Patents by Inventor Reinhold Elferich

Reinhold Elferich 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: 9595865
    Abstract: In various examples, a converter unit for converting an input voltage to an output voltage is disclosed. The converter includes input terminals for connecting the converter unit to a voltage supply and for receiving the input voltage from the voltage supply and output terminals for connecting the converter unit to a load for driving the load. A controllable switch is connected to an inductor. The converter unit further includes a current detector for detecting a current of the inductor, a voltage slope detector for detecting a slope of a voltage measured across the controllable switch, and a control unit for controlling the controllable switch on the basis of the inductor current and the voltage slope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: David Llewellyn John, Peter Blanken, Reinhold Elferich
  • Patent number: 9564824
    Abstract: Converters (1) for supplying pulsed power to light sources (8) comprise switching parts (2) and controlling parts (3) for adapting switching parameters of the switching parts (2) for improving a performance. The switching part (2) may comprise first/second switches (41, 42) that are in first/second modes during a first time interval of a cycle and vice versa during a second time intervals of a cycle. A group of cycles results in a pulse of the pulsed power. A switching parameter such as the first time interval of a first cycle may be shortened to reduce overshoot. A switching parameter such as the second time interval of the first cycle may be shortened or lengthened. A switching parameter such as the second time interval of a last cycle may be lengthened or shortened to reduce overshoot. A third switch (93) for switching the light source (8) is activated and de-activated delayedly to improve transient behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Carsten Deppe, Reinhold Elferich
  • Patent number: 9544962
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a driver device and a corresponding driving method for driving a load (22), in particular an LED unit, said driver device comprising power input terminals (51, 52) for receiving a periodic supply voltage from an external power supply potentially including a dimmer for dimming said periodic supply voltage, power output terminals (53, 54) for providing a drive voltage and/or drive current for driving a load (22), a power stage (70a, 70b, 70c, 70d) coupled between the power input terminals and the power output terminals for controlling an input current received from said power input terminals to draw a high power from said external power supply in a first mode or to draw a low or no power from said external power supply in a second mode, said high power being higher than the power required for driving said load and said low power being lower than the power required for driving said load, wherein said power stage controls said input current to be in the second mode only for a perc
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Reinhold Elferich, Toni Lopez, Harald Josef Günther Radermacher
  • Patent number: 9526135
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a driver device (50a-50e) and a corresponding driving method for driving a load (22), in particular an LED unit comprising a power input unit (52) for receiving an input voltage (V20) from an external power supply and for providing a rectified supply voltage (V52), a power conversion unit (54) for converting said supply voltage (V52) to a load current (154) for powering the load (22), a charge capacitor (56) for storing a charge and powering the load (22) when insufficient energy for powering the load (22) and/or the power conversion unit (54) is drawn from said external power supply (20) at a given time, and a control unit (58) for controlling the charging of said charge capacitor (56) by said supply voltage (V52) to a capacitor voltage (V56) that can be substantially higher than the peak voltage (V52) of said supply voltage and for powering the load (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Philips Lighting Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Toni Lopez, Reinhold Elferich
  • Patent number: 9497814
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a driver device (50a-50j) and a corresponding driving method for driving a load (22), in particular an LED unit, said driver device comprising power input terminals (51, 52) for receiving a rectified supply voltage from an external power supply, power output terminals (53, 54) for providing a drive voltage and/or current for driving a load (22), a half-bridge unit (70) comprising a first (60) and a second (61) switching element coupled in series between a high-voltage node (57) and a low-voltage node (58) and having a switch node (59) between said first and said second switching element, —a boost input filter unit (71) comprising a first inductor (L1) coupled between said power input terminals (51, 52) and said half-bridge unit (70), —a buck output filter unit (72) comprising a second inductor (L2) coupled between said half-bridge unit (70) and a power output terminal (53, 54), —an energy storage unit (73) and a control unit (64) for controlling said switching elements (60, 61
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Reinhold Elferich, Toni Lopez
  • Patent number: 9363856
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a driver device (10) for driving a load (18), in particular an LED (18) unit having one or more LEDs, comprising input terminals (14, 16) for connecting the driver device (10) to a voltage supply (12) and for receiving an input voltage (V10) from the voltage supply (12), an output terminal for connecting the driver device (10) to the load (18), an converter unit (24) for converting a drive voltage to an output (V20) voltage for powering the load (18), a switching unit (20, 22) connected to the input terminals (14, 16) for providing different voltage levels as the drive voltage to the converter unit (24), and a control unit (28) for controlling the switching unit (20, 22) on the basis of an electrical converter signal (V12; V13; I12; I13) measured at a member (30, 36) of the converter unit (24) and a reference signal (Vth) having an alternating component to provide an out put signal (V20) having an alternating signal component on the basis of the alternating component of the re
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Andrew Ulrich Rutgers, Reinhold Elferich
  • Publication number: 20160156263
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a converter unit (10) for converting an input voltage (V10) to an output voltage (V20). The converter comprises input terminals (12, 14) for connecting the converter unit (10) to a voltage supply (16) and for receiving the input voltage (V10) from the voltage supply (16) and output terminals (18, 20) for connecting the converter unit (10) to a load for driving the load. A controllable switch (22) is connected to an inductor (26). The converter unit further comprises a current detector (34) for detecting a current (130) of the inductor (26), a voltage slope detector (38) for detecting a slope of a voltage (V30) measured across the controllable switch (22), and a control unit (32) for controlling the controllable switch (22) on the basis of the inductor current (130) and the voltage slope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2014
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: David LLEWELLYN JOHN, Peter BLANKEN, Reinhold ELFERICH
  • Patent number: 9351354
    Abstract: A driver device and a corresponding method for driving a load, in particular an LED unit comprising one or more LEDs. The proposed driver device comprises power input terminals for receiving a rectified supply voltage from an external power supply, power output terminals for providing a drive voltage and/or current for driving a load, a half bridge unit comprising a first and second switching element coupled in series between a high voltage node and a low voltage node and having a switch node between the first and second switching elements, a buck-boost input filter unit comprising a first inductor and a series diode coupled between a power input terminal and the half bridge unit, a buck output filter unit comprising a second inductor coupled between the half bridge unit and a power output terminal, an energy storage unit, and a control unit for controlling the switching elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Reinhold Elferich, Toni Lopez
  • Publication number: 20160049881
    Abstract: A multiple inductive component (100) comprises: - a cylindrical drum core component (120) with at least two axially spaced circumferential grooves (131, 132) in its cylindrical outer surface (121), a separation disc portion (111) between said two circumferential grooves and two outer disc portions (112, 113) at the sides of the said two circumferential grooves, respectively, directed away from the separation disc portion; - at least one first winding (141) arranged in a first one (131) of said grooves; - at least one second winding (142) arranged in a second one (132) of said grooves; - a cylindrical shell core component (150) arranged coaxially around the cylindrical drum core component; - two outer air gaps (162, 163) between the cylindrical shell core component and said two outer disc portions, respectively. The separation disc portion is magnetically short circuited with the cylindrical shell core component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: Bernd ACKERMANN, Reinhold ELFERICH, David Llewellyn JOHN
  • Patent number: 9258858
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an active capacitor circuit (40) for use in a driver device for driving a load (22), in particular an LED unit comprising one or more LEDs (23). Further, the present invention relates to a driver device comprising such an active capacitor circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Reinhold Elferich, Toni Lopez
  • Patent number: 9210749
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a driver device (50a-50f) and a corresponding method for driving a load (22), in particular an LED unit comprising one or more LEDs (23). The proposed driver device comprises power input terminals (51, 52) for receiving a rectified supply voltage from an external power supply, power output terminals (53, 54) for providing a drive voltage and/or current for driving a load (22), a single stage power conversion unit (66a, 66b, 66c) coupled to the power input terminals (52) comprising a single switching element (60) and an energy storage element (Ch), both coupled to a switch node (55), wherein the power output terminals (53, 54) are represented by the output of said stage power conversion unit, a filter unit (68) coupled to said switch node (55), said filter unit comprising a filter inductor (Lc) and a filter capacitor (Cs), and a control unit (58) for controlling said switching element (60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Toni Lopez, Reinhold Elferich
  • Publication number: 20150303817
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a driver device (10) for driving a load (18), comprising input terminals (14, 16) for connecting the driver device (10) to a voltage supply (12) and for receiving an input voltage (V10) from the voltage supply (12), at least one output terminal for connecting the driver device (10) to the load (18), an electromagnetic converter unit (24) for converting a drive voltage to an output voltage (V20) for powering the load (18), two controllable switches (20, 22) connected to the input terminals (14, 16) for providing a variable voltage as the drive voltage to the electromagnetic converter unit (24), and a control unit (28) for controlling a first of the controllable switches (20, 22) on the basis of an electrical signal (V12) measured at a member of the electromagnetic converter unit (24) and a threshold level (40, 52) and for controlling a second of the controllable switches (20, 22) on the basis of a control parameter (50, tOFF) set to a value that the on-times of the controllable
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Andrew Ulrich RUTGERS, Reinhold ELFERICH
  • Patent number: 9163815
    Abstract: A power converter device for converting power from a mains power supply (201) to power a solid state lighting load (280) includes a converter (230) and a control circuit (350). The converter (230) includes a half-bridge inverter (220) that functions as a boost inverter and output stage inverter, the half-bridge inverter having multiple switches (221, 222). The control circuit (350) is configured to control a mains input current and an output current of the device independently by providing a switching signal (S_HB) to the switches in the half-bridge inverter, where the switching signal has a duty cycle, a frequency and a cycle skipping duty cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Reinhold Elferich
  • Patent number: 9160241
    Abstract: Driver circuits (1) for driving load circuits comprise transformer circuits (21) with primary side windings to be coupled to source circuits and with secondary side windings to be coupled to the load circuits. By providing the driver circuits (1) with determination circuits (22) for determining secondary side currents as functions of primary side currents, primary side voltages, primary side inductances and transformer ratios, the secondary side currents can be determined solely at primary sides of the transformer circuits (21). Functions may define secondary side currents to be proportional to differences between first signals proportional to integrals of primary side voltages divided by primary side inductances and second signals proportional to primary side currents, the differences being multiplied by the transformer ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Reinhold Elferich
  • Publication number: 20150245431
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a driver device (10) for driving a load (18), in particular an LED (18) unit having one or more LEDs, comprising input terminals (14, 16) for connecting the driver device (10) to a voltage supply (12) and for receiving an input voltage (V10) from the voltage supply (12), an output terminal for connecting the driver device (10) to the load (18), an converter unit (24) for converting a drive voltage to an output (V20) voltage for powering the load (18), a switching unit (20, 22) connected to the input terminals (14, 16) for providing different voltage levels as the drive voltage to the converter unit (24), and a control unit (28) for controlling the switching unit (20, 22) on the basis of an electrical converter signal (V12; V13; I12; I13) measured at a member (30, 36) of the converter unit (24) and a reference signal (Vth) having an alternating component to provide an out put signal (V20) having an alternating signal component on the basis of the alternating component of the re
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventors: Andrew Ulrich Rutgers, Reinhold Elferich
  • Publication number: 20140368128
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an active capacitor circuit (40) for use in a driver device for driving a load (22), in particular an LED unit comprising one or more LEDs (23). Further, the present invention relates to a driver device comprising such an active capacitor circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: LONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Reinhold Elferich, Toni Lopez
  • Publication number: 20140159611
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a driver device and a corresponding driving method for driving a load (22), in particular an LED unit, said driver device comprising power input terminals (51, 52) for receiving a periodic supply voltage from an external power supply potentially including a dimmer for dimming said periodic supply voltage,power output terminals (53, 54) for providing a drive voltage and/or drive current for driving a load (22), a power stage (70a, 70b, 70c, 70d) coupled between the power input terminals and the power output terminals for controlling an input current received from said power input terminals to draw a high power from said external power supply in a first mode or to draw a low or no power from said external power supply in a second mode, said high power being higher than the power required for driving said load and said low power being lower than the power required for driving said load, wherein said power stage controls said input current to be in the second mode only for a perce
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Reinhold Elferich, Toni Lopez, Harald Josef Gunther Radermacher
  • Patent number: 8729830
    Abstract: A feedback circuit for a zero-voltage-switching converter (1) for feeding a load circuit (2, 3), which converter (1) comprises a chopper (4), a driver (5) and a resonant tank (6), is provided with an arrangement (10) for receiving a first signal derived from a resonant tank signal and a second signal derived from a load circuit signal and for generating in response thereto a control signal for the driver (5). Such converters (1) can stand feeding voltage fluctuations and load variations relatively well. The arrangement (10) may comprise an error circuit (12) for, in response to the second signal and a reference signal, generating an error signal, and a combiner circuit (13) for, in response to the first signal and the error signal, generating the control signal. The same converter (1) may be used for supplying two or more load circuits (2, 3), in which case an error circuit (15) may generate an error signal and a duty cycle signal or two error signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Reinhold Elferich
  • Publication number: 20140125241
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a driver device (50a-50f) and a corresponding method for driving a load (22), in particular an LED unit comprising one or more LEDs (23).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Reinhold Elferich, Toni Lopez
  • Publication number: 20140117867
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a driver device (50a-50j) and a corresponding driving method for driving a load (22), in particular an LED unit, said driver device comprising power input terminals (51, 52) for receiving a rectified supply voltage from an external power supply, power output terminals (53, 54) for providing a drive voltage and/or current for driving a load (22), a half-bridge unit (70) comprising a first (60) and a second (61) switching element coupled in series between a high-voltage node (57) and a low-voltage node (58) and having a switch node (59) between said first and said second switching element, a boost input filter unit (71) comprising a first inductor (L1) coupled between said power input terminals (51, 52) and said half-bridge unit (70), a buck output filter unit (72) comprising a second inductor (L2) coupled between said half-bridge unit (70) and a power output terminal (53, 54), an energy storage unit (73) and a control unit (64) for controlling said switching elements (60, 61).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Reinhold Elferich, Toni Lopez