Patents Examined by Tuyet Vo
  • Patent number: 9918363
    Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) lighting device includes a circuit for receiving an input power from a power source and outputting a rectified power, an LED unit including a plurality of LED channels connected in series, each LED channel having a front end and a rear end, a current sensing resistor, and a switch circuit unit. The switch circuit unit includes a plurality of switches, and an Nth switch is connected to the rear end of an Nth LED channel so as to control an operation of the nth LED channel, and is controlled by a sum of a current of the Nth switch and a current of an (N+1)th switch, which flows through the current sensing resistor. Forward voltages of the LED channels are unevenly redistributed so as to keep power consumption between the Nth switch and the (N+1)th switch substantially same, and N is a positive integer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: LUMENS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Myeong-Kook Gong, Kyung Ho Yoo, Kil Ho Choo, Jong Il Kim, Young June Lee, Seung Jong Han, Yong-Wook Cho
  • Patent number: 9913346
    Abstract: A protection system for an LED driver includes a voltage rail, an input voltage source, and a surge protector connected between the input voltage source and the voltage rail. The voltage change sensing block detects a change in a voltage associated with the input voltage source. The protection system further includes a voltage sensing block connected to the voltage change sensor. A half-bridge switching circuit may include a switch controller, a first switching element, and a second switching element. The switch controller controls an operating state of each of the first switching element and the second switching element. A reset block disables at least one of the switch controller, the first sensing element, and the second switching element, responsive to a control signal associated with at least one of the voltage change sensing block and the voltage sensing block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL LIGHTING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Wei Xiong, Scott Price
  • Patent number: 9881551
    Abstract: A drive circuit for a light emitting element which can correct a threshold voltage of a drive transistor between two reference voltages without a reset power supply. The drive circuit includes a light emitting element, a drive transistor for controlling an amount of current, a first switching element that is arranged between the light emitting element and the drive transistor, a second switching element that is arranged between the drive transistor and the second reference voltage, a third switching element that is arranged between a gate, and one of a source and a drain of the drive transistor, a fourth switching element that is connected to the other of the source and the drain of the drive transistor, and controls input of signal voltage, and a first capacitor connected to the gate of the drive transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Toshio Miyazawa, Mitsuhide Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 9812218
    Abstract: A pulse is inputted to TFTs 101 and 104 so that the TFTs would turn ON and then potential of a node ? rises. When the potential of the node ? reaches (VDD?VthN), the node ? became in a floating state. Accordingly, a TFT 105 then turns ON, and potential of an output node rises as a clock signal reaches the level H. On the other hand, potential of a gate electrode of the TFT 105 further rises due to an operation of capacitance 107 as the potential of the output node rises, so that the potential of the output node would be higher than (VDD+VthN). Thus, the potential of the output node rises to VDD without voltage drop caused by a threshold of the TFT 105.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Munehiro Azami, Shou Nagao, Yoshifumi Tanada
  • Patent number: 9807846
    Abstract: Single channel digital addressable lighting interface (DALI) systems can include a dedicated external power supply that operates in a constant voltage/constant current mode to meet requirements of the DALI bus. A lighting controller is powered from the DALI bus. In one embodiment of the inventive subject matter, a lighting system is provided that includes two or more control (e.g., DALI) buses and a multichannel power supply that can be used for powering a controller of the system with constant voltage and to power separate control buses with separate and constant current. In order to protect the controller and buses from overloads caused by miswiring or other erroneous conditions, a protection circuit assembly is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Tamás Darányi, Lajos Csibi, Gábor Pap
  • Patent number: 9807831
    Abstract: A lighting unit (100) includes light emitting diode (LED) modules (120, 300) and a lighting driver (110, 200) connected to the LED modules. Each LED module includes LEDs (323) and an identification current source (324) supplying an identification current to an identification current output node (180, 380). All of the identification current output nodes are connected together to supply a total identification current having a magnitude which changes in response to the number of LED modules that are connected to the lighting driver. The lighting driver includes: a controllable current source (220 & 250) to supply an LED driving current to the LEDs of the LED modules, and a controller (230) that responds to the total identification current to control the controllable current source to supply the LED driving current at a magnitude which changes in response to the number of LED modules that are connected to the lighting driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventor: Tijmen Cornelis Van Bodegraven
  • Patent number: 9800049
    Abstract: A harmonics correction circuit is implemented as an independent device (such as a SiP or ASIC), and includes (1) a first node, (2) a second node, (3) a first current path extending from the first node to the second node, (4) a second current extending from the first node to ground, (5) a third current path extending from the first node to the second node, (6) a sense resistor electrically connected to the second node and to ground, (7) a differential circuit (e.g., a differential amplifier or other type of operational amplifier (“op-amp”)) that has a first input, a second input, and an output, (8) a transistor comprising a gate that is electrically connected to the output of the differential circuit, a drain that is electrically connected to the third current path, and a source that is electrically connected along the third current path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Luis Sam, Eric Johannessen, Brendan Upton
  • Patent number: 9797587
    Abstract: An electrical interface module (EIM) is provided between an LED illumination device and a light fixture. The EIM includes an arrangement of contacts that are adapted to be coupled to an LED illumination device and a second arrangement of contacts that are adapted to be coupled to the light fixture and may include a power converter. Additionally, an LED selection module may be included to selectively turn on or off LEDs. A communication port may be included to transmit information associated with the LED illumination device, such as identification, indication of lifetime, flux, etc. The lifetime of the LED illumination device may be measured and communicated, e.g., by an RF signal, IR signal, wired signal or by controlling the light output of the LED illumination device. An optic that is replaceably mounted to the LED illumination device may include, e.g., a flux sensor that is connected to the electrical interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Xicato, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerard Harbers, Gregory W. Eng, Christopher R. Reed, Peter K. Tseng, John S. Yriberri
  • Patent number: 9788376
    Abstract: An example LED backlight driving circuit includes: an LED circuit including a plurality of LED columns that are connected in parallel, each of LED column including one or more LEDs that are connected in series; an LED control circuit connected to constant current circuits corresponding to a parallel number of the LED columns, the LED control circuit including a circuit that controls ON/OFF of a driving current of the LED and a dimming determination circuit that outputs a control signal capable of arbitrarily setting the driving current according to a dimming signal. The LED control circuit performs control based on first driving in which dimming is performed by varying a current value of the driving current of the LED and second driving in which the ON/OFF of the driving current is controlled in addition to the varying of the current value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: NLT TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Setsuko Mio
  • Patent number: 9788388
    Abstract: A method for controlling an illumination system having a plurality of colored light sources, with a plurality of colors including at least a first and a second color different from the first one, the illumination system for emitting illumination light and the sources controlled by control signals to provide respective luminances and hence a luminance and a color point of the system. The method having the steps of measuring at different instants the luminance of the system, determining at each measurement the active light sources and, hence, the emitted colors, determining the different luminances of the different colors and, hence, the variations of the luminance of the system and retro-modifying the control signals to reduce the variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: BARCO N.V.
    Inventors: Jurgen Hector Ooghe, Jeroen Lisbeth Remi Boonen
  • Patent number: 9775213
    Abstract: A lighting arrangement is disclosed having a first light source with a dominant wavelength in the range of 505 nm to 520 nm; and a second light source having a dominant wavelength in the range of from 580 nm to 630 nm. The lighting arrangement has at least one control means for adjusting the output of the first light source independent from the light output of the second light source. The control means allows for providing an optimum spectral balance under varying luminance levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Gemex Consultancy B.V.
    Inventor: Johannes Otto Rooymans
  • Patent number: 9769891
    Abstract: A driver circuit of lighting sources for powering a plurality of lighting sources, comprising switching means (20) which can be operated to modify the path of the overall power supply electric current crossing said lighting sources. Said switching means can be operated to switch the path of the overall power supply electric current between at least one first path, corresponding to a first circuit configuration of the interconnections between the lighting sources, and at least one second path, corresponding to a second circuit configuration of the interconnections between the lighting sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Automotive Lighting Italia S.p.A. a Socio Unico
    Inventors: Davide Baccarin, Andrea Englaro
  • Patent number: 9763306
    Abstract: Methods, devices, systems, and non-transitory process-readable storage media for controlling lighting nodes of a lighting system associated with a lighting infrastructure based on composited lighting models. An embodiment method performed by a processor of a computing device may include operations for obtaining a plurality of lighting model outputs generated by lighting control algorithms that utilize sensor data obtained from one or more sensor nodes within the lighting infrastructure, combining the plurality of lighting model outputs in an additive fashion to generate a composited lighting model, calculating lighting parameters for a lighting node within the lighting infrastructure based on the composited lighting model and other factors, and generating a lighting control command for configuring the lighting node within the lighting infrastructure using the calculated lighting parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Sensity Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher David Sachs, Peter Raymond Florence
  • Patent number: 9763301
    Abstract: A method of providing power to solid state lighting is disclosed. The method includes starting a first cycle by providing current to the solid state lighting system, monitoring a solid state lighting system current level, and reducing the solid state lighting system current level when a predetermined peak current level is reached. A second cycle is commenced by increasing the solid state lighting system current level when a predetermined minimum current level is reached. Corresponding apparatus and computer-readable medium are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Chemtron Research LLC
    Inventors: Anatoly Shteynberg, Harry Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 9756710
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for a networked lighting system are described herein. One system includes a controller for a networked lighting system, comprising, a memory and a processor configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to receive, from an image sensor, positions of a number of luminaires in a networked lighting system of a building. The controller further configured to create a lighting map of the networked lighting system based on the received number of luminaire positions and change an address assigned to at least one of the number of luminaires based on the lighting map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Sahand Ghanoun, Nicholas Thomas Kesteven
  • Patent number: 9732914
    Abstract: Provided is a Light Emitting Diode (LED) lamp. The LED lamp includes: four external connection pins including at least two connection pins connected to a ballast stabilizer for a fluorescent lamp; an LED array in which a plurality of LEDs are connected in series; and at least a pair of capacitors formed between the LED array and the external connection pin, wherein in each of the at least a pair of capacitors, two polarized capacitors are connected in series with a back-to-back method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignees: KUMHO ELECTRIC INC.
    Inventor: Myung Koo Park
  • Patent number: 9730308
    Abstract: An example synchrocyclotron includes the following: a voltage source to provide a radio frequency (RF) voltage to a cavity to accelerate particles from a particle source; a coil to receive a variable electrical current and to generate a magnetic field that is at least 4 Tesla to cause the particles to move orbitally within the cavity; and an extraction channel to receive the accelerated particles and to output the received particles from the cavity. The particles that are output from the cavity have an energy that is variable based at least on the variable electrical current applied to the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Mevion Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerrit Townsend Zwart, Charles D. O'Neal, III, Ken Yoshiki Franzen
  • Patent number: 9723668
    Abstract: A switching converter for supplying power to a load, includes: an output circuit including at least a switching transistor, an inductive element, and a rectifying element configured to rectify a current flowing to the inductive element according to switching of the switching transistor; a control circuit configured to drive the switching transistor; a first capacitor configured to generate a power source voltage for the control circuit between both ends of the first capacitor; a start-up circuit installed between an input line to the switching converter and the first capacitor and configured to charge the first capacitor with an input voltage of the input line; and a discharge circuit configured to discharge the first capacitor when the switching converter is started up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ryo Kato
  • Patent number: 9723684
    Abstract: An LED backlight driving circuit is disclosed. The present disclosure relates to the technical field of display, whereby the technical problem of the incorrect detection of the short circuit detection module when the open circuit malfunction occurs to one LED backlight unit and the output voltage of the LED backlight driving circuit rises can be solved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology, Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hua Zhang
  • Patent number: 9717130
    Abstract: A wall-mounted keypad may include a light detector circuit located inside the keypad that is configured to measure an ambient light level in a space. The light detector circuit may receive ambient light through an aperture that is hidden from view by the keypad. The keypad may include a reflector for directing ambient light onto the light detector circuit. The keypad may include an enclosure that houses the light detector circuit. The enclosure may define a recess that exposes at least a portion of the light detector circuit. The enclosure may include a reflector that may focus ambient light received through the aperture onto the light detector circuit. The keypad may include a control circuit that may be configured to illuminate the indicia of respective buttons of the control device in response to actuations of the one or more buttons, in accordance with the measured ambient light level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: William Taylor Shivell, Matthew Philip McDonald