Patents Examined by Christian L Garcia
  • Patent number: 9775214
    Abstract: An LED light fixture includes a housing, a controller circuit having direct current (DC) and alternating-current (AC) power inputs, a direct-current (DC) power supply unit (PSU) connected to the controller circuit, an alternating-current (AC) PSU connected to the controller circuit, and at least two groups of light emitting diodes (LEDs) operable to emit light, wherein each group includes at least one LED of a first type and at least one LED of a second type. In some embodiments, when the LED light fixture operates in a security mode the controller prevents power from flowing to the AC PSU and allows power to flow to the DC PSU to power only the first type of LEDs of the at least two groups of LEDs to emit a security light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: GE LIGHTING SOLUTIONS, LLC
    Inventor: Eden Dubuc
  • Patent number: 9767995
    Abstract: A plasma treatment device having an electrode arrangement (3) for generating a plasma in a supplied gas stream. The electrode arrangement has at least one movably mounted electrode. The plasma is preferably a cold atmospheric pressure plasma and can be generated so as to vary in location by means of movement of the at least one electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Leibniz-Institut fuer Plasmaforschung und Technologie e.V.
    Inventors: Torsten Gerling, Norbert Lembke, Klaus-Dieter Weltmann
  • Patent number: 9769899
    Abstract: An illumination device and method is provided herein for controlling individual light emitting diodes (LEDs) in an LED illumination device, so that a desired luminous flux and a desired chromaticity of the device can be maintained over time as the LEDs age. According to one embodiment, the method comprises applying drive currents to a plurality of LED chains substantially continuously to produce illumination, measuring a photocurrent induced on the photodetector in response to the illumination produced by each LED chain, one LED chain at a time, and received by the photodetector, and measuring a forward voltage developed across the photodetector by applying a non-operative drive current to the photodetector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Ketra, Inc.
    Inventors: Horace C. Ho, Jason E. Lewis, David J. Knapp
  • Patent number: 9754771
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally provide a magnetron that is encapsulated by a material that is tolerant of heat and water. In one embodiment, the entire magnetron is encapsulated. In another embodiment, the magnetron includes magnetic pole pieces, and the magnetic pole pieces are not covered by the encapsulating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Brian T. West, Roger M. Johnson, Michael S. Cox
  • Patent number: 9750103
    Abstract: A method for a light bulb or fixture to emit light and measure ambient light. The method includes driving solid state light sources, such as LEDs, in the bulb with a cyclical signal to repeatedly turn the solid state light sources off and on, where the light sources are turned off and on at a rate sufficient for the bulb to appear on. The method also includes measuring ambient light via a light sensor in or on the bulb during at least some times when the light sources are off, and outputting a signal related to the measured ambient light. The ambient light level signal can be used to control when the light bulb is on and an intensity of light output by the bulb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark G. Mathews, James F. Poch, Kayla A. McGrath, Jake D. Swensen, Blake R. Shamla, James C. Medek
  • Patent number: 9736903
    Abstract: An illumination device described herein includes at least a phosphor converted LED, which is configured for emitting illumination for the illumination device, a first photodetector and a second photodetector. A spectrum of the illumination emitted from the phosphor converted LED comprises a first portion having a first peak emission wavelength and a second portion having a second peak emission wavelength, which differs from the first peak emission wavelength. The first photodetector has a detection range, which is configured for detecting only the first portion of the spectrum emitted by the phosphor converted LED. The second photodetector has a detection range, which is configured for detecting only the second portion of the spectrum emitted by the phosphor converted LED. Methods are provided herein for calibrating and controlling each portion of the phosphor converted LED spectrum, as if the phosphor converted LED were two separate LEDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Ketra, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason E. Lewis, Horace C. Ho, David J. Knapp
  • Patent number: 9713206
    Abstract: An LED lighting device includes an auxiliary power supply that supplies power to a control circuit of the LED lighting device that receives an input from a terminal of a light-emitting diode (LED) string of the lighting device that has a substantially lower voltage than the line voltage to which the lighting device is connected. The terminal may be within the LED string, or may be an end of the string. A linear regulator may be operated from the voltage drop across a number of the LEDs in the string so that the energy wasted by the auxiliary power supply is minimized. In other designs, the auxiliary power supply may be intermittently connected in series with the LED string only when needed. The intermittent connection can be used to forward bias a portion of the LED string when the voltage supplied to the LED string is low, increasing overall brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: John L. Melanson, Eric King, Rahul Singh
  • Patent number: 9693418
    Abstract: A light emitting diode driving chip includes: a current regulating circuit arranged to selectively outputting four currents to four pins respectively; a current control circuit coupled to the current regulating circuit and a fifth pin, arranged to receive an adjusting signal at the fifth pin to control the four currents; a feedback voltage control circuit arranged to output a feedback voltage to a sixth pin according to a first specific voltage selected from four voltages corresponding to the four pins; and a protection circuit arranged to determine whether a voltage difference between a second specific voltage selected from the four voltages and the first specific voltage is larger than a threshold value. If the first specific voltage is larger than the threshold value, the protection circuit controls the current regulating circuit to stop conducting current to a specific pin corresponding to the first specific voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventor: Shun-Chang Lin
  • Patent number: 9601907
    Abstract: A universal load control module may include a power supply that operates over a wide voltage range, a microcontroller, and one or more functional control blocks. A functional control block may include a dimmer circuit for controlling a lighting load that provides reverse phase cut mode dimming, forward phase cut mode dimming, and hybrid phase cut mode dimming, as well as thermal protection. One or more universal control modules may be housed in a cabinet that include a cabinet control module. The cabinet may include additional thermal protection measures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC
    Inventors: Dalibor Zulim, Richard L. Westrick, Jr., Rick King, Leslie Mullins
  • Patent number: 9560713
    Abstract: LED-based light source modules can incorporate color tunability and brightness control, allowing a user to select a desired color temperature and/or brightness and to change either or both dynamically. An emitter can include multiple independently addressable groups of LEDs, each emitting light of a different color. By controlling the relative operating current provided to each group, a desired color temperature can be achieved, and by controlling the absolute operating currents, the brightness of the output light can be controlled. Pulse width modulation (PWM) can be used to control the relative and absolute operating currents. Smooth, gradual transitions between brightness and/or color temperature settings in response to changes can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: LedEngin, Inc.
    Inventors: Kachun Lee, Xiantao Yan, Zequn Mei
  • Patent number: 9526150
    Abstract: The stabilization of a light-emitting diode (LED) calibration standard includes a light-emitting diode (LED), or an array of LEDs; a cylindrical hood surrounding the LED; an interior baffle for keeping the light output of the LED, and ambient light from behind the LED, from escaping to the other side; a photodetector for receiving the light output of the LED and generating a signal proportional to luminous output; and a hood surrounding the photodetector. A variable current source receives the signal and stabilizes the LED light output by adjusting the operating current of the LED to maintain a constant light output from the LED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventor: Yu Guan
  • Patent number: 9520272
    Abstract: A microwave emission mechanism includes: a transmission path through which a microwave is transmitted; and an antenna section that emits into a chamber the microwave transmitted through the transmission path. The antenna section includes an antenna having a slot through which the microwave is emitted, a dielectric member through which the microwave emitted from the antenna is transmitted and a closed circuit in which a surface current and a displacement current flow. A surface wave is formed in a surface of the dielectric member. The closed circuit has at least: an inner wall of the slot; and the surface and an inner portion of the dielectric member. When a wavelength of the microwave is ?0, a length of the closed circuit is n?0±?, where n is a positive integer and ? is a fine-tuning component including 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Taro Ikeda, Hiroyuki Miyashita, Yuki Osada, Yutaka Fujino, Tomohito Komatsu
  • Patent number: 9497850
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a lighting system includes one, some, or all of a switch path, link path, and flyback path power dissipation circuits to actively and selectively control power dissipation of excess energy in a switching power converter of the lighting system. The flyback path power dissipation circuit dissipates power through a flyback path of the switching power converter. In at least one embodiment, the lighting system controls power dissipation through the flyback path by controlling a transformer primary current in the flyback path and, for example, limiting the primary current with a current source and dissipating power in the flyback switch and the current source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: John L. Melanson, Eric J. King
  • Patent number: 9496691
    Abstract: A universal load control module may include a power supply that operates over a wide voltage range, a microcontroller, and one or more functional control blocks. A functional control block may include a dimmer circuit for controlling a lighting load that provides reverse phase cut mode dimming, forward phase cut mode dimming, and hybrid phase cut mode dimming, as well as thermal protection. One or more universal control modules may be housed in a cabinet that include a cabinet control module. The cabinet may include additional thermal protection measures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC
    Inventors: Richard L. Westrick, Jr., Dalibor Zulim
  • Patent number: 9485843
    Abstract: Disclosed is a lighting control apparatus. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a lighting system control be easily configured, maintained, and repaired since additional light and block control of the lighting can be provided with ease by wireless control of the lighting through wireless communication. In addition, the present invention can control individual lamps by storing a control signal corresponding to an address for each lamp in a gateway according to a predetermined scenario.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tae Keun Oh, Ho Chan Cho, Chang Seob Kim, Heui Sam Kwag, Jung Hwan Park, Jin Sun Jung, Dong-Won Lee, Sang Kyeong Yun, Haeng Seok Yang
  • Patent number: 9480126
    Abstract: A ballast configured for multiple parallel lamp operation includes a system for detecting unbalanced loads or absent lamps in a parallel multiple lamp ballast. The ballast includes one or more starting transformers having windings, each winding connected in series with a lamp connected to the ballast. A winding of one or more of the starting transformers that is not connected in series with one of the lamps is monitored for a voltage in excess of a threshold. A voltage in excess of the threshold across the winding is indicative of an unbalanced load (e.g., an absent or broken lamp). If a voltage above the threshold is detected across the monitored load, the ballast ceases powering the lamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Universal Lighting Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Xiong, Danny Pugh
  • Patent number: 9426865
    Abstract: The present invention proposes a method, apparatus, controller and system for controlling illuminance. Specifically, the system comprises at least one light source, each of the at least one light source comprising a plurality of light modules and each of the plurality of light modules being adjustable independently; and a controller configured to control the illuminance of a target area in the lighting system. One or more light modules associated with the illuminance of the target area are selected from the at least one light source based on the position relationship between the at least one light source and the target area and a lighting distribution of each of the at least one light source. Then, at least one of the selected one or more light modules is adjusted to meet a certain requirement for the illuminance of the area. As a result, personalized lighting for an open area is effectively achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Kangjun Liu, Di Lou
  • Patent number: 9420655
    Abstract: A method of driving LED chips of same power but different rated voltages and currents includes the following steps: set a predetermined power; provide a LED chip which has a rated power accordant to the predetermined power; measure the LED chip to obtain a working current thereof while the LED chip is operated; provides a driving current to the LED chip, and maintain the driving current the same as the working current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: HEP TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ming-Feng Lin
  • Patent number: 9415719
    Abstract: A headlight control device automatically switches a light distribution pattern of a headlight for illumination ahead of a vehicle. The headlight control device including an imager that sequentially takes images of a view ahead of the vehicle in a predetermined frame rate, an another-vehicle recognizer that recognizes a light source of another vehicle from each of the images sequentially taken by the imager, a light distribution controller that switches the light distribution pattern according to a recognition result of the another-vehicle recognizer, and a signal provider that provides a signal to illumination light of the headlight by causing the luminance of the headlight to change in a predetermined cycle. The another-vehicle recognizer recognizes, as reflected light of the headlight of the vehicle, a light source which is present within the image and of which luminance change is substantially similar to a luminance change of the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Hayakawa, Yuto Aoki
  • Patent number: 9398665
    Abstract: Disclosed is a constant current drive for an LED light source, including a main power supply loop and at least one backup power supply loop. The main power supply loop at least includes a power conversion circuit. The power conversion circuit outputs a constant current to an LED light source. The backup power supply loop at least includes a power conversion backup circuit. The power conversion backup circuit outputs a constant current to the LED light source. When the power conversion circuit and the power conversion backup circuit operate normally, any one thereof operates in a nominal state or a derating state, and the output ends thereof are connected in parallel and then supply power to the LED light source simultaneously. When any one of the power conversion circuit and the power conversion backup circuit is invalid, the invalid circuit will not affect the normal operation of the remaining circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: INVENTRONICS (HANGZHOU), INC.
    Inventors: Guichao Hua, Delai Jiang