Patents by Inventor Theo Gerrit Zijlman

Theo Gerrit Zijlman 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: 11943850
    Abstract: A LED circuit comprises a current drive circuit for driving a current through the parallel combination of a LED arrangement and an output capacitor. An override arrangement overrides the current level setting to a default current level during start-up, and the override arrangement is disabled when a current flow is sensed by a sensor. The current setting of the driver is ignored until a threshold current is sensed through the LED arrangement. The delay associated with initial start-up charging of the output capacitor is thereby avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Bertrand Johan Edward Hontele, Theo Gerrit Zijlman
  • Patent number: 11882631
    Abstract: A light source driver for a light source of a luminaire. The disclosure proposes to monitor a parameter, responsive to or a cause of a temperature change in a resistive element to facilitate determination of whether the light source driver is compatible with an AC supply. The resistive element in connected in series between the rectifying arrangement, of the light source driver, and the energy storage capacitor for storing charge that powers the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Theo Gerrit Zijlman, Henricus Marius Joseph Maria Kahlman
  • Publication number: 20230422371
    Abstract: A LED driver circuit uses a first current source circuit to set an output current, controlled by pulse width modulation and a second current source circuit for charging a storage capacitor. A compensating arrangement is used for increasing the current delivered by the second current source circuit during off period times of the pulse width modulation. This compensates the current drawn from the input and enables better timing control of the input current pulses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: THEO GERRIT ZIJLMAN, HENRICUS MARIUS JOSEPH MARI KAHLMAN, BERTARD JOHAN EDWARD HONTELE
  • Patent number: 11792903
    Abstract: An LED arrangement having a LED string and a smoothing capacitor connected in parallel. A controllable voltage limiter is able to limit a voltage across the LED string to selectively prevent the LED string from outputting light. As the LED arrangement is turned ON, the controllable voltage limiter may activate so that the smoothing capacitor can be charged with a high current without activating the LED string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Henricus Marius Joseph Maria Kahlman, Theo Gerrit Zijlman
  • Publication number: 20230319961
    Abstract: A Light Emitting Diode, LED, driver arranged for driving at least one LED, said LED driver comprising a rectifier arranged for receiving an Alternating Current, AC, supply voltage and for providing an output Direct Current, DC, voltage to said at least one LED, a voltage regulating branch arranged for controlling an LED voltage provided to said at least one LED, via a supply line, wherein said voltage regulating branch is arranged for receiving said DC voltage from said rectifier, wherein said voltage regulating branch comprises, a capacitor arranged for providing said LED voltage to said at least one LED, a current limiter, connected in series with said capacitor, and arranged for charging said capacitor thereby providing said LED voltage and a feedback circuit arranged for controlling the charging of said capacitor by said current limiter, and thereby controlling the LED voltage provided to said at least one LED, by regulating a minimum residual headroom voltage present on a LED current limiter coupled in s
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: HENRICUS MARIUS JOSEPH MARIA KAHLMAN, THEO GERRIT ZIJLMAN, BERTRAND JOHAN EDWARD HONTELE
  • Patent number: 11743990
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lighting system comprising a load comprising a parallel configuration of a first LED load having a first forward voltage, and a first switch coupled in series with the first LED load; and a second LED load, having a second forward voltage being different than the first forward voltage; a switched mode power supply comprising a switching element; an inductor; a diode; a set of output pins for coupling to the load; and a capacitor coupled across the set of output pins; wherein the switched mode power supply is arranged to provide a voltage across the set of output pins, wherein the lighting system comprises a further inductor coupled between the one of the output pins and the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Theo Gerrit Zijlman, Eugen Jacob De Mol, Henricus Marius Joseph Maria Kahlman, Zhaomin Meng, Dmytro Viktorovych Malyna, Marcel Beij, Franciscus Jacobus Vossen
  • Publication number: 20230140677
    Abstract: A light source driver for a light source of a luminaire. The disclosure proposes to monitor a parameter, responsive to or a cause of a temperature change in a resistive element to facilitate determination of whether the light source driver is compatible with an AC supply. The resistive element in connected in series between the rectifying arrangement, of the light source driver, and the energy storage capacitor for storing charge that powers the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Theo Gerrit ZIJLMAN, Henricus Marius Joseph Maria KAHLMAN
  • Patent number: 11641703
    Abstract: A lighting arrangement such as a LED lamp comprises a light source and associated current driver, or a set of at least two parallel light sources and associated current drivers, supplied by a DC voltage from a voltage-regulated power converter. A feedback circuit provides a temperature-dependent control input to a control loop of the power converter, such that the DC voltage is adjusted in dependence on a sensed temperature. In this way, the voltage headroom required can be reduced, and efficiency gains are made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Theo Gerrit Zijlman, Henricus Marius Joseph Maria Kahlman
  • Publication number: 20220394834
    Abstract: An LED arrangement having a LED string and a smoothing capacitor connected in parallel. A controllable voltage limiter is able to limit a voltage across the LED string to selectively prevent the LED string from outputting light. As the LED arrangement is turned ON, the controllable voltage limiter may activate so that the smoothing capacitor can be charged with a high current without activating the LED string.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Henricus Marius Joseph Maria KAHLMAN, Theo Gerrit ZIJLMAN
  • Publication number: 20220312562
    Abstract: A LED circuit comprises a current drive circuit for driving a current through the parallel combination of a LED arrangement and an output capacitor. An override arrangement overrides the current level setting to a default current level during start-up, and the override arrangement is disabled when a current flow is sensed by a sensor. The current setting of the driver is ignored until a threshold current is sensed through the LED arrangement. The delay associated with initial start-up charging of the output capacitor is thereby avoided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Bertrand Johan Edward HONTELE, Theo Gerrit ZIJLMAN
  • Publication number: 20220295611
    Abstract: A lighting arrangement such as a LED lamp comprises a light source and associated current driver, or a set of at least two parallel light sources and associated current drivers, supplied by a DC voltage from a voltage-regulated power converter. A feedback circuit provides a temperature-dependent control input to a control loop of the power converter, such that the DC voltage is adjusted in dependence on a sensed temperature. In this way, the voltage headroom required can be reduced, and efficiency gains are made.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Theo Gerrit ZIJLMAN, Henricus Marius Joseph Maria KAHLMAN
  • Publication number: 20220279636
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lighting system comprising a load comprising a parallel configuration of a first LED load having a first forward voltage, and a first switch coupled in series with the first LED load; and a second LED load, having a second forward voltage being different than the first forward voltage; a switched mode power supply comprising a switching element; an inductor; a diode; a set of output pins for coupling to the load; and a capacitor coupled across the set of output pins; wherein the switched mode power supply is arranged to provide a voltage across the set of output pins, wherein the lighting system comprises a further inductor coupled between the one of the output pins and the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventors: Theo Gerrit ZIJLMAN, Eugen Jacob DE MOL, Henricus Marius Joseph Maria KAHLMAN, Zhaomin MENG, Dmytro Viktorovych MALYNA, Marcel BEIJ, Franciscus Jacobus VOSSEN
  • Patent number: 11246202
    Abstract: An LED lighting driver has a switched mode power supply which generates an auxiliary power supply. The auxiliary power supply circuit has a first power supply inductor and a second power supply inductor in series with each other. The second power supply inductor is selectively switched into or out of the auxiliary power supply circuit, thereby varying a transformer ratio to the main energy storage inductor. The switching may be made based on a light output mode or a standby mode being in operation. The standby mode then enables more efficient generation of an auxiliary supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Theo Gerrit Zijlman, Bertrand Johan Edward Hontele, Marinus Joseph Maria Kahlman, Min Yang
  • Patent number: 11083057
    Abstract: An LED lighting driver has a switched mode power supply which generates an auxiliary power supply. The auxiliary power supply has a dummy load, and a control circuit for controlling the connection of the dummy load in parallel with the auxiliary load in dependence on the current drawn by the auxiliary load. In this way, a current drawn by the auxiliary load is made more stable so that effects of auxiliary supply fluctuations on the light output are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Theo Gerrit Zijlman, Bertrang Johan Edward Hontele, Henricus Marius Joseph Maria Kahlman, Hannah M. Yang
  • Patent number: 11039516
    Abstract: A lighting circuit makes use of a switch mode power converter to drive a solid state lighting arrangement having a lighting unit and a lighting control switch. A pulse width modulation control signal is applied to the lighting control switch for dimming control with an activation pulse during which the lighting unit is activated. The power converter delivers a triangular current waveform and the activation pulse is delayed until a predetermined point within the triangular current waveform. This ensures that the PWM pulse during which the lighting arrangement is turned on has timing which is synchronized with the timing of the switch mode power converter. The prevents beat frequencies so that visible flicker is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Bertrand Johan Edward Hontele, Theo Gerrit Zijlman, Berend Jan Willem Ter Weeme
  • Patent number: 10951129
    Abstract: An AC input power converter comprising a rectifier circuit (D3, D4, D5, D6) for rectifying an AC input signal, a first unidirectional device (D1) coupled in series with a first capacitor (C1) for charging the first capacitor (C1) and wherein the first unidirectional device (D1) and the first capacitor (C1) are arranged in parallel to an output of the rectifier circuit (D3, D4, D5, D6), a second unidirectional device (D2) coupled in series with a second capacitor (C2) for charging the second capacitor (C2) and wherein the second unidirectional device (D2) and the second capacitor (C2) are arranged in parallel to an output of the rectifier circuit (D3, D4, D5, D6), a first output (OUT1) for providing a first power and a first average voltage to a first power converter, wherein the first output (OUT1) s coupled to a first node between the first capacitor (C1) and the first unidirectional device (D1) and a second output (OUT2) for providing a second power and a second average voltage to a second power converter,
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Guy Louis Paul De Bondt, Theo Gerrit Zijlman, Georg Sauerlander
  • Patent number: 10880964
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for overcoming LED flicker caused by an asynchronous control of an LED on or off state and a switched-mode power supply for the LED. A supplementary control system is adapted to override a primary control system for the switched-mode power supply, and control an energy storage inductor of the switched-mode power supply. In particular, in response to an indicated desire to switch the LED on, the supplementary control system sets the current in the energy storage inductor to a predetermined level. In this way, when the LED is switched on, the current through the inductor is known and LED flicker is thereby reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Theo Gerrit Zijlman, Bertrand Johan Edward Hontele, Henricus Marius Joseph Maria Kahlman
  • Publication number: 20200383185
    Abstract: An LED lighting driver has a switched mode power supply which generates an auxiliary power supply. The auxiliary power supply has a dummy load, and a control circuit for controlling the connection of the dummy load in parallel with the auxiliary load in dependence on the current drawn by the auxiliary load. In this way, a current drawn by the auxiliary load is made more stable so that effects of auxiliary supply fluctuations on the light output are reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Theo Gerrit ZIJLMAN, Bertrang Johan Edward HONTELE, Henricus Marius Joseph Maria KAHLMAN, Hannah M. YANG
  • Patent number: 10820389
    Abstract: An analogue dimmer driver for driving an LED lighting element (54) to generate coded light comprises an output component (54) which provides a primary current (ipr), a capacitor (53) connected to the output component, a switch (S1) via which the lighting element is connectable to the current source in parallel with the capacitor. Switching is performed by periodically opening and closing the switch to code information into light generated by the lighting element. The output component has an input configured to receive a dimming signal. Responsive to a change in the dimming signal: i) the primary current is increased so as to increase the average power of the generated light and ii) the duty cycle of the switching is increased by an amount sufficient to prevent the peak level of the current though the lighting element when the switch is closed (ipr+idis) from exceeding a predetermined level (inom).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Martinus Wilhelmus Blum, Theo Gerrit Zijlman
  • Publication number: 20200337131
    Abstract: A lighting circuit makes use of a switch mode power converter to drive a solid state lighting arrangement having a lighting unit and a lighting control switch. A pulse width modulation control signal is applied to the lighting control switch for dimming control with an activation pulse during which the lighting unit is activated. The power converter delivers a triangular current waveform and the activation pulse is delayed until a predetermined point within the triangular current waveform. This ensures that the PWM pulse during which the lighting arrangement is turned on has timing which is synchronized with the timing of the switch mode power converter. The prevents beat frequencies so that visible flicker is avoided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: BERTRAND JOHAN EDWARD HONTELE, THEO GERRIT ZIJLMAN, BEREND JAN WILLEM TER WEEME