Patents by Inventor Felix Franck

Felix Franck has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11252802
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement for an LED luminaire comprises a plurality of LED strings, an anode terminal line, a cathode terminal line, a plurality of first switching elements, connected in series into the anode terminal line and subdivided into individual line sections, and a plurality of second switching elements, connected in series into the cathode terminal line and subdivided into individual line sections. Each of the LED strings may be connected to the anode terminal line via a first switching element and/or the second switching elements. Each of the first switching elements may be configured to feed an operating current to an LED string, to electrically connect line sections if the current flowing through the LED string exceeds a predetermined value, and to electrically isolate line sections if the current flowing through the LED string falls below a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: OSRAM GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Fischer, Felix Franck
  • Publication number: 20210235560
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement for an LED luminaire comprises a plurality of LED strings, an anode terminal line, a cathode terminal line, a plurality of first switching elements, connected in series into the anode terminal line and subdivided into individual line sections, and a plurality of second switching elements, connected in series into the cathode terminal line and subdivided into individual line sections. Each of the LED strings may be connected to the anode terminal line via a first switching element and/or the second switching elements. Each of the first switching elements may be configured to feed an operating current to an LED string, to electrically connect line sections if the current flowing through the LED string exceeds a predetermined value, and to electrically isolate line sections if the current flowing through the LED string falls below a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Klaus Fischer, Felix Franck
  • Patent number: 9560702
    Abstract: A light source module may include at least one LED cascade with a plurality of LEDs, a supply line, wherein at the input side the LED cascade is coupled thereto, and a ground line. The light source module further includes a communications line for coupling to a control device for the current to be provided by the current source, a thermal derating unit coupled between a first voltage source and the communications line and including a temperature-sensitive element, wherein the thermal derating unit applies a temperature dependent current component determined depending on the temperature-sensitive element, to the communications line, at least one current measurement resistor connected in series between the LED cascade and the reference potential, wherein the conductance of the current measurement resistor is proportional to the current requirement of the LED cascade, and at least one coupling resistor coupled between the coupling point and the communications line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: OSRAM GmbH
    Inventors: Felix Franck, Markus Heckmann
  • Patent number: 9521714
    Abstract: A light source module may include at least one LED cascade with a plurality of LEDs, a supply line, wherein at the input side the LED cascade is coupled thereto, and a ground line. The light source module further includes a communications line for coupling to a control device for the current to be provided by the current source, a thermal derating unit coupled between a first voltage source and the communications line and including a temperature-sensitive element, wherein the thermal derating unit applies a temperature dependent current component determined depending on the temperature-sensitive element, to the communications line, at least one current measurement resistor connected in series between the LED cascade and the reference potential, wherein the conductance of the current measurement resistor is proportional to the current requirement of the LED cascade, and at least one coupling resistor coupled between the coupling point and the communications line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: OSRAM GmbH
    Inventors: Felix Franck, Markus Heckmann
  • Publication number: 20160270167
    Abstract: A light source module may include at least one LED cascade with a plurality of LEDs, a supply line, wherein at the input side the LED cascade is coupled thereto, and a ground line. The light source module further includes a communications line for coupling to a control device for the current to be provided by the current source, a thermal derating unit coupled between a first voltage source and the communications line and including a temperature-sensitive element, wherein the thermal derating unit applies a temperature dependent current component determined depending on the temperature-sensitive element, to the communications line, at least one current measurement resistor connected in series between the LED cascade and the reference potential, wherein the conductance of the current measurement resistor is proportional to the current requirement of the LED cascade, and at least one coupling resistor coupled between the coupling point and the communications line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Applicant: OSRAM GmbH
    Inventors: Felix Franck, Markus Heckmann
  • Patent number: 9392656
    Abstract: An arrangement for driving a light source, including a plurality of LED strings by means of a current generator, wherein each said LED string forms a respective current mesh with said current generator, includes: at least one inductor acting on said current meshes, in each of said current meshes, an electronic switch having a first, working node towards the LED string and a second, reference node opposed to the LED string. All the reference nodes of all the electronic switches are connected together, and the working node of each electronic switch is connected to the work node of at least another one of the electronic switches via at least one current averaging capacitor. The electronic switches can be selectively rendered conductive, each one at a respective time interval, thereby selectively distributing the current of the current generator over the LED strings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: OSRAM GmbH
    Inventors: Francesco Angelin, Paolo De Anna, Felix Franck, Enrico Raniero
  • Publication number: 20140111102
    Abstract: An arrangement for driving a light source, including a plurality of LED strings by means of a current generator, wherein each said LED string forms a respective current mesh with said current generator, includes: at least one inductor acting on said current meshes, in each of said current meshes, an electronic switch having a first, working node towards the LED string and a second, reference node opposed to the LED string. All the reference nodes of all the electronic switches are connected together, and the working node of each electronic switch is connected to the work node of at least another one of the electronic switches via at least one current averaging capacitor. The electronic switches can be selectively rendered conductive, each one at a respective time interval, thereby selectively distributing the current of the current generator over the LED strings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: OSRAM GmbH
    Inventors: Francesco Angelin, Paolo De Anna, Felix Franck, Enrico Raniero
  • Patent number: 8596834
    Abstract: A heatsink (2), comprising a heatsink body (3) extending between two endsides (4, 5) of the heatsink body. The heatsink is designed for introducing the heatsink with the first endside ahead into an aperture (16), which is provided in a wall (17), and for a thermal conductive connection of a heat-generating element (14) to the second endside, with a main direction of extent (6) of the heatsink body (3) from the first endside (4) to the second endside (5) being bent or sharply bent. Furthermore, an illumination system with such a heatsink is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: OSRAM Gesellschaft mit Beschränkter Haftung
    Inventors: Felix Franck, Alessandro Maschietto, Alessandro Scordino
  • Publication number: 20130187561
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement for operating at least two semiconductor light sources, having an electrical energy converter comprising at least one switch; at least two operating sections, each having a rectifier with an input terminal, output terminal and reference potential. Each rectifier contains a single rectifier diode. The operating sections are coupled to the electrical energy converter. At least one common mode choke is connected between the switch and the at least two rectifiers. At least two semiconductor light sources are each connected between the output terminal of the associated rectifier and the reference potential thereof. The converter is a resonant converter having a resonant cell. A resonant capacitor is connected in parallel with each of the switches encompassed by the converter topology and to each rectifier diode encompassed by the converter topology. The leakage inductance of the common mode choke is used as the resonant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Inventors: Felix Franck, Bernhard Siessegger
  • Publication number: 20120241778
    Abstract: A light-emitting device, including a heatsink arranged at a tip of the light-emitting device, at least one light source, in particular a light-emitting diode, arranged on an underside of the heatsink, and a reflector arranged below the heatsink for reflecting at least some of the light emitted by the at least one light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: OSRAM AG
    Inventors: Felix Franck, Fabian Reingruber
  • Patent number: 8264159
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement for operating an LED and an fluorescent lamp may include a main rectifier; an auxiliary rectifier; an inverter, the output of said inverter having a terminal for connecting the fluorescent lamp; a starting device, wherein its first terminal is coupled to a control electrode of one of the switches of the inverter; a pull-down circuit; and a starting capacitor; wherein the second terminal of the starting device and the second terminal of the pull-down circuit are coupled to the first output terminal of the auxiliary rectifier; wherein the starting capacitor is coupled between the first and the second output terminal of the auxiliary rectifier; and wherein there is arranged in parallel with the starting capacitor a series circuit including a first and a second terminal for the LED and an LED switch, wherein the LED switch has a control electrode, an operating electrode and a reference electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Osram AG
    Inventors: Harald Dellian, Felix Franck
  • Patent number: 8138682
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) power supply for an electrodeless lamp includes a pair of DC rails, an RF inverter having power input terminals connected between the rails, a first inductor arranged to inductively couple with an electrodeless lamp, first and second resonance capacitors that each connects a respective one of two input terminals of the first inductor to a same first rail of the pair of DC rails, and a second (ballasting) inductor connecting an output of the RF inverter to one of the two input terminals of the first inductor. Thus, the first inductor is connected in a symmetrical ?-filter and supplied by two equal but phase-opposite voltages whose sum is the lamp voltage. The inductance of the ballasting inductor is significantly reduced so that the RF efficiency of the power supply is 96%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: OSRAM SYLVANIA Inc.
    Inventors: Valery A. Godyak, Eugen Statnic, Felix Franck
  • Publication number: 20100283399
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) power supply for an electrodeless lamp includes a pair of DC rails, an RF inverter having power input terminals connected between the rails, a first inductor arranged to inductively couple with an electrodeless lamp, first and second resonance capacitors that each connects a respective one of two input terminals of the first inductor to a same first rail of the pair of DC rails, and a second (ballasting) inductor connecting an output of the RF inverter to one of the two input terminals of the first inductor. Thus, the first inductor is connected in a symmetrical ?-filter and supplied by two equal but phase-opposite voltages whose sum is the lamp voltage. The inductance of the ballasting inductor is significantly reduced so that the RF efficiency of the power supply is 96%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: OSRAM SYLVANIA INC.
    Inventors: Valery Godyak, Eugen Statnic, Felix Franck
  • Publication number: 20100164389
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement for operating an LED and an fluorescent lamp may include a main rectifier; an auxiliary rectifier; an inverter, the output of said inverter having a terminal for connecting the fluorescent lamp; a starting device, wherein its first terminal is coupled to a control electrode of one of the switches of the inverter; a pull-down circuit; and a starting capacitor; wherein the second terminal of the starting device and the second terminal of the pull-down circuit are coupled to the first output terminal of the auxiliary rectifier; wherein the starting capacitor is coupled between the first and the second output terminal of the auxiliary rectifier; and wherein there is arranged in parallel with the starting capacitor a series circuit including a first and a second terminal for the LED and an LED switch, wherein the LED switch has a control electrode, an operating electrode and a reference electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: OSRAM GESELLSCHAFT MIT BESCHRAENKTER HAFTUNG
    Inventors: Harald Dellian, Felix Franck
  • Patent number: 7443106
    Abstract: Circuit with a switch-off device for the operation of light sources The invention relates to a circuit with a switch-off device for the operation of light sources (Lp), have the following features: a self-commutated half-bridge inverter having a series circuit of an upper electronic switch and a lower electronic switch (T1, T2), which are joined at a half-bridge midpoint (M) and are connected between a supply voltage (+) and a ground potential, a start capacitor (C3) which is joined via a trigger element (DIAC) to a control electrode of the lower electronic switch (T2), and a switch-off device having an input (E) and an output, which are configured and connected so that they discharge the start capacitor (C3) if a switch-off signal is applied to the input (E). The switch-off device contains a time delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft für Elektrische Glühlampen mbH
    Inventors: Marco Faccin, Felix Franck, Michele Menegazzi
  • Patent number: 7394207
    Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit arrangement for operating lamps. The circuit arrangement essentially comprises a full bridge. According to the invention, at least one inductor is connected in series with a full-bridge branch for switching load relief purposes. The circuit arrangement is preferably suitable for operation using a charge pump. PFC is thus achieved in a single-stage arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft für Glühlampen mbH
    Inventors: Felix Franck, Wolfram Sowa
  • Publication number: 20080089077
    Abstract: A heatsink (2), comprising a heatsink body (3) extending between two endsides (4, 5) of the heatsink body. The heatsink is designed for introducing the heatsink with the first endside ahead into an aperture (16), which is provided in a wall (17), and for a thermal conductive connection of a heat-generating element (14) to the second endside, with a main direction of extent (6) of the heatsink body (3) from the first endside (4) to the second endside (5) being bent or sharply bent. Furthermore, an illumination system with such a heatsink is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Applicant: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft fur elektrische Gluhlampen mbH
    Inventors: Felix FRANCK, Alessandro MASCHIETTO, Alessandro SCORDINO
  • Publication number: 20060006819
    Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit arrangement for operating lamps. The circuit arrangement essentially comprises a full bridge. According to the invention, at least one inductor is connected in series with a full-bridge branch for switching load relief purposes. The circuit arrangement is preferably suitable for operation using a charge pump. PFC is thus achieved in a single-stage arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Publication date: January 12, 2006
    Applicant: PATENT-TREUHAND-GESELLSCHAFT FUR ELEKTRISCH GLUHLAMPEN MBH
    Inventors: Felix Franck, Wolfram Sowa
  • Publication number: 20050275353
    Abstract: An electronic transformer for halogen incandescent lamps is equipped with a self-commutated half-bridge inverter. The half-bridge inverter contains a start circuit with a start capacitor (C3), which starts commutation of the half-bridge inverter after each mains half-wave by driving a lower half-bridge transistor (T2). The start circuit has to be suppressed while the half-bridge inverter is commutating. This is achieved according to the invention by discharging the start capacitor (C3) whenever an upper half-bridge transistor is turned on (T1). This is done by an amplifier element (V1), which is driven via a high-pass filter (C4) from the half-bridge midpoint (M).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Publication date: December 15, 2005
    Applicant: PATENT-TREUHAND - GESELLSCHAFT FUR ELEKTRISCHE GLUHLAMPEN MBH
    Inventors: Felix Franck, Helmut Haeusser-Boehm
  • Publication number: 20050275356
    Abstract: A circuit with a switch-off device for the operation of light sources (Lp), has the following features: a self-commutated half-bridge inverter having a series circuit of an upper electronic switch and a lower electronic switch, which are joined at a half-bridge midpoint and are connected between a supply voltage and a ground potential, a start capacitor which is joined via a trigger element to a control electrode of the lower electronic switch, and a switch-off device having an input and an output, which are configured and connected so that they discharge the start capacitor if a switch-off signal is applied to the input. The switch-off device contains a time delay. In order to be able to keep the components in the time delay small, it is proposed that the switch-off device should comprise two successively connected transistor stages with bipolar transistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Publication date: December 15, 2005
    Applicant: PATENT-TREUHAND-GESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Marco Faccin, Felix Franck, Michele Menegazzi