Electric Switch Controlled Load Device Patents (Class 315/193)
  • Patent number: 11937350
    Abstract: System and method for controlling one or more light emitting diodes. For example, the system for controlling one or more light emitting diodes includes a current regulation circuit coupled to a cathode of one or more light emitting diodes. The one or more light emitting diodes include the cathode and an anode configured to receive a rectified voltage. Additionally, the system includes a control circuit coupled to the cathode of the one or more light emitting diodes. The control circuit is configured to receive a first voltage from the cathode of the one or more light emitting diodes, compare a second voltage and a threshold voltage, and generate a control signal based at least in part on the second voltage and the threshold voltage. The second voltage indicates a magnitude of the first voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Liqiang Zhu, Jun Zhou
  • Patent number: 11723133
    Abstract: A light-emitting element driving semiconductor integrated circuit that constitutes at least a portion of a light-emitting element driving device configured to drive a plurality of light-emitting elements connected in series includes: a controller configured to have a first mode in which switching control is performed on a transistor connected in series to the plurality of light-emitting elements and a second mode in which linear control is performed on the transistor; and a first detector configured to detect that a current flowing through a sense resistor connected in series to the plurality of light-emitting elements and the transistor reaches a threshold value, wherein the controller switches from the switching control to the linear control based on an output of the first detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Daisuke Kanbara
  • Patent number: 11688349
    Abstract: Disclosed is a display device including a first output part, a second output part, a power supply circuit connected to input terminals of the first output part and the second output part, a first sensing part connected to an output terminal of the first output part, a second sensing part connected to an output terminal of the second output part, a first voltage output terminal connected to the first sensing part and the second sensing part, a plurality of pixels connected to the first voltage output terminal and configured to display an image, and a defect determination part controlling shutdown of the power supply circuit by comparing a first sensing value and a second sensing value, which are received from the first sensing part and the second sensing part, with a first reference value and a second reference value having a level lower than the first reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun-Sik Yoon, Yong-Ju Jeong, Daeho Hwang
  • Patent number: 11653428
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an intelligent power-saving LED light, which can maintain constant brightness and save energy by reducing the number of lighted LEDs of LED modules as outside temperature of a lighting device, such as a street light, having a plurality of LED modules gets lower. When potential of a specific point of a temperature change sensing unit gets lower by a thermistor, comparators compare sensed potential with set reference potential and supply actuation signals of switching elements in consecutive order so that specific LEDs are turned off in consecutive order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Inventor: Dong Wook Lee
  • Patent number: 11638335
    Abstract: System and method for controlling one or more light emitting diodes. For example, the system for controlling one or more light emitting diodes includes a current regulation circuit coupled to a cathode of one or more light emitting diodes. The one or more light emitting diodes include the cathode and an anode configured to receive a rectified voltage. Additionally, the system includes a control circuit coupled to the cathode of the one or more light emitting diodes. The control circuit is configured to receive a first voltage from the cathode of the one or more light emitting diodes, compare a second voltage and a threshold voltage, and generate a control signal based at least in part on the second voltage and the threshold voltage. The second voltage indicates a magnitude of the first voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Liqiang Zhu, Jun Zhou
  • Patent number: 11627649
    Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) driving device for driving an LED array including one or more LEDs includes a rectifier configured to provide a rectified voltage obtained from an alternating current (AC) voltage to the LED array, an LED driver configured to sequentially drain an LED driving current from the LED array via a plurality of first nodes, and a first switch circuit connected to the LED array via a plurality of second nodes. The first switch circuit includes a plurality of first switches commonly connected to a first common node which is one of the plurality of first nodes, and respectively connected to the plurality of second nodes, and a first controller configured to control the plurality of first switches to be sequentially turned on and sequentially turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: WELLANG CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jong Tae Hwang
  • Patent number: 11515789
    Abstract: Circuit structures and methods are described for achieving zero voltage switching in flying capacitor converters for both isolated and non-isolated applications. A first method is described in which zero voltage switching is achieved by operating the circuit with a variable frequency so that each switch in its on state remains on until the magnetizing current in a main inductor is reversed to a current magnitude sufficient to drive a zero voltage switching transition for a main switch. A second method is implemented with a main coupled inductor wherein a winding current is reversed and energy in a leakage inductance drives a zero voltage switching transition for a main switch. A third method is implemented with auxiliary inductors, auxiliary switches, and auxiliary capacitors which reverse the current in the auxiliary inductor which provides the necessary energy for driving a zero voltage switching transition for a main switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Inventor: Ernest Henry Wittenbreder, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11424704
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a wind turbine which comprises a transformer has a variable turns ratio such as an on load tap changer transformer. The adjustment of the turns ratio is possible when a primary side current or a secondary side current of the transformer is less than a switching current threshold. The method comprises operating the wind turbine so that the primary or secondary side current is above the switching current threshold. In response to obtaining a condition for changing the turns ratio of the transformer, the wind turbine is operated so that the primary or secondary side current is reduced below the switching current threshold so that the turns ratio can be changed during the temporary current reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Jesper Hillebrandt, Philip Carne Kjær
  • Patent number: 11304277
    Abstract: Color tunable lighting systems and methods are disclosed. The color tunable lighting systems and methods include user interfaces that allow for the control of color temperature and luminous intensity by a user. The systems and methods provide for flexibility and scalability, where a control module for controlling one or more solid state light source arrays can be programmed during installation for use with specific solid state light source arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: ARL IP HOLDING LLC
    Inventors: Biju Antony, Markus Ziegler, Driss Baba, Daniel Chu
  • Patent number: 11277897
    Abstract: A point-controlled LED light string and a manufacturing method thereof, the light string comprises a DC power supply controller integrated with a plurality of address registers; and LED lights each with a unique address code. The LED lights form a light string with an address code random method, according to a sequence in which the LED lights are connected and arranged in the light string, associating the LED lights one to one with the corresponding address registers, and each of the address registers stores a corresponding address code of a corresponding LED light. The method comprises the steps of selecting LED lights each with a unique address code by an address code random method randomly to form a light string, storing the address codes of the LED lights in address registers arranged in an orderly manner, and associating the address registers one to one with corresponding LED lights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Taizhou Jiaojiang Yingxing Electronic Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: An Wang, Rongji Mo, Xiaoyong Chen
  • Patent number: 11240893
    Abstract: A dimmer includes a power supply circuit including a current limiter and a switch, the power supply circuit electrically coupled to a power source and a load, where current is channeled via the current limiter during a power-on of the dimmer and via the switch during operation of the dimmer after the power-on, a triode for alternating current (TRIAC) control circuit electrically coupled to the power source and the load, where the TRIAC control circuit is structured to control operation of a TRIAC configured to control an amount of power supplied to the load; and a processing unit electrically coupled to the power supply circuit and the TRIAC control circuit, where the processing unit is structured to control the switch and the TRIAC control circuit after the power-on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Lin Yang, Lily Du, Haidong Zhang, Chuanchuan Zhuang, Kevin Zhong
  • Patent number: 11083063
    Abstract: A control device including a CPU is provided. The CPU outputs a plurality of pulses each having a duty set independently to LED. The CPU creates a schedule in which on-timing and off-timing of the plurality of pluses are designated such that the on-timing or the off-timing of two or more of the plurality of pulses is respectively not close to each other based on the set duty and a duty of the pulse. Further, the CPU sets, in a timer for counting time, time from a time point where the timer finishes counting the time already set to on-timing or off-timing of a pulse to be first turned on or off after the time point in accordance with the schedule. The CPU turns on or off the pulse in accordance with the schedule when the timer finishes counting the set time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Terumitsu Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 11032896
    Abstract: A control apparatus for light emitting diodes (LEDs) includes a voltage conversion unit connected to an LED unit to convert an input voltage to supply the LED unit. A voltage difference detecting unit is connected to the LED unit for detecting an output voltage of the LED unit, and the voltage difference detecting unit includes a first resistor, a second resistor and a transistor. A control unit is connected to the voltage difference detecting unit and a hysteresis driving unit, and the control unit cooperates with the voltage difference detecting unit to provide a predetermined voltage. When the output voltage is less than the predetermined voltage, the control unit notifies the hysteresis driving unit to control the switching unit to be short-circuited, so that the voltage conversion unit stops converting the input voltage to cause the LEDs to be completely extinguished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: CHICONY POWER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chen-Chi Lin
  • Patent number: 11002587
    Abstract: An ultrasonic level sensor includes: a housing; an ultrasonic transducer having a face surface for emitting an ultrasonic signal; a reflector with a flat surface positioned at an angle with respect to the face surface of the ultrasonic transducer for reflecting and directing the ultrasonic signal to a surface of a material in a container; and a scattering structure to reflect unwanted scattered ultrasonic signals away from the surface of the liquid, wherein the ultrasonic signal is reflected from the surface of the material and from the flat surface of the reflector and received by the ultrasonic transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: FLOWLINE, INC.
    Inventors: Larry Elvert Carter, Michael Richard Ehlert, Michael Joseph Rafferty
  • Patent number: 10986716
    Abstract: The anti-fouling load arrangement uses the hull of a vessel as one plate of a capacitor to capacitively couple an electrode of the anti-fouling load arrangement to a power source within the hull. The other electrode of the anti-fouling load arrangement receives current from the power source via a wire, or via the conductivity of the sea water, which may be enhanced by the presence of a conductive plate on the surface of the water. A plurality of anti-fouling load arrangements may be applied to the hull as flexible tiles, or rigid tiles that conform to the shape of the hull.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Martinus Hermanus Wilhelmus Maria Van Delden
  • Patent number: 10976041
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lighting device comprising at least two light-emitting elements and a method of producing a lighting device. The light-emitting elements are connected with each other into a module via a connection element. The connection element has at least one region spaced apart from the at least two light-emitting elements. At least two modules are connected with each other in parallel. The at least one region of the connection element has a specific electrical resistance that compensate differences between electrical characteristics of at least two light-emitting elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Lumileds LLC
    Inventors: Manuel Grave, Udo Karbowski
  • Patent number: 10939526
    Abstract: A driver circuit for lighting applications that includes a power input circuit for receiving power; a light emitting diode (LED) output current circuit for interfacing with a light source; and a light emitting diode (LED) power supply circuit for controlling current to the light emitting diode (LED) output current circuit. A controller circuit is present in the circuit for signaling the light emitting power supply (LED) to control current to the light emitting diode (LED) output current circuit. The controller is reset by removing power to the controller. A smoothing capacitor is present for stabilizing at least an output voltage. The circuit further includes a current rectifying circuit that prohibits back current traveling from the smoothing capacitor to the controller circuit when the AC power is off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: LEDVANCE LLC
    Inventors: Yuhao Liu, Nilesh Patel, Ming Li
  • Patent number: 10914288
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a wind turbine configured with an on load tap changer transformer which enables adjustment of a current ratio of a primary side current of the transformer and a secondary side current of the transformer. The method comprises detecting that a network voltage on the primary side or secondary side of the transformer is outside a pre-determined voltage range, and in response determining a current reference for the primary side current based on the detected network voltage. The power converter of the wind turbine is controlled to generate an increase of the primary side current towards the current reference, and the current ratio of the transformer is adjusted towards a higher ratio of the current ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Jesper Hillebrandt, Philip Carne Kjær
  • Patent number: 10910975
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a wind turbine which comprises a transformer has a variable turns ratio such as an on load tap changer transformer. The adjustment of the turns ratio is possible when a primary side current or a secondary side current of the transformer is less than a switching current threshold. The method comprises operating the wind turbine so that the primary or secondary side current is above the switching current threshold. In response to obtaining a condition for changing the turns ratio of the transformer, the wind turbine is operated so that the primary or secondary side current is reduced below the switching current threshold so that the turns ratio can be changed during the temporary current reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Jesper Hillebrandt, Philip Carne Kjær
  • Patent number: 10890300
    Abstract: An LED tube lamp includes a lamp tube; an LED light strip disposed inside the lamp tube and comprising a mounting region and a connecting region, a plurality of LED light sources mounted on the mounting region and at least two first connecting pads arranged on the connecting region; a fixing structure disposed inside the lamp tube and extending along the longitudinal direction of the lamp tube, the fixing structure comprising a first end fixedly connected to an inner circumferential surface of the lamp tube and second end fixedly connected to the LED light strip; a power supply module disposed on the fixing structure and electrically connecting to the LED light strip via the two first connecting pads, the power supply module comprising a circuit board separate from the light strip and a plurality of electronic components mounted on the circuit board; and two end caps attached to two ends of the lamp tube respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Jiaxing Super Lighting Electric Appliance Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Aiming Xiong, Qifeng Ye, Yueqiang Zhang
  • Patent number: 10796648
    Abstract: A light emitting assembly is described. In one embodiment, one or more light emitting diode (LED) devices and one or more microcontrollers are bonded to a same side of a substrate, with the one or more microcontrollers to switch and drive the one or more LED devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Kapil V. Sakariya, Andreas Bibl, Kelly McGroddy
  • Patent number: 10743388
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides lighting control system multi-switch apparatuses and methods. The apparatus includes a lighting control module including at least three electrical terminals. The lighting control module configured to cause a transmission of a quantity of electrical energy to a lighting circuit of a light fixture electrically connected to the lighting control module. The apparatus includes a detector circuit positioned in the lighting control module. The apparatus includes a controller in electrical communication with the detector circuit, the controller specially programmed to cause a call signal to be transmitted to a switch connected to the traveler terminal, the call signal configured to request the switch connected to the traveler terminal transmit a response signal to the controller to identify the switch connected to the traveler terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Racepoint Energy, LLC
    Inventor: William Lark, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10674585
    Abstract: A driver circuit for lighting applications that includes a power input circuit for receiving power; a light emitting diode (LED) output current circuit for interfacing with a light source; and a light emitting diode (LED) power supply circuit for controlling current to the light emitting diode (LED) output current circuit. A controller circuit is present in the circuit for signaling the light emitting power supply (LED) to control current to the light emitting diode (LED) output current circuit. The controller is reset by removing power to the controller. A smoothing capacitor is present for stabilizing at least an output voltage. The circuit further includes a current rectifying circuit that prohibits back current traveling from the smoothing capacitor to the controller circuit when the AC power is off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: LEDVANCE LLC
    Inventors: Yuhao Liu, Nilesh Patel, Ming Li
  • Patent number: 10652960
    Abstract: A power converter for an LED drive circuit, can include: a capacitor and an LED load coupled in parallel to receive an output signal of a rectifier circuit; a power switch coupled in series with the LED load, and being configured to control a current path from the rectifier circuit to the LED load; and a control circuit configured to control the power switch to be turned off in accordance with an error between an output current flowing through the LED load and a desired current value to decrease power consumption of the power switch, where the operation of the power switch is controlled to transition between on and off states in each sinusoidal half-wave period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTD
    Inventors: Qiukai Huang, Jianxin Wang, Qingliang Zheng
  • Patent number: 10582579
    Abstract: A controller circuit for controlling a switching-mode power supply (SMPS) is configured to receive a load control signal indicating an on state when a load is to be coupled to the SMPS and an off state when the load is not to be coupled to the SMPS. In response to the load control signal transitioning from the on state to the off state, the controller circuit is configured to generate a first measured input voltage. In response to the load control signal transitioning from the off state to the on state, the controller circuit is configured to generate a second measured input voltage. The controller circuit is configured to drive a compensation voltage at a compensation element using the first measured input voltage and the second measured input voltage and selectively switch the SMPS using the compensation voltage after driving the compensation voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Paolo Milanesi, Roberto Penzo
  • Patent number: 10554204
    Abstract: Techniques for an integrated slew-rate control circuit are provided. In certain examples, an adjustable, integrated slew-rate control circuit for a bypass transistor can provide three decades of adjustability. In an example, a slew-rate control circuit can include a load bypass transistor, a slew-rate control capacitor, electrically coupled between a conduction node of the load bypass transistor and a control node of the load bypass transistor, and a current mirror circuit. The current mirror circuit can include a sense transistor electrically coupled in series with the slew-rate control capacitor and the control node, and a mirror transistor electrically coupled between a power supply and the control node, to selectively provide, to or from the control node, a shunt current that bypasses the slew-rate control capacitor to limit a slew rate of a voltage at the conduction node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Stephen Young, Xin Qi
  • Patent number: 10555389
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to display of an electronic device. The display includes a backlight unit having a voltage source, a string of light-emitting diodes and a bypass switch for each light-emitting diode in the string. The string of light-emitting diodes can receive, at a first end, a supply voltage from the voltage source. The bypass switch for each light-emitting diode is controllable to pulse-width-modulate that light-emitting diode. The headroom voltage feedback circuit is coupled to a second end of the string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yanhui Xie, Asif Hussain, Jingdong Chen, Manisha P. Pandya
  • Patent number: 10541615
    Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms for mitigating an overshoot of a supply voltage provided with a voltage regulator (VR). In an embodiment, buck converter functionality of a VR is provided with first circuitry comprising a first inductor and first switch circuits variously coupled thereto. Second circuitry of the VR comprises a second inductor and second switch circuits variously coupled thereto. In response to an indication of a voltage overshoot condition, respective states of the first switch circuits and the second switch circuits are configured to enable a conductive path for dissipating energy with the first inductor, the second inductor, and various ones of the first switch circuits and the second switch circuits. In another embodiment, mitigating the voltage overshoot condition comprises alternately toggling between two different configurations of the second switch circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Amit Jain, Sameer Shekhar, Alexander Lyakhov, Jonathan P. Douglas, Vivek Saxena
  • Patent number: 10524324
    Abstract: Lighting fixtures and methods for controlling operation of lighting fixtures are provided. In one example implementation, a lighting fixture includes a first LED array associated with a first color temperature, and a second LED array associated with a second color temperature. The lighting fixture further includes a circuit configured to adjust a power distribution amongst the first LED array and the second LED array based at least in part on a detected toggle input to adjust a color temperature of light output by the lighting fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Pritam Yadav, T. Warren Weeks, Jr., Douglas M. Hamilton
  • Patent number: 10506677
    Abstract: A light source device includes: a semiconductor light source; a switching element connected in series to the semiconductor light source; a drive circuit that turns on the switching element when a first control signal based on a PWM signal is in a first logic state; a switching power supply circuit that supplies a current to the semiconductor light source; a current detection element that detects a current flowing through the semiconductor light source and generates a current detection signal; a current detection circuit that sample-holds a current detection signal for a period shorter than an activation period of the PWM signal; an error amplifier that generates an error signal by amplifying the difference between a current control signal and an output signal of the current detection circuit; and a control circuit that generates a second control signal for controlling the switching power supply circuit based on the error signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Atsushi Yamada
  • Patent number: 10485069
    Abstract: An illuminating apparatus includes a first light emitter, a second light emitter which emits light including more predefined color components than light emitted by the first light emitter, and a lighting device which supplies current modulated according to a visible light communication signal, to the first light emitter. The lighting device supplies a constant current to the second light emitter, while the first light emitter is supplied with current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keisuke Seki, Shigeru Ido, Kazuhiko Hayashi
  • Patent number: 10470273
    Abstract: A light emission drive device includes a current supply unit, which supplies driving current to a light emitting element, which performs light emission of a first function and light emission of a second function, a controller, which controls the driving current so as to have a current value depending on a dimming voltage, and a dimming voltage generator, which generates the dimming voltage. The dimming voltage generator applies a voltage, obtained according to the resistance value of a connected external resistor, to a voltage buffer, and controls the output voltage of the voltage buffer according to whether to perform light emission of any one of the first function and the second function so as to generate the dimming voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kotaro Matsui, Yasushi Noyori
  • Patent number: 10448471
    Abstract: Certain aspects involve lighting systems in which a dimming curve of the illumination can be selectively modified. For instance, a lighting system includes a light source configured for emitting light at a target color temperature and a switch configured to receive a selection of a dimming curve from a predefined set of dimming curves. When in a first position, the switch configures the light source to adjust a lumen intensity of the light source according to a dimming adjustment signal and a first dimming curve. When in a second position, the switch configures the light source to adjust the lumen intensity according to a dimming adjustment signal and a second dimming curve that is different from the first dimming curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC
    Inventors: Towfiq M. Chowdhury, Feng Chen
  • Patent number: 10426008
    Abstract: As a non-limiting example, various aspects of this disclosure provide embodiments of AC direct drives for light emitting diodes for a wide variety of drive stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Exar Corporation
    Inventor: Jon Elliott Cronk
  • Patent number: 10408663
    Abstract: An ultrasonic level sensor includes: a housing; an ultrasonic transducer having a face surface for emitting an ultrasonic signal; a reflector with a flat surface positioned at an angle with respect to the face surface of the ultrasonic transducer for reflecting and directing the ultrasonic signal to a surface of a material in a container; and a scattering structure to reflect unwanted scattered ultrasonic signals away from the surface of the liquid, wherein the ultrasonic signal is reflected from the surface of the material and from the flat surface of the reflector and received by the ultrasonic transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: FLOWLINE, INC.
    Inventors: Larry Elvert Carter, Michael Richard Ehlert, Michael Joseph Rafferty
  • Patent number: 10400963
    Abstract: A light string includes a controller and a plurality of colorful light beads. The controller is electrically connected with the light beads and an AC electric supply, and the light beads are connected in series. Two voltage supply lines power the light beads, and control signals from the controller are fused with the power signal and passed to the light beads via the negative pole. The control signal is recognized by each light bead and also passed to the next light bead in the series, to produce a change in the output of each light bead (e.g., color, flashing pattern, etc.). The light beads include three LEDs of different color and can produce seven different colors. Multiple light segments can be connected and controlled by the same controller. The light string design is simple, yet versatile, offering many illumination outputs selectable by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Shandong Neon King Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Qing En Zhao
  • Patent number: 10380952
    Abstract: A light emitting assembly is described. In one embodiment, one or more light emitting diode (LED) devices and one or more microcontrollers are bonded to a same side of a substrate, with the one or more microcontrollers to switch and drive the one or more LED devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Kapil V. Sakariya, Andreas Bibl, Kelly McGroddy
  • Patent number: 10349478
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a circuit is provided that includes (1) a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) strings coupled to each other in series; (2) a power supply circuit coupled to a first LED string of the plurality of LED strings; (3) a feedback circuit coupled between a second LED string of the plurality of LED strings and the power supply circuit; and (4) a current steering circuit coupled to the first LED string of the plurality of LED strings and further coupled to the second LED string of the plurality LED strings. The current steering circuit includes a plurality of switchable conductive pathways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: ISINE Inc.
    Inventors: Louis J. Morales, Nikolay I. Gishin
  • Patent number: 10342106
    Abstract: A smart dimming system includes: a server communicated with a control device; a Bluetooth series interface control module; a first series dimming control module electrically connected to a first light-emitting diode lamp module; and a second series dimming control module electrically connected to a second light-emitting diode lamp module. One of the first series dimming control module and the second series dimming control module is electrically connected to the Bluetooth series interface control module. A dimming control signal is transmitted to the server, the server provides a Bluetooth control signal to the Bluetooth series interface control module according to the dimming control signal, and the Bluetooth series interface control module provides a series dimming signal to one of the first series dimming control module and the second series dimming control module to dim light of the first light-emitting diode lamp module and the second light-emitting diode lamp module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Inventor: Ming-Tsung Chen
  • Patent number: 10327315
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes an apparatus communicator and an apparatus controller. The apparatus communicator wirelessly transmits and receives information on operations of the lighting apparatuses. The apparatus controller interprets: a mesh profile which is a communications protocol for the lighting apparatus to transmit and receive the information to and from another lighting apparatus and a communication terminal forming a mesh network, and a user profile which is a communications protocol for the lighting apparatus and the communication terminal to communicate with each other, the user profile being set depending the communication terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichiro Kurihara
  • Patent number: 10314125
    Abstract: An analog AC driven fully dimmable circuit that reduces the gap between peak current and a minimum current to improve dimming properties and provide additional functionality to a lighting device. The circuit provides ancillary circuitry that bypasses an analog step driving section of the circuit without the use of an ancillary transistor. The ancillary circuitry bypasses the analog step driving section of the circuit and has a capacitor to continuously provide current to the first series interconnection such that the first series interconnection continuously emits light during operation of the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Once Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Zdenko Grajcar, David Natarelli, Hoa Huynh
  • Patent number: 10306731
    Abstract: A light emitting diode system allows for high current end user LED matrix applications while mitigating internal damage to control circuitry that may be caused by excess current flow. In one example, multiple switches operate in parallel across an LED. When an overvoltage condition is detected in a first switch, a logic circuit determines those switches programmed to operate in parallel and causes them to conduct current. This reduces the amount of current flowing through any one switch and mitigates harm to the device. The parallel configuration of switches may be driven by a single pulse width modulated current. This allows the drive current to be divided between parallel transistors, limiting the damaging effects that can be caused by high currents flowing through the transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Michael James Drake, Daniel Ross Herrington, Sumeet Prakash Kulkarni, Vahid Yousefzadeh, James Michael Patterson, James Harbison Masson
  • Patent number: 10292233
    Abstract: A luminaire can include a power supply that receives AC mains power from a power source and delivers intermediate power. The luminaire can also include a control module coupled to the power supply, wherein the control module receives the intermediate power from the power source, where the control module includes at least one first switch that has multiple positions, where each position of the at least one first switch corresponds to an output power level of a plurality of output power levels. The output power level can correspond to a discrete correlated color temperature (CCT) output by a plurality of light sources of the luminaire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: COOPER TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Rohit Madhav Udavant, Raymond George Janik
  • Patent number: 10257895
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a lighting array that is comprised of one or more lighting segments. In one example, the lighting segments may be comprised of light emitting diodes that are electrically coupled in series. The lighting segments may be controlled responsive to output of a potentiometer and the lighting segments may be controlled responsive to positions of circuit boards in an enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Phoseon Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Salvatore T. Battaglia
  • Patent number: 10244592
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for current regulation. An example system controller includes: a first controller terminal configured to receive an input voltage, the first controller terminal being further configured to allow a first current flowing into the system controller based at least in part on the input voltage in response to one or more switches being closed; a second controller terminal configured to allow the first current to flow out of the system controller through the second controller terminal in response to the one or more switches being closed; a fourth controller terminal coupled to the third controller terminal through a first capacitor, the first capacitor not being any part of the system controller; and an error amplifier configured to generate a compensation signal based at least in part on the current sensing signal, the error amplifier including a second capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Meng Li, Mingli Kang, Liqiang Zhu, Lieyi Fang
  • Patent number: 10212768
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for current regulation. An example system controller includes: a first controller terminal configured to receive an input voltage, the first controller terminal being further configured to allow a first current flowing into the system controller based at least in part on the input voltage in response to one or more switches being closed; a second controller terminal configured to allow the first current to flow out of the system controller through the second controller terminal in response to the one or more switches being closed; a fourth controller terminal coupled to the third controller terminal through a first capacitor, the first capacitor not being any part of the system controller; and an error amplifier configured to generate a compensation signal based at least in part on the current sensing signal, the error amplifier including a second capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Meng Li, Mingli Kang, Liqiang Zhu, Lieyi Fang
  • Patent number: 10206252
    Abstract: According to an example, a device is provided for driving several light sources, wherein the device is arranged to sense a supply signal and apply a phase shift to a switching signal of at least one of the several light sources based on the sensed supply signal. Also, accordingly a method, a lighting device, a computer program product and a computer-readable medium are suggested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Maurizio Galvano, Adolfo De Cicco, Andrea Scenini
  • Patent number: 10201053
    Abstract: As a non-limiting example, various aspects of this disclosure provide embodiments of AC direct drives for light emitting diodes for a wide variety of drive stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Exar Corporation
    Inventor: Jon Elliott Cronk
  • Patent number: 10182478
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for current regulation. An example system controller includes: a first controller terminal configured to receive an input voltage, the first controller terminal being further configured to allow a first current flowing into the system controller based at least in part on the input voltage in response to one or more switches being closed; a second controller terminal configured to allow the first current to flow out of the system controller through the second controller terminal in response to the one or more switches being closed; a fourth controller terminal coupled to the third controller terminal through a first capacitor, the first capacitor not being any part of the system controller; and an error amplifier configured to generate a compensation signal based at least in part on the current sensing signal, the error amplifier including a second capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Meng Li, Mingli Kang, Liqiang Zhu, Lieyi Fang
  • Patent number: 10165634
    Abstract: According to an example, a device is provided for driving several light sources, wherein the device is arranged to sense a supply signal and apply a phase shift to a switching signal of at least one of the several light sources based on the sensed supply signal. Also, accordingly a method, a lighting device, a computer program product and a computer-readable medium are suggested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Maurizio Galvano, Adolfo De Cicco, Andrea Scenini