Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to providing an integrated circuit package having (a) a bypass circuit in parallel with an inductor and (b) a logic circuit configured to control the bypass circuit for conductivity modulation. In an illustrative example, in response to a corresponding load transient, the logic circuit may include a state machine configured to generate different control signals for the bypass circuit to control the timing and/or quantity of energy transfer from the inductor to a load. The bypass circuit may include a first semiconductor switch and a second semiconductor switch connected in anti-series. In some implementations, the power stage and the bypass circuit may be operated, for example, in numerous operational modes to dynamically modulate conductivity across the terminals of the inductor in a power supply to advantageously result in a smaller undershoot and overshoot.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to providing an integrated circuit package having (a) a bypass circuit in parallel with an inductor and (b) a logic circuit configured to control the bypass circuit for conductivity modulation. In an illustrative example, in response to a corresponding load transient, the logic circuit may include a state machine configured to generate different control signals for the bypass circuit to control the timing and/or quantity of energy transfer from the inductor to a load. The bypass circuit may include a first semiconductor switch and a second semiconductor switch connected in anti-series. In some implementations, the power stage and the bypass circuit may be operated, for example, in numerous operational modes to dynamically modulate conductivity across the terminals of the inductor in a power supply to advantageously result in a smaller undershoot and overshoot.

Abstract: An auto-compensation method for compensating power regulators configured to generate a regulated output voltage. Auto-compensation may be performed dynamically by determining various coefficients of a compensation function used in compensating the power regulator, based on assumptions about the structure of the regulator and corresponding filters. The method may be used to determine at least the DC loop gain and the position of the compensation zeros, without requiring any prior knowledge of the values of the various components of the system. Furthermore, the selection of the compensation parameters (loop gain, position of zeroes) may be based on measurement of various state variables of the actual power converter, and adjustment of the various coefficients of the compensation function according to the measurements. Since no power-plant model of the power regulator is used, inaccuracies that would be inherent using any method that employs a model of the system instead of the system itself may be eliminated.

Abstract: An auto-compensation method for compensating power regulators configured to generate a regulated output voltage. Auto-compensation may be performed dynamically by determining various coefficients of a compensation function used in compensating the power regulator, based on assumptions about the structure of the regulator and corresponding filters. The method may be used to determine at least the DC loop gain and the position of the compensation zeros, without requiring any prior knowledge of the values of the various components of the system. Furthermore, the selection of the compensation parameters (loop gain, position of zeroes) may be based on measurement of various state variables of the actual power converter, and adjustment of the various coefficients of the compensation function according to the measurements. Since no power-plant model of the power regulator is used, inaccuracies that would be inherent using any method that employs a model of the system instead of the system itself may be eliminated.

Abstract: A method for associating a group of lighting units in a wireless-controlled lighting system to respective buttons or other control elements on a remote control. Each of the lighting units transmits, via modulation of its own illumination light, a unique identification code for the respective unit. The remote control is successively positioned to receive the modulated light from each lighting unit and, at each position, the user activates a respective control element of the remote control for association with the lighting unit. The remote control then transmits to a control master for the group the unique codes and codes identifying the respective control elements with which they have been associated.

Abstract: A current-sense circuit for measuring a load current in a switching power regulator may operate independently of process variation and temperature, and measure bi-directional load currents without requiring high-speed, high-voltage amplifiers for operation. A positive sense voltage may be generated for positive and/or negative values of a switch current conducted by a power switching device in the switching power regulator, by applying a linear transformation to a switch voltage developed across the power switching device according to the switch current. A first sense current may be generated by applying the positive sense voltage across a matching switching device having a same channel length as the power switching device. A second sense current may be generated independently of the switch voltage, and a total sense current that is proportional to the switch current may be calculated by subtracting the second current from the first current.

Abstract: A high resolution pulse width modulation (PWM) or voltage controlled output (DCO) generator is disclosed. The resolution is increased over that of the circuit clock by delaying the generated signal through a series of delays, all of which are controlled by a delay locked loop. The delays are a small fraction of the clock period, thus providing resolution greater than that of the circuit clock.

Abstract: A method of operating a light source (100) including a ballast (110) in electrical communication with a lamp (120). The method includes operating the ballast (110) to determine (920) an average lamp power to be applied to the lamp (120) during a data period. The method further includes operating the ballast (110) to generate and communicate (930) a pulse width modulated drive signal to the lamp (120) during the data period, the pulse width modulated drive signal having one of a first waveform and a second waveform for applying the average lamp power to the lamp (120), the first waveform including at least one pulse representative of a first data bit, the second waveform including at least one pulse representative of a second data bit.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for transmitting data in a video signal by modulating a brightness level of the video signal. The invention comprises a video display unit that is capable of encoding data into a brightness level of a video signal and creating brightness modulated video images for display on a display screen. The invention also comprises a brightness modulated data receiver unit that is capable of receiving the brightness modulated video images from the display screen and decoding the data that is encoded in the brightness modulated video images. The modulation of the brightness level of the video signal is adjusted so that changes in the brightness level of the video signal are not perceptible to human vision.

Abstract: A LED system (100) for illumination and data transmission employs a LED driver (110), an electronic switch (130), and an illumination unit (150). In a first illumination state, illumination unit (150) receives LED current(s) from LED driver (110) to emit a first light output. In a second illumination state, the illumination unit (150) receives additional LED current(s) from LED driver 110 via the electronic switch as controlled by the LED driver where the illumination unit (150) additionally emits a second light output. LED system (100) optically communicates a data bit with each transition of the illumination unit (150) from the first illumination state to the second illumination state, and vice-versa.

Abstract: The present invention provides a master-slave architecture for a radio frequency RF networked lighting control system having all slave elements (ballasts) configured as backups for a network master control unit. In the system and method of the present invention a slave element can become the network master network unit without reconfiguring the network and without any human intervention. Similarly, both a master and one or more slave elements may recover from a temporary outage without necessitating reconfiguration of the network and without any human intervention.

Abstract: A position dependent information retrieval system is disclosed including a light source having a driver and an encoder. The driver and the encoder are coupled to the light source so that the light source produces a modulated light signal in accordance with a predetermined signature. The system also includes a receiver having a photosensitive detector capable of detecting the modulated light signal and a decoder capable of decoding the predetermined signature. A controller is communicatively coupled to the receiver, a memory and output device. The controller is arranged to receive the decoded predetermined signature, based upon the decoded predetermined signature, obtain at least one localized message in the memory, and output the localized message using the output device.

Abstract: A high resolution pulse width modulation (PWM) or voltage controlled output (DCO) generator is disclosed. The resolution is increased over that of the circuit clock by delaying the generated signal through a series of delays, all of which are controlled by a delay locked loop. The delays are a small fraction of the clock period, thus providing resolution greater than that of the circuit clock.

Abstract: System and method for enhanced security and passenger convenience in a transportation terminal (10). Passengers carry an intelligent IEBP (53). The IEBP (53) is a portable electronic handset receiving optically transmitted positioning data and other information via artificial light sources (28) which optically transmit data (52), as well as provide conventional lighting. The IEBP devices (53) may guide passengers inside the terminal and inform them about delayed/missed flights or changes of schedule. To enhance security, the IEBP devices (53) track the location of passengers throughout the transportation terminal (10). The IEBP device (53) determines if the passenger is still carrying it and/or has entered an incorrect or unauthorized area The IEBP device (53) then generates a radio frequency signal (59) to a central monitoring station (56) warning appropriate authorities of the security violation, and may also indicate the violation to the passenger carrying the device.

Abstract: A method for associating a group of lighting units in a wireless-controlled lighting system to respective buttons or other control elements on a remote control. Each of the lighting units transmits, via modulation of its own illumination light, a unique identification code for the respective unit. The remote control is successively positioned to receive the modulated light from each lighting unit and, at each position, the user activates a respective control element of the remote control for association with the lighting unit. The remote control then transmits to a control master for the group the unique codes and codes identifying the respective control elements with which they have been associated.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for contact-less charging of battery operated devices, including a host charger with a power converter and resonant tank circuit and a portable device where the battery is located, with a battery charging control IC, wherein the method obviates the need for a voltage controller in each of both the host and the portable stages. The charging of the battery in the portable device is controlled by a charging controller therein, which is in continual electric communication with the host, whose output power the control IC dynamically monitors and controls. In one embodiment, component count is minimized but battery charging is not optimized when the battery voltage is very low. In the other embodiment, charging efficiency is maximized regardless of the output voltage of the battery.

Abstract: A navigation system is disclosed including a light source having a driver and an encoder. The driver and the encoder are coupled to the light source so that the light source produces a modulated light signal in accordance with a predetermined signature. The system also includes a receiver having a photosensitive detector capable of detecting the modulated light signal and a decoder capable of decoding the predetermined signature. A controller is communicatively coupled to the receiver, a memory and output device. The controller is arranged to receive the decoded predetermined signature, based upon the decoded predetermined signature, obtain at least one navigation instruction stored in the memory, and output the navigation instruction using the output device.

Abstract: A bi-directional flyback circuit includes a primary side switch that regulates the re-circulated energy to achieve substantially zero voltage switching (ZVS) and a secondary-side switch that regulates the output voltage. No feedback circuit between an output side and an input side of the bi-directional flyback circuit is needed for regulating the output voltage. The amount of recirculating energy required to achieve ZVS, and to maintain output regulation is kept substantially at a minimum.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fault condition protection for a lighting control circuit is presented. The method consists of a hybrid software and hardware solution to take advantage of the useful attributes of both. In the event of a fault condition being detected the software set driving signals to the light are rapidly blocked via hardware. In the event the fault condition persists, software modifies the driving signals to the light.

Abstract: A bi-directional flyback circuit includes a primary side switch that regulates the re-circulated energy to achieve substantially zero voltage switching and a secondary-side switch that regulates the output voltage. No feedback circuit between an output side and an input side of the bi-directional flyback circuit is needed for regulating the output voltage.