Abstract: A multi-level converter includes a plurality of capacitors coupled in series between first and second nodes of a DC port and coupled to one another at n?2 first intermediate nodes. The converter also includes a switching circuit including at least one first switch configured to couple the first node of the DC port to an input/output node, at least one second switch configured to couple the second node of the DC port to the input/output node, and at least three third switches configured to couple respective ones of the first intermediate nodes to the input/output node. The converter further includes a control circuit configured to control the first, second and third switches to provide an n-level converter.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a string of capacitors including at least two capacitors coupled in series and a switching circuit including a first port having first and second terminals connected to a first node and a second end node, respectively, of the string of capacitors, and a second port configured to be coupled to an energy storage device. The switching circuit is configured to selectively connect first and second terminals of the second port to a first end node, a second end node, and at least one interconnection node of the siring of capacitors. The apparatus also includes at least one inductor configured to be coupled in series with the second port of the switching circuit and the energy storage device and a charging switch configured to directly connect the first terminal of the second port to the second terminal of the second port.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a string of capacitors including at least two capacitors coupled in series and a switching circuit including a first port having first and second terminals connected to a first node and a second end node, respectively, of the string of capacitors, and a second port configured to be coupled to an energy storage device. The switching circuit is configured to selectively connect first and second terminals of the second port to a first end node, a second end node, and at least one interconnection node of the siring of capacitors. The apparatus also includes at least one inductor configured to be coupled in series with the second port of the switching circuit and the energy storage device and a charging switch configured to directly connect the first terminal of the second port to the second terminal of the second port.

Abstract: A multi-level converter includes a plurality of capacitors coupled in series between first and second nodes of a DC port and coupled to one another at n?2 first intermediate nodes. The converter also includes a switching circuit including at least one first switch configured to couple the first node of the DC port to an input/output node, at least one second switch configured to couple the second node of the DC port to the input/output node, and at least three third switches configured to couple respective ones of the first intermediate nodes to the input/output node. The converter further includes a control circuit configured to control the first, second and third switches to provide an n-level converter.

Abstract: A multi-level converter includes a plurality of capacitors coupled in series between first and second nodes of a DC port and coupled to one another at n-2 first intermediate nodes. The converter also includes a switching circuit including at least one first switch configured to couple the first node of the DC port to an input/output node, at least one second switch configured to couple the second node of the DC port to the input/output node, and at least three third switches configured to couple respective ones of the first intermediate nodes to the input/output node. The converter further includes a control circuit configured to control the first, second and third switches to provide an n-level converter.

Abstract: A multi-level converter includes a plurality of capacitors coupled in series between first and second nodes of a DC port and coupled to one another at n-2 first intermediate nodes. The converter also includes a switching circuit including at least one first switch configured to couple the first node of the DC port to an input/output node, at least one second switch configured to couple the second node of the DC port to the input/output node, and at least three third switches configured to couple respective ones of the first intermediate nodes to the input/output node. The converter further includes a control circuit configured to control the first, second and third switches to provide an n-level converter.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes at least one light emitting diode (LED) and a passive resonant converter circuit having an output coupled to the at least one LED and an input configured to be coupled to a ballast that produces an AC output. The passive resonant converter circuit may include a combination of a passive rectifier circuit, such as a passive diode bridge, and a resonant circuit, such as a CL resonant circuit. An input of the passive rectifier circuit may be configured to be coupled to the ballast and the resonant circuit and the at least one LED may be coupled to an output of the passive rectifier circuit. At least a portion of the passive resonant converter may be packaged with the at least one LED in a lamp and all or a portion of the passive resonant converter circuit may be packaged as a module or other unit for use with a lamp.

Abstract: Emergency lighting devices and methods are disclosed. An emergency lighting device includes a first group of solid state emitters configured to emit light of a first color. The emergency lighting device also includes a second group connected in series to the first group and configured to emit a second color. The groups are configured to receive a normal operation current from an LED driver at the input end of the first group and output the normal operation current at the output end of the second group. In an emergency, the first group receives an emergency operation current from an emergency LED driver at an emergency input and outputs the emergency operation current at an emergency output located.

Abstract: A power supply includes a power conversion circuit configured to selectively operate in one of an active mode in which output power is supplied to a load and a standby mode in which output power is not supplied to the load, a plurality of auxiliary circuits including a first auxiliary circuit and a second auxiliary circuit, a bias node configured to supply power to the plurality of auxiliary circuits, and a switch that is coupled between the bias node and the first auxiliary circuit and that is configured to disconnect the first auxiliary circuit from the bias node in response to a control signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for interfacing a ballast to at least one light emitting diode (LED) includes a passive rectifier circuit and matching circuit coupled to an input port and/or an output port of the passive rectifier circuit and configured to at least partially match an impedance of the ballast.

Abstract: Emergency lighting devices and methods are disclosed. An emergency lighting device includes a passive resonant converter circuit configured to be coupled to an emergency lighting module and to an input end of a group of solid state emitters, at which the group of solid state emitters receives a normal operation current from an LED driver. The passive resonant converter circuit is configured to receive an emergency operation current from the emergency lighting module and to provide a converted emergency operation current to the group of solid state emitters at an emergency input of the group of solid state emitters in response to the emergency operation current. The emergency lighting module may be a fluorescent emergency lighting module.

Abstract: A power supply includes a power conversion circuit configured to selectively operate in one of an active mode in which output power is supplied to a load and a standby mode in which output power is not supplied to the load, a plurality of auxiliary circuits including a first auxiliary circuit and a second auxiliary circuit, a bias node configured to supply power to the plurality of auxiliary circuits, and a switch that is coupled between the bias node and the first auxiliary circuit and that is configured to disconnect the first auxiliary circuit from the bias node in response to a control signal.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes at least one light emitting diode (LED) and a passive resonant converter circuit having an output coupled to the at least one LED and an input configured to be coupled to a ballast that produces an AC output. The passive resonant converter circuit may include a combination of a passive rectifier circuit, such as a passive diode bridge, and a resonant circuit, such as a CL resonant circuit. An input of the passive rectifier circuit may be configured to be coupled to the ballast and the resonant circuit and the at least one LED may be coupled to an output of the passive rectifier circuit. At least a portion of the passive resonant converter may be packaged with the at least one LED in a lamp and all or a portion of the passive resonant converter circuit may be packaged as a module or other unit for use with a lamp.

Abstract: An apparatus for interfacing a ballast to at least one light emitting diode (LED) includes a passive rectifier circuit and matching circuit coupled to an input port and/or an output port of the passive rectifier circuit and configured to at least partially match an impedance of the ballast.

Abstract: Emergency lighting devices and methods are disclosed. An emergency lighting device includes a passive resonant converter circuit configured to be coupled to an emergency lighting module and to an input end of a group of solid state emitters, at which the group of solid state emitters receives a normal operation current from an LED driver. The passive resonant converter circuit is configured to receive an emergency operation current from the emergency lighting module and to provide a converted emergency operation current to the group of solid state emitters at an emergency input of the group of solid state emitters in response to the emergency operation current. The emergency lighting module may be a fluorescent emergency lighting module.