Patents Issued in March 4, 2014
  • Patent number: 8664844
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to restrain separation of an electrode tip from a ground electrode or from a center electrode. A spark plug satisfies a condition 0.8?A1/A2?1.9, where, as viewed on a section which contains a center axis (O) of an electrode tip, A1 [Hv] is hardness of the electrode tip as measured outside a circle having a radius of 0.2 mm, with a boundary point (PA) on a surface of the spark plug between a fusion zone and the electrode tip serving as the center of the circle, and A2 [Hv] is hardness of the electrode tip as measured within the circle having a radius of 0.2 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naomichi Miyashita, Mamoru Musasa
  • Patent number: 8664845
    Abstract: A discharge tube includes a reflective film formed on an outer periphery of a cylindrical glass bulb by metal deposition. The reflective film is deposited in a range of 240° or more in the circumferential direction, and the range being larger in a center part than at each end in the axial direction. A stroboscopic device is equipped with this discharge tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Ogino, Hisashi Dejima, Toshiaki Murai
  • Patent number: 8664846
    Abstract: A green-shifted red solid state lighting device includes at least one green solid state light emitter arranged to stimulate emissions from at least one red lumiphor, arranged in combination with at least one blue solid state light emitter. Such device may be devoid of any yellow lumiphor arranged to be stimulated by a blue solid state light emitter. A green shifted red plus blue (GSR+B) lighting device exhibits reduced Stokes Shift losses as compared to a blue shifted yellow plus red (BSY+R) lighting device, with comparable color rendering performance and similar efficiency, enhanced color stability over a range of operating temperatures, and enhanced color rendering performance at higher correlated color temperatures. Additional solid state emitters and/or lumiphors may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Antony Paul van de Ven, Gerald H. Negley, Ronan P. LeToquin, Bernd P. Keller, James Ibbetson
  • Patent number: 8664847
    Abstract: At least two semiconductor components emit electromagnetic radiation in different wavelength ranges. The superimposition of these electromagnetic radiations of all semiconductor components has at least one fraction in the visible wavelength range. At least one of the semiconductor components has a luminescence conversion element in the beam path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: OSRAM Opto Semiconductors GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Groetsch, Georg Bogner, Berthold Hahn, Volker Haerle, Kirstin Petersen
  • Patent number: 8664848
    Abstract: An organic light emitting display device comprises: a substrate; a plurality of thin film transistors (TFTs) formed on a first surface of the substrate; a passivation layer covering the plurality of TFTs; a plurality of first pixel electrodes formed on the passivation layer and respectively electrically connected to the plurality of TFTs, and overlapping with the plurality of TFTs so as to cover the plurality of TFTs, and including a reflection layer formed of a light-reflecting conductive material; a second pixel electrode formed of a light-transmitting conductive material and disposed on the passivation layer so as to be electrically connected to the plurality of first pixel electrodes; an opposite electrode formed such that light is transmitted or reflected therethrough, and disposed opposite the plurality of first pixel electrodes and the second pixel electrode; and an organic layer interposed between the plurality of first pixel electrodes and the second pixel electrode, and including an emission layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hee-Seong Jeong, Sung-Soo Koh, Chul-Woo Jeong, Soon-Ryong Park, Chi-Wook An, Moo-Soon Ko, Ok-Byoung Kim, Woo-Suk Jung, Il-Ryong Cho, Tae-Kyu Kim, Duk-Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 8664849
    Abstract: A light-emitting element whose degree of deterioration with driving time is improved and of which emission colors are easily controlled. A light-emitting emitting element having a first electrode, a second electrode, and a layer containing an organic compound located between the first electrode and the second electrode, in which the layer containing the organic compound at least has, from the second electrode side, a light-emitting layer in which a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer are stacked, and a hole-transporting layer provided in contact with the third layer; the first layer contains a first organic compound and a second organic compound; the second layer contains a third organic compound and a fourth organic compound; and the third layer contains the first organic compound and a fifth organic compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahiro Ushikubo
  • Patent number: 8664850
    Abstract: An emitting device in an organic electroluminescent device is disclosed, in which a lower electrode pattern is formed on a substrate, an emitting layer pattern is formed on the lower electrode pattern, and a transparent electrode is formed on the emitting layer pattern and an emitting body having a structure in which an organic thin film emits light when an application current is applied to it. The pattern of the transparent electrode completely covers and is larger than that of the lower electrode. The pattern of the transparent electrode is formed over the entire area of the pattern of the lower electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Hayashi, Takashi Fukuchi, Shinzo Tsuboi, Ichiro Fujieda
  • Patent number: 8664851
    Abstract: Provided is an electronic device including a substrate, a pixel located on the substrate and defined by a bank layer, and a multilayer protection film placed on the pixel and composed of multiple layers including at least one organic layer. The thickness of the first organic layer of the multiple layers forming the multilayer protection film satisfies T?k×H×W where T represents the thickness of the first organic layer, H denotes the height of the bank layer, and k is a constant that is varied according to flowability or viscosity of the first organic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: LG. Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Aekyung Jeon, Jaeyoon Lee, Jongkyun Lee
  • Patent number: 8664852
    Abstract: Present invention is for an organic light emitting display device in which permeation of exterior moisture can be prevented, dark defects caused by foreign materials can be improved and lifespan can thus be improved by changing the structure and manufacturing method of thin film encapsulation layer, and a method for manufacturing the same, the organic light emitting display device includes the edge region of the thin film encapsulation layer is thicker than the active region thereof and the thin film encapsulation layer includes a plurality of organic film and a plurality of inorganic film, the organic film and the inorganic film being laminated one on top of the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-Sung Kim, Ho-Jin Kim
  • Patent number: 8664853
    Abstract: A photoelectric cathode has a work function lowering material such as cesium placed into an enclosure which couples a thermal energy from a heater to the work function lowering material. The enclosure directs the work function lowering material in vapor form through a low diffusion layer, through a free space layer, and through a uniform porosity layer, one side of which also forms a photoelectric cathode surface. The low diffusion layer may be formed from sintered powdered metal, such as tungsten, and the uniform porosity layer may be formed from wires which are sintered together to form pores between the wires which are continuous from the a back surface to a front surface which is also the photoelectric surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignees: Calabazas Creek Research, Inc., University of Maryland
    Inventors: Eric J. Montgomery, R. Lawrence Ives, Louis R. Falce
  • Patent number: 8664854
    Abstract: A electrodeless lamp including a fluorescent discharge vessel, a tip, an amalgam, a lamp core, and a heater. The vessel contains a gas having a partial vapor pressure and a fluorescent material. The tip has an inner end engaging the vessel, and an opening in communication with the gas. The amalgam is positioned within the opening, in heat transfer relation with the tip. When the temperature of the amalgam decreases, mercury vapor in the gas condensates onto the amalgam, causing a decrease in the partial vapor pressure of the gas. The opposite occurs when the amalgam temperature increases. The lamp core generates a magnetic flux, causing an electrical discharge in the gas. The heater includes a positive temperature coefficient connected to a winding of the lamp core. The heater is in heat transfer relation with the tip and heats the tip when the electrodeless lamp is in a dimming mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: OSRAM SYLVANIA Inc.
    Inventors: Nitin Kumar, Robert Martin, Shashank Bakre
  • Patent number: 8664855
    Abstract: A high-pressure discharge lamp having an ignition aid may be provided, having a discharge vessel that is surrounded by gas, wherein the discharge vessel includes two ends having fusings in which electrodes are secured, wherein an ignition aid is fastened on at least one fusing, wherein the ignition aid has a local field amplifier in the form of a tip or a curved part, wherein the ignition aid is configured to cause a corona discharge in the surrounding gas which emits UV radiation into the discharge vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Osram AG
    Inventors: Johannes Buttstaedt, Stefan Dunkel, Leon Grabinski, Janbernd Hentschel, Bernd Koch, Stefan Lichtenberg, Martin Tueshaus
  • Patent number: 8664856
    Abstract: In various embodiments, an electrode for a discharge lamp is provided. The electrode may include a metal pin that has a section around which a coil made of metal wire is wound, wherein the metal wire is flattened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: OSRAM Gesellschaft mit beschraenkter Haftung
    Inventors: Stefan Hoene, Manfred Kaemmer
  • Patent number: 8664857
    Abstract: A lighting device may include a substrate attached to one edge side of a radiator and a cover may be attached to cover the substrate. Heat-radiating fins may be provided on the other edge side of the radiator and an air-cooling unit may be rotatably provided inside the heat-radiating fins, thereby enabling freely rotation. In one or more examples, a case storing a circuit part is attached to the other edge side of the radiator and a cap is provided to the case. By the air flow from the air-cooling unit, the heat-radiating fins are caused to be a part of the ventilation path to allow for ventilation of the inside of the radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Betsuda, Takumi Suwa, Hitoshi Kawano, Akiko Saito, Makoto Bessho, Yusuke Shibahara, Hiroki Tamai, Nobuo Shibano, Keiichi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8664858
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a light fixture comprising an electrodeless plasma source, said electrodeless plasma source comprises a resonator and a light bulb, said light bulb is operating inside a cavity of a TIR where the TIR lens comprises a metal grid covering at least a part of said TIR lens, the metal grid grounding electromagnetic radiation generated by said electrodeless plasma source. In another embodiment, the light fixture comprises blowing means sending an air stream into the cavity. A further embodiment also comprises at least one LED, which ELPS bulb and the LED are controlled by a control system, which control system performs dimmer control of at least the ELPS and the LED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Martin Professional A/S
    Inventor: Dennis Thykjaer Jørgensen
  • Patent number: 8664859
    Abstract: Provided is an automotive lamp, and more particularly, an automotive lamp which can secure a forward long-range field of view without requiring an additional light source. The automotive lamp having a plurality of light distribution patterns of Class-W, Class-V, Class-C, Class-E, and High and includes: a plurality of lamp units in which light-emitting diodes (LEDs) turned on or off according to each of the light distribution patterns or having different illumination patterns are installed; an actuator driving the lamp units; and a controller enabling a switch from any one of the light distribution patterns to another one of the light distribution patterns by controlling at least one of the actuator and a value of current supplied to each of the lamp units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Inventors: Jong-Un Kim, Jong-Ryoul Park
  • Patent number: 8664860
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a device for heating a cathode of a magnetron, which includes a heater for heating the cathode of the magnetron, a heater current detecting module for detecting a value of heater current that flows into the heater, and a control module for determining the completion of preheating of the magnetron based on a change in the heater current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Company, Limited
    Inventor: Dai Takemoto
  • Patent number: 8664861
    Abstract: A plasma generator generates a plasma by ionizing a gas with a high-frequency discharge in a plasma generating chamber so that electrons from the plasma are emitted outside the plasma generator through an electron emitting hole. The plasma generator includes an antenna that is provided in the plasma generating chamber and that emits a high-frequency wave, and an antenna cover that is made of an insulating material and that covers an entire body of the antenna. A plasma electrode having the electron emitting hole is made of a conductive material. A frame cover with a protrusion ensures conductivity by preventing an insulating material from accumulating on a surface of the plasma electrode on a plasma side in sputtering by the plasma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Nissin Ion Equipment Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Fujita, Tetsuya Igo
  • Patent number: 8664862
    Abstract: A plasma source includes a first rod forming a quarterwave antenna, surrounded by at least one parallel rod forming a coupler and which is substantially the same length as the first rod, set to a reference potential, the coupler rods being evenly distributed radially about the first rod, at a distance of around one-fifth to one-twentieth of the quarter of the wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Pascal Sortais, Thierry Lamy
  • Patent number: 8664863
    Abstract: The power supply device (14) for an ion-bombardment-induced secondary-emission electron source in a low-pressure chamber includes a control input, two high-voltage outputs, an element for generating a plurality of positive pulses on a high-voltage output, and an element for generating a negative pulse on the other high-voltage output after at least some of the positive pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Excico Group
    Inventor: Maxime Makarov
  • Patent number: 8664864
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for providing combined time-varying light comprising light from one or more light sources (132, 134, 136), and determining aspects of light from one or more light sources based on measurements of the combined light. Light sources of one or more colors can be controlled to provide time-varying combined light outputs (310, 360) using different switching sequences for different light sources, for example according to PWM, PCM, or other modulation methods. By appropriately configuring the timing of the switching sequences, the combined light output can be made to exhibit a plurality of lighting combinations. A broadband optical sensor (148) can be configured to measure (145) some or all of the plurality of lighting combinations, and the measurements used to determine light output measurements of portions of the combined light, and optionally of ambient light, by appropriate processing (150) of the measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Marc Salsbury
  • Patent number: 8664865
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of detecting ambient light in a lighting system is provided. An OLED may be used to emit light and detect ambient light in such a system. Detection can occur during a time interval when light is not emitted from the OLED. Feedback to control the emitted light level of the OLED can be based on the detected ambient light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Deeder Mohammad Aurongzeb, Bruce Richard Roberts
  • Patent number: 8664866
    Abstract: The present invention describes a solar powered garden lamp (100,100a,100b). The lamp (100,100a,100b) includes a lamp assembly, a solar panel (192), a rechargeable battery (150), a sunlight-hour switch (154), an LED (146a,146b) and a control circuit (140). In use, a user estimates the number of hours of sunlight incident on the solar panel (192) and the sunlight-hour switch (154) is calibrated by applying a weather variability factor on a battery charger (142) capacity that is connected to the solar panel. The solar panel (192) converts solar energy into electric power to recharge the battery (150) during the day so that the battery (150) has sufficient power to light up the LED (146a or 146b) at a predetermined brightness continuously from dusk to dawn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Inventor: Ek Khoon Hobart Kay
  • Patent number: 8664867
    Abstract: A device by which windshield wiper arms on motor vehicles are provided with an illumination source is intended to increase vehicle visibility as well as create a unique visual effect at night. A motor vehicle equipped with the device comprises at least one illumination source or sources interconnected via wiring to a dash-mounted control box which provides a pair of switches to control the illumination of at least one illumination source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Inventor: Sean Y. Wood
  • Patent number: 8664868
    Abstract: An image processing circuit and a light illumination module are provided. The light illumination module has an integrated circuit and a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) strings connected in parallel. The integrated circuit could be the image processing circuit. Each of the LED strings has a plurality of LEDs connected in series. The integrated circuit has a driving circuit coupled to the LED strings. The driving circuit supplies a driving voltage to first ends of the LED strings to drive the LED strings. The driving circuit is also configured to maintain a voltage value of the driving voltage obtained while all of the strings of the light emitting diodes are turned on, until all of the LED strings are turned on again. Accordingly, the interference of the LED strings is decreased, and the LED strings operate more stably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Novatek Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chia-Chun Liu, Chung-Wen Wu, Chien-Cheng Tu, Sih-Ting Wang
  • Patent number: 8664869
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electrical load of at least two single loads includes activating and deactivating the single loads in switching cycles of predefined duration sequentially following one another. In one switching cycle, the single loads are activated and deactivated alternately with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Lear Corporation GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus-Dieter Grebner, Michael Reier
  • Patent number: 8664870
    Abstract: A cascoded current regulator, including: a first load circuit, having a first load and a current source unit; and a second load circuit, being cascaded with the first load circuit and having a second load and a current mirror unit, wherein a first current flowing through the first load and a second current flowing through the current source unit are controlled by a control voltage, and a third current flowing through the second load and a fourth current flowing through the current mirror unit are generated according to the second current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Immense Advance Technology, Corporation
    Inventors: Wei-Chuan Su, Pen-Li Chou, Yen-Hui Wang
  • Patent number: 8664871
    Abstract: A power supply for use in a UV curing lamp assembly is disclosed. The power supply is powered by two intermediate frequency (200-400 Hz) low voltage sinusoidal power sources that drive the primary windings of a dual laminated transformer. The low voltage sinusoidal power sources are configured to have different phases. The out-of-phase low voltage sine wave sources are converted to high voltage sine waves on the secondary windings of the dual laminated transformer having the same phase difference relationship. A single rectifier comprising six high voltage diodes, called a ladder rectifier, combine the two out-of-phase sine waves into a single, approximately DC output power source. By modulating a phase difference between two input sine wave power sources, the approximate DC output voltage exiting the ladder rectifier may be alternated between a low ripple mode of about a 13.84% ripple, a high current mode, a high voltage mode, and an intermediate mode with a ripple in the range of about 13.84% to about 100%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Heraeus Noblelight Fusion UV Inc.
    Inventor: Yixin Yang
  • Patent number: 8664872
    Abstract: An apparatus for operating a gas discharge lamp. The apparatus includes an electronic ballast and a controller. The electronic ballast includes a half bridge configuration, a full bridge configuration, a first network, and a second network. The electronic ballast is controlled by a controller that causes the half bridge configuration to ignite an arc between electrodes of the gas discharge lamp in an igniter function that uses the first network, to switch the electronic ballast from the half bridge configuration to the full bridge configuration after the arc is ignited so that a buck inverter function using the second network sustains the arc between the electrodes of the gas discharge lamp, and to provide a transient operation function to the buck inverter function to produce a spike voltage that is used to re-ignite the arc between the electrodes of the gas discharge lamp when the arc extinguishes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Fukuda, Yiyoung Sun
  • Patent number: 8664873
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating at least one LED by a switched-mode regulator circuit to which a DC or a rectified AC voltage is supplied and which provides a supply voltage for at least one LED by a coil and a switch clocked by a control/regulation unit. When the switch is activated, power is temporarily stored in the coil and is discharged through a diode and through at least one LED when the switch is deactivated and the current flows through the LED through a first power storage element which is coupled to a second power storage element. The first power storage element just reaches its maximum capability of storing power due to the current flowing through the LED. A rising current is supplied to the second power storage element such that the time can be detected when the first power storage element recovers its capability of storing power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Tridonic GmbH & Co KG
    Inventors: Stefan Zudrell-Koch, Michael Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 8664874
    Abstract: A backlight unit is provided. The backlight unit includes an LED; an LED driving unit which drives the LED in accordance with a switching operation of a transistor; and a control unit which adds an additional signal to an output current of the LED to obtain a combined current, compares the combined current with the reference current, and controls the switching operation of the transistor based on the results of the comparison, wherein the additional signal is a current signal whose level increases over time in each period and is then reset to a predefined value in each period in accordance with an operation cycle of the transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeong-il Kang, Tae-sung Kim
  • Patent number: 8664875
    Abstract: An LED control circuit with auto ON/OFF function has a power module, a control module, a timer module, a driver module and an LED module with a first LED unit and a second LED unit. The control module generates a time control signal and an LED control signal to respectively activate the timer module and the LED module. The LED module is activated by the LED control signal only when the timer module is turned ON. The timer module can be automatically turned ON/OFF by the time control signal. Moreover, the LED control signal has high potentials and low potentials. The driver module activates the first LED unit and the second LED unit based on two the different potentials of the LED control signal respectively. Both high and low potentials of the LED control are used. The performance of the LED module is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Polestar Electric Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chucheng Chang
  • Patent number: 8664876
    Abstract: Polyphase alternating current power with a phase difference, or direct current power rectified from polyphase alternating current power, is used to drive a common electric energy-driven luminous body, or to separately drive proximately installed individual electric energy-driven luminous bodies, so that alternating-current-induced pulsation in the light output of the luminous bodies is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Inventor: Tai-Her Yang
  • Patent number: 8664877
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a light driving apparatus which may stably drive an LED light at a normal operation by feeding back the output voltage of the LED light and stably drive the LED light at an abnormal operation by feeding back the voltage supplied to the LED light, and the light driving apparatus includes: a rectifier circuit; a transformer circuit; a power factor correction circuit; a smoothing circuit; a constant-current driving circuit; a dimming control circuit; a photo-coupler; a sample and hold circuit; a first photo-coupler driving circuit for feeding back the voltage output from the sample and hold circuit and applying the feedback voltage as a driving voltage of the photo-coupler; and a second photo-coupler driving circuit for feeding back the voltage output from the smoothing circuit and supplied to the LED module and supplying the feedback voltage as a driving voltage of the photo-coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Dongwoon Anatech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung Ho Jin, Hyun Il Park, Ju Seong Kim
  • Patent number: 8664878
    Abstract: An arc detection circuit that detects an occurrence of arcing between ballast and a lamp is provided. A transformer has a primary side connected between the ballast and the lamp to receive lamp current and conduct the lamp current from the ballast to the lamp during normal operation. A secondary side of the transformer produces a transformer voltage as a function of the lamp current received by the primary side. The produced transformer voltage is less than a threshold value during normal operation and greater than the threshold value during an occurrence of arcing between the ballast and the lamp. The arc detection circuit reduces the produced transformer voltage and provides it to the ballast so as to shut down the ballast operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: OSRAM SYLVANIA Inc.
    Inventors: Ayan Choudhury, Arindam Chakraborty
  • Patent number: 8664879
    Abstract: Proposed is a circuit for driving a fluorescent lamp and a light-emitting diode. The circuit may include an inverter; a fluorescent lamp driving branch for driving a fluorescent lamp; a light-emitting diode driving branch for driving a light-emitting diode; a starting branch; and an alternate control branch. By using a simple circuit structure, various embodiments may realize a circuit capable of conveniently and alternately driving a fluorescent lamp and a light-emitting diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: OSRAM AG
    Inventors: Wei Chen, Yanshun Xue, Yilong Ye, Guoji Zhong
  • Patent number: 8664880
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a replacement light for a fluorescent tube usable in a fluorescent fixture connected to a power source and containing at least one LED, the improvement including a detection circuit for connection to the power source, the detection circuit configured to identify the power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: iLumisys, Inc.
    Inventors: John Ivey, Francis Palazzolo
  • Patent number: 8664881
    Abstract: A two-wire load control device (such as, a dimmer switch) is operable to control the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load (such as, a high-efficiency lighting load) and has substantially no minimum load requirement. The dimmer switch includes a bidirectional semiconductor switch, which is operable to be rendered conductive each half-cycle and to remain conductive independent of the magnitude of a load current conducted through semiconductor switch. The dimmer switch comprises a control circuit that conducts a control current through the load in order to generate a gate drive signal for rendering the bidirectional semiconductor switch conductive and non-conductive each half-cycle. The control circuit may provide a constant gate drive to the bidirectional semiconductor switch after the bidirectional semiconductor switch is rendered conductive each half-cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Newman, Jr., Christopher James Salvestrini
  • Patent number: 8664882
    Abstract: A downlighting illumination system (100) is provided having a high light output ratio with an extended apparent source size producing a near uniform illuminance, correlated colour temperature and colour rendering index distribution across an illuminated area. The system (100) includes a power source (61), an electronic driving system (60), a light emitting source (65), a reflector (67) arranged to receive light from the light emitting source (65) and to reflect light through an output aperture in a manner that virtually extends the apparent size of the light emitting source (65) to illuminate the output aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Radiant Research Limited
    Inventor: Geoffrey Howard Gillett Archenhold
  • Patent number: 8664883
    Abstract: A lighting device is provided for lighting control of an LED module based on an externally provided dimming control signal. A chopper circuit includes a switch coupled across a DC input and an inductor which receives and stores energy when the switch is turned on, and discharges energy to the LED module when the switch is turned off. A control circuit determines a current value to the switch, and compares the current value to a predetermined value. During normal operation, the switch is turned off when the detected current value reaches the predetermined value and turned back on when inductor discharge has completed. During a dimming operation, the normal operation is intermittently disabled in accordance with the dimming control signal. The dimming control signal may be a low-frequency PWM signal, with the lighting output being dimmed as a result of a duty ratio of the PWM signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Akinori Hiramatu, Hiromitsu Mizukawa
  • Patent number: 8664884
    Abstract: An LED (Light-Emitting Diode) driving circuit to drive an LED module is provided. The LED driving circuit includes a converting circuit and a feedback control circuit. The converting circuit is coupled to the LED module, and converts an input voltage into an output voltage according to at least one control signal. The feedback control circuit generates the control signal to control the converting circuit to perform voltage conversion according to a feedback signal. In addition, the feedback control circuit receives a dimming signal, and is operated in a first state or a second state in response to the dimming signal, wherein the feedback control circuit adjusts the duty cycle of the control signal to have the duty cycle larger than or equal to a predetermined duty cycle in a predetermined period right after the feedback control circuit is operated from the second state to the first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Green Solution Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hai-Po Li, Shian-Sung Shiu, Li-Min Lee
  • Patent number: 8664885
    Abstract: A circuit for connecting to a dimmer, the circuit configured to receive an input signal from the dimmer. The circuit comprises a first load and a switch. The switch is operable to automatically engage the first load at a predetermined time from a zero-crossing of the input signal and automatically disengage the first load at other times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Gert-Jan Koolen, Victor Zwanenberg, Jochem Bonarius
  • Patent number: 8664886
    Abstract: Timer-based switching circuit synchronization in an electrical dimmer is provided. The energizing of a switching circuit in a dimmer is synchronized with an AC wave to facilitate providing by the dimmer electrical power to a load. The synchronizing includes starting a timer having a predetermined timeout, responsive to receipt of a zero-crossing signal. Responsive to receipt of a subsequent zero-crossing signal prior to reaching the timeout, the timer is restarted, and responsive to expiration of the timeout, a switching circuit is energized at a predetermined firing angle with respect to the zero-crossing signal to supply electrical power to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Ostrovsky
  • Patent number: 8664887
    Abstract: A xenon lamp drive unit of the present invention comprises: a charging circuit; and a current control circuit adapted to supply a current to a xenon lamp by using a charged voltage of the charging circuit as a power source, wherein the current control circuit is adapted to supply, in a first period after a lamp ignition, a high output lamp current having a higher current value than a steady output lamp current to the xenon lamp by constant current control and supply, in a second period after the first period, the steady output lamp current to the xenon lamp by constant current control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Iwasaki Electric Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Yuya Yamazaki, Tooru Nagase, Katsuaki Okubo, Shinichi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8664888
    Abstract: A converter for an LED driver for an LED light source. The converter has a flyback transformer. The primary receives a rectified AC voltage. A switching transistor is coupled in series with the primary. A controller controls the switching transistor on and off to generate a bus voltage across the secondary and a center tap voltage at a center tap of the secondary. The controller is powered by a first low-voltage DC voltage. A first power supply receives the center tap voltage and generates a second low-voltage DC voltage when the center tap voltage is above a cutover voltage. A second power supply has an output coupled to the first power supply output. The second power supply receives the bus voltage and generates the second DC voltage when the center tap voltage is below the cutover voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew W. Nuhfer, Thomas M. Shearer, Venkatesh Chitta, Kartik Iyer
  • Patent number: 8664889
    Abstract: A two-wire load control device (such as, a dimmer switch) is operable to control the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load (such as, a high-efficiency lighting load) and has substantially no minimum load requirement. The dimmer switch includes a bidirectional semiconductor switch, which is operable to be rendered conductive each half-cycle and to remain conductive independent of the magnitude of a load current conducted through semiconductor switch. The dimmer switch comprises a control circuit that conducts a control current through the load in order to generate a gate drive signal for rendering the bidirectional semiconductor switch conductive and non-conductive each half-cycle. The control circuit may provide a constant gate drive to the bidirectional semiconductor switch after the bidirectional semiconductor switch is rendered conductive each half-cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Newman, Jr., Christopher J. Salvestrini
  • Patent number: 8664890
    Abstract: An LED display device providing current correction includes a number of LED modules, a microprocessor, and a storage unit storing a standard voltage value. The correction sequence begins with each of the plurality of LED modules entering a work state in sequence, outputting a feedback voltage indicating work current of one of the LED modules to the microprocessor in sequence, comparing the feedback voltage with the standard voltage, adjusting the current of the LED module if the feedback voltage does not equal the standard voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuan-Hong Hsieh, Han-Che Wang, Hua-Dong Cheng
  • Patent number: 8664891
    Abstract: A white light LED-based lighting device configured for direct form, fit, and function replacement of existing incandescent and fluorescent devices is provided. The white light LED-based lighting device comprises a group of solid state light emitting diodes, electronics to activate the light emitting diodes, and an encapsulating housing configured for direct form, fit, and function replacement of existing devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: LED Bulb L.L.C.
    Inventors: Troy R. Broitzman, Steven C. Furlong
  • Patent number: 8664892
    Abstract: The invention relates to a light emitting system (100), the system comprising a light emitting diode (104), a socket adapter for retrofitting a fluorescent lamp and an electric circuit (112; 200; 306), the electric circuit (112; 200; 306) being adapted for emulating the presence of a fluorescent lamp to a fluorescent lamp driver (102).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Harald Josef Gunther Radermacher
  • Patent number: 8664893
    Abstract: The present invention provides a feedback control circuit and an LED driving circuit for using the same, wherein the feedback control circuit receives a dimming signal. The dimming signal is changed between a first state and a second state. When being in the first state, the feedback control circuit controls a converter circuit to drive the LED module for lighting stably. When being in the second state, the feedback control circuit controls the converter circuit to maintain the power conversion of the converter circuit to have an output voltage outputted by the converter circuit maintained at a level close to a lighting threshold voltage of the LED module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Green Solution Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Li-Min Lee, Shian-Sung Shiu, Chung-Che Yu, Hai-Po Li