Abstract: A method for driving one or more electrically powered light sources, such as LED modules, may include applying a pulse-width-modulated signal thereto having a pulse-repetition frequency and a duty-cycle, the duty-cycle being selectively variable in order to vary the intensity of light emitted by the light source or light sources. To counter the occurrence of temporal light artefacts, or TLAs, the method may include frequency modulating the pulse-width-modulated signal (VPWM) by varying the pulse-repetition frequency thereof around a certain value between a lower frequency value and a higher frequency value, thus giving rise to a signal with combined FM/PWM modulation.

Abstract: A method for driving a unidirectional current through an electrical load, such as one or more LED modules, by applying thereto a PWM-modulated signal that swings between a high value and a low value envisages choosing said high value and said low value as nonzero values having a same sign.

Abstract: An assembly and a method is provided where the LED module includes a plurality of module units interconnected between common connection lines in a sequential order with increasing distances towards a connection terminal of the LED module. The circuit assembly includes an output terminal having a first output terminal portion and a second output terminal portion, a main power supply for supplying an operation voltage potential to a first output terminal portion, a control device for generating a pulse width modulation signal, and an electronic switch coupled to the control device and configured to obtain the pulse width modulation signal and arranged to connect and disconnect a second output terminal portion to/from a reference potential in accordance with the pulse width modulation signal, such as to supply a pulse width modulated voltage to the output terminal. A pulse shaping unit is coupled to the control device.

Abstract: A method for driving one or more electrically powered light sources, such as LED modules, may include applying a pulse-width-modulated signal thereto having a pulse-repetition frequency and a duty-cycle, the duty-cycle being selectively variable in order to vary the intensity of light emitted by the light source or light sources. To counter the occurrence of temporal light artefacts, or TLAs, the method may include frequency modulating the pulse-width-modulated signal (VPWM) by varying the pulse-repetition frequency thereof around a certain value between a lower frequency value and a higher frequency value, thus giving rise to a signal with combined FM/PWM modulation.

Abstract: An assembly and a method is provided where the LED module includes a plurality of module units interconnected between common connection lines in a sequential order with increasing distances towards a connection terminal of the LED module. The circuit assembly includes an output terminal having a first output terminal portion and a second output terminal portion, a main power supply for supplying an operation voltage potential to a first output terminal portion, a control device for generating a pulse width modulation signal, and an electronic switch coupled to the control device and configured to obtain the pulse width modulation signal and arranged to connect and disconnect a second output terminal portion to/from a reference potential in accordance with the pulse width modulation signal, such as to supply a pulse width modulated voltage to the output terminal. A pulse shaping unit is coupled to the control device.

Abstract: An electronic converter comprising a switching stage having at least one electronic switch, wherein the switching stage is configured to provide current pulses via a terminal; a first capacitor, wherein the first capacitor provides a first voltage. Specifically, the electronic converter further includes a second capacitor to provide a second voltage, comparison means configured to detect the difference between the first voltage and the second voltage, and determine a comparison signal which indicates whether this difference is greater than a threshold, and switching means configured to selectively transfer the current to the first capacitor or the second capacitor as a function of the comparison signal. The switching means may include a SCR, where the anode of the SCR is connected to the terminal that provides current pulses and where the cathode of the SCR is connected to the second capacitor.

Abstract: A converter circuit, comprising: a supply node and an output node of the converter circuit, a half-bridge arrangement coupled to the supply node and including a pair of electronic switches alternatively switchable between conductive and non-conductive states with a drive node therebetween, a transformer with a primary winding driven by the drive node and a secondary winding including two portions with a center tap node coupled to the output node of the converter circuit and an inductive component. The inductive component including two magnetically coupled winding halves with a respective center tap node, the inductive component being coupled to the ends of the secondary winding of the transformer with the respective center tap node coupled to the output node of the converter circuit.

Abstract: An electronic converter comprising a switching stage having at least one electronic switch, wherein the switching stage is configured to provide current pulses via a terminal; a first capacitor, wherein the first capacitor provides a first voltage. Specifically, the electronic converter further includes a second capacitor to provide a second voltage, comparison means configured to detect the difference between the first voltage and the second voltage, and determine a comparison signal which indicates whether this difference is greater than a threshold, and switching means configured to selectively transfer the current to the first capacitor or the second capacitor as a function of the comparison signal. The switching means may include a SCR, where the anode of the SCR is connected to the terminal that provides current pulses and where the cathode of the SCR is connected to the second capacitor.

Abstract: An electronic converter comprising a switching stage comprising at least one electronic switch, wherein the switching stage is adapted to provide a current via a terminal; a first capacitor, wherein the first capacitor provides a first voltage. Specifically, converter further comprises: a second capacitor, wherein the second capacitor provides a second voltage, comparison means configured to detect the difference between the first voltage and the second voltage, and determine a comparison signal which indicates whether this difference is greater than a threshold, and switching means configured to transfer selectively current to the first capacitor or the second capacitor as a function of the comparison signal.

Abstract: A lighting system includes an electronic converter, a lighting module and a switching stage. The electronic converter includes a transformer, a rectifier circuit and an output filter circuit. A capacitance is connected between the primary winding and the secondary winding. The lighting module includes a chain of LEDs and a current regulator, wherein the chain of LEDs is mounted onto a substrate of a metallic material, so that a parasitic capacitance is present between the lighting module and the substrate of a metallic material. The switching stage includes a field-effect transistor interposed in the negative line which connects the lighting module to the electronic converter, and a control unit configured to drive the gate terminal of the transistor as a function of a dimming signal. The switching stage includes a diode connected to negative output terminal of the switching stage and to positive output terminal of the switching stage.

Abstract: A converter circuit, comprising: a supply node and an output node of the converter circuit, a half-bridge arrangement coupled to the supply node and including a pair of electronic switches alternatively switchable between conductive and non-conductive states with a drive node therebetween, a transformer with a primary winding driven by the drive node and a secondary winding including two portions with a center tap node coupled to the output node of the converter circuit and an inductive component. The inductive component including two magnetically coupled winding halves with a respective center tap node, the inductive component being coupled to the ends of the secondary winding of the transformer with the respective center tap node coupled to the output node of the converter circuit.

Abstract: A lighting system includes an electronic converter, a lighting module and a switching stage. The electronic converter includes a transformer, a rectifier circuit and an output filter circuit. A capacitance is connected between the primary winding and the secondary winding. The lighting module includes a chain of LEDs and a current regulator, wherein the chain of LEDs is mounted onto a substrate of a metallic material, so that a parasitic capacitance is present between the lighting module and the substrate of a metallic material. The switching stage includes a field-effect transistor interposed in the negative line which connects the lighting module to the electronic converter, and a control unit configured to drive the gate terminal of the transistor as a function of a dimming signal. The switching stage includes a diode connected to negative output terminal of the switching stage and to positive output terminal of the switching stage.

Abstract: An electronic converter comprising a switching stage comprising at least one electronic switch, wherein the switching stage is adapted to provide a current via a terminal; a first capacitor, wherein the first capacitor provides a first voltage. Specifically, converter further comprises: a second capacitor, wherein the second capacitor provides a second voltage, comparison means configured to detect the difference between the first voltage and the second voltage, and determine a comparison signal which indicates whether this difference is greater than a threshold, and switching means configured to transfer selectively current to the first capacitor or the second capacitor as a function of the comparison signal.

Abstract: The lighting system includes a voltage source for generating a constant direct current adapted to supply lighting modules, a number n of electronic switches, a current sensor connected in series with the voltage source to detect a measurement signal indicative of the current provided by the voltage source, and a control unit. The control unit generates the drive signals for the electronic switches. It varies the drive signals, such that: in a first instant, all lighting modules are connected to the voltage source; and during a sequence of instants, each time a different set of lighting modules is connected to the voltage source. It then determines the current flowing through all lighting modules as a function of the measurement signal detected in the first instant, and determines the currents which flow through the various lighting modules as a function of the measurement signals detected during the sequence of instants.

Abstract: The lighting system includes a voltage source for generating a constant direct current adapted to supply lighting modules, a number n of electronic switches, a current sensor connected in series with the voltage source to detect a measurement signal indicative of the current provided by the voltage source, and a control unit. The control unit generates the drive signals for the electronic switches. It varies the drive signals, such that: in a first instant, all lighting modules are connected to the voltage source; and during a sequence of instants, each time a different set of lighting modules is connected to the voltage source. It then determines the current flowing through all lighting modules as a function of the measurement signal detected in the first instant, and determines the currents which flow through the various lighting modules as a function of the measurement signals detected during the sequence of instants.

Abstract: The Power Supply Unit comprises an output providing electrical power between a positive power supply line and a common ground line and a communication line. An adjustable current generator responsive to an internal measurement signal generates an output current at the output, and a voltage source is coupled to the communication line. A current measurement unit measures a current through the communication line and generates the internal measurement signal depending on the measured current through the communication line. Specifically, the Power Supply Unit is configured to determine the voltage drop on the common ground line by applying via the voltage source two different voltages to the communication line.

Abstract: The Power Supply Unit comprises an output providing electrical power between a positive power supply line and a common ground line and a communication line. An adjustable current generator responsive to an internal measurement signal generates an output current at the output, and a voltage source is coupled to the communication line. A current measurement unit measures a current through the communication line and generates the internal measurement signal depending on the measured current through the communication line. Specifically, the Power Supply Unit is configured to determine the voltage drop on the common ground line by applying via the voltage source two different voltages to the communication line.

Abstract: Various embodiments may relate to a Light Engine Module including a plurality of series connected LEDs, a positive power supply line, a common ground line, a communication line, a current set resistor) coupled to the communication line, with its value of conductance being indicative for the current demand of the Light Engine Module, and a variable current generator connected to the communication line. The variable current generator is responsive to at least one measurement signal provided by at least one sensor. Various embodiments may further relate to a Power Supply Unit, and a lighting system including the Power Supply Unit with at least one Light Engine Module.

Abstract: Various embodiments may relate to a power supply unit, including an output for outputting an operating current depending on an internal measurement signal, a communications line, and a current-measuring device, which is connected to the communications line. The current-measuring device is designed to generate a current on the communications line which is proportional to the conductance of a current-setting resistance. The current-measuring device has a current mirror, which is designed to mirror the generated current on the communications line. The current-measuring device is designed to convert the mirrored current into an internal measurement signal with a reference potential which is different than the communications line. At least one light source module is connectable to the output, wherein the at least one light source module has the current-setting resistance, which is connectable to the communications line.

Abstract: Various embodiments may relate to a power supply unit including an output for outputting a current, a communications line, a current-measuring device and a microcontroller including an analog-to-digital converter. The current-measuring device generates a current on the communications line which is proportional to the conductance of a current-setting resistance, the current is convertable into a digital value by the analog-to-digital converter, the power supply unit assumes various operating states based on the digital value of the measured current, and at least one light source module is connectable to the output, wherein the at least one light source module has the current-setting resistance, which is connectable to the communications line. Various embodiments may further relate to a light source module including an input, a communications line and a current-setting resistance for setting the current applied to the light source module.