Patents Examined by David Hung Vu
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Patent number: 7728531Abstract: A lamp driving circuit, an inverter board and a display apparatus having the inverter board, the lamp driving circuit receiving a direct current voltage and provides the direct current voltage to a square wave generator, and the square wave generator outputting a first square wave voltage having a duty ratio corresponding to a voltage level of the direct current voltage. An inverter controller compares the first square wave voltage with a reference voltage and outputs a second square wave voltage. An inverter provides an output of a lamp driving voltage according to the duty ratio of the second square wave voltage.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2008Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Young-Cheol Jeong
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Patent number: 7723927Abstract: An exemplary inverter circuit (2) includes a full-bridge circuit (21) for converting a DC voltage into an AC low voltage, main inverse transformers (22) for converting the AC low voltage into an AC high voltage, and a feedback circuit (25). The feedback circuit includes a secondary inverse transformer (250) for converting the AC low voltage into an AC high voltage, a sampling unit (254) for sampling the AC high voltage and outputting a sampling voltage, and an integral circuit unit (205) for integrating the sampling voltage and outputting an integrated sampling voltage to the full-bridge circuit. When the AC low voltage outputted by the full-bridge circuit fluctuates, the feedback circuit sends a feedback voltage to the full-bridge circuit, and the full-bridge circuit stabilizes the AC low voltage according to the feedback voltage. The feedback voltage is in direct proportion to the fluctuation of the AC low voltage.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2008Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignees: Innocom Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Innolux Display Corp.Inventor: Jian-Hui Lu
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Patent number: 7723921Abstract: A portable electronic device, such as a flashlight, with a circuit for reducing the initial surge of current that is sent through the lamp filament when a flashlight is turned on is provided. The circuit reduces the stresses placed on the lamp bulb when it is turned on, thereby extending the life expectancy of the lamp bulb. A flashlight with beacon mode that produces light according to a duty cycle of less than 11% is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2006Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Inventor: Stacey H. West
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Patent number: 7723923Abstract: The present utility model discloses an electroluminescent element driving apparatus, which mainly resolves the problems caused by insufficient supplying of an electric power to affect the service life of the apparatus in the prior art. The electroluminescent element driving apparatus disclosed by the present utility model includes a power supply, a controlling IC, an electroluminescent element driving unit, a electroluminescent cell comprised of an electroluminescent element, and a charging unit connected to the power supply. The power supply continually storage's electric power while it supplies the power to the controlling IC and the electroluminescent element driving unit, respectively, the controlling IC supplies a flash to at least one electroluminescent element driving unit, the electroluminescent element driving unit transmits a signal having the flash to the electroluminescent cell, and the electroluminescent cell displays the signal having the flash.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2003Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Inventors: Kwok Ying Joseph Chow, Tan Cheung Ngo, Yu Jiang, Lin Ni
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Patent number: 7723928Abstract: A ballast controller integrated circuit which executes a specific set of instructions via an integrated state diagram architecture to control a fluorescent lamp or high intensity discharge lamp and protect the ballast. The state diagram architecture controls powering up and down of the IC and the half-bridge circuit driven by the IC, preheating and striking of the lamp, running of the lamp, sensing for numerous possible fault conditions, and recovering from these fault conditions based on the normal maintenance of a lamp, while requiring fewer internal and external components than previous electronic ballasts.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2008Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: International Rectifier CorporationInventor: Thomas J. Ribarich
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Patent number: 7723970Abstract: Rather than operating in asynchronous mode during turn-on ramps, a switching power regulator system may be configured to synthesize a digital waveform, which may protect against a pre-bias condition and maintain the desired ramp-up time and rate. The desired turn-on ramp may be generated digitally by counter logic, beginning with an initial value and incrementing at a programmed rate until a digital value equivalent to the desired output voltage is reached. When a pre-bias condition is not present, the output of the digital ramp generator may control a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), which may be configured to generate the reference voltage for the power regulator. To correct for a pre-bias condition, the pre-bias output of the power regulator may be measured prior to turn-on, using an analog-to-digital converter. The digital pre-bias value may be used to control the DAC until the value of the digital waveform generated by the ramp generator reaches the pre-bias value.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2006Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: Zilker Labs, Inc.Inventor: Kenneth W. Fernald
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Patent number: 7723924Abstract: A backlight inverter includes a transformer boosting an input voltage at a ratio of a primary winding to a secondary winding of the transformer and outputting a first voltage and a second voltage; a protection level signal generator causing a phase delay between the first voltage and the second voltage, and generating a protection level signal, the protection level signal being a sum of the phase reversed first voltage and the second voltage; and an arc state detector comparing the protection level signal with a reference voltage and generating a detection signal; and a diving controller maintaining or stopping a supplying of an input voltage to the transformer in response to the detection signal, wherein in addition to the phase delay, another phase delay is caused by an open circuit in the transformer, so that a maximum value of the protection level signal is larger than the reference voltage and the input voltage is stopped.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2008Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Song-Yi Han, Min-Soo Choi, Jin-Taek Hong
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Patent number: 7718977Abstract: In order to reduce the exposure of a detector surface 180 of a photo-multiplier 160 to stray charged particles, an off-axis structure is interposed between the resonant structure and the detector surface of the photo-multiplier. By providing the off-axis structure with at least one reflective surface, photons are reflected toward the detector surface of the photo-multiplier while at the same time absorbing stray charged particles. Stray particles may be absorbed by the reflective surface or by any other part of the off-axis structure. The off-axis structure may additionally be provided with an electrical bias and/or an absorbing coating for absorbing stray charged particles.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2006Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: Virgin Island Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan Gorrell, Mark Davidson
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Patent number: 7719203Abstract: A display apparatus includes a display panel and a backlight assembly including a lamp and an inverter. The inverter includes a main transformer, a main driver and a voltage controller. The main transformer applies a driving alternating current (AC) voltage to the lamp. The main driver generates an output signal controlling the main transformer based on a feedback signal from the main transformer. The voltage controller is electrically connected to a feedback terminal of the main driver to control a maximum level of a voltage applied to the feedback terminal.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2008Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jin-Taek Hong, Song-Yi Han, Byung-Kyou Min
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Patent number: 7719199Abstract: A system and apparatus for controlled fusion in a field reversed configuration (FRC) magnetic topology and conversion of fusion product energies directly to electric power. Preferably, plasma ions are magnetically confined in the FRC while plasma electrons are electrostatically confined in a deep energy well, created by tuning an externally applied magnetic field. In this configuration, ions and electrons may have adequate density and temperature so that upon collisions they are fused together by the nuclear force, thus forming fusion products that emerge in the form of an annular beam. Energy is removed from the fusion product ions as they spiral past electrodes of an inverse cyclotron converter. Advantageously, the fusion fuel plasmas that can be used with the present confinement and energy conversion system include advanced (aneutronic) fuels.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2008Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, University of Florida Research FoundationInventors: Hendrik J. Monkhorst, Norman Rostoker
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Patent number: 7719207Abstract: The present invention is related to the apparatus for driving the light emitting devices with different colors. The input powers of the light emitting devices are measured and controlled by a feedback control system to maintain constant, and by setting different power inputs to the different light emitting devices different stable colors are produced.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2008Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: L&C Lighting Technology CorporationInventors: Bin-Juine Huang, Heng-Lun Tseng, Jong-Fu Yeh, Po-Chien Hsu, Min-Sheng Wu, Shing-Tung Chen, Kuo-Yang Chen
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Patent number: 7719195Abstract: An electrodeless plasma lamp is described comprising a lamp body including a solid dielectric material. The lamp includes a bulb received at least partially within an opening in the solid dielectric material and a radio frequency (RF) feed configured to provide power to the solid dielectric material. A conductive material is provided adjacent to the bulb to concentrate the power proximate the bulb. The conductive material may be located below an upper surface of the solid dielectric material. The conductive material may modify at least a portion of an electric field proximate the bulb so that the portion of the electric field is oriented substantially parallel to an upper surface of the lamp body.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2007Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: Luxim CorporationInventors: Marc DeVincentis, Richard Gilliard
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Patent number: 7714513Abstract: We describe an ultra-small structure that produces visible light of varying frequency, from a single metallic layer. In one example, a row of metallic posts are etched or plated on a substrate according to a particular geometry. When a charged particle beam passed close by the row of posts, the posts and cavities between them cooperate to resonate and produce radiation in the visible spectrum (or even higher). A plurality of such rows of different geometries can be etched or plated from a single metal layer such that the charged particle beam will yield different visible light frequencies (i.e., different colors) using different ones of the rows.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2006Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Assignee: Virgin Islands Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan Gorrell, Mark Davidson, Michael E Maines
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Patent number: 7714517Abstract: A backlight system for use in an LCD display with a driver providing current sink control includes an LED array module, a current feedback circuit, and a current compensation circuit. The LED array module has N columns of LEDs and each LED column has M LEDs connected in serial, wherein the current feedback circuit includes N current feedback units and the current compensation circuit includes N current compensation units, both of the current feedback circuit and the current compensation circuit being electrically coupled to the LED array module. When the backlight system is in operation, a current passes through an LED column, a current feedback unit, and a current compensation unit to generate an output voltage that is used for comparison with a predetermined DC voltage, and the current is compensated based on the results of the comparison.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2007Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Assignee: AU Optronics CorporationInventors: Hung-Min Shih, Tsung-Shiun Lee, Chia-Hung Sun, Huang-De Lin
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Patent number: 7710043Abstract: A discharge-lamp lighting apparatus includes first and second cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) and first and second transformers. The second transformer has a primary winding connected in parallel to one of primary and secondary windings of the first transformer, a first secondary winding, and a second secondary winding. Each of the first and second secondary windings of the second transformer is connected to the secondary winding of the first transformer with polarities being set so that a voltage of each secondary winding of the second transformer becomes additive to a voltage of the secondary winding of the first transformer. The first CCFL is connected in parallel to a series circuit that includes the secondary winding of the first transformer and the first secondary winding of the second transformer.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2007Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hiroshi Usui
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Patent number: 7710046Abstract: Provided is an inverter for driving a backlight such as LCD, wherein the inverter includes a driving circuit for driving at least two of a plurality of lamps; a transformer for connecting the driving circuit to the plurality of lamps; and a balance coil connected to at least two of the plurality of lamps for balancing the current flowing through the at least two of the plurality of lamps, and the balance coil further includes a bobbin having a winding part divided into at least three parts; a core disposed in the bobbin; and first and second coils disposed on the divided winding parts.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2006Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Cheol-jin Park, Ryuichi Kimura, Jin-Gyu Moon
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Patent number: 7710048Abstract: An illuminator includes a primary power supply and a secondary supply. The first power supply includes a primary wire. The secondary power supply includes two energy-recycling units each comprising a magnetically conductive annular core made of iron powder and a secondary wire wound around the magnetically conductive annular core. The primary wire is wound around the energy-recycling units. A first illumination unit is connected to the primary wire. A second illumination unit is connected to the secondary wires. A first pulse modulator is connected to the primary wire and the first illumination unit. A second pulse modulator is connected to the primary wire and the second illumination unit. An oscillator is connected to the primary wire and the first pulse modulator.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2008Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Inventors: Min-Yueh Chiang, Pi-Pai Chang
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Patent number: 7705545Abstract: Backlight unit comprising a supply source (4), a discharge lamp (2) having a tubular discharge vessel (6) with an ionizable filling, three or more electrodes (8, 10, 12) arranged in a row along and external of the vessel at spaced relation to each other. The supply source comprises lamp drivers (14, 16) and data processing means (18). Each pair of different pairs of electrodes is coupled to a corresponding lamp driver. Each lamp driver is suitable to supply a high frequency supply voltage to the pair of electrodes to which the lamp driver is coupled. The data processing means is suitable to process input display data (D) and to control the lamp drivers such that their supplied supply voltages are dependent on the input display data.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2006Date of Patent: April 27, 2010Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventors: Cornelis Versluijs, Marialuce Graziadei, Renatus Willem Clemens Van Der Veeken
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Patent number: 7705541Abstract: An illuminance sensor is formed as a current output type sensor that outputs a current which increases or decreases in an analog manner corresponding to an increasing or decreasing change of the illuminance. A light-emitting device is connected with a detection resistor that detects a current flowing through a light-emitting device. A driving control circuit has a light-emitting device driver that outputs to the light-emitting device a voltage for holding a voltage, which is obtained when a current flowing through the light-emitting device and a current detected by the illuminance sensor flows through the detection resistor, in a predetermined value all the time. The light-emitting device emits a large amount of light in a dark place and emits a small amount of light in a bright place.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2007Date of Patent: April 27, 2010Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Minoru Watanabe, Mitsuru Kano, Minoru Fujiwara
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Patent number: 7701152Abstract: A light-emitting diode control circuit is provided, that includes: a duration selection circuit for selecting one of a first duration value, a second duration value, a third duration value, or a fourth duration value as a selected duration value based on a selection signal; a control clock generator for generating a control clock signal based on a slow clock signal and the selected duration value; a selection signal generator for generating the selection signal based on the control clock signal; an intensity signal generator for generating a current intensity signal based on a first intensity value, a second intensity value, the control clock signal, and the selection signal; a reference wave generator for generating a reference wave based on a fast clock signal; and a comparator for comparing the current intensity signal and the reference wave to generate a pulse width modulation signal to control the light-emitting diode.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2007Date of Patent: April 20, 2010Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventor: Kenneth L Williams