Abstract: Lighting apparatus which supplies a current to solid-state light-emitting device (LED) includes: DC power supply circuit (AC/DC converter); and DC/DC converter that converts an output voltage of DC power supply circuit and applies, to solid-state light-emitting device, the output voltage converted. DC/DC converter includes: switching element; and DC/DC control circuit that performs a control of repeatedly turning ON and OFF switching element in a boundary conduction mode, and DC power supply circuit adjusts the output voltage to make a switching frequency of switching element higher than a first frequency, based on a forward voltage to be applied to solid-state light-emitting device.

Abstract: A lighting device includes a rectifier circuit, a conversion circuit, a constant current circuit and a control circuit. The conversion circuit includes a first series circuit, a second series circuit and a third series circuit. The conversion circuit is configured to output a DC current by on/off of a switching element being controlled by the control circuit. A high potential-side terminal of the third capacitor is electrically connected to an output terminal. The low potential-side terminal of the third capacitor is electrically connected to an output terminal, via the constant current circuit.

Abstract: A control circuit is configured to convert a DC voltage that is outputted from a DC power supply to a square wave voltage by switching the switching element according to a PWM signal having a duty ratio that corresponds to a light modulation level of the light source unit, and cause the square wave voltage to be outputted to the light source unit. The control circuit includes a voltage controller configured to control an operating voltage for operating the switching element such that at least one of a rising time and a falling time of a current that flows through the switching element is 1 microsecond or more.

Abstract: Lighting apparatus includes: AC/DC converter which converts AC voltage Vac to DC voltage Vdc; DC/DC converter which converts DC voltage Vdc to a DC voltage to be applied to LED; and detection circuit which detects AC voltage Vac. DC/DC converter includes switching element, and control circuit that performs a control of repeatedly turning on and off switching element in a boundary conduction mode. Control circuit performs the control under which ON time Ton is kept from exceeding an upper limit that is previously determined, and raises the upper limit when AC voltage Vac detected by detection circuit falls below a predetermined value. ON time Ton is a period of time during which switching element is kept ON.

Abstract: A lighting device which outputs a current to a solid-state light emitting element includes: a direct current-to-direct current (DC-to-DC) converter; and an output detector which detects an output from the DC-to-DC converter, wherein the DC-to-DC converter includes: a switching element; a control device which controls the switching element in order to generate the output; and a current detector which detects a current which flows through the switching element, and if a current value of the current detected by the current detector is less than a predetermined threshold, the control device controls the switching element according to a duty cycle determined based on an output value of the output detected by the output detector, and if the current value is greater than the predetermined threshold, the control device controls the switching element according to a duty cycle lower than the duty cycle determined based on the output value.

Abstract: A light source circuit includes light-emitting diodes and a constant current circuit that controls current flowing through light-emitting diodes to a fixed level. A DC power supply circuit outputs a DC voltage having a voltage value capable of causing light-emitting diodes to emit light. A light modulation control unit includes: a MOSFET electrically connected between DC power supply circuit and light source circuit; and a control circuit configured to control MOSFET. Control circuit is configured to turn MOSFET on and off with a duty ratio corresponding to a light modulation level such that DC voltage that is outputted from DC power supply circuit is converted to a square wave voltage, and the square wave voltage is outputted to light source circuit. The square wave voltage has an amplitude equal to the voltage value of the DC voltage that is outputted from DC power supply circuit.

Abstract: A control circuit is configured to convert a DC voltage that is outputted from a DC power supply to a square wave voltage by switching the switching element according to a PWM signal having a duty ratio that corresponds to a light modulation level of the light source unit, and cause the square wave voltage to be outputted to the light source unit. The control circuit includes a voltage controller configured to control an operating voltage for operating the switching element such that at least one of a rising time and a falling time of a current that flows through the switching element is 1 microsecond or more.

Abstract: A lighting device which outputs a current to a solid-state light emitting element includes: a direct current-to-direct current (DC-to-DC) converter; and an output detector which detects an output from the DC-to-DC converter, wherein the DC-to-DC converter includes: a switching element; a control device which controls the switching element in order to generate the output; and a current detector which detects a current which flows through the switching element, and if a current value of the current detected by the current detector is less than a predetermined threshold, the control device controls the switching element according to a duty cycle determined based on an output value of the output detected by the output detector, and if the current value is greater than the predetermined threshold, the control device controls the switching element according to a duty cycle lower than the duty cycle determined based on the output value.

Abstract: A lighting device includes a rectifier circuit, a conversion circuit and a control circuit. A first inductor of a first series circuit and a second inductor of a second series circuit have inductances by which a time period, during which a diode is electrically conducted, is made shorter than a half period of a resonance period of a closed loop circuit. The closed loop circuit includes a first capacitor, the first inductor, a second capacitor and a third capacitor. The control circuit is configured to control a switching element in such a manner that the switching element is turned on at fixed periods.

Abstract: A lighting device includes a constant-current circuit, a smoothing capacitor, a bypass circuit, a detection unit, and a bypass control unit. The constant-current circuit supplies a constant current to a plurality of solid-state light-emitting elements connected in series. The smoothing capacitor is connected between output terminals of the constant-current circuit. The bypass circuit is connected in parallel to one or more of the plurality of solid-state light-emitting elements. The detection unit detects whether the one or more solid-state light-emitting elements are open-circuited. When the detection unit detects that at least one of the one or more solid-state light-emitting elements is open-circuited, the bypass control unit discharges the smoothing capacitor during a discharge period to then bypass the one or more solid-state light-emitting elements through the bypass circuit.

Abstract: The lighting device according to the present invention includes a power supply circuit, a temperature detection circuit, and a temperature control circuit. The power supply circuit supplies operation power to a light source including a solid state light emitting device. The temperature detection circuit measures a surrounding temperature of the light source and outputs the measured surrounding temperature as a detection temperature. The temperature control circuit determines whether an increase rate of the surrounding temperature exceeds a predetermined criterion value. When determining that the increase rate exceeds the criterion value, the temperature control circuit performs a process of decreasing a temperature of the light source.

Abstract: An illumination device includes a main light source block having a plurality of main light sources and a plurality of current limiters, and an auxiliary light source block having an auxiliary light source and a constant-current unit. A series circuit of the auxiliary light source and the constant-current unit is electrically connected in parallel with the main light source block, between first and second output terminals of a rectifier. A smoothing capacitor is electrically connected in parallel with a specific main light source among the plurality of main light sources. The specific main light source and a corresponding current limiter are electrically connected in parallel with the series circuit of the auxiliary light source and the constant-current unit.

Abstract: An electronic ballast includes an AC-DC converter, a DC-DC converter, a cooling device and a power supply. The cooling device is configured to cool the light source. The power supply includes a first power supply configured to generate a first operating voltage from a first voltage obtained from a chopper circuit included in the AC-DC converter to supply the first operating voltage to at least one of the AC-DC converter and the DC-DC converter. The power supply further includes a second power supply configured to generate a second operating voltage from a second voltage obtained from the chopper circuit to supply the second operating voltage to at least the cooling device of the AC-DC converter, the DC-DC converter and the cooling device.

Abstract: A lighting device includes a rectifier, a constant current regulator and a charge-discharge circuit. The constant current regulator is electrically connected in series with first and second solid-state light-emitting element arrays between a pair of output terminals of the rectifier. The constant current regulator is configured to adjust a current flowing through the second solid-state light-emitting element array to a constant current. The charge-discharge circuit is electrically connected in series with the first solid-state light-emitting element array between the pair of output terminals of the rectifier. The charge-discharge circuit includes a charge storage element, and is configured so that a charge current flows to the charge storage element through the first solid-state light-emitting element array, and so that a discharge current flows from the charge storage element to the second solid-state light-emitting element array.

Abstract: A controller circuit is configured to adjust the number of light-emitting diodes that a current flows from a rectifier circuit through so that: the number of light-emitting diodes, which are lit, of the plurality of light-emitting diodes increases according to a value of a pulsating voltage during a time period that the value of the pulsating voltage increases; and the number of light-emitting diodes, which are lit, of the plurality of light-emitting diodes decreases according to the value of the pulsating voltage during a time period that the value of the pulsating voltage decreases. Light-emitting diodes, which start to emit light by a higher voltage value, of the plurality of light-emitting diodes are disposed at a position nearer to an outside of a mounting region of a substrate than light-emitting diodes, which start to emit light by a lower voltage value, of the plurality of light-emitting diodes.

Abstract: A lighting device includes a rectifier circuit, a conversion circuit and a control circuit. A first inductor of a first series circuit and a second inductor of a second series circuit have inductances by which a time period, during which a diode is electrically conducted, is made shorter than a half period of a resonance period of a closed loop circuit. The closed loop circuit includes a first capacitor, the first inductor, a second capacitor and a third capacitor. The control circuit is configured to control a switching element in such a manner that the switching element is turned on at fixed periods.

Abstract: A lighting device includes a rectifier circuit, a conversion circuit, a constant current circuit and a control circuit. The conversion circuit includes a first series circuit, a second series circuit and a third series circuit. The conversion circuit is configured to output a DC current by on/off of a switching element being controlled by the control circuit. A high potential-side terminal of the third capacitor is electrically connected to an output terminal. The low potential-side terminal of the third capacitor is electrically connected to an output terminal, via the constant current circuit.

Abstract: A light source circuit includes light-emitting diodes and a constant current circuit that controls current flowing through light-emitting diodes to a fixed level. A DC power supply circuit outputs a DC voltage having a voltage value capable of causing light-emitting diodes to emit light. A light modulation control unit includes: a MOSFET electrically connected between DC power supply circuit and light source circuit; and a control circuit configured to control MOSFET. Control circuit is configured to turn MOSFET on and off with a duty ratio corresponding to a light modulation level such that DC voltage that is outputted from DC power supply circuit is converted to a square wave voltage, and the square wave voltage is outputted to light source circuit. The square wave voltage has an amplitude equal to the voltage value of the DC voltage that is outputted from DC power supply circuit.

Abstract: Lighting apparatus which supplies a current to solid-state light-emitting device (LED) includes: DC power supply circuit (AC/DC converter); and DC/DC converter that converts an output voltage of DC power supply circuit and applies, to solid-state light-emitting device, the output voltage converted. DC/DC converter includes: switching element; and DC/DC control circuit that performs a control of repeatedly turning ON and OFF switching element in a boundary conduction mode, and DC power supply circuit adjusts the output voltage to make a switching frequency of switching element higher than a first frequency, based on a forward voltage to be applied to solid-state light-emitting device.

Abstract: Lighting apparatus includes: AC/DC converter which converts AC voltage Vac to DC voltage Vdc; DC/DC converter which converts DC voltage Vdc to a DC voltage to be applied to LED; and detection circuit which detects AC voltage Vac. DC/DC converter includes switching element, and control circuit that performs a control of repeatedly turning on and off switching element in a boundary conduction mode. Control circuit performs the control under which ON time Ton is kept from exceeding an upper limit that is previously determined, and raises the upper limit when AC voltage Vac detected by detection circuit falls below a predetermined value. ON time Ton is a period of time during which switching element is kept ON.