Time-controlled Patents (Class 315/360)
  • Patent number: 8816610
    Abstract: A user interface of a configurable light timer is described. The user interface comprises an input portion for receiving timing characterization data, the input portion adapted to receive a portable memory device storing the timing characterization data; a control circuit coupled to detect the portable memory device inserted into the configurable light timer; and an internal memory; wherein the timing characterization data is automatically downloaded to the internal memory after the portable memory device is detected in the configurable light timer. A method of implementing a configurable light timer is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Inventor: John Joseph King
  • Patent number: 8816608
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a luminaire includes a lighting circuit configured to light a light source with a power supply from the outside, an accumulated-lighting-time storing section configured to store accumulated lighting time of the light source, and a control circuit configured to control the lighting circuit in a set mode. The control circuit sets, if a pattern for turning on and off the power supply from the outside is a predetermined initial illuminance correction setting pattern, a mode in an initial illuminance correction mode for performing initial illuminance correction corresponding to the accumulated lighting time of the light source. The control circuit sets, if the pattern for turning on and off the power supply from the outside is a predetermined normal setting pattern, the mode in a normal mode for not performing the initial illuminance correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Terasaka, Toshihiko Sasai, Naoko Iwai
  • Patent number: 8807765
    Abstract: A lighting system (100) includes at least one controllable light source (125) configured to provide a light having at least one attribute; an image renderer (135) configured to render at least one image; and a system controller (110) configured to select the image in corresponding to the selected attribute. The system controller (110) may be configured to receive at least one script associated with different light attributes such as different light intensity or brightness levels, and to change the image in response to changes of the light attribute in accordance with the script.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Markus Gerardus Leonardus Maria van Doorn
  • Patent number: 8803449
    Abstract: An example controller for a switched mode power supply includes a zero crossing detector, drive logic, and a logic gate. The zero-crossing detector generates a zero-crossing signal indicating a zero-crossing condition in the power supply. The drive logic generates a drive logic output signal in response to the zero-crossing signal and in response to a feedback signal, where the drive logic output signal is representative of an on-time of a switch to regulate an output of the power supply. The logic gate is coupled to receive a first signal representative of a current through the switch and a second signal representative of a zero-crossing time threshold. The logic gate is further coupled to extend the on-time of the switch until current through the switch reaches a zero-crossing current threshold or until the on-time of the switch reaches the zero-crossing time threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Yury Gaknoki, Mingming Mao, Tiziano Pastore
  • Patent number: 8797610
    Abstract: A processing apparatus includes a photosensor, a processing unit and a control unit. The control unit detects a light receiving signal output from the photosensor during a first light emission period and obtains a first detection result, and makes first determination based on the first detection result by determining whether the processing unit can execute a function. The control unit detects the light receiving signal after a waiting period and obtains a second detection result. The control unit makes second determination based on the second detection result by determining whether the processing unit can execute the function. The control unit makes the second determination in a second mode that requires small consumption power, and according to determination in the second determination in the second mode that the processing unit can execute the function, the control unit keeps the second mode and makes the first determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hironori Hirata, Toru Tsuzuki, Shingo Itoh
  • Patent number: 8797723
    Abstract: An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system, which may include a faceplate and an electrical receptacle or switch. The faceplate may include a panel having a first surface, a second surface, and an opening defined in the panel providing communication between the first and second surfaces. The faceplate may also include an interrupter extending from the first surface of the panel having at least two interrupter contacts thereon and a first electrical circuit operatively coupled to the interrupter contacts. The electrical receptacle or switch may include a housing and a second electrical circuit, wherein the second electrical circuit is in communication with the first electrical circuit when the faceplate is mounted on the electrical receptacle or switch and the interrupter is configured to interrupt the second electrical circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Outsmart Power Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Paul C. M. Hilton, Kevin M. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8786214
    Abstract: A light emitting element drive device includes an electric conduction switch that is provided along a power input line, a voltage detection unit that detects a power source voltage containing a noise component when the electric power is supplied to the power input line, a conversion processing unit that converts the detected power source voltage containing the noise component to a digital value, a data generation unit that generates data of a predetermined number of bits, and a control unit that turns on the electric conduction switch. The control unit determines a delay time based on the predetermined number of bits. The delay time corresponds to a time between supplying the electric power to the power input line and turning on the electric conduction switch. The control unit turns on the electric conduction switch after the delay time passes. Thus, an excessive rush current is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunori Oshima, Hironobu Masuoka, Mitsuyuki Tsujisaka, Yukiharu Miyaoka
  • Patent number: 8780021
    Abstract: A pixel, a display device using the pixel and a method of driving the display device are provided. The pixel may include an organic light emitting diode, a driving circuit for generating and transmitting driving current depending on data signals to the organic light emitting diode, and at least one switch connected between a power wire for applying a first voltage to the organic light emitting diode and a data line for transmitting the data signals. The at least one switch may include a compensating circuit for electronically connecting the power wire to the data line for a predetermined period to transmit the first voltage through the data line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang-Myeon Han
  • Patent number: 8779692
    Abstract: A light emitting element drive device includes a light emitting unit that includes a light emitting element and that performs dimming based on a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal, a first switching element that is turned ON or OFF based on the PWM signal and that is connected in series to the light emitting unit, and a protection circuit that includes a charging circuit and a second switching element. The second switching element is turned ON when a first voltage obtained by a charging operation of the charging circuit is equal to or more than a first predetermined value. The charging circuit discharges electric charge through the first switching element when a second voltage between input and output terminals of the first switching element drops. The first switching element is turned OFF despite the existence of the PWM signal when the second switching element is turned ON.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunori Oshima, Hironobu Masuoka
  • Publication number: 20140191688
    Abstract: A circuit in a configurable light timer for receiving data to control the operation of the configurable light timer is described. The circuit comprises an input portion coupled to receive first data from a portable memory device by way of a connector on the configurable light timer; and a data transceiver coupled to receive wireless communication signals according to a wireless communication protocol, the wireless communication signals comprising second data for implementing the configurable light timer; wherein the second data coupled to the configurable light timer by way of the wireless communication link comprises timing characterization data. A method of receiving data to control the operation of the configurable light timer is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventor: John Joseph King
  • Patent number: 8773044
    Abstract: An anti-collision aircraft light comprises at least one LED and a control unit for operating the at least one LED in a pulsed manner. In this anti-collision aircraft light, the control unit comprises an ambient temperature sensor for sensing the ambient temperature and an adjustable current control for setting an LED operating current depending on the sensed ambient temperature. The control unit further includes a light intensity sensor for sensing the intensity of the light emitted from the at least one LED, an integrator connected to the light sensor for integrating the sensed light intensity, and a comparator for comparing the integrated light intensity to a threshold value. The operating current for the at least one LED is interrupted as soon as the integrated light intensity is equal to the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignees: Goodrich Lighting Systems GmbH, Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Andre Hessling
  • Patent number: 8773036
    Abstract: A projector that outputs a first picture and a second picture alternately, wherein a control section performs first control and second control, controls a discharge lamp driving section. In the first control and the second control, the absolute value of a drive current is relatively small in a first period and relatively large in a second period. In the first control, the energy provided to a first electrode in the second period is greater than the energy provided to the second electrode in the second period. In the second control, the energy provided to the second electrode in the second period is greater than the energy provided to the first electrode in the second period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuo Terashima
  • Patent number: 8766551
    Abstract: A projector that outputs a first image and a second image alternately while performing switching between the first image and the second image, includes: a discharge lamp driving section that supplies, to a discharge lamp, a drive current that drives the discharge lamp; a state detecting section that detects a deteriorating state of the discharge lamp; and a control section that controls the discharge lamp driving section, wherein the control section controls the discharge lamp driving section so that the absolute value of the drive current becomes relatively small in a first period and relatively large in a second period and controls the discharge lamp driving section so that the ratio of the absolute value of the drive current in the second period to the absolute value of the drive current in the first period is increased with the progress of the deteriorating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuo Terashima, Shun Sato
  • Patent number: 8766540
    Abstract: A lighting device includes: a power conversion unit which converts a direct current (DC) power into a power required by a load; an output current detection unit which detects an output current of the power conversion unit; and a source voltage detection unit which detects a source voltage. Further, the lighting device includes an operation unit which calculates an output current command value so as not to exceed an upper limit of the output current command value set according to a resistance value of an externally connected resistor; and a control unit which controls the power conversion unit such that the output current thereof the power conversion unit becomes the output current command value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Hamana, Takashi Kambara
  • Publication number: 20140176021
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the light intensity of a lamp includes a light intensity control unit which includes a light intensity signal transmitter for transmitting a light intensity signal based on a user setting and a built-in module inside of the lamp which includes a light intensity signal receiver module configured for receiving the light intensity signal from the transmitter and a lamp driving module controlled by the light intensity signal receiver module and configured for controlling the light intensity of the lamp based on the light intensity signal. In adjusting the light intensity of the lamp, the built-in module is configured to change the light intensity from a current level everytime to a preset level firstly, keeps at the preset level for a first predetermined time, and then from the preset level to an adjusted level. A method for controlling the light intensity of a lamp is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventor: Kin Ming FUNG
  • Patent number: 8760077
    Abstract: A plant illumination apparatus includes a light source module including a first light source and a second light source generating lights having different wavelengths, an environment-detecting module detecting an external environment to obtain a real-time environment parameter, and a control module connected to the light source module and the environment-detecting module. The control module includes a processor unit and a storage unit storing a database of plant growing environment parameters. The processor unit loads at least one preset growing environment parameter corresponding to a plant growth timing from the database of plant growing environment parameters, and compares the preset growing environment parameter with the real-time environment parameter to output at least one comparison result. The processor unit adjusts the first light source and the second light source according to the comparison result, so that an adjusted environment parameter matches the preset growing environment parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignees: Lextar Electronics Corp., Lextar Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Jin-Yong Jiang
  • Patent number: 8742696
    Abstract: An illuminating apparatus adapted to receive an input power which is a pulse DC includes a lighting unit, a detecting unit and a controlling unit. The lighting unit includes a plurality of lighting sets and a switching unit. The switching unit may be used to cause the lighting sets interconnected in a serial fashion and/or in a parallel manner. The detecting unit detects a state of the input power. The control unit couples the detecting unit and the lighting unit, and controls the switching unit according to the detecting unit detecting the state of the input power. As such, the turn-on voltages of the lighting unit may adjust at different stages of the input power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Paragon Semiconductor Lighting Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shih-Neng Tai, Chia-Tin Chung
  • Publication number: 20140139145
    Abstract: A light source apparatus for an endoscope, which has a lamp, a power source, a light adjustment control module that controls power to be supplied to the lamp within a range not more than an upper limit power based on a brightness instruction signal, and a continuous lighting sensing module that measures a continuous lighting time period from time when the lamp shifts from being extinguished to being lighted, compares the continuous lighting time period with a predetermined upper limit time period, and initializes the continuous lighting time period while the lamp is extinguished, wherein the upper limit power is set to a first upper limit power when the continuous lighting time period has not reached the upper limit time period, and changed to a second upper limit power lower than the first upper limit power in a stepwise manner when the upper limit time period has not been reached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventors: Atsushi SHIMADA, Tomoya TAKAHASHI, Takahiro MASAKI, Mutsumi OSHIMA, Yasukazu KOGEN
  • Patent number: 8729828
    Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated circuit controller for ballast with preheat/repreheat filament and ignition time control. A charge/discharge circuit is connected to a capacitor to provide the charge/discharge path for the capacitor. It charges when integrated circuit controller without errors and discharges when error occurred during lamp operation or power tripped. A control circuit is coupled to the charge/discharge circuit to control the charge/discharge circuit to charge or discharge the capacitor. A compare circuit is coupled to the charge/discharge circuit to compare a voltage signal on the capacitor from the charge/discharge circuit with threshold voltages for timing control and providing a preheat signal and an ignition signal. A control logic circuit is coupled to the control circuit to control the control circuit and coupled to the compare circuit to receive the preheat signal and the ignition signal for preheating the filament and igniting the lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: System General Corp.
    Inventors: Gwo-Hwa Wang, Jea-Sen Lin, Ta-Yung Yang
  • Patent number: 8729812
    Abstract: A lighting device includes a lighting part, a switching part and a luminance fine-tuning part. The lighting part at least includes a first light emitting diode unit for outputting light with a first color temperature and a second light emitting diode unit for outputting light with a second color temperature. The switching part is coupled with a power source. By changing the number of times the switching part is turned on, the light with desired color temperature and luminance is produced by the lighting part according to the user's requirements. By operating the luminance fine-tuning part, the selected luminance is slightly increased or decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Inventor: Chao-Li Kuwu
  • Patent number: 8729822
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an LED emitting device and a driving method thereof including at least two LED channels. If a power source voltage supplied to an LED emitting device reaches a predetermined threshold voltage, the power source voltage is maintained as a threshold voltage during an overvoltage regulation period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Fairchild Korea Semiconductor Ltd.
    Inventors: Jinhwa Chung, Frank Chang, Byunghak Ahn, Moonho Choi
  • Patent number: 8729833
    Abstract: Digital Control Ready (DCR) is a two-way open standard for controlling and managing next-generation fixtures. A DCR-enabled lighting fixture responds to digital control signals from a separate digital light agent (DLA) instead of analog dimming signals, eliminating the need for digital-to-analog signal conditioning, fixture-to-fixture variations in response, and calibration specific to each fixture. In addition, a DCR-enabled lighting fixture may also report its power consumption, measured light output, measured color temperature, temperature, and/or other operating parameters to the DLA via the same bidirectional data link that carries the digital control signals to the fixture. The DLA processes these signals in a feedback loop to implement more precise lighting control. The DCR-enabled lighting fixture also transforms AC power to DC power and supplies (and measures) DC power to the DLA via a DCR interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Digital Lumens Incorporated
    Inventors: Brian Chemel, Frederick M. Morgan
  • Patent number: 8716957
    Abstract: A circuit for powering high-efficiency lighting devices from a thyristor-controlled dimmer predicts a zero-crossing time of the AC power line supplying the dimmer and causes a glue impedance to be imposed at the output of the dimmer starting at the time of the zero-crossing, so that the timer in the dimmer will operate properly to generate the turn-on event at the correct time. At turn-on, a lower level of impedance is presented to absorb the energy associated with the turn-on event. A higher level of impedance may be presented after the energy is absorbed until all of the energy needed for the cycle is transferred. Then, a high impedance state is maintained until the next zero-crossing time. The impedance control may be provided by non-uniform operation of a power converter that supplies the lighting devices, or by a combination of non-uniform power converter operation and dissipative loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Melanson, Eric King
  • Patent number: 8710752
    Abstract: A system that provides an intelligent approach to driving multiple strings of LEDs. A processing device determines an optimal current level for each LED string from a limited set of allowed currents. The processing device also determines a PWM duty cycle for driving the LEDs in each LED string to provide precise brightness control over the LED string. The settings for the current level and duty cycle are transmitted to an LED driver for regulating the current and on-off times of the LED strings. Beneficially, the system reduces the size of the LED driver while leveraging existing resources available in the processing device to operate the LEDs in a power efficient manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Xuecheng Jin, Minjong Kim, Enzhu Liang, John William Kesterson, Xiaoyan Wang
  • Patent number: 8710772
    Abstract: A lighting system for areal illumination is disclosed which includes a remote driver and a plurality of fixtures including luminaires, control devices, and/or standalone sensors. The luminaires include a light source whose output light level can be adjusted, a light sensor co-located therewith adapted to measure light received from adjacent fixtures, and a microcontroller capable of transmitting the output of the light sensor over wires to the remote driver. The remote driver is capable of bidirectional communication with the luminaires and provides independently controllable power for the light sources of the luminaires. A movable orb region containing luminaires can also be defined and the light levels of individual luminaires can be set according to their location within the orb region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Redwood Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Henig, David Fowler, Jeremy Stieglitz, David Leonard, Mark Covaro
  • Publication number: 20140103832
    Abstract: A traffic lamp and a method of controlling the traffic lamp based on a power signal are provided. The traffic lamp can include a controller and a light emitting element. When a plurality of light emitting elements is included in the traffic lamp, each light emitting element is coupled with a separate controller. Each controller can be configured to include a predetermined light emitting timing sequence for the corresponding light emitting element. When the power signal is supplied to the traffic lamp, each controller determines a power signal characteristic such as a frequency or a period of the power signal and controls a light output of the light emitting element based on the power signal characteristic and the light emitting timing sequence. A plurality of light emitting elements can be synchronized using the power signal applied to the traffic lamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: GE Lighting Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Morne Neser, Truong-Khoa Nguyen, Christian Poirier
  • Patent number: 8698425
    Abstract: It is provided an LED lighting device calibratable to 0 to 100% of wide range about a chromaticity and luminance of a illumination light by a simple configuration, and a driving method for the LED lighting device. The LED lighting device is provided with a first light-emitting unit and a second light-emitting unit differing a color temperature mutually, and a control circuit for executing a cyclic light/quench control of the first light-emitting unit and the second light-emitting unit, and for executing a light control of the first light-emitting unit and the second light-emitting unit by a PNM (Pulse Number Modulation) control in a fixed cycle so as to have a lighting period Ton for lighting/quenching the first light-emitting unit and the second light-emitting unit complementarily, and a quenching period Toff for quenching both the first light-emitting unit and the second light-emitting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun Mizuno
  • Patent number: 8698424
    Abstract: A power line communication system transmits a dimming level to an electronic ballast to regulate the power consumed by a lamp. The power line controller has a notch generation circuit that generates notches on an AC power signal with a time duration in accordance with the dimming level of the lamp. A dimming interface associated with the electronic ballast detects the notches on the AC power signal. The dimming interface generates a ballast dimming level signal with a signal level related to the time duration of these notches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Universal Lighting Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Xiong, Christopher Radzinski
  • Patent number: 8692467
    Abstract: Plasma processing apparatuses and techniques for processing substrates, which include the use of synchronized RF pulsing of a first RF signal and a delayed-and-shortened second RF signal. The first RF signal may be the primary plasma-generating RF signal and the second RF signal may be the RF bias signal or vice versa. Alternatively or additionally, the first RF signal may be the high frequency RF signal and the second RF signal may be the lower frequency RF signal. Either the first RF signal or the second RF signal may act as the master, with the other acting as the slave signal. Alternatively, an external circuit may be employed as a master to control both the first RF signal and the second RF signal as slave signals. Track-and-hold techniques and circuits are provided to ensure accurate measurement for process control and other purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Neil Martin Paul Benjamin, Arthur H. Sato
  • Patent number: 8687029
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for reducing ripple noise on the image of a display. The steps of the method include: (a) providing a first potential signal to a backlight module by an inverter; (b) resetting the inverter; (c) providing a second potential signal to the backlight by the inverter, wherein the phase difference between the first potential signal and the second potential signal is 180 degrees; (d) resetting again the inverter; and (e) repeating the steps (a) to (d) Consequently, the ripple noise present on the display would be effectively reduced by the alteration of the bright areas and dark areas on the display panel in conjunction with the persistence of vision of the user's eyes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Chunghwa Picture Tubes, Ltd.
    Inventor: Chang-Xin Huang
  • Patent number: 8686652
    Abstract: A reference voltage generating circuit used for a light-emitting diode (LED) driver circuit and a light-emitting diode (LED) driver circuit are provided. A reference voltage generating circuit used for a light-emitting diode (LED) driver circuit includes a voltage measurer configured to sequentially measure feedback voltages of a plurality of LED arrays, the LED arrays being connected to one another in parallel, a quantizer configured to search for one of the plurality of LED arrays having a lowest feedback voltage of the measured feedback voltages, a comparator configured to compare an output of the voltage measurer with a preset comparison voltage to generate a reference voltage, and a timing controller configured to control the comparator to output the generated reference voltage corresponding to the one of the plurality of LED arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: MagnaChip Semiconductor, Ltd.
    Inventors: Du-su Shin, Shane Baik, Chang-sik Lim
  • Patent number: 8674625
    Abstract: A synchronous light adjustment method and the device for performing the same are proposed. Each of plurality of lamps is installed with a light sensor and a control unit. By actuating a single power switch, the control unit will control the illumination of a respective one of the LED lamps independently and automatically based on the environmental illumination detected by a light sensor. Further, by switching the power switch manually to match predetermined operations, the control units will adjust the illuminations and color temperatures of the LED lamps synchronously and gradually. The device is convenient in installation and usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Inventor: Yu-Sheng So
  • Patent number: 8668339
    Abstract: In a light source device, that obtains high light usage efficiency by projecting simultaneously two or more of three primary color lights X, Y and Z. Moreover, each color light X, Y and Z is divided into two in terms of time so that p-wave and s-wave linear polarization lights are formed, such that the synthesized light of the p-wave linear polarization lights enters a first spatial modulation element and the synthesized light of the s-wave linear polarization lights enters a second spatial modulation element to permit gradation control of each color light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Ushio Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoyuki Kabuki, Akihiko Sugitani, Yoshihiro Horikawa, Yoshio Okazaki
  • Publication number: 20140062340
    Abstract: The electrical switch device can operate a lighting device when a user is not present. The electrical switch device can include a housing having a number of walls forming a cavity. The electrical switch device can also include a controller positioned within the cavity and used to operate a lighting device. The electrical switch device can further include a storage repository that stores a usage history for the lighting device and memory to store instructions. The electrical switch device can further include a timer that tracks time and a hardware processor for executing the instructions, where the hardware processor is operatively coupled to the memory, the timer, and the controller. The electrical switch device can also include a control switch that has an enabled state and a disabled state, where the enabled state allows the hardware processor to control the controller based on the usage history.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventor: Ahmed Elgayyar
  • Publication number: 20140062341
    Abstract: An illumination system verifies controls the operation of a luminaire without the use of any photometric data. The illumination system uses data indicative of a current time, date or latitude to determine one or more aspects of a solar event. Such aspects can include a scheduled, predicted or expected time of occurrence of the scheduled solar event. Responsive to the determination of a scheduled, predicted or expected time of occurrence of the scheduled solar event, a control subsystem can adjust the luminous output of a light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: EXPRESS IMAGING SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: William G. Reed, Dale H. DeGraff, Richard Dolf
  • Patent number: 8662698
    Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, a flameless candle circuit includes an application-specific integrated circuit (“ASIC”) having a first power terminal, a second power terminal, and an output. The circuit also includes a light-emitting diode (“LED”) and a single-pole switch. The LED is configured to receive a signal from the output of the ASIC. The single-pole switch is configured to selectively provide the battery voltage to at least one of the first power terminal and the second power terminal. Additionally, the single-pole switch is configured to remove the battery voltage from both of the first power terminal and the second power terminal to turn the ASIC off. The ASIC is configured to drive the LED in a first mode when the battery voltage is provided to the first power terminal. The ASIC is also configured to drive the LED in a second mode when the battery voltage is provided to the second power terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Winvic Sales Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Sagna, Frederic Boucher
  • Patent number: 8664869
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electrical load of at least two single loads includes activating and deactivating the single loads in switching cycles of predefined duration sequentially following one another. In one switching cycle, the single loads are activated and deactivated alternately with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Lear Corporation GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus-Dieter Grebner, Michael Reier
  • Patent number: 8659242
    Abstract: A light source apparatus has a lighting time period measuring section measuring lighting time periods of respective LEDs, a junction temperature calculating section that calculates junction temperatures of the respective LEDs, a light intensity deterioration characteristic storing section storing light intensity deterioration characteristics based on the junction temperatures of the respective LEDs, a light source drive characteristic storing section storing characteristics of power that drives the respective LEDs and light intensities, a deteriorated light intensity calculating section calculating deteriorated light intensities based on the measured lighting time periods, the calculated junction temperatures, and the light intensity deterioration characteristics stored in the light intensity deterioration characteristic storing section, and a light source power control section controlling power that drives the light sources, based on the deteriorated light intensities calculated by the deteriorated light int
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventor: Yusuke Yabe
  • Patent number: 8653760
    Abstract: A programmable electric tea light device. The device features a light component mounted on a base. The brightness of the light component is adjustable via a potentiometer. A brightness adjustment control button is operatively connected to the potentiometer. The brightness adjustment control button functions to adjust brightness of the light component. Circuitry and a power source are both operatively connected to the light component. The circuitry comprises a timer and a memory component. The device also features a one-button programming interface for programming the timer to cause the light component to turn on and off at one or more times during a 24-hour period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Inventors: Tim C. Pearce, Tracy A. Pearce
  • Patent number: 8654068
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments relate to techniques for enhancing luminance resolution in a backlight unit. A backlight unit may have light-emitting diode (LED) light sources arranged in strings. In one embodiment, a backlight controller provides enhanced luminance resolution by drive each LED string at either first or second consecutive luminance values corresponding to first and second duty cycles of a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal. The outputs of the LED strings are optically mixed to achieve intermediate luminance values between the first and second luminance values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew P. Aitken
  • Patent number: 8648544
    Abstract: An illumination lighting apparatus is connected to, as an external apparatus, any of a human body sensing sensor configured to detect presence/absence of a person, an illuminance sensor configured to detect space illuminance, and a dimmer which arbitrarily adjusts the space illuminance, and is configured to produce an output control signal for controlling an optical output of a light source based on a signal output from the external apparatus. The illumination lighting apparatus includes: an external apparatus determining unit configured to determine which kind of the external apparatus is connected based on the signal output from the external apparatus; and a signal processing unit configured to produce the output control signal based on the signal output from the external apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Sasakawa, Naoki Onishi, Masafumi Yamamoto, Keisuke Ueda, Katsunobu Hamamoto, Kei Mitsuyasu
  • Patent number: 8643312
    Abstract: A method for feeding electric power to a planar light-emitting element which includes a planar anode electrode, a planar cathode electrode, a light-emitting layer provided between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode, two or more anode terminal portions protruding from the anode electrode and one or more cathode terminal portions protruding from the cathode electrode. The method includes sequentially providing the electric power to the anode terminal portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masanao Okawa, Hirofumi Konishi, Takeo Miyai, Hideharu Kawachi, Koki Fujihara
  • Patent number: 8643293
    Abstract: The invention provides a circuit device, embedded in an object, which includes a plurality of light-emitting devices, a motion-actuated switch, a controller and a selector. The motion-actuated switch senses a first motion of the object and generates a first controlling signal. The controller selectively drives the plurality of light-emitting devices to emit lights in a first period in a first sequence and a first flashing frequency according to the first controlling signal. After the first period, the motion-actuated switch senses a second motion of the object and generates a second controlling signal. The controller selectively drives the plurality of light-emitting devices to emit lights in a second period in the first sequence and a second flashing frequency according to the second controlling signal. The selector generates a selecting signal and the controller selectively controls the number of lighting light-emitting devices according to the selecting signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Inventor: Shen-Ko Tseng
  • Patent number: 8633661
    Abstract: A time-delayed power switching device for providing power pass-through and timed off conductive pathways to one or more light outputs comprises a power source input, one or more first conductive pathways, one or more second conductive pathways, at least one timing circuit, and at least one relay. The time-delayed power switching device controls power from a power source electrically coupled though the power source input to the timed off conductive pathways by operation of the at least one timing circuit controlling the at least one relay. The relay has a first position adapted to energize the second conductive pathways when receiving a first signal from the timing circuit, and a second position adapted to de-energize the second conductive pathways when receiving a second signal from the timing circuit. Additionally, methods of using one or more time-delayed power switching devices to retrofit lighting areas are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Inventor: Gary Skwarlo
  • Patent number: 8629631
    Abstract: Improving start-up time of a light emitting diode (led) driver at lower input voltage is accomplished with a quick start circuit comprising a constant current source that replaces the traditional trickle charge start-up path for charging of a Vcc capacitor supplying operating voltage to an SMPS controller. Also the constant current source will only be operational during SMPS start-up, then will turn off after the SMPS is capable of producing its own regulated power supply to the Vcc terminal of the SMPS controller, thereby minimizing E2/R power losses in the SMPS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Scott Edward Rhodes, William Thomas Hopkins
  • Patent number: 8629617
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes a lighting assembly module disposed in the housing assembly and coupled to a set of line terminals. A control circuit is configured to provide a modulated lighting control signal to the lighting assembly module when AC power is being provided. The modulated lighting control signal is configured to adjust an intensity of the light emitted by a light emitting device such that the intensity is a function of the ambient light level. The control circuit is further configured to provide a second lighting control signal configured to turn the lighting assembly ON at a predetermined intensity for a predetermined period of time when AC power is not being provided by the source of AC power, the second lighting control signal being provided by a rechargeable electrical storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Richards, Gary O. Wilson, David A. Finlay, Sr., Gerald R. Savicki, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8624525
    Abstract: A flat display used for displaying a 2D image and a 3D image is provided. The flat display includes a panel and a backlight module. The backlight module provides a light to the panel. When the flat display displays the 2D image, the backlight module provides a first light intensity to the panel. When the flat display displays the 3D image, the backlight module provides a second light intensity to the panel. The second light intensity is higher than the first light intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Chimei Innolux Corporation
    Inventors: Chen Lung Kuo, Cheng Cheng Pan, Pao Wei Cheng
  • Patent number: 8616710
    Abstract: A light source system includes a luminescent wheel, a driving unit for rotating the luminescent wheel, a light source for shining excitation light on to a luminescent material layer of the luminescent wheel, a light shining control unit for controlling an illumination timing of the light source, a light shining time integrating unit for integrating individual excitation light shining times to a plurality of predetermined divided areas of the luminescent wheel, an integrated light shining time storage unit for storing the individual light shining times to the predetermined divided areas, and a light shining range control unit for equalizing times over which excitation light is shone on to the plurality of predetermined divided areas of the luminescent wheel based on the individual excitation light shining times to the predetermined divided areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuyasu Fukano
  • Patent number: 8618746
    Abstract: A device and method to interface with a Magnetic or Electronic Fluorescent Ballast; evaluate, process, and regulate the incoming power from the Ballast device and output a steady AC power that can be used by LED drivers, LED chips, or set of multiple LED chips in a Tube or Bulb application. This device and method will allow for a non-fluorescent replacement lighting device such as a LED Lighting Tube or Bulb to be used in a Fluorescent Light Luminaire (fixture) without any electrical wiring modification or removal of the Electronic or Magnetic Ballast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Great Eagle Lighting Corporation
    Inventors: Johny Lau, Andy Chen
  • Patent number: 8610376
    Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention, a method and system is provided for designing improved intelligent, LED-based lighting systems. The LED based lighting systems may include fixtures with one or more of rotatable LED light bars, integrated sensors, onboard intelligence to receive signals from the LED light bars and control the LED light bars, and a mesh network connectivity to other fixtures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Digital Lumens Incorporated
    Inventors: Brian J. Chemel, Colin Piepgras, Steve T. Kondo, Scott D. Johnston