter. The drive circuit switches the power switch in a first higher current mode for a first duration in response to the first shape signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Mingming Mao, Tiziano Pastore, Ricardo Luis Janezic Pregitzer, Antonius Jacobus Johannes Werner, Matthew David Waterson
  • Patent number: 9743490
    Abstract: A lighting device includes a light source, a driving module, a sensing module, and a control module. The driving module is configured to drive the light source. The sensing module is configured to obtain a brightness value corresponding to the environmental scene. The control module is configured to control the driving module to use a first current to drive the light source, control the sensing module to obtain a first brightness value, control, when the first brightness value is less than a reference brightness value, the driving module to use a second current to drive the light source, control the sensing module to obtain a second brightness value, the second current being greater than the first current by a predetermined amplitude value, compare the second brightness value with the first brightness value, determine that the light source is in a thermal attenuation state or an optical attenuation state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: VIVOTEK INC.
    Inventors: Wen-Yuan Li, Chih-Hung Chang
  • Patent number: 9743469
    Abstract: The current invention relates to a LED driver (10) for driving at least two LED strings (131, 133) comprising: a dual output power converter (103) for converting an input voltage (Vin) into two different output voltages for driving two sets of said at least two LED strings (131, 133), a controller (107) for controlling the dual output power converter (103) based on at least one input set point, the dual output converter (103) comprising a switched capacitor converter comprising a plurality of switches, a plurality of capacitors, the outputs of the dual output power converter (103) being connected to internal nodes of the dual power converter (103), the controller (107) being further adapted to deliver PWM output control signals for driving the switches, the duty cycle of which being a function of said at least one input set point. The invention also relates to a lighting system (1) comprising such a driver (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Julia Delos Ayllon, Toni Lopez, Machiel Antonius Martinus Hendrix, Eduardo-Jose Alarcon-Cot
  • Patent number: 9660436
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detection of interconnected outputs of a power supply are provided. A first channel of a power supply is activated, such that power is supplied to a first load connected to the first channel. A first load voltage is measured for the first load. A second load voltage is measured for a second load connected to a second channel of the power supply. The second load voltage is compared to the first load voltage to generate an interconnection result. The power supply is shut down when the interconnection result indicates that the second load voltage matches the first load voltage, such that all channels of the power supply do not supply power to any load connected thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: OSRAM SYLVANIA Inc.
    Inventors: Christian Breuer, Keng Chen
  • Patent number: 9655216
    Abstract: A luminaire includes a light source; a wireless communication circuit for communicating with a dimming controller; a storage which stores an identifier of the dimming controller; and a control circuit for dimming light of the light source according to a dimming command transmitted from the dimming coat roller when the luminaire is in a paired state, i.e., a state in which the identifier of the dimming controller is stored in the storage of the luminaire. When the control circuit is in a communication check mode, i.e., a mode for checking whether or not the luminaire is able to communicate with the dimming controller, the control circuit, regardless of whether or not the luminaire is in the paired state with the dimming controller, brings the luminaire into a predetermined illumination state by dimming light of the light source when the wireless communication circuit receives a communication cheek command from the dimming controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Murakami, Atsuo Nanahara
  • Patent number: 9655211
    Abstract: Enhancements to ornamental or holiday lighting are disclosed including remote control ornamental illumination with color pallet control whereby a user can vary the color/intensity/appearance of an individual bulb or entire light string by selecting the electronic address of the bulb and selecting its attribute. Further disclosures include: motion responsive lights which respond to sensed movement, gesture controlled lights, adjustable white color/white led sets, connectable multi-function lights, controller to sequence lights to music or other input source, rotating projection led light/tree top/table top unit, and remote controlled sequencing icicle lights and ornament lighting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Seasonal Specialties, LLC
    Inventors: Steven J. Altamura, Christine Werner, Derek Dean Anderson, Matthew Guse, Carmen Miller
  • Patent number: 9653993
    Abstract: A signal control circuit and a switching apparatus are provided. The switching apparatus includes: a switch for controlling a current flowing through an inductive element; a monitoring node connected with the switch; and a signal control circuit, connected with the monitoring node and a reference voltage, for turning on/off the switch, wherein the signal control circuit includes an integrator for generating a comparison voltage by using a monitoring voltage of the monitoring node and the reference voltage, wherein the integrator includes: a resistor unit; a capacitor unit; and an auto-calibrator for receiving at least one selection signal and determining at least one of a resistance of the resistor unit and a capacitance of the capacitor unit, during a power-up period, and allowing a peak value of the comparison voltage to fall within a target range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Silicon Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ok Hwan Kwon, Baek Min Lim, Hai Feng Jin, Ju Pyo Hong, Sung Hwan Kim, Ju Hyun Lee, Jin Won Mok, Ju Yeong Kim
  • Patent number: 9647564
    Abstract: A power supply device according to the present invention includes: a filter capacitor coupled to a line to which an input voltage that is passed through a dimmer is supplied; a discharge switch coupled to the filter capacitor through the line; and a main switch receiving the input voltage and controlling power transmission. The power supply device performs input voltage control for shaping the input voltage with a predetermined pattern using the discharge switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Fairchild Korea Semiconductor LTD
    Inventors: Hyun-Chul Eum, Young-Jong Kim, In-Ki Park
  • Patent number: 9642219
    Abstract: A method for facilitating space experiences for at least a first space user and for at least first and second different spaces, the method comprising the steps of storing first and second space experience specifications for the first and second different spaces, respectively, wherein the first and second space experience specifications indicate space affordance settings for the first and second spaces, respectively, sensing a trigger event associated with at least one of the first and second different spaces, where the sensed trigger event is associated with the first space, using the first space experience specification to control the first space affordances and where the sensed trigger event is associated with the second space, using the second space experience specification to control the second space affordances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Karl Mead, Hyun Yoo, Cherie Johnson
  • Patent number: 9642199
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a light-emitting diode (LED) driver circuit and an electronic device. The LED driver circuit includes a rectifier-filter circuit configured to convert an alternating voltage into a direct voltage; a valley-filling circuit connected to the rectifier-filter circuit and configured to adjust a current waveform from the rectifier-filter circuit; a ringing choke converter (RCC) circuit connected to the valley-filling circuit and configured to control a direct current (DC) output; and a DC output unit connected to the RCC circuit and configured to rectify and filter an output signal from the RCC circuit so as to drive an LED load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., BOE OPTICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xing Yu, Hao Su
  • Patent number: 9629225
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for interpreting control commands received from a control element, wherein the control element sends control commands indicating start of activation (e.g., press operation) and end of activation (e.g., release operation) separately. Two time thresholds provided by respective timers (T1, T2) are used at the controlled device (20), a lower time threshold for determining the short activation and a higher time threshold for determining the long activation; the difference between the two time thresholds indicates a “dead zone” of no control action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Emmanuel David Lucas Michael Frimout, Bozena Erdmann
  • Patent number: 9620223
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a regulator for a non-volatile memory is provided. The regulator comprises an operational amplifier for receiving a reference voltage and a feedback voltage to output a voltage amplifying the difference of the reference voltage and the feedback voltage, the feedback voltage being obtained by dividing an output voltage of the regulator; a first switching unit turning on in response to the amplified voltage; a second switching unit electrically connected between a first node and the first switching unit for protecting the first switching unit from the voltage of the first node; and a third switching unit providing the output voltage of the regulator to a second node in response to a voltage of the first node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Herve′ Caracciolo
  • Patent number: 9622312
    Abstract: A drive circuit (1) according to the present invention is a drive circuit which causes an LED module (4) to emit light, using a dimming signal which is an alternating current signal which has been phase-controlled in response to a dimming level, the drive circuit (1) including a control signal generating unit (8) which integrates a voltage of a rectified dimming signal to generate a control signal for controlling the luminance of the LED module (4), the voltage being greater than or equal to a first voltage and less than or equal to a second voltage less than a maximum voltage of the dimming signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Takahashi, Kazuhiko Itoh
  • Patent number: 9609705
    Abstract: A switching control circuit includes a switching trigger unit that receives a sensing voltage, which senses a driving current that includes a first and second driving current sections, and that provides a first switching trigger signal based on the sensing voltage in the second current section, an off-time control unit configured to provide a second switching trigger signal in the first driving current section to control a maximum off-time of a driving switching element and a switching control unit configured to turn on the driving switching element based on the first or second switching trigger signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: MagnaChip Semiconductor, Ltd.
    Inventor: Seung Woo Hong
  • Patent number: 9596737
    Abstract: A multi-port communications gateway for one or more LED based illumination devices includes a lighting communications interface that is configured to be coupled to the LED based illumination device(s). The lighting communications interface transmits both data signals and power signals. A lighting control network interface is configured to be coupled to a lighting control system, which generates control commands. A building management network interface is configured to be coupled to a building management system and is configured to receive and transmit information from sensors coupled to the LED based illumination device(s). Memory in the gateway stores information received from the LED based illumination device (s). A processor determines a summary status value associated with the LED based illumination device(s) based on information stored in memory. A real time clock determines a date and time that is periodically transmitted to the LED based illumination device(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Xicato, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerard Harbers
  • Patent number: 9591719
    Abstract: A lighting system 100 and a method of controlling a lighting system are provided. The lighting system comprises a lighting arrangement 106 with a first light emitter 108, a second light emitter 114 and a driving circuitry 104 and comprises a controller 102 providing a control signal 103 to the driving circuitry. The first and second light emitters emit different colors or light L1, L2. The controller is configured to generate the control signal such that a required minimum amount of light is received at a relative position P with respect to the lighting arrangement and that the amount of power used by the lighting arrangement is minimized when the lighting arrangement emits light in accordance with the generated control signal. In the generation of the control signal efficiency ratios R1, R2 for the different light emitters are taken in to account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Johannes Petrus Wilhelmus Baaijens, Willem Piet Van Hoof
  • Patent number: 9585227
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, apparatuses and systems for a light fixture are disclosed. One apparatus of the light fixture includes a sensor unit and a light intensity controller. The sensor unit includes a sensor operative to generate a sense signal base on at least one of sensed motion or light, wireless communication circuitry operative to maintain a link with a network, and a controller. The controller is operative to manage communication with the network, manage reception of beacons through the wireless communication circuitry, wherein the beacons are received from an object, and the beacons include information associated with the object, and generate dimming control base on at least one of the sensed signal and communication from the network. The light intensity controller is configured to receive the dimming control and operative to adjust an emitted light intensity of a luminaire of the light fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: enLighted, Inc.
    Inventors: Tanuj Mohan, Gaile Gordon
  • Patent number: 9585208
    Abstract: A power circuit for an LED lighting device using discrete components is provided. The power circuit includes a filtering unit configured to filter an inputted AC and a rectifying unit configured to convert an AC to a DC. The power circuit also includes a transformer connected to the rectifying unit. Further, the power circuit includes a first switch and a second switch that are field effect transistors, wherein a grid electrode of the first switch is connected to a drain electrode of the second switch. Further, a drain electrode of the first switch is connected to the transformer. A source electrode of the first switch is connected to a source electrode of the second switch through a detection resistor. A grid electrode of the second switch is connected to the source electrode of the first switch through a thermistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG SHENGHUI LIGHTING CO., LTD
    Inventors: Yehua Wan, Changzhou Jin, Jinxiang Shen
  • Patent number: 9578723
    Abstract: A lighting control device and method are disclosed herein. The lighting control device includes a control unit and a control request unit. The control unit sets up a virtual multiple lighting control unit corresponding to a lighting control command received from a lighting management device. The control request unit selects a wireless light fixture corresponding to a light fixture ID included in the lighting control command, and makes a lighting control request to the selected wireless light fixture. The control unit transfers a response to the lighting control request to the lighting management device, and thus allows a corresponding lighting switch to control the wireless light fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Jung-Sik Sung, Hyun-Chul Kang, Hyun-Joo Kang, Seong-Hee Park, Jong-Woo Choi, In-Su Kim, Tae-Gyu Kang
  • Patent number: 9568927
    Abstract: A modulated digital input signal is passed through a conditioning circuit to generate a first input signal. An error amplifier circuit receives the first input signal and a second input signal, and controls the operation of a MOS transistor to generate an output signal that is current modulated. The output signal is sensed to generate a feedback signal. A switching circuit selectively applies the feedback signal as the second input signal in response to a transition of the modulated digital input signal from a first logic state to a second logic state. The switching circuit alternatively selectively applies a fixed reference signal as the second input signal to the error amplifier in response to a transition of the modulated digital input signal from the second logic state to the first logic state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignees: STMICROELECTRONICS, INC., STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Tom Youssef, Alessandro Gasparini, Yamu Hu, Naren K. Sahoo, Anthony Junior Casillan
  • Patent number: 9538626
    Abstract: A lighting control system comprises a smart device, at least one luminaire assembly, and a server. A user operates a client app installed on the smart device to communicatively with the server to further control the at least one luminaire assembly. The server comprises a database module, a brightness control module for implementing automatic brightness variations, a mode switching module for cooperating with at least sensor disposed in the at least one luminaire assembly to implement different ambient lighting controls, and a brightness compensation module for cooperating with a light sensor disposed on the smart device to implement ambient lighting control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Lumani Limited
    Inventors: Chi Lung Hung, Shao Chueh Huang
  • Patent number: 9532438
    Abstract: A system for wirelessly controlling LED lighting includes: a plurality of LED lamps, each lamp being equipped with a wireless communication module; and a smart device being in communication with the wireless communication module and configured to be controlled by a user. The smart device is configured to generate a unique lamp ID for each LED lamp, and embed the unique lamp ID into a signal for controlling each LED lamp through the wireless communication module so that the unique lamp ID is detectable in a form of visible light. The signal for controlling each LED lamp is a PWM signal, while data rate of the lamp ID is higher than that of the PWM signal. A method for wirelessly controlling LED lighting is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: ESPOT LIGHTING LIMITED
    Inventors: Chun Kai Leung, Wai Keung Lo, Yin Ching Chau
  • Patent number: 9526139
    Abstract: A load driving device disclosed in the specification includes a power supply circuit for supplying to a load an output voltage converted from an input voltage, a detection voltage generation circuit for generating a detection voltage which varies depending on a magnitude of a voltage drop which across the load, and a control circuit for controlling the power supply circuit so that it performs output feedback control of the output voltage, on the basis of the detection voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sadakazu Murakami
  • Patent number: 9526138
    Abstract: A load driving device disclosed in the specification includes a power supply circuit for supplying to a load an output voltage converted from an input voltage, a detection voltage generation circuit for generating a detection voltage which varies depending on a magnitude of a voltage drop which across the load, and a control circuit for controlling the power supply circuit so that it performs output feedback control of the output voltage, on the basis of the detection voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sadakazu Murakami
  • Patent number: 9521711
    Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a method and apparatus may include receiving an input waveform from a dimmer, wherein the input waveform is periodic at a first frequency. The method and apparatus may also include generating an output waveform independent of a load coupled to the output waveform, wherein the output waveform is periodic at a second frequency substantially greater than the first frequency, wherein at least one of the second frequency and an amplitude of the output waveform is based on a phase-cut angle of the input waveform indicative of a control setting of the dimmer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: John L. Melanson, Eric J. King
  • Patent number: 9502981
    Abstract: A power converter is described that includes a switch. The power converter may also include a controller that controls the switch. The controller may be configured to ascertain a first parameter. Additionally, the controller may be configured to ascertain a second parameter. The controller may dynamically modulate duty cycle of the switch based on the first parameter and the second parameter in addition and independent of the control loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Marcus Schaemann, Torsten Hinz
  • Patent number: 9497832
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for adjusting environmental conditions within a physical structure comprising a plurality of linked commissioned units. One or more occupancy sensors (140-1, 150-1) produce data indicating that a designated zone has transitioned from an unoccupied state to an occupied state. A first one or more luminaires (140-2, 150-2) associated with a first one of the plurality of linked commissioned units (120D), produces a background level of illumination within a predetermined reaction period following the production of the sensor data. The first one of the plurality of linked commissioned units transmits data indicative of the state change of the designated zone, and at least a second one of the plurality of linked commissioned units receives the data indicative of the state change, and causes at least a second one or more luminaires to alter illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Mark Henricus Verberkt, Jurgen Mario Vangeel, Lokesh Narayan, Wijnand Johannes Rietman, Simon Dingle, Jules Martinus Adrianus Gerardus De Laat, Sanjay Bhat, Tony Petrus Van Endert, Michael Petrus Franciscus Verschoor, Petrus Johannes Lenoir
  • Patent number: 9491834
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method (200), and a corresponding control unit (160), for grouping lighting devices in a system (100) including a plurality of lighting devices (120a-c) and a plurality of presence sensors (130a-c), at least one of the presence sensors being associated with at least one of the lighting devices. The method comprises: receiving (230) input indicating a user interaction element (170a); receiving (240) information from at least one presence sensor, the information indicating whether at least one lighting device associated with the at least one presence sensor is to be part of a group of lighting devices; and associating (280) the group of lighting devices with the indicated user interaction element, which is thereby configured to control the group of lighting devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Bartel Marinus Van De Sluis, Tim Corneel Wilhelmus Schenk, Michiel Adriaanzoon Klompenhouwer
  • Patent number: 9491820
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for dimming LED strings using frequency modulation (FM) dimming and burst control dimming. At high brightness levels, FM dimming may be used to decrease the current through LED strings by increasing the switching frequency of pulses within a pulse train of an AC current source. At low brightness levels, or after the switching frequency has been increased to the resonant frequency of the current source, burst control dimming may decrease the current through LED strings by decreasing the duty cycle of the pulse train of the current source. At high brightness levels, FM dimming and burst control dimming may be combined by decreasing the duty cycle of the pulse train at each of a number of increasing switching frequency values. FM dimming may also be combined with frequency hopping in order to increase the number of available frequency steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: OSRAM SYLVANIA INC.
    Inventors: Bernhard Siessegger, Benjamin Alexandrovich
  • Patent number: 9491822
    Abstract: A multi-channel LED driver includes a plurality of linear current regulators, each connected to a bottom of a string of series connected LEDs of a multi-channel LED that controls a bias current and the string of series connected LEDs responsive to an LED bias reference voltage. A dynamic headroom regulation voltage control circuit monitors the headroom regulation voltage at the bottom of each string of the series connected LEDs in the multi-channel LED and generates a reference voltage controlling each of the headroom regulation voltages responsive to the LED bias reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Intersil Americas LLC
    Inventors: Xuelin Wu, Xiping Yang, Congzhong Huang
  • Patent number: 9456117
    Abstract: An adaptive lighting apparatus (1) for high-speed image recordings for an object (2) uses a number of high-speed image recording devices (30, 31, 32), with a number of LED lighting units (10-18) having LED illuminants (100-104) that can emit light to light the object (2) during operation. An actuator actuates the LED lighting units (10-18) individually or in groups. A control device (4) controls the actuator, and has a memory that stores parameter sets for actuating the LED lighting units (10-18) for retrieval. An evaluation device calibrates the adaptive lighting apparatus (1) and then captures and evaluates the images of the object (2) that are recorded by the high-speed image recording devices (30, 31, 32) and calculates therefrom the parameter sets for adaptively actuating the LED lighting units (10-18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Walter Rentschler
  • Patent number: 9433061
    Abstract: Control of lighting fixtures in a lighting network may be distributed among the lighting fixtures. The lighting fixtures may be broken into groups that are associated with different lighting zones. At least some of the lighting fixtures will have or be associated with one or more sensors. Within the overall lighting network or the various lighting zones, the lighting fixtures may share sensor data from their sensors. Each lighting fixture may process sensor data provided by its own sensor, a remote standalone sensor, or lighting fixture, and process the sensor data according to the lighting fixture's own internal logic to control operation of the lighting fixture. The lighting fixtures may also receive control input from other lighting fixtures, control nodes, light switches, and commissioning tools. The control input may be processed along with the sensor data according to the internal logic to further enhance control of the lighting fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph P. Chobot
  • Patent number: 9392656
    Abstract: An arrangement for driving a light source, including a plurality of LED strings by means of a current generator, wherein each said LED string forms a respective current mesh with said current generator, includes: at least one inductor acting on said current meshes, in each of said current meshes, an electronic switch having a first, working node towards the LED string and a second, reference node opposed to the LED string. All the reference nodes of all the electronic switches are connected together, and the working node of each electronic switch is connected to the work node of at least another one of the electronic switches via at least one current averaging capacitor. The electronic switches can be selectively rendered conductive, each one at a respective time interval, thereby selectively distributing the current of the current generator over the LED strings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: OSRAM GmbH
    Inventors: Francesco Angelin, Paolo De Anna, Felix Franck, Enrico Raniero