Plural Load Device Systems Patents (Class 315/121)
  • Patent number: 8779663
    Abstract: A light-emitting diode includes at least one light-emitting diode chip, at least one control device, wherein each of the light-emitting diode chips is electrically connected to one of the at least one control devices, each of the at least one control devices including a data storage device in which brightness data for each light-emitting diode chip which is connected to the control device is stored, and the control device drives the connected light-emitting diode chip with a current which is selected according to stored brightness data for the light emitting-diode chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: OSRAM Opto Semiconductors GmbH
    Inventors: Francis Nguyen, John McNatt, Sven Weber-Rabsilber, Peter Brick
  • Publication number: 20140184076
    Abstract: A driver is connectable to an external power supply and configured to output a variable driving current for one or more loads, such as LEDs. A low intensity dimming module is operable to divert some or all of the driving current away from the LEDs when a user selects a very low level of light intensity so that the driver has a constant minimum load. The low intensity dimming module prevents performance issues that commonly affect drivers under light load conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: RUDD LIGHTING, INC.
    Inventor: Matthew K. Murphy
  • Patent number: 8749144
    Abstract: According to one or more embodiments, an inverter provides a light source with an input voltage. A protection circuit shuts down the inverter based on an overvoltage protection level that is detected based on the input voltage. A protection circuit control part shuts down the operation of the protection circuit during a predetermined interval. Abnormal operation of the protection circuit caused by a high voltage provided when the light source is turned on may be prevented. Therefore, a turn-on defect of the light source may be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignees: Samsung Display Co., Ltd., Korea Taiyo Yuden Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Song-Yi Han, Sung-Kyu Park, Yun-Gun Lee
  • Patent number: 8736188
    Abstract: A detector circuit for controlling at least one fluorescent lamp is provided, wherein the detector circuit is configured such that an inactive fluorescent lamp can be detected if a first signal is present at least one of a first input and a second signal is present at a second input in a detection interval after a start-up phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: OSRAM Gesellschaft mit beschraenkter Haftung
    Inventors: Juergen Klier, Richard Pfaller
  • Publication number: 20140139109
    Abstract: An LED lamp control circuit directly drives an array of series or parallel connected LEDs with current directly derived from the rectified AC voltage. Electrolytic capacitors are eliminated, and the circuit is independent of forward bias voltage of the LEDs, which vary by lot and manufacturer. For example, in an embodiment, an light-emitting diode (LED) lamp control circuit includes a transistor, an LED load comprising one or more LEDs, a power storage device configured to provide power to the LED load, and a controller circuit configured to control the transistor to charge and discharge the power storage device based on sensed voltages of a first node and a second node and a current passing through the power storage device. The power storage device and the LED load are arranged in parallel between the first node and the second node. A voltage source is coupled to the first node and a first terminal of the transistor is coupled to the second node. A second terminal of the transistor is coupled to ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: iSine, Inc.
    Inventor: Louis J. MORALES
  • Publication number: 20140132156
    Abstract: A LED device with a voltage-limiting unit and a shunt current-limiting resistance where the voltage-limiting unit is connected in series with the current-limiting resistance then connected in parallel with two ends of a LED, so as to constitute the light-emitting unit, thereby when plural of the light-emitting units are connected in series (including connected in series and parallel), the current of LED loaded with higher end voltage passing through the voltage-limiting unit is prevented to be high when subject to abnormal high voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Inventor: Tai-Her YANG
  • Publication number: 20140111089
    Abstract: A ballast including a latching circuit is provided. The ballast includes an inverter circuit for providing an oscillating voltage signal to energize a lamp set, a control circuit for controlling operation of the inverter circuit, and a voltage supply circuit for providing a supply voltage to the control circuit. The ballast also includes a fault detection circuit for detecting a fault condition and a latching circuit connected to the fault detection circuit. The latching circuit is configured to drain the supply voltage and thereby disable the control circuit so that operation of the inverter circuit is discontinued during a fault condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: OSRAM SYLVANIA INC.
    Inventors: Ashwani Guleria, Ashish Kumar Gupta
  • Patent number: 8698404
    Abstract: A driving arrangement for light emitting diode (LED) based illumination constituted of: a comparison circuitry arranged to compare an integral of a target current over a target illumination time for at least one LED based luminaire with an integral of an illumination current over an illumination time for the at least one LED based luminaire, the comparison circuitry arranged to output a comparison signal; and a control circuitry in communication with the comparison circuitry and arranged to alternately: allow the flow of electrical current through the at least one LED based luminaire responsive to a first condition of the comparison signal; and prevent the flow of electrical current through the at least one LED based luminaire responsive to a second condition of the comparison signal, the second condition different from the first condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Microsemi Corporation
    Inventor: Xiaoping Jin
  • Publication number: 20140077704
    Abstract: A ballast comprises an inverter having a transformer comprising a core, a primary winding, and a secondary winding for connecting to a lamp and providing voltage thereto. The ballast includes a fault condition detection circuit connected to the inverter for disabling the inverter to discontinue energization of the lamp when a fault condition occurs. The fault condition detection circuit comprises an other primary winding wound on the core of the transformer for receiving a voltage signal proportional to a voltage across the secondary winding, a voltage blocking circuit connected to the other primary winding for receiving the voltage signal from the other primary winding, and a capacitor connected between the voltage blocking circuit and ground potential. The voltage blocking circuit is configured to selectively conduct and block the received voltage signal as a function of the frequency of the received voltage signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: OSRAM SYLVANIA INC.
    Inventors: Driss Baba, Ayan Choudhury, Joseph Parisella
  • Publication number: 20140070705
    Abstract: A LED driving apparatus and an operating method thereof are disclosed. The LED driving apparatus includes an output stage, a reference voltage regulator, a first input resistor, a second input resistor, and a controller. The output stage includes at least one LED. The reference voltage regulator is coupled to an input voltage and used to receive the input voltage and output a reference voltage signal. One end of the first input resistor is coupled to a node. One end of the second input resistor is coupled to the node, and the other end of the second input resistor is coupled to ground. The controller receives the reference voltage signal from the reference voltage regulator and receives a divided voltage signal from the node respectively, and outputs a setting voltage signal to the output stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Raydium Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Chung-Tai Cheng, Chia-Hsiu Lin
  • Publication number: 20140070704
    Abstract: An electronic ballast may include: a rectifier; a first unit including a first cascade of LEDs and a first storage capacitor connected in parallel with the first cascade; a second unit including at least a second cascade of LEDs and a second storage capacitor connected in parallel with the second cascade; wherein the second unit includes a diode coupled in series with the parallel circuit including the second cascade; wherein the electronic ballast includes: a current controller with an actual value input and a setpoint value input, a setpoint value presetting apparatus for the current through the cascades, wherein the setpoint value presetting apparatus is designed to provide a setpoint value at the setpoint value input which is proportional to the voltage at the output of the rectifier; a first actuating element; wherein the controller includes a drive output coupled to the first actuating element and a second actuating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: OSRAM GmbH
    Inventor: Hubert Maiwald
  • Patent number: 8653735
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a backlight module applied to a liquid crystal display device. The backlight module includes: a control circuit for outputting a driving signal according to an analog adjustment signal or a digital adjustment signal; a driving circuit for outputting a lamp voltage according to the driving signal; a fluorescent lamp set, including a plurality of lamps, for receiving the lamp voltage and thereby generating a lamp current; a lamp feedback circuit c for outputting a feedback signal according to the lamp voltage; and a dynamic protection circuit, for dynamically adjusting a protection command signal according to the analog dimming signal or the digital dimming signal, comparing the protection command signal and the feedback signal and thereby outputting a comparing result signal to the control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corp.
    Inventors: Shih-Wen Wei, Tsung-Shiun Lee, Yun-Pei Huang, Chun-Liang Kuo
  • Patent number: 8653736
    Abstract: Multiple output channel light source power supply circuits, and methods for protecting the output channels, are provided. A front end circuit receivess an input voltage and provides a regulated front end DC voltage. A plurality of voltage converter circuits are each configured to receive the regulated front end DC voltage and provide a separate associated DC output for an associated one of the multiple output channels. A protection switch is coupled therebetween, and includes a conducting state, to couple the front end DC voltage to the plurality of voltage converter circuits, and a non-conducting state, to decouple the front end DC voltage. A current sense circuit is coupled to the voltage converter circuits, and provides a current sense output representative of current through at least one voltage converter circuit. A controller circuit places the protection switch in the non-conducting state in response to the current sense output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: OSRAM SYLVANIA Inc.
    Inventors: Keng Chen, Christian Breuer, Peng Xiao
  • Patent number: 8648537
    Abstract: A plurality of switching units interleaves with a plurality of LED-based lighting units to configure the interconnection of the LED-based lighting units for providing multiple lighting modes. Each switching unit disposed between a leading lighting unit and a trailing lighting unit is separately controlled by a controller. The switching unit can be configured to connect the two LED-based lighting units in parallel or in series, or to bypass the leading LED-based lighting unit. All the LED-based lighting units are connected in series when an input voltage supply is at a maximum voltage level, and connected in parallel when the input voltage supply is at a minimum voltage level. As the input voltage level decreases, the number of LED-based lighting units connected in parallel increases, and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: VastView Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Hung-Chi Chu
  • Patent number: 8643282
    Abstract: Disclosed is a driving device for driving a plurality of lighting fixtures, including a power converter for converting an input voltage into a DC output voltage; a plurality of lighting fixture bases connected in series with each other and each connected to a corresponding lighting fixture for outputting an operating voltage and an operating current to the lighting fixture. The operating voltage is derived by dividing the DC output voltage, and each operating current is identical with each other. The driving device further includes a plurality of output protection circuits respectively connected in parallel with a lighting fixture base for selectively bypass the lighting fixture base to stop the lighting fixture base from outputting current, and a control circuit connected to the output protection circuits for manipulating the output protection circuit to bypass the lighting fixture bases, thereby regulating the number of the lighting fixtures that illuminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Chung-Tsai Huang, Shang-Jin Yan
  • Publication number: 20140028192
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, an electronic device includes a first emitter/collector region and a second emitter/collector region disposed in a substrate. The first emitter/collector region has a first edge/tip, and the second emitter/collector region has a second edge/tip. A gap separates the first edge/tip from the second edge/tip. The first emitter/collector region, the second emitter/collector region, and the gap form a field emission device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Alfons Dehe, Damian Sojka, Andre Schmenn, Carsten Ahrens
  • Patent number: 8638038
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a plurality of light-emitting diode (LED) modules in series are monitored. When an LED module is detected as failing or operating inadequately, a bypass switch removes the particular LED module from the series and the voltage provided to the series is modified. When the LED modules are detected as having too high of a temperature, the current provided to the LED modules is limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Shenzhen) R&D Co., Ltd., STMicroelectronics Asia Pacific PTE, Ltd.
    Inventors: Henry Ge, Leslie Leong
  • Publication number: 20130342108
    Abstract: The invention provides a backlight driving circuit, an LCD device, and a manufacturing method thereof. The backlight driving circuit includes at least two LED lightbars arranged in parallel connection, the output end of each of the LED lightbars is coupled with a variable current circuit, and the variable current circuit is provided with adjustable variable resistors used for balancing the voltage difference between the LED lightbars. In the invention, because the adjustable variable resistors are arranged in the variable current circuit which is connected in series with the LED lightbars, the resistance of the adjustable variable resistors can be adjusted according to the resistance of different LED lightbars before being used; thus, the total voltage of each LED lightbar and the variable resistor connected with ed LED lightbars in series can keep consistent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventor: Xianming Zhang
  • Publication number: 20130334967
    Abstract: A lamp driver responsive to a control signal that is variable in a predetermined control range includes a circuit operable in response to a value of the control signal within the predetermined control range to develop a first current and a lamp control voltage dependent upon the value of the control signal. A shutdown interface is operable in response to a value of the control signal outside of the predetermined control range to develop a second current to turn off a lamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: Kurt S. Wilcox, Pierre Deschenes, Matthew K. Murphy, Bernd Clauberg
  • Patent number: 8611057
    Abstract: An LED module for use in sign letter channel lights comprises a substrate, a reflector mounted on the substrate, an LED mounted within the reflector on the substrate and a Zener diode shunt element connected in parallel across the LED, a printed circuit board on the substrate, wherein the LED is mounted on the printed circuit board, and an insulating cover. The module may be entirely encapsulated. An LED driving protection circuit provides ground fault protection for a plurality of series connected LED modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Inshore Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Francis J. Parker, Robert Crawbuck, Emilian Padurariu
  • Patent number: 8598811
    Abstract: A projection-type display device according to an embodiment of the invention modulates light emitted from a solid-state light source array and projects the modulated light on a screen. The projection-type display device includes a power source device that generates power used for driving the solid-state light source array using power supplied from a power source, an instant interruption detecting circuit that detects an instant interruption of the power source, and a control device that, in a case where the instant interruption of the power source is detected by the instant interruption detecting circuit, performs control of extinguishing the solid-state light source array during at least a part of an instant interruption period until recovery after the detection of the instant interruption of the power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Shioiri, Masahide Tsuda, Osamu Saito, Shigehiro Yanase
  • Publication number: 20130313973
    Abstract: A light system (FIG. 2) is disclosed. The light system includes a plurality of series connected light emitting diodes (240-246). Each of a plurality of switching devices (230-236) has a control terminal and each has a current path coupled in parallel with a respective LED. A plurality of fault detector circuits (220-226) are each coupled in parallel with a respective light emitting diode. Each fault detector circuit has a first comparator (FIG. 7, 704) arranged to compare a voltage across the respective light emitting diode to a respective first reference voltage (708). When a fault is defected, a control signal is applied to the control terminal to turn on a respective switching device of the plurality of switching devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Joseph V. DeNicholas, Perry Tsao, Christoph Goeltner, Daniel Ross Herrington, James Masson, James Patterson, Werner Berns
  • Publication number: 20130313972
    Abstract: A multicolored LED luminaire module is provided that can be controlled using a single driver and only two wires. The LED luminaire module comprises a plurality of LEDs and a sequencer. The sequencer connects each LED to the circuit in a predetermined order. Synchronously with the sequencer, the driver transmits a control signal comprising a time division multiplexed (TDM) signal that combines the driving currents for each LED into one TDM signal. The sequencer and TDM rate are sufficiently fast such that the light emitted by the LED luminaire appears to be the combined light from all the LEDs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventor: Jeffery Neil HULETT
  • Patent number: 8587203
    Abstract: Multiple output channel light source power supply circuits, and methods for protecting, are provided. A front end circuit receives an input voltage and provides a regulated front end DC voltage (FEDC). Voltage converter circuits (VCCs) receive the FEDC and provide a separate associated DC output for each associated output channel. A protection switch is coupled between. In its conducting state, the FEDC is coupled to the VCCs. In its non-conducting state, the FEDC is decoupled. A current sense circuit of a current sensor in parallel with a bypass switch is coupled to the VCCs to provide a current sense output representing current through at least one VCC. A controller circuit places the protection switch in the non-conducting state in response to the current sense output. The bypass switch may be placed in a conducting state to shunt current around the current sensor during normal operation to reduce or eliminate inefficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: OSRAM SYLVANIA Inc.
    Inventors: Keng Chen, Christian Breuer, Peng Xiao
  • Publication number: 20130300292
    Abstract: A lighting system has a lighting fixture with a white light source and a color light source, a control circuit pulses the white and color light sources and changes relative duty cycles of the light sources to alter a color output of the lighting fixture, in response to a change in a control signal from a controller. A comparator compares a reference voltage relating to an aggregate current driving the light sources to a signal voltage relating to the periodic signal from a signal generator. The comparator controls a switch that controls one of the light sources. A duty cycle of the color light source can be vary inversely to a duty cycle of the white light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventor: Donald L. Wray
  • Patent number: 8581498
    Abstract: Methods and apparati for controlling bleed current (IBLEED) in a driver circuit (20) for a lighting device (23). A method embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of coupling a dimmer (21) to an input of the driver circuit (20), and forcing the bleed current (IBLEED) to be inversely proportional to the time-averaged voltage (VLEDP) at said lighting device (23). The dimmer (21) consumes power even when the lighting device (23) is not emitting light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Jade Sky Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene L. Cheung, David J. Chen, David C. Tournatory
  • Patent number: 8581497
    Abstract: An electronic ballast is provided with circuitry for detecting the removal of one or more lamp filaments across a range of dimming levels, and regulating an output stage including at least first and second pairs of lamp connection output terminals based on a filament connection status. A filament removal sensing circuit is coupled to the output terminal pairs and configured to generate an output voltage representative of a filament connection status with respect to the output terminal pairs. A microcontroller is coupled to receive the output voltage from the filament removal sensing circuit and programmed to determine a rate of change in the output voltage, compare the rate of change in the output voltage to a predetermined threshold value, and disable the output stage when the rate of change in the output voltage exceeds the predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Universal Lighting Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Xiong, John J Dernovsek, Candice Ungacta, Danny Pugh
  • Publication number: 20130278144
    Abstract: Embodiments may provide a first device that may comprise a substrate, a plurality of conductive bus lines disposed over the substrate, and a plurality of OLED circuit elements disposed on the substrate, where each of the OLED circuit elements comprises one and only one pixel electrically connected in series with a fuse. Each pixel may further comprise a first electrode, a second electrode, and an organic electroluminescent (EL) material disposed between the first and the second electrodes. The fuse of each of the plurality of OLED circuit elements may electrically connect each of the OLED circuit elements to at least one of the plurality of bus lines. Each of the plurality of bus lines may be electrically connected to a plurality of OLED circuit elements that are commonly addressable and at least two of the bus lines may be separately addressable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: Universal Display Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Levermore, Huiqing Pang, Kamala Rajan
  • Patent number: 8564206
    Abstract: An LED lighting device includes a step-up chopper which includes a first switching element and increases an output voltage applied from a DC power supply, a step-down chopper which includes a second switching element and decreases the output voltage from the step-up chopper to apply the decreased output voltage to a light source unit having light emitting diodes, a controller which controls operations of the first and the second switching element, a current limiter which includes a current limiting element and a switch; and a voltage detection unit. The controller stops an operation of the first switching element when the voltage detection unit detects the voltage applied to the light source unit exceeding a predetermined voltage value, and the switch allows a current to flow through the path passing through the current limiting element when the operation of the first switching element is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Katunobu Hamamoto, Masafumi Yamamoto, Keisuke Ueda, Hisaya Takikita
  • Patent number: 8564155
    Abstract: A method is provided for supplying power to multiple output channels. Channel control signals are monitored to determine a state for each of the output channels. Each channel control signal is associated with one of the output channels. The energy in a storage element is directed to output channels according to the state of the channel control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Polar Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Josh Wibben
  • Publication number: 20130271006
    Abstract: An LED driving circuit comprises a converting circuit, a current regulator, a converting controller and a low dimming protection blocking circuit, is disclosed. The converting circuit is adapted to perform a power conversion to provide a driving voltage for lighting an LED module. The current regulator is coupled to the LED module for regulating a current flowing through the LED module. The current regulator conducts and stops conducting the current flowing through the LED module according to a dimming signal, and executes a protection process when the LED module operates abnormal. The converting controller controls the power conversion of the converting circuit according to a voltage level of at least one connection node of the current regulator and the LED module. The low dimming protection blocking circuit stops the protection process of the current regulator when the driving voltage is lower than a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: GREEN SOLUTION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shian-Sung Shiu, Chia-Ming Chan, Li-Min Lee, Chung-Che Yu
  • Publication number: 20130271007
    Abstract: Disclosed is a driving device for driving a plurality of lighting fixtures, including a power converter for converting an input voltage into a DC output voltage; a plurality of lighting fixture bases connected in series with each other and each connected to a corresponding lighting fixture for outputting an operating voltage and an operating current to the lighting fixture. The operating voltage is derived by dividing the DC output voltage, and each operating current is identical with each other. The driving device further includes a plurality of output protection circuits respectively connected in parallel with a lighting fixture base for selectively bypass the lighting fixture base to stop the lighting fixture base from outputting current, and a control circuit connected to the output protection circuits for manipulating the output protection circuit to bypass the lighting fixture bases, thereby regulating the number of the lighting fixtures that illuminate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Chung-Tsai Huang, Shang-Jin Yan
  • Patent number: 8552652
    Abstract: A lighting unit includes, a plurality of light emitting elements which has a first substrate, a supporting electrode, light emitting functional layers, first electrodes, and a second electrode; a plurality of fuse units,; an insulating first partitioning wall which separates each of the light emitting functional layers from each other, and each of the first electrodes from each other; and an insulating second partitioning wall which separates each of fuse units from each other. One of the plurality of fuse units electrically connects one of the first electrodes and the supporting electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Kasai
  • Publication number: 20130257281
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a marker lamp is supplied with electric power from an alternating constant-current power supply device via a saturable device. The marker lamp includes a solid-state light-emitting circuit functioning as a light source and a lighting circuit configured to subject the solid-state light-emitting circuit to lighting control. The marker lamp further includes an abnormality monitoring device configured to monitor a state of the solid-state light-emitting circuit and open, if detecting an abnormal state, an output side of the saturable device corresponding to the marker lamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: TOSHIBA LIGHTING & TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shingo Niino
  • Patent number: 8531128
    Abstract: An electrical circuit is disclosed. The electrical circuit comprises a plurality of color strings coupled in series, where each color string has at least one lamp, preferably a light emitting diode. The color strings may be of dissimilar length and may contain light emitting diodes of different colors. In one embodiment, a switch coupled in parallel with one of the color strings is configured to shunt power away from the color string to a power supply. In another embodiment, a switch coupled in parallel with one of the color strings is configured to shunt power away from the color string to one or more other color strings. In several embodiments, passive storage elements are utilized to store shunted power. In another embodiment, a current injector is configured to inject or remove current from a node adjacent to a color string. In several embodiments the invention is implemented as a light emitting diode driver integrated circuit or chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Lumenetix, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew D. Weaver, Herman Ferrier
  • Publication number: 20130207548
    Abstract: An improved LED provides power efficient lighting while accepting a wide range of input voltages. The improved LED may comprise a controller that may measure a voltage, current, or other characteristics of input power and modify operation of the improved LED accordingly, such as to accept significantly more voltage or significantly less voltage while providing consistent light output. This allows light bulbs or other lighting to be easily manufactured with the improved LED. The improved LED may comprise the controller and one or more LED dies enclosed by a substrate and lens structure. Depending on the configuration of the controller, the improved LED may also provide time, temperature, and other measurement/response functions to help ensure consistent light output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Inventor: Itai Leshniak
  • Publication number: 20130200799
    Abstract: A high-voltage AC LED driver circuit has a rectifier unit, an LED unit, a voltage-controlled transistor, a current detection unit, a control unit and a shunt unit. The shunt unit has a current limiting transistor for limiting a current flowing through the shunt unit to be lower than the working current. The current flowing through the voltage-controlled transistor will be higher than 0 (A) although an AC voltage is boosted. In addition, the voltage-controlled transistor can extend its working voltage and is prevented from being over heated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: LUXUL TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATION
    Inventor: Luxul Technology Incorporation
  • Publication number: 20130200800
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement (11) for driving light-emitting diodes comprises a number N of current regulators (14, 15), which each comprise a control input (17, 19) and a load terminal (18, 20) for providing a load current (IL1, IL2) to an electrical load (12, 13) which can be coupled, in each case having a light-emitting diode (12?, 13?). Furthermore, the circuit arrangement (11) comprises a compensation circuit (16), which is coupled to the control inputs (17, 19) of the number N of current regulators (14, 15) and is designed to adjust the respective load current (IL1, IL2) in a load-dependent manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: AMS AG
    Inventor: Karl Georg Waser
  • Publication number: 20130193851
    Abstract: A system, method and circuit for providing constant current to an LED array are described herein. These include a resistor coupled to the LED array and a thermistor coupled to the LED array and the resistor. The resistor and the thermistor limit the current at a given temperature and compensate for the forward voltage shift of the LED array as a function of temperature. The system, method and integrated circuit may also include a fuse coupled to the thermistor. The fuse allows the system to continue to operate if a single LED within the LED array fails to short-circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: VISHAY DALE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: VISHAY DALE ELECTRONICS, INC.
  • Publication number: 20130187549
    Abstract: An LED AC driving circuit capable of adjusting operating voltage has a rectifying unit, an LED unit, a voltage-controlled transistor, a current detecting unit and a current regulating unit to form a power loop. Further, a resistance adjusting unit is connected to the voltage-controlled transistor in parallel. The current regulating unit detects the operating power of the voltage-controlled transistor. When the detected operating power is zero, the resistance of the resistance adjusting unit is increased for increasing the current flowing through the voltage-controlled transistor. When the detected operating power becomes larger than a maximum rated power, the resistance of the resistance adjusting unit is decreased to reduce the current. Thus, the operating power is maintained between zero and the maximum rated power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: LUXUL TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATION
    Inventor: Luxul Technology Incorporation
  • Patent number: 8487537
    Abstract: A retained and a removable circuit connect together to form a closed circuit. A switching mechanism is connected between the retained and removable circuits and to a circuit break load. Upon disconnection of the circuit break load and/or the removable circuit, the switching mechanism automatically switches from an open circuit to a closed circuit to form a closed circuit with the retained circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: The Sloan Company, Inc
    Inventors: Thomas C. Sloan, Bruce Quaal
  • Publication number: 20130169158
    Abstract: A light emitting unit driving circuit may include: an operating voltage supplying unit configured to supply a voltage input for the driving circuit; a driving unit coupled to the operating voltage supplying unit and configured to drive the light emitting unit to make the light emitting unit turn on or turn off; and a feedback control unit coupled between the driving unit and the light emitting unit, and configured to form a feedback loop together with the driving circuit and the light emitting unit to stabilize an operating current of the light emitting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: OSRAM AG
    Inventors: Haixiang He, Wanchun Jiang, Martin Brueckel, Hu Wang
  • Publication number: 20130154482
    Abstract: A open-circuit protection circuit of a constant current driving circuit for light emitting diodes is disclosed, which includes that: a transformer (Ta1), which has at least one secondary winding (WT1), is connected to at least two load branches (A1,A2); a commutating loop is composed of each load branches (A1, A2) and one secondary winding (WT1), wherein the secondary winding (WT1) has tap ends; a current sharing transformer (T1) is set in two neighbor load branch (A1, A2); each load branch (A1, A2) is separately connected to one open-circuit protection module (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2010
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: INVENTRONICS (HANGZHOU), INC.
    Inventors: Liang'an Ge, Xiaoli Yao
  • Publication number: 20130147357
    Abstract: System and method for adjusting brightness of one or more cold-cathode fluorescent lamps. The system includes a voltage selector configured to receive a dimming voltage and a first threshold voltage and generate an output voltage. The output voltage is selected from a group consisting of the dimming voltage and the first threshold voltage. Additionally, the system includes an oscillator coupled to a first capacitor and configured to generate a ramp signal with the first capacitor, and a signal generator configured to receive the ramp signal and the output voltage and generate a first signal. The first signal corresponds to a lamp brightness level. Moreover, the system includes a brightness detector configured to receive the first signal and output a second signal. The second signal indicates whether the lamp brightness level is higher than a threshold brightness level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: ON-BRIGHT ELECTRONICS (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
    Inventor: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
  • Publication number: 20130147356
    Abstract: The lighting apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes a dimming control unit configured to control, in accordance with a dimming ratio, a light source including a plurality of light emitting elements designed to emit light in response to DC power. The dimming control unit is configured to, when the dimming ratio falls within a first dimming range, vary supply power to the light source in accordance with the dimming ratio. The dimming control unit is configured to, when the dimming ratio falls within a second dimming range different from the first dimming range, vary, in accordance with the dimming ratio, a lighting number defined as the number of the light emitting elements to be lit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Panasonic Corporation
  • Publication number: 20130147355
    Abstract: A detecting circuit and method thereof are configured to detect whether an LED array is open is described. The detecting circuit includes a resistance unit, a first switching unit, and an output unit. The resistance unit is operatively connected in series to the LED array. The switching unit is configured to be turned on when a voltage of the resistance unit is greater than or equal to a predetermined voltage level. The output unit is configured to produce an output indicative of whether the LED array is open, based whether the first switching unit is turned on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Inventors: Jun-sik Min, Tae-kyoung Kang, Beom-seon Ryu
  • Publication number: 20130140991
    Abstract: A direction indication lamp control device includes: a current control element including an end which outputs a drive current having a magnitude corresponding to amplitude of a pulse signal; a current clamp unit which limits the drive current to a current upper limit value; a voltage clamp unit which limits a reference voltage to a voltage upper limit value; and a wire disconnection detection unit which outputs a wire disconnection detection signal in a case where the drive current corresponding to the pulse wave of the pulse signal is equal to or less than a wire disconnection detection value, or in a case where the reference voltage is equal to the voltage upper limit value. The current upper limit value is smaller than the drive current flowing through a direction indication lamp when the reference voltage is the voltage upper limit value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: SHINDENGEN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichi Kubota, Hideyuki Ono
  • Publication number: 20130127343
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a power supply circuit for multi-path light-emitting diode (LED) loads. The two ports of the second diode are connected in parallel with the first switch tube, and the two ports of the forth diode are connected in parallel with the second switch tube. The conduction mode of the second and forth diodes is controlled by controlling the switch status of the first and second switch tubes. When the system is on a normal state, the first and second switch tubes are both switched off. When the load output of any path needs to be turned off, the corresponding switch tube should be controlled to switch on, which makes the diode connected in parallel with the switch tube short-circuited. The present invention can avoid a strong impulse current produced in filtering capacitor when the load of any path is directly short-circuited. Therefore, the present invention can reduce the current stress in circuits, improve the reliability of circuits, and reduce the cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: INVENTRONICS (HANGZHOU), INC.
    Inventor: Liang'an Ge
  • Publication number: 20130113380
    Abstract: A display apparatus is provided. The display apparatus includes a display panel configured to display an image, an LED module configured to provide backlight to the display panel, an LED driving unit configured to apply a driving voltage to the LED module using an external power, an exterior unit configured to support the LED driving unit and the LED module and include a ground terminal provided separately from the external power, and an LED driving control unit which causes an operation of the LED driving unit to be stopped based on a current flowing in from the ground terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
  • Publication number: 20130113379
    Abstract: A public lighting system includes at least one street lamp (1) of the type including a lighting device (3), a device for converting renewable energy into electric energy (4), and a post switch (6) for alternately connecting either the lighting device (3) or the generator (4) to a power line (5). The lighting system further includes a line switch (70) that switches between a first position, in which the power line (5) is connected to a power grid (8), and a second position, in which the power line (5) is connected to an inverter (71) interposed between the line switch (70) and the power grid (8).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: SPI TECNO S.R.L.
    Inventors: Dario Pennisi, Berardino De Angelis