Abstract: A current regulator for non-isolated, line voltage LED Driver circuits solves the problem of LED flicker caused by line noise in the visible frequency range. In one aspect of the invention, LED flicker frequency may be increased beyond the line frequency. In another aspect, line voltages in excess of LED voltage ratings may be tolerated. The driver may be implemented using discrete circuit elements or in software and utilizes separate current regulation for different segments of an AC line voltage cycle.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for lighting systems, including high output lighting systems for various environments. The lighting systems include a lighting controller for driving lighting modules and transmitting a data signal to the lighting modules. The data signal varies between logical states. The lighting controller provides a low loss rectified power signal. The lighting controller further provides data within the power signal by forming a positive polarity rectified power waveform corresponding to data in a first state and a negative polarity rectified waveform signal corresponding to data in a second state using substantially loss-less circuitry.

Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, driver circuit coupled between an AC line and a load includes a first semiconductor switch interposed between a bus voltage and a resonant circuit and a second semiconductor switch interposed between the resonant circuit and a ground, where the resonant circuit drives the load. In the driver circuit, the bus voltage has a shape substantially corresponding to a shape of a rectified AC line voltage, thereby increasing a power factor of the driver circuit. The driver circuit can further include a full-bridge rectifier disposed between the resonant circuit and the load. The load can include at least one LED.

Abstract: An AC line voltage may be encoded with control information, such as dimming information derived from an output signal of a conventional dimmer, so as to provide an encoded AC power signal. One or more lighting units, including LED-based lighting units, may be both provided with operating power and controlled (e.g., dimmed) based on the encoded power signal. In one implementation, information may be encoded on the AC line voltage by inverting some half cycles of the AC line voltage to generate an encoded AC power signal, with the ratio of positive half-cycles to negative half-cycles representing the encoded information. In other aspects, the encoded information may relate to one or more parameters of the light generated by the LED-based lighting unit(s) (e.g., intensity, color, color temperature, etc.).

Abstract: A driving circuit device for driving a load is provided. The driving circuit device includes a control module including a power correction module, and providing a control signal to adjust a current flowing through the load; and a pulse width modulation module being in cooperation with the power correction module to modulate the control signal, and including a voltage providing unit providing a pulse width modulation signal; and a Schmitt trigger circuit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a field emission apparatus and a method of driving the field emission apparatus, which has a three-pole structure of dual emitters formed on both first and second electrodes of a rear substrate in order to obviate a distinction between a gate and a cathode, thus enabling dual field emission. In such a field emission apparatus, a ground is formed between an anode and a point of the first and second electrodes of the rear substrate, and a square wave is applied thereto in order to alternately generate field emission in the first and second electrodes, thus increasing a light-emitting area and emission efficiency, decreasing a driving voltage and consumption power, saving the manufacturing cost and manufacturing time, and accomplishing a longer lifespan.

Abstract: A four-electrode fluorescent, lamp having four filaments in a fluorescent lamp; each of the filament having two leads for being connected to a positive and a negative electrodes of a power source. A resistor is serially connected between a lead of one selective filament and a lead of another selective filaments. Each of the filaments is controlled by a transistor. A pair of capacitors are used to adjust the switching current of a pair of two transistors. The base of the transistor is connected to a respective diode set through a current limiting resistor. Each of the transistor is connected to a diode set. The four diodes are serially connected as a loop with two ends of the loop being connected to two ends of an AC power source. Thereby, a circuit for an alternative lighting four-electrode fluorescent lamp is formed.

Abstract: A dimmer for dimming gas discharge and incandescent lamps can be installed in place of a standard wall-mounted light switch and connected to existing wiring. The dimmer has a switch coupling one or more full wave bridge rectifiers to a main AC source and to existing power wires running through the wall to the fixture. The bridge rectifiers are controlled by the dimming switch such that either the normal AC source waveform is transmitted over the power wires, or a full wave positively or negatively rectified AC waveform is transmitted, or else no voltage is transmitted. At the fixture, the transmitted power waveform is applied to the lamp power terminal of the lamp or ballast as well as to a decoder. A dimming interface receives the decoder output and appropriately adjusts lamp brightness by changing the operating conditions of the lamp in accordance with this output. The dimmer may also be used to control general household devices containing a front-end full wave bridge rectifier.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for A.C. operation of gas discharge lamps comprises a full-wave rectifier (1) connected to an alternating voltage source. The direct voltage is supplied to a combinatorial circuit part (3 to 8) in the form of a direct voltage converter, to which is connected a bridge circuit (9) which comprises four thyristors. The transverse branch of the bridge circuit includes the lamp (5). The full-wave rectifier (1) is followed by a smoothing capacitor (2) and an electronic switching element (14) is connected parallel to the bridge circuit (9). The switching element is switched to the conducting state in the vicinity of the zero passages of the input alternating voltage. As a result shortcircuits in the bridge circuit are avoided.

Abstract: A direct-current power supply circuit for gas discharge lamps includes a rectifier-capacitor bridge having a pair of input terminals and a pair of output terminals. A series input inductor is connected to one of the input terminals of the rectifier-capacitor bridge, and a pair of feedback diodes is connected to the output terminals of the rectifier bridge to provide a feedback signal to the series input inductor to control ripple of d-c output from said bridge and power factor of the a-c input to said bridge.

Abstract: A system for operating gas discharge lamps at high frequency from a high voltage supply, typically 115 V AC with a 160 watt, 25,000 Hz output. The system provides efficient conversion, having the capability of driving any number of lamps up to maximum wattage, inherent open-cirucit and short circuit protection, and higher efficacy from the lamps. Filament power may or may not be used. Filament power is not necessary under conditions when the lamps are forced into a glow discharge to charge each cycle through the use of a tuned resonant circuit. An unsaturated inverter provides fast cut-off times. Dimming capabilities may be provided.

Abstract: A sinusoidal wave oscillator ballast circuit includes a tuned oscillator coupled to a DC rectifier means coupled by a power factor correction circuit to an AC potential source. The oscillator is coupled to an inductor means including a first and second transformer means with the secondary winding of the first transformer means coupled to the oscillator, the primary of the first transformer means in series connection with a capacitor and the primary winding of the second transformer means to form a resonant circuit, a first secondary winding of the second transformer means coupled to a lamp circuit to form a load circuit shunting the capacitor of the resonant circuit and a second secondary winding of the second transformer means having opposite ends connected by clamping diodes to the DC rectifier means. Means for compensating for "storage time" of the transistor of the oscillator and for conditioning the line to transients and radio frequency interference (RFI) are also provided.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp ballast circuit includes a tuned oscillator coupled to a pulsed DC potential source and to a transformer having a first winding directly connected to the oscillator and in series connection with a capacitor to form a series resonant circuit. A second winding of the transformer inductively couples the first winding of the transformer to the oscillator, a third winding inductively couples a load across the capacitor of the series resonant circuit, and a fourth winding is inductively coupled to the first winding of the transformer and clamps the DC potential source to a given potential level. Also, protection for open circuits, short circuits, and temperature change due to changed ambient conditions or increased current flow is provided.