Abstract: A lighting device includes a voltage conversion circuit having at least a switching element connected to a positive potential side of the output terminals of the DC power source unit, and a drive unit which outputs a drive signal to the switching element. The drive unit has a first impedance element with a first impedance which is determined based on a power consumed by the drive unit before a predetermined time has elapsed after a control power source is supplied. A control capacitor for use in generating the drive signal is charged when the switching element is turned off during an on/off operation of the switching element. The lighting device further includes a second impedance element with a second impedance having a resistance component, which is arranged in a path in which the control capacitor can be charged in DC when the switching element does not perform the on/off operation.

Abstract: An LED module includes a light-emitting unit composed of a plurality of LEDs connected in series to one another, a sensor unit, a power interrupt circuit inserted into a power supply path through which the light-emitting unit is supplied with power from an external power source, and a control circuit that controls the power interrupt circuit according to output of the sensor unit. The LED module further includes a secondary battery and a voltage supply circuit. The voltage supply circuit supplies the control circuit with voltage equivalent to voltage drop between the ends of a group of LEDs included in the plurality of LEDs that constitute the light-emitting unit while the external power source is supplying power to the light-emitting unit, and supplies the control circuit with voltage output from the secondary battery while power interrupt circuit is interrupting the power from the external power source to the light-emitting unit.

Abstract: An LED lighting device includes a converter for converting a power source voltage into a DC voltage and outputting it to an LED unit; and a controller for controlling an output of the converter. The converter has a chopper circuit including a series circuit of an inductance element and a capacitor; a switching element connected to the inductance element in series and turned on/off by the controller; and a diode as discharging path of the inductance element during an OFF state of the switching element. The controller controls an on/off time of the switching element such that a current supplied to the LED unit during a specific time period after a lighting operation is started becomes smaller than a current supplied to the LED unit in a steady state by using a voltage generated in a secondary coil of the inductance coil as an operating voltage thereof.

Abstract: An LED lighting device includes a power converter for outputting a variable output voltage, two LED lamps being connected in series between output terminals of the power converter; a current detector for detecting an output current from the power converter; a first detector for detecting the output voltage of the power converter and generating a first detection voltage corresponding to the output voltage; a second detector for detecting an applied voltage to one of the two LED lamps and generating a second detection voltage corresponding to the applied voltage; and a controller for controlling the power converter to adjust the output voltage to thereby make the output current coincide with a target value. The controller controls the power converter to decrease the output voltage if at least one of the second detection voltage and the deference between the first and the second detection voltage does not fall within a range.

Abstract: A lighting power source provides AC or DC power as needed to power an electric light source. A first switching element and a diode are coupled in series across output ends of a DC power source, with a second switching element coupled across the diode. An inductor forms an output loop with the diode. A driving capacitor has a first end coupled to a node between the first switching element and the diode. A charging power source is coupled to a second end of the driving capacitor and supplied with power from the DC power source. During a charging operation, a control circuit charges the driving capacitor by turning on the second switching element while maintaining the first switching element in an OFF state. During a normal operation which follows the charging operation the control circuit repeatedly turns on/off the first switching element while maintaining the second switching element in the OFF state.

Abstract: An LED lighting device includes: a power source unit for supplying the DC output voltage to a light-emitting diode; a control unit for adjusting the DC output voltage; and a control power source unit for supplying a control power to the control unit. The control power source unit generates the control power with the DC output voltage and has: a current-limiting resistor for limiting an electric current that flows from the power source unit to the control unit; a constant voltage unit for converting a voltage to be applied to the control unit through the current-limiting resistor unit to a constant voltage; and a switching unit for switching a resistance value of the current-limiting resistor unit among a plurality of resistance values.

Abstract: An LED module includes a light-emitting unit composed of a plurality of LEDs connected in series to one another, a sensor unit, a power interrupt circuit inserted into a power supply path through which the light-emitting unit is supplied with power from an external power source, and a control circuit that controls the power interrupt circuit according to output of the sensor unit. The LED module further includes a secondary battery and a voltage supply circuit. The voltage supply circuit supplies the control circuit with voltage equivalent to voltage drop between the ends of a group of LEDs included in the plurality of LEDs that constitute the light-emitting unit while the external power source is supplying power to the light-emitting unit, and supplies the control circuit with voltage output from the secondary battery while power interrupt circuit is interrupting the power from the external power source to the light-emitting unit.

Abstract: A light source module includes: a light source unit including a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) electrically connected to each other; a characteristic setting unit for setting characteristic information on electrical characteristics of the LEDs; a first pin base having a first electrode and a second electrode; and a second pin base having a third electrode and a fourth electrode, wherein a direct current (DC) voltage supplied from a lighting apparatus is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode or between the third electrode and the fourth electrode, a constant voltage is supplied to an anode side of the LEDs of the light source unit, and the characteristic setting unit is connected between the first and second electrodes and/or between the third and fourth electrodes.

Abstract: An LED lighting device includes a step-up chopper which includes a first switching element and increases an output voltage applied from a DC power supply, a step-down chopper which includes a second switching element and decreases the output voltage from the step-up chopper to apply the decreased output voltage to a light source unit having light emitting diodes, a controller which controls operations of the first and the second switching element, a current limiter which includes a current limiting element and a switch; and a voltage detection unit. The controller stops an operation of the first switching element when the voltage detection unit detects the voltage applied to the light source unit exceeding a predetermined voltage value, and the switch allows a current to flow through the path passing through the current limiting element when the operation of the first switching element is stopped.

Abstract: A light source module includes a substrate unit for mounting multiple light emitting diodes thereon to electrically connecting them; first and second electrical connecting terminals for supplying a current to the light emitting diodes based on a voltage applied from outside the substrate unit; and a characteristic setting unit for presetting characteristic information corresponding to a electrical characteristic of the light emitting diodes. Further, the light source module includes a third electrical connecting terminal for outputting a setting signal based on the characteristic information preset in the characteristic setting unit, and the characteristic setting unit is connected at least between the third and first electrical connecting terminals or between the third and second electrical connecting terminals, and the characteristic setting unit responds to a set-up power inputted from the third electrical connecting terminal to generate the setting signal.

Abstract: An illumination load determination device includes an illumination load; a voltage applying unit for applying a voltage to the illumination load; a connection unit for connecting the illumination load and the voltage applying unit; a detection unit for detecting at least one of a current flowing through the illumination load and a voltage across the illumination load when the voltage is applied to the illumination load from the voltage applying unit via the connection unit; and a determination unit for determining a type of the illumination load based on an output from the detection unit. The determination unit has a comparator for comparing a detection value detected by the detection unit to a predetermined threshold, and determines that the illumination load has a capacitance based on an output of the comparator. The voltage applying unit lights on the determined illumination load with a rated driving voltage.

Abstract: An LED lighting device includes: a power source unit for supplying the DC output voltage to a light-emitting diode; a control unit for adjusting the DC output voltage; and a control power source unit for supplying a control power to the control unit. The control power source unit generates the control power with the DC output voltage and has: a current-limiting resistor for limiting an electric current that flows from the power source unit to the control unit; a constant voltage unit for converting a voltage to be applied to the control unit through the current-limiting resistor unit to a constant voltage; and a switching unit for switching a resistance value of the current-limiting resistor unit among a plurality of resistance values.

Abstract: An LED lighting device includes a power converter for outputting a variable output voltage, two LED lamps being connected in series between output terminals of the power converter; a current detector for detecting an output current from the power converter; a first detector for detecting the output voltage of the power converter and generating a first detection voltage corresponding to the output voltage; a second detector for detecting an applied voltage to one of the two LED lamps and generating a second detection voltage corresponding to the applied voltage; and a controller for controlling the power converter to adjust the output voltage to thereby make the output current coincide with a target value. The controller controls the power converter to decrease the output voltage if at least one of the second detection voltage and the deference between the first and the second detection voltage does not fall within a range.

Abstract: An LED lighting device includes a step-up chopper which includes a first switching element and increases an output voltage applied from a DC power supply, a step-down chopper which includes a second switching element and decreases the output voltage from the step-up chopper to apply the decreased output voltage to a light source unit having light emitting diodes, a controller which controls operations of the first and the second switching element, a current limiter which includes a current limiting element and a switch; and a voltage detection unit. The controller stops an operation of the first switching element when the voltage detection unit detects the voltage applied to the light source unit exceeding a predetermined voltage value, and the switch allows a current to flow through the path passing through the current limiting element when the operation of the first switching element is stopped.

Abstract: An LED lighting device includes a converter for converting a power source voltage into a DC voltage and outputting it to an LED unit; and a controller for controlling an output of the converter. The converter has a chopper circuit including a series circuit of an inductance element and a capacitor; a switching element connected to the inductance element in series and turned on/off by the controller; and a diode as discharging path of the inductance element during an OFF state of the switching element. The controller controls an on/off time of the switching element such that a current supplied to the LED unit during a specific time period after a lighting operation is started becomes smaller than a current supplied to the LED unit in a steady state by using a voltage generated in a secondary coil of the inductance coil as an operating voltage thereof.

Abstract: A light source module includes: a light source unit including a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) electrically connected to each other; a characteristic setting unit for setting characteristic information on electrical characteristics of the LEDs; a first pin base having a first electrode and a second electrode; and a second pin base having a third electrode and a fourth electrode, wherein a direct current (DC) voltage supplied from a lighting apparatus is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode or between the third electrode and the fourth electrode, a constant voltage is supplied to an anode side of the LEDs of the light source unit, and the characteristic setting unit is connected between the first and second electrodes and/or between the third and fourth electrodes.

Abstract: An illumination device includes a replaceable lamp including at least one light emitting element; a lighting device for lighting the light emitting element by supplying a power to the lamp; and an illuminance correction unit for performing a dimming control on the lamp. The illuminance correction unit includes a timer for counting a cumulative lighting time of the light emitting element and a memory for storing the cumulative lighting time counted by the timer. The illuminance correction unit determines a dimming ratio of the light emitting element based on the cumulative lighting time stored in the memory and an illuminance correction characteristic, in which the relationship between the cumulative lighting time and the dimming ratio of the light emitting element is determined to uniformly maintain a light output from the light emitting element even when the cumulative lighting time increases. The memory is provided in the lamp.

Abstract: An illumination load determination device includes an illumination load; a voltage applying unit for applying a voltage to the illumination load; a connection unit for connecting the illumination load and the voltage applying unit; a detection unit for detecting at least one of a current flowing through the illumination load and a voltage across the illumination load when the voltage is applied to the illumination load from the voltage applying unit via the connection unit; and a determination unit for determining a type of the illumination load based on an output from the detection unit. The determination unit has a comparator for comparing a detection value detected by the detection unit to a predetermined threshold, and determines that the illumination load has a capacitance based on an output of the comparator. The voltage applying unit lights on the determined illumination load with a rated driving voltage.

Abstract: A light source module includes a substrate unit for mounting multiple light emitting diodes thereon to electrically connecting them; first and second electrical connecting terminals for supplying a current to the light emitting diodes based on a voltage applied from outside the substrate unit; and a characteristic setting unit for presetting characteristic information corresponding to a electrical characteristic of the light emitting diodes. Further, the light source module includes a third electrical connecting terminal for outputting a setting signal based on the characteristic information preset in the characteristic setting unit, and the characteristic setting unit is connected at least between the third and first electrical connecting terminals or between the third and second electrical connecting terminals, and the characteristic setting unit responds to a set-up power inputted from the third electrical connecting terminal to generate the setting signal.

Abstract: A lighting power source provides AC or DC power as needed to power an electric light source. A first switching element and a diode are coupled in series across output ends of a DC power source, with a second switching element coupled across the diode. An inductor forms an output loop with the diode. A driving capacitor has a first end coupled to a node between the first switching element and the diode. A charging power source is coupled to a second end of the driving capacitor and supplied with power from the DC power source. During a charging operation, a control circuit charges the driving capacitor by turning on the second switching element while maintaining the first switching element in an OFF state. During a normal operation which follows the charging operation the control circuit repeatedly turns on/off the first switching element while maintaining the second switching element in the OFF state.