Patents Examined by Jianzi Chen
  • Device for supplying a plurality of LED units with power
    Patent number: 9468057
    Abstract: A device for supplying a plurality of LED units with power includes a common DC/DC converter which delivers a regulated output voltage and to which a plurality of sections are connected, each having a buck converter and an LED unit connected thereto, and means for regulating or setting the section currents to be supplied to the LED units. In order to simplify the device, the means for regulating or setting the section currents are formed by a central, common processor, which is supplied with actual values in keeping with the individual section currents and connected to corresponding control inputs of the respective buck converters for applying control values calculated on the basis of the actual values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Christian Stöger
  • Illumination system
    Patent number: 9462653
    Abstract: An illumination system includes different color LEDs, a controller, and an input device. The controller controls intensities of the LEDs. The input device accepts an input corresponding to a total color of the LEDs. The input device includes a display, a pointer, and an output circuit. The display displays a chromaticity diagram. The pointer specifies a color point in the diagram. The output circuit detects the coordinates of the point and provides them to the controller. The controller includes a limiter, and a calculator. The limiter provides a limiter signal for limiting the maximum output the LED. The calculator calculates outputs of the LEDs based on the coordinates and the limiter signal so that the total color is adjusted to the point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: DAISHO DENKI INC.
    Inventor: Yoshio Monjo
  • Method and apparatus for increasing dimming range of solid state lighting fixtures
    Patent number: 9456486
    Abstract: A device for controlling levels of light output by a solid state lighting load at low dimming levels includes a bleed circuit connected in parallel with the solid state lighting load. The bleed circuit includes a resistor and a transistor connected in series, the transistor being configured to turn on and off in accordance with a duty cycle of a digital control signal when a dimming level set by a dimmer is less than a predetermined first threshold, decreasing an effective resistance of the bleed circuit as the dimming level decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Michael Datta, Gregory Campbell, Mark Rabiner
  • System and method for controlling a plurality of light fixture outputs
    Patent number: 9451668
    Abstract: A method of controlling a plurality of light fixtures. The method includes detecting the light outputs of a plurality of light fixtures and detecting a reflection of light from a surface. The light outputs and the reflection of light are analyzed. Differences among the light outputs of the plurality of light fixtures are determined, and a difference between the reflection of light and a desired reflection of light is determined. New or updated values for output color, output brightness, and/or output spectra are determined for the plurality of light fixtures such that the light outputs of the light fixtures are consistent and correspond to a desired light output, and such that the reflection of light corresponds to the desired reflection of light. Each of the plurality of light fixtures is then driven using respective light source output values to produce the desired light outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Bewick, Joshua Jordan, Timothy G. Robbins
  • Light emitting device for AC power operation
    Patent number: 9445462
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved light-emitting device for an AC power operation. A conventional light emitting device employs an AC light-emitting diode having arrays of light emitting cells connected in reverse parallel. The arrays in the prior art alternately repeat on/off in response to a phase change of an AC power source, resulting in short light emission time during a ½ cycle and the occurrence of a flicker effect. An AC light-emitting device according to the present invention employs a variety of means by which light emission time is prolonged daring a ½ cycle in response to a phase change of an AC power source and a flicker effect can be reduced. For example, the means may be switching blocks respectively connected to nodes between the light emitting cells, switching blocks connected to a plurality of arrays, or a delay phosphor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: SEOUL VIOSYS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chung Hoon Lee, James S. Speck, Hong San Kim, Jae Jo Kim, Sung Han Kim, Jae Ho Lee
  • Multi-stage LED lighting systems
    Patent number: 9426855
    Abstract: Multi-stage LED drivers and lighting systems are disclosed. The lighting system comprises a bridge rectifier receiving power from an AC power line source, two or more current limiting devices, and a string of LEDs having a corresponding number of LED lamps connected in electrical series. Each of the current limiting devices is coupled to and provides current to the corresponding LED. When the instantaneous voltage of the alternating current source is near zero volts, no significant current flows through the string of LEDs. As the instantaneous voltage from the bridge rectifier increases beyond the forward voltages of the LEDs in the string, the current limiting devices energize and provide current to the corresponding LEDs as well as the LEDs connected to the cathode of the corresponding LED. The equivalent circuits of the lighting system vary throughout the power cycle of the AC line power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: AMERICAN BRIGHT LIGHTING, INC.
    Inventors: George Lee, Stanley Chen
  • Inductively coupled ballast circuit
    Patent number: 9397524
    Abstract: A ballast circuit is disclosed for inductively providing power to a load. The ballast circuit includes an oscillator, a driver, a switching circuit, a resonant tank circuit and a current sensing circuit. The current sensing circuit provides a current feedback signal to the oscillator that is representative of the current in the resonant tank circuit. The current feedback signal drives the frequency of the ballast circuit causing the ballast circuit to seek resonance. The ballast circuit preferably includes a current limit circuit that is inductively coupled to the resonant tank circuit. The current limit circuit disables the ballast circuit when the current in the ballast circuit exceeds a predetermined threshold or falls outside a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC
    Inventors: Roy W. Kuennen, David W. Baarman, Scott A. Mollema, Ronald C. Markham, Dennis J. Denen
  • Visible light communications using a remote control
    Patent number: 9386643
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the disclosure, a lighting system comprises a remote control unit (4) and at least one lighting device (2a, 2b, 2c) comprising a light driver (13) and a light emitter (14). The remote control unit (4) comprises an image capturing unit (5) and is arranged to control the lighting device (2a, 2b, 2c). To do so, the remote control unit (4) receives information relating to current/present settings of the image capturing unit (5), then determines one or more properties of signals for visible light communications based on these settings. The one or more properties are then communicated to the at least one lighting device (2a, 2b, 2c). Upon reception thereof the light driver (13) generates a light emitting control signal based on the received properties and visible light communications based on the light emitting control signal is emitted by the light emitter (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Lorenzo Feri, Stephanus Joseph Johannes Nijssen, Constant Paul Marie Jozef Baggen, Tommaso Gritti, Ruben Rajagopalan, Frederik Jan De Bruijn, Hongming Yang
  • Low flicker LED driving circuit with high power factor
    Patent number: 9380669
    Abstract: An LED-based lighting apparatus comprises a rectified AC voltage source having a rectified output connected to a storage capacitor through a switching device, a plurality of LED segments controlled by a linear driving circuit and at least one charging path connected between the LED segments and the storage capacitor. One or more controllable linear LED driving units may be connected in parallel with the storage capacitor to provide balance between reducing flicker and increasing power factor of the lighting apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: VastView Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Hung-Chi Chu, Yuhren Shen
  • AC LED lamps and control methods thereof
    Patent number: 9374863
    Abstract: A LED lamp has LED groups, a path controller, a power bank, and a bank controller. The LED groups are arranged in series between a rectified input voltage and a ground voltage. The path controller controls path switches, each path switch for coupling a corresponding LED group to the ground voltage. The power bank is coupled between the rectified input voltage and the ground voltage, having a capacitor and a discharge switch. The capacitor is configured to be charged when the rectified input voltage exceeds a capacitor voltage of the capacitor. The discharge switch is connected between the capacitor and the rectified input voltage. The bank controller determines a connection period and controls the discharge switch in response to a signal turning ON one of path switches, in order to make the capacitor capable of being discharged to the rectified input voltage during the connection period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Analog Integrations Corporation
    Inventor: Jing-Chyi Wang
  • Limited flicker light emitting diode string
    Patent number: 9347630
    Abstract: A limited flicker decorative light-emitting diode (LED) string includes a power plug adapted to connect to an alternating current (AC) power source and supply AC power to the LED string, a first pair of LEDs and a second pair of LEDs, a plurality of LEDs electrically connected in series to form an LED series, and a plurality of rectifying diodes. The plurality of rectifying diodes provides full-wave rectification of the AC power to the LED series and half-wave rectification of the AC power to the first and second pair of LEDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Seasonal Specialties, LLC
    Inventors: Robert C. Neuman, Steven J. Altamura
  • Managing streetlights
    Patent number: 9345111
    Abstract: This disclosure describes systems and techniques for managing streetlights. The subject matter included in this document is embodied in a method that includes receiving, at a computing device, information representative of a location and status of a streetlight included in a network of streetlights. The method also includes presenting a representation of the streetlight in a graphical user-interface in accordance with the received location and status information, and receiving information representing a selection of the streetlight for inclusion in a group of streetlights from the network. The method further includes initiating delivery of one or more control signals to the group of streetlights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: CIMCON Lighting, Inc.
    Inventor: Anil Agrawal
  • Circuitry to control a switching regulator
    Patent number: 9337727
    Abstract: In one aspect, a circuit includes a switching regulator configured to provide power to a load, a current regulator circuit coupled to the load and a response circuit configured to provide a control signal to the switching regulator in response to electrical changes of the current regulator circuit. The control signal changes non-linearly with respect to the electrical changes at the current regulator circuit. In another aspect, a circuit includes an adaptive regulation voltage circuit configured to provide a regulation voltage to a first input of an amplifier to maintain operability of a current regulator circuit. The adaptive regulation voltage circuit replicates electrical characteristics of the current regulator circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Szczeszynski, Matthew Szaniawski
  • Off-grid LED power failure lights
    Patent number: 9338839
    Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for systems and methods that employ a control component and/or power source integrated in an LED based light source to control and/or power the LED light source wirelessly. In embodiments, the LED based light source may take the form of a standard light bulb that plugs into a standard lighting socket or fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Wireless Environment, LLC
    Inventors: Michael V. Recker, David B. Levine
  • Method for controlling a multi-color signal assembly, and multi-color signal assembly
    Patent number: 9332611
    Abstract: A method for controlling a multi-color signal assembly with a multi-color LED, a connection for voltage supply, and a control input. The control input is connected to a control output of a first control unit for controlling the signal assembly by pulse-width modulation signals (PWM signals) or to a signal assembly control output by the bus communication. After a supply voltage UB is connected, voltage UDI/BUS at the control input is measured within a predetermined time span ?t, wherein the first and second control units have respective first and second voltages at the control input within the time span ?t, wherein the first and second voltage are different. The signal assembly is placed in a BUS mode or in a PWM mode depending on the measured voltage UDI/BUS, can be controlled by bus communication in the BUS mode, and can be controlled by PWM signals in the PWM mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: EATON ELECTRICAL IP GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Georg Reidt
  • Trailing-edge-phase-controlled light modulating circuit
    Patent number: 9326353
    Abstract: A single-pole (two-wire system) phase-controlled trailing-edge light-modulating circuit comprises a full-bridge rectification circuit, a power supply circuit, a light-modulating control circuit, and a voltage detection circuit. The light-modulating control circuit utilizes a CMOS chip and controls a field effect transistor by detecting specific voltage level to perform a trailing-edge phase control action for modulating light output of resistively and/or capacitively loaded light bulbs, e.g. LED light bulbs. The light-modulating control circuit connects to various lighting loads in series. In addition, the triggering circuit and the power supply circuit of are independent to avoid mutual restrictions to each other that might affect the adjustment of the maximum conduction phase angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Inventor: Yung Pun Cheng
  • LED controller comprising a clocked current source
    Patent number: 9326351
    Abstract: The invention relates to an LED driver circuit comprising: a circuit block for providing an adjustable DC voltage and a clocked constant current source, e.g. a DC/DC converter that is supplied with the DC voltage, comprising a switch that is clocked by a control circuit in such a way that a reduction of the activation period ton of the switch leads to a reduction in the provision of power. One or more LEDs can be supplied from the constant current source and in addition to reducing the activation period t0N, the control unit is designed to change at least one other control variable of the constant current source or the circuit block in order to provide the direct current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Tridonic AG
    Inventors: Michael Zimmermann, Eduardo Pereira
  • LED output response dampening for irradiance step response output
    Patent number: 9320090
    Abstract: A system and method for operating one or more light emitting devices is disclosed. In one example, the intensity of light provided by the one or more light emitting devices is adjusted responsive to follow a step change in requested lighting output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Phoseon Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ognyan Moore, Paul Eddy
  • LED drive current adjustment for irradiance step response output
    Patent number: 9313854
    Abstract: A system and method for operating one or more light emitting devices is disclosed. In one example, the intensity of light provided by the one or more light emitting devices is adjusted responsive to a temperature of the one or more light emitting device. The light is adjusted via modifying a current supplied to the one or more light emitting devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Phoseon Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ognyan Moore, Paul Eddy, Jeff Smith
  • Inductively coupled ballast circuit
    Patent number: 9299493
    Abstract: A ballast circuit is disclosed for inductively providing power to a load. The ballast circuit includes an oscillator, a driver, a switching circuit, a resonant tank circuit and a current sensing circuit. The current sensing circuit provides a current feedback signal to the oscillator that is representative of the current in the resonant tank circuit. The current feedback signal drives the frequency of the ballast circuit causing the ballast circuit to seek resonance. The ballast circuit preferably includes a current limit circuit that is inductively coupled to the resonant tank circuit. The current limit circuit disables the ballast circuit when the current in the ballast circuit exceeds a predetermined threshold or falls outside a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC
    Inventors: Roy W. Kuennen, David W. Baarman, Scott A. Mollema, Ronald C. Markham, Dennis J. Denen