Patents Examined by David Hung Vu
  • Patent number: 8193712
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the monitoring of a plurality of at least three electrical lighting bodies of the same design, comprising a. Imposition on the plurality of lighting bodies of at least one supply signal from at least one ballast device, b. Reading out of at least one parameter for each of the individual lighting bodies in each case, c. Forming of at least one reference value from at least some of the parameters read out from the different lighting bodies, d. Comparison of the reference value with the parameter of each individual one of the lighting bodies, e. Generation of a signal for each lighting body of which the parameter exceeds a specified deviation from the reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Xylem IP Holdings LLC
    Inventor: Jan Boris Loesenbeck
  • Patent number: 8193723
    Abstract: An LED current-balance driving circuit for driving a plurality of LED strings comprises a feedback transformer, a plurality of current-balance transformers, a plurality of full-wave rectifiers and a current control circuit. The feedback transformer has a detecting winding and an outputting winding for outputting a feedback signal. Each of the current-balance transformers has a primary winding and a secondary winding. The primary windings of the current-balance transformers and the detecting winding of the feedback transformer are coupled in series to compose a current-balance loop with an AC power being supplied thereto. Each of the full-wave rectifiers is coupled between a corresponding secondary winding of the current balance transformers and a corresponding LED string of the LED strings. The current control circuit receives the feedback signal and controls the AC power according to the feedback signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Top Victory Investments Ltd.
    Inventors: Shin-An Li, Chi-Hsin Li
  • Patent number: 8186321
    Abstract: An ignition circuit and a method of operating an igniter (preferably a traveling spark igniter) in an internal combustion engine, including a high pressure engine. A high voltage is applied to electrodes of the igniter, sufficient to cause breakdown to occur between the electrodes, resulting in a high current electrical discharge in the igniter, over a surface of an isolator between the electrodes, and formation of a plasma kernel in a fuel-air mixture adjacent said surface. Following breakdown, a sequence of one or more lower voltage and lower current pulses is applied to said electrodes, with a low “simmer” current being sustained through the plasma between pulses, preventing total plasma recombination and allowing the plasma kernel to move toward a free end of the electrodes with each pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Knite, Inc.
    Inventors: Artur P. Suckewer, Szymon Suckewer, Frederick H. Selmon, III
  • Patent number: 8188677
    Abstract: A system and method modify phase delays of a periodic, phase modulated mains voltage to generate at least two independent items of information during each cycle of the periodic input signal. The independent items of information can be generated by, for example, independently modifying leading edge and trailing edge phase delays of each half cycle phase modulated mains voltage. Modifying phase delays for the leading and trailing edges of each half cycle of the phase modulated mains voltage can generate up to four independent items of data. The items of data can be converted into independent control signals to, for example, control drive currents to respective output devices such as light sources to provide multiple items of information per cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Melanson, John J. Paulos
  • Patent number: 8183794
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for the thermal management of one or more light emitting diode (LED) modules disposed within a channel sign are disclosed. The apparatus, in various aspects, detects the ambient temperature generally proximate the LED module and regulates the current flowed onto the LED's within the LED module based upon the ambient temperature. Methods for thermal management of the one or more LED modules disposed within a channel sign are disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Nexxus Lighting, Inc.
    Inventor: Zdenko Grajcar
  • Patent number: 8183785
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of controlling a lighting system with multiple controllable light sources 3a, 3b and a system therefor. According to a first aspect, influence data of the lighting system are obtained, which data represent the effect of one or more of the light sources 3a, 3b on the illumination of one or more sections of an illuminated environment. In an optimization method, sets of control commands are continuously determined, a predicted light distribution for these control commands is determined from the influence data, and a colorimetric difference between the predicted light distribution and a target light distribution is determined. A plurality of adjustment steps are performed to minimize the colorimetric difference. According to a second aspect, a neural network is trained with the influence data and a set of control commands for controlling the lighting system is determined with the use of the neural network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Salvador Expedito Boleko Ribas, Volkmar Schulz, Dirk Valentinus Rene Engelen
  • Patent number: 8179054
    Abstract: An LED power supply (LPS) (10) that is designed to replace conventional fluorescent lamps, which also include Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs). The LPS (10) is comprised of three major elements: a power input circuit (PIC) (12), an LED Power Control Circuit (LPCC) (14) and an LED load 16. The PIC (12) can consist of either a d-c voltage source (12A) or an a-c voltage source (12B). The a-c voltage source (12B) is rectified and filtered to produce a filtered d-c voltage output (11?) prior to being applied to an OR gate (12D) from where a filtered d-c voltage (21) is produced and applied to the LPCC (14) for further processing. The CPCC (14) functions to automatically monitor and adjust both the voltage and the current that is applied to a plurality of LEDS 71 that comprise the LED load 16. The LED load is typically configured in a series-parallel configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Inventors: Zhen Qiu Huang, Guan Xiong Huang
  • Patent number: 8172834
    Abstract: Illumination systems are described that can include one or more light sources, which can include LEDs, one or more lenses, and one or more optical fibers. A handheld, portable, and surgical intraocular illumination system is disclosed that is disposable, low-cost, and efficient. A surgeon can have direct control of turning the illuminator on and off and adjusting the intensity via a simple control ergonomically placed on the handpiece and/or voice activated control. A coupling is provided, such as through an endo-probe, which is coupled to the one or more light sources. A user input device can be included that is operable to transmit to a feedback controller a first signal based on a user-selected light intensity. The feedback controller can, in response to the first signal, transmit a second signal to the power source for altering the power provided by the power source to the illumination system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Doheny Eye Institute
    Inventors: Prashant R. Bhadri, Charles DeBoer, Matthew McCormick, Ralph Kerns, Aaron Barnes, Mark S. Humayun, Jaw-Chyng Lormen Lue
  • Patent number: 8173920
    Abstract: A load control device has a modular assembly to allow for easy adjustment of the aesthetic and the color of the load control device after installation. The load control device comprises a user interface module and a base module. The user interface module includes an actuation member for receiving a user input and a visual display for providing feedback to the user. The base module has a controllably conductive device and a controller for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load. A connector of the base module is adapted to be coupled to a connector of the user interface module, such that the controller is operatively coupled to the actuation member and the visual display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Altonen, Jeremy Nearhoof
  • Patent number: 8169149
    Abstract: Circuit arrangement for operation of discharge lamp comprising an input for connecting a supply alternating current voltage. A startup supply device is provided with an input and an output, where the input is connected to an input of a control circuit and the output is connected to another input of the control circuit. The startup supply device provides a startup supply voltage at the output of the startup supply device and hence reduces the stand-by losses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: OSRAM AG
    Inventor: Juergen Klier
  • Patent number: 8164279
    Abstract: A method for controlling a light source driving circuit is provided. The method includes driving a plurality of serially-connected light sources, and measuring a working parameter of the light sources; shorting the light sources sequentially to find out at least a failed light source, when the working parameter is not measured; and remaining shorting the failed light source, and regulating a brightness of the light sources without having the failed light source according to a newest working parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Chunghwa Picture Tubes, Ltd.
    Inventors: Pi-Lun Chang, Hung-Hsiang Chen, Yi-Nan Chu
  • Patent number: 8154213
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement (10) for operation of a high-pressure discharge lamp having a commutation device (K), which has an input (E1, E2) for coupling to a DC voltage source and has an output (A1, A2) for coupling to the high-pressure discharge lamp (EL). A control apparatus (12) is configured to commutate the polarity with which the voltage (UZW), which is applied to the input (E1, E2) of the commutation device (K), is coupled to the output (A1, A2) of the commutation device (K). A synchronization apparatus (14) is configured to provide a synchronization signal (Sy) at its output (A1, A2). A timer apparatus (16) is configured to produce a commutation initiation signal (KA) at its output (A1, A2), which commutation initiation signal (KA) is synchronized with a predeterminable operating frequency of the high-pressure discharge lamp (EL).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: OSRAM AG
    Inventors: Christian Breuer, Kai Wolter
  • Patent number: 8149189
    Abstract: An organic light emitting diode display includes a first scan switching element controlled in response to a first scan signal from a first scan line and connected between a first data line and a first node, a first storage capacitor connected between the first node and an AC voltage supply line, a first driving switching element controlled in response to a signal applied to the first node and connected between a second node and the AC voltage supply line, a light emitting element connected between a high-level voltage supply line and the second node, a first sensing switching element controlled in response to a first gate signal from a first gate line and connected between the first data line and the second node, a second scan switching element controlled in response to a second scan signal from a second scan line and connected between a second data line and a third node, a second storage capacitor connected between the third node and the AC voltage supply line, and a second driving switching element controll
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: LG. Display Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung-Tae Kim, Han-Jin Bae, Won-Kyu Ha, Ji-Hun Kim
  • Patent number: 8148919
    Abstract: A driving circuit for powering a light-emitting diode (LED) light source includes a converter circuit, an energy storage element and a switch element. The converter circuit provides a first output voltage on a first power line to provide power to the LED light source and provides a second output voltage on a second power line that is less than the first output voltage. The energy storage element is charged and discharged to regulate a current through the LED light source. The switch element operates in a first state during which the energy storage element is charged and operates in a second state during which the energy storage element is discharged. The converter circuit provides the second output voltage to maintain an operating voltage across the switch element less than the first output voltage during both the first state and the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: O2Micro, Inc
    Inventors: Da Liu, Yung Lin Lin
  • Patent number: 8148905
    Abstract: An AC LED package and circuits are disclosed along with an AC LED driver. The AC LED circuit may include as few as one LED or an array of anti-parallel LEDs driven with AC power sources and AC LED drivers at various voltages and frequencies. The AC LEDs are pre-packaged in various forms and materials and designed for mains or high frequency coupling in various forms to AC power sources, inverter type drivers or packages. The AC LED driver is a fixed frequency driver that provides a relatively constant voltage output to different size loads within the wattage limitation of the driver and in some cases is a direct mains power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Lynk Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Miskin, James Anderson
  • Patent number: 8143800
    Abstract: A circuit for driving a load includes a power line, converter circuitry, and a controller. The power line is operable for providing an input current and an input voltage. The converter circuitry coupled to the power line is operable for converting the input voltage to a regulated voltage to drive the load, and for providing a current detection signal indicating whether a converter current flowing through the converter circuitry drops to a predetermined level. The controller coupled to the converter circuitry is operable for correcting a power factor of the circuit based on the current detection signal and the input voltage such that a waveform of the input current follows a waveform of the input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: O2Micro, Inc.
    Inventors: Da Liu, Ching-Chuan Kuo, Sheng-Tai Lee
  • Patent number: 8138875
    Abstract: An inductive power supply system for providing power to one or more inductively powered devices. The system includes a mechanism for varying the physical distance or the respective orientation between the primary coil and secondary coil to control the amount of power supplied to the inductively powered device. In another aspect, the present invention is directed to an inductive power supply system having a primary coil and a receptacle disposed within the magnetic field generated by the primary coil. One or more inductively powered devices are placed randomly within the receptacle to receive power inductively from the primary coil. The power supply circuit includes circuitry for adjusting the power supplied to the primary coil to optimize operation based on the position and cumulative characteristics of the inductively powered device(s) disposed within the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC
    Inventors: David W. Baarman, Stephen J. McPhilliamy, Christopher Houghton
  • Patent number: 8138683
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for controlling a series circuit current of a lighting installation at an airfield or the like, in which case the series circuit current which flows through transformers which are arranged on the secondary side of an output transformer and are connected in series, in order to supply lighting appliances is controlled by means of a thyristor module, which is arranged on the primary side of the output transformer and has a variable trigger angle, in which case, when a control unit is in a constant-current mode, the trigger angle is set in such a manner that a series circuit current which corresponds essentially to a rated output current flows. The invention also relates to a constant-current regulator for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: ADB BVBA
    Inventors: Pierre Catoul, Daniel Tessens, Jean-Claude Vandevoorde
  • Patent number: 8134311
    Abstract: The invention relates to a light source for generating light having a spectral emittance in at least a part of the range of 380 nm to 780 nm, the light having a spectral power distribution E(?) as a function of the wavelength ?, and a general color-rendering index Ra, wherein the ratio of the integral spectral power distribution over a first range of 575 nm???650 nm to that of a second range of 380 nm???780 nm is given by the relation: and wherein Bb, ?0.15 and Ra?20. The light generated by the light source has a relatively small disturbing effect on migrating birds, while it still allows acceptable visibility for human beings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Maurice Alexander Hugo Donners, Cornelis Jojakim Jalink, Gerardus Arnoldus Rita Van Dijk, Vincent Fischer, Hans Van Sprang
  • Patent number: 8129917
    Abstract: An AC light emitting device is disclosed. The AC light emitting device includes at least four substrates. Serial arrays each of which has a plurality of light emitting cells connected in series are positioned on the substrates, respectively. Meanwhile, first connector means electrically connect the serial arrays formed on respective different substrates. At least two array groups each of which has at least two of the serial arrays connected in series by the first connector means are formed. The at least two array groups are connected in reverse parallel to operate. Accordingly, there is provided an AC light emitting device capable of being driven under an AC power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Seoul Opto Device Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae Won Kim, Dae Sung Kal