Current And/or Voltage Regulation Patents (Class 315/291)
  • Patent number: 11083061
    Abstract: Certain aspects involve lighting systems relating to control of light fixture output intensity and color temperature. For instance, an input device of the lighting system includes a first selector element communicatively coupled to a driver of a light-emitting diode lighting device across a power cable. The power cable provides a transmission path of power and a control signal between the input device and the driver of the light-emitting diode lighting device. The first selector element is able to control a lumen output of the light-emitting diode lighting device when in a lumen control mode and to control a correlated color temperature output of the light-emitting diode lighting device when in a correlated color temperature control mode. The input device also includes a second selector element that transitions the first selector element between the lumen control mode and the correlated color temperature control mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: ABL IP HOLDING LLC
    Inventor: Yan Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 11073272
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a lighting assembly including at least one light-emitting device positioned within a housing is disclosed, wherein the housing is designed to allow an ambient environment to pass into the housing and transfer heat from the at least one light-emitting device. The light-emitting area of the light-emitting device may be sealed from the ambient environment. In some embodiments, the housing may include at least one recess, port, or other opening configured to allow a liquid or gas to promote heat transfer from the light-emitting device. In some embodiments, a vehicle, a marine system, or other systems may include at least one lighting assembly as contemplated herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Inventor: Trent Neil Butcher
  • Patent number: 11071897
    Abstract: A method and system for testing and improving a user's visual tracking skills and reaction time to a moving object includes simulating motion of an object by individually illuminating LEDs in longitudinal sequence along individually selectable paths having different positional approaches toward a target. A user activates a switch or interrupts a beam with the intent of terminating the sequence in time coincidence with illumination of a designated LED proximate the target. A microprocessor detects the time difference between illumination of the designated LED and termination of the sequence by the user as measure of the user's visual tracking and reaction time. In one embodiment the user is a baseball batter, the target is a home plate and the selectable paths are simulations of straight and breaking pitches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Inventors: Harvey Ratner, Wade Freeman
  • Patent number: 11071183
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus is connected to a dimmer and an external power source. The lighting apparatus includes a light source and a driver. The driver is used for converting the external power source to a driving current supplied to the light source. The driver includes a rectifier module, a constant voltage module, a control module, a constant current module, and a power module. The rectifier module is connected to the dimmer for rectifying a dimming voltage to a rectified voltage. The constant voltage module is connected to the rectifier module for providing a first constant voltage power according to the rectified voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: XIAMEN LEEDARSON LIGHTING CO.LTD.
    Inventors: Hongji Chen, Hongbu Lin, Jianhui Cao
  • Patent number: 11063192
    Abstract: A light emitting device is provided. The light emitting device includes a light emitting element, a wavelength converting member, a light transmissive member, an adhesive member, and a light reflective member. The wavelength converting member has an upper surface and lateral surfaces, contains a fluorescent substance, and is placed on the light emitting element. The light transmissive member covers the upper surface of the wavelength converting member. The adhesive member is interposed between the light emitting element and the wavelength converting member, and covers the lateral surfaces of the wavelength converting member. The light reflective member covers the lateral surfaces of the wavelength converting member via the adhesive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: NICHIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroto Tamaki, Yoshiki Sato, Yoichi Bando
  • Patent number: 11051379
    Abstract: System and method for regulating one or more currents. The system includes a system controller, an inductor, a first resistor, a switch and a first diode. The system controller includes a first controller terminal and a ground terminal, the system controller being configured to output a drive signal at the first controller terminal. The inductor includes a first inductor terminal and a second inductor terminal, the first inductor terminal being coupled to the ground terminal, the second inductor terminal being coupled to one or more light emitting diodes. The first resistor includes a first resistor terminal and a second resistor terminal, the first resistor terminal being coupled to the ground terminal. The switch is configured to receive the drive signal and coupled to the second resistor terminal. The first diode includes a first diode terminal and a second diode terminal and coupled to the first resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Zhou, Yunchao Zhang, Lieyi Fang
  • Patent number: 11043115
    Abstract: A remote control device may be configured to be mounted over the toggle actuator of a light switch and to control a load control device. The remote control device may include a base portion and a rotating portion supported by the base portion so as to be rotatable about the base portion. The remote control device may include a control circuit, a wireless communication circuit, and a rotary encoder circuit. The rotary encoder circuit may be configured to translate a force applied to the rotating portion into input signals, and to operate as an antenna of the remote control device. The rotary encoder circuit may be configured to provide the input signals to the control circuit. The control circuit may be configured to translate the one or more input signals into control signals for transmission to the load control device via the wireless communication circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Chris Dimberg, Matthew Philip McDonald
  • Patent number: 11037509
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a pixel driving circuit having a pixel structure of 7T1C to compensate a threshold voltage of a driving thin film transistor (TFT) in the organic light-emitting diode (OLED). As such, the current passing through the OLED may not be related to the threshold voltage of the driving TFT. Thus, the improper image-displaying of the OLED display caused by the drifting of the threshold voltage of the driving TFT may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: WUHAN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS SEMICONDUCTOR DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xueshun Hou, Xue Li
  • Patent number: 11036377
    Abstract: Lights sources may be installed in a facility without regard to their unique identifiers, which are necessary for a lighting control system to exercise control over the light sources. After installation, a graphical user interface (GUI) executed on a user's mobile device can facilitate the user's identification of the identifier of a particular light source located at a particular position. The GUI displays to the user a map of the facility, onto which the user can delineate the boundaries of a lighting area in which he intends to identify the location of light sources. The user then inputs into the GUI row and column dimensions for the lights positioned within the delineated lighting area. The GUI automatically generates and displays a plurality of selectable lighting positions arranged within the delineated area according to the selected dimensions, without the need for individual placement by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Synapse Wireless, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Aaron Ryan
  • Patent number: 11028974
    Abstract: An LED tube with built-in driving power module is provided. Each of two ends of the LED tube has a conductive component electrically connected to mains supply. The conductive component at least includes a conductive pin assembly and a sleeve member for disposing the conductive pin assembly. The driving power module is formed by circuit boards, and the circuit boards are disposed in the sleeve member. Each of the circuit boards at least includes a functional operation unit, and the circuit boards are in series connection via one or more electrical connection members. The capacity space at both ends of the sleeve of LED tube is used to concentrate each circuit board in order to make full use of the capacity space. Meanwhile, the larger sleeve mold structure is avoided to cause the change of product appearance and increase the project development cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Xiamen PVTECH Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fuxing Lu, Rongtu Liu
  • Patent number: 11032883
    Abstract: Various embodiments may include a dimmer system for controlling the power consumption of a load that can be connected with parallel-connected galvanically isolated dimming channels. The dimmer system may include a plurality of dimming channels, each dimming channel including a sensor for monitoring a temperature of associated switch elements; and a control unit for each dimming channel, the control units configured to shift a respective dimming edge based at least in part on the temperature to distribute power dissipation of the connected load substantially equally across the plurality of dimming channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: SIEMENS SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Johann Mensch, Jakob Reislhuber
  • Patent number: 11032880
    Abstract: A light emission control device includes a power source circuit for a drive circuit that supplies a power for a drive circuit based on an input power, a power source circuit for a control circuit that supplies a power for a control circuit based on the input power, a control circuit, a drive circuit, and a start control circuit. The control circuit outputs a control signal for controlling turning on/off of a switching element. The drive circuit outputs a drive signal for driving the switching element based on the control signal. The start control circuit outputs a start control signal for delaying a timing at which the output of the drive signal is started after the input power is turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Atsushi Yamada
  • Patent number: 11026306
    Abstract: In a first aspect, the subject invention provides a variable-intensity light emitting diode (LED) module which includes: a first LED string having first and second ends, the first end being connected to a positive voltage terminal which is connectable to a positive voltage input of a direct current voltage source; a first terminal connected to a first resistor which is connected to the second end of the first LED string; and, a second terminal connected to a second resistor which is connected to the second end of the first LED string. The first and second resistors have different resistances. A negative voltage input of the direct current voltage source is selectively connectable to one of the first and second terminals, whereby, the intensity of light generated by the first LED string is determined by which of the first and second terminals is connected to the negative voltage input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: SCOUT INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: Alexander Nicolaides
  • Patent number: 11026307
    Abstract: A lighting fixture for powering multiple LED groups to generate a selectable color temperature. The lighting fixture provides varying amounts of power to each group of LEDs to achieve a selected color temperature. Current from a driver may be divided between the LED groups based on a selected operational state, which is selected using a switch or other configurable input. The operational states may turn the LED groups on or off or may control an amount of current received by the LED groups. In some configurations, all of the LED groups are always at least partially powered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC
    Inventor: Yan Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 11019694
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for simultaneously adjusting brightness and color temperature, and an LED lamp. The apparatus includes a phase control dimmer, a rectification module, a phase detection module, a current control module and an LED module. Cutting the phase of an input alternating current by the phase control dimmer changes the effective voltage of the alternating current, then the cut alternating current is rectified by the rectification module and output to the LED module, thus adjusting the brightness of the LED module; information about the cut phase is detected by the phase detection module and a current control signal is output to a current control module according to the cut phase information, and the current control module controls change in the brightness ratio of mixed colors of the LED module according to the current control signal and adjusts the color temperature of the LED module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: SHENZHEN SENDIS SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD
    Inventors: Yanquan Mai, Xunsheng Deng, Bo Chen, Xiaoyu Chen, Wenpan Wang
  • Patent number: 11013085
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a multiplicity of luminaries connected to a single wire pair. The luminaries contain minimum circuitry to allow dimming and color tuning by pulses on the wire pair without the need for a separate control wire or control communication bus or network. A single luminary can be color tuned to many different colors as well as dimmed and turned on and off. A driver module drives the wire pair and receives commands over a network The driver module contains a pulse generation circuit that generates and applies pulses to the two-wire output. The amplitude of some the pulses control color of the luminary by selecting different LEDs in the luminary to light, while other pulses control brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Inventors: Hamid Pishdadian, Thomas A. Spinelli, Akram A. Khalis
  • Patent number: 11013089
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides apparatuses and methods for bulb detection for a lighting control system. The apparatus includes a 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 detector circuit is configured to measure a response of the lighting circuit to the transmission of the quantity of electrical energy. The apparatus also includes a controller in electrical communication with the detector circuit. The controller is specially programmed to correlate the quantity of electrical energy transmitted to the lighting circuit to the response of the lighting circuit. The controller is further programmed to determine the bulb type of a bulb electrically coupled to the lighting circuit of the light fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Racepoint Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan Aylward, Andreas Wagner, Erik Charlton, William Lark, Jr., Nicholas David Pennycooke
  • Patent number: 11005374
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing peak current mode control (PCMC) for power converters. Noise immunity is improved by enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio of an inductor (or switch) current to achieve minimum duty cycle resolution and eliminate subharmonic operation that causes high input and output ripples. Current is sensed and translated to a voltage by a current sense resistor for peak current mode control scheme. A direct current (DC) offset voltage is added only during an on-time of the main switch to increase the signal-to-noise ratio. A leading-edge spike caused by turn-on of the main switch is removed by resetting a filter capacitor of a current sense circuit to zero volts after each switching cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Crane Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Cuon Lam, Sovann Song, Leslie Khauv, Mikel Thomas
  • Patent number: 11005282
    Abstract: A power supply unit for an aerosol inhaler includes: a power supply able to discharge power to a load for generating an aerosol from an aerosol source; a connector able to be electrically connected to an external power supply; and a control device configured to control at least one of charging and discharging of the power supply or configured to be able to convert power which is input from the connector into charging power for the power supply. The power supply unit further includes a zener diode which is provided between the connector and the control device so as to be connected in parallel with the control device, and a maximum value of zener voltage of the zener diode is lower than a maximum operation guarantee voltage of the control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventor: Takeshi Akao
  • Patent number: 11006488
    Abstract: A phototherapy or photobiomodulation process employing the application of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) to a living organism, typically a human being. The EMR is generated by one or more strings of LEDs and is programmed to emit one or more wavelengths, typically in the visible and infrared portions of the spectrum, the EMR in each wavelength being delivered in pulses having specified on-times, off-times, photoexcitation frequencies, duty factors, phase delays, and power amplitudes. A system for providing such EMR includes a microcontroller having a pattern library of algorithms, each of which defines a particular sequence of synthesized pulses, and an application pad, preferably flexible, containing the LED strings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Applied BioPhotonics Ltd.
    Inventor: Richard K. Williams
  • Patent number: 10999913
    Abstract: A lighting system including a high intensity narrow spectrum light source and a controller having an electronic processor and memory. The controller is configured to compare an operational characteristic of the high intensity narrow spectrum light to a predetermined operational characteristic, and output a signal based on the comparison of the operational characteristic of the high intensity narrow spectrum light to the predetermined operational characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventor: Christopher Lane Bailey
  • Patent number: 10999915
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a lighting control device having a power supply module and a control module formed integrally. The lighting control device is installed by replacing a power supply device mounted at a conventional lighting apparatus to connect the conventional lighting apparatus to a smart lighting system. The lighting control device controls the output (i.e., current) of the power supply module according to the number of LED modules or the number of the normally operating LED modules, thereby preventing a current exceeding a driving current from being applied to the LED module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: AMOSENSE CO., LTD
    Inventor: Gyu-Weon Shin
  • Patent number: 10984566
    Abstract: The image processing apparatus includes a calculator configured to calculate, using luminance values of one or more input images produced by photoelectric conversion of multiple polarized lights whose polarization angles are mutually different, an angle-dependent component at a specific polarization angle among angle-dependent components that are luminance components changing depending on the polarization angle. The apparatus further includes a producer configured to produce an output image using the angle-dependent component at the specific polarization angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Rie Ishimatsu
  • Patent number: 10985557
    Abstract: A load control device for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical device may be configured to conduct current through earth ground and may disconnect a switching circuit to reduce an amount of current conducted through the earth ground. The load control device may comprise a controllably conductive device configured to control the power delivered from the AC power source to the electrical device so as to generate a switched-hot voltage, a switching circuit electrically coupled with a detect circuit, and a control circuit configured to render the switching circuit conductive and nonconductive. The detect circuit may generate a detect signal indicating a magnitude of the switched-hot voltage. The control circuit may be configured to monitor the detect signal and to render the switching circuit non-conductive after detecting an edge on the detect signal to reduce the total current through the earth ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Dinesh Sundara Moorthy, James P. Steiner
  • Patent number: 10986707
    Abstract: A display device includes: a display panel having a light-tuning array; a backlight module providing a backlight to the light-tuning array; and a backlight driving module electrically connected with the backlight module. The backlight driving module has a first driving mode corresponding to a first range of brightness scale and a second driving mode corresponding to a second range of brightness scale. The first driving mode controls the brightness scale corresponding to the backlight by adjusting a duty ratio of a driving signal. The second driving mode controls the brightness scale corresponding to the backlight by adjusting a current value of the driving signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: INNOLUX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ming-Chia Shih, Li-Wei Mao
  • Patent number: 10984699
    Abstract: A drive circuit for a liquid crystal panel includes a voltage output device, a resistive voltage dividing circuit, and a low-pass filter. The voltage output device has a pulse-signal output port, a first port and a second port. The pulse-signal output port outputs a pulse signal, which is modulated by pulse width modulation. The first port and the second port switch an output between a DC power supply voltage and a ground voltage. The resistive voltage dividing circuit is connected to the first port and the second port. The low-pass filter has an input and an output. The input of the low-pass filter connected to a voltage output node of the resistive voltage dividing circuit and the pulse-signal output port. The output of the low-pass filter connected to a terminal, which outputs a voltage to the liquid crystal panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shunji Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 10982834
    Abstract: A locomotive headlamp assembly for the thermal control and/or thermal management of heat in a LED lamp enclosure is provided. A seamless retrofit is provided for existing Incandescent (Quartz Halogen) lamps that are in current use. The thermal control of the locomotive headlight generally includes a headlight that has the ability to replace existing Incandescent (Quartz Halogen) lamps with the energy savings of LEDs using interactive circuitry to maximize performance and energy savings and also the thermal management to ensure longer life on LEDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: SMART LIGHT SOURCE CO., LLC
    Inventors: Brian Jurek, Agron Madzar, Byron Ziegler
  • Patent number: 10969845
    Abstract: A control circuit for a programmable power supply is provided. It comprises a reference generation circuit generating a voltage-reference signal and a current-reference signal for regulating an output voltage and an output current of the power supply. A feedback circuit detects the output voltage and the output current for generating a feedback signal in accordance with the voltage-reference signal and the current-reference signal. A switching controller generates a switching signal coupled to switch a transformer for generating the output voltage and the output current in accordance with the feedback signal. A micro-controller controls the reference generation circuit. The micro-controller, the reference generation circuit, and the feedback circuit are equipped in the secondary side of the transformer. The switching controller is equipped in the primary side of the transformer. The control circuit can achieve good performance for the programmable power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Ta-Yung Yang
  • Patent number: 10962214
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to examples of a warning beacon light. In one embodiment, the warning beacon light includes at least one light redirection component, a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) positioned relative to the light redirection component such that light emitted from the plurality of LEDs is collimated to within a predefined range relative to a light emitting axis, and a wireless power transfer system coupled to the plurality of LEDs to provide power to the plurality of LEDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Dialight Corporation
    Inventor: Keld Schmidt
  • Patent number: 10964239
    Abstract: A lighting test device for a display panel includes: a connection part including a first connection test pad, a second connection test pad and a plurality of test pads, which are arranged at an end of the connection part, where the connection part is allowed to be connected to the display panel through the first connection test pad, the second connection test pad and the test pads; and a test circuit which outputs a connection test signal to the first connection test pad, receives a feedback signal through the second connection test pad, and adjusts voltage levels of test signals to be applied to the test pads based on the connection test signal and the feedback signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daeyoun Cho, Sangkil Kim, Hyunho Kim, Young-joo Noh, Jongwoo Park, Jongwon Lee, Juhee Lee, Youngtae Choi
  • Patent number: 10950194
    Abstract: In a display panel, drivers for driving LEDs of pixels are distributed over a substrate, and transceivers relay pixel data from a timing controller to the drivers. The drivers are divided into groups. Respective drivers in a group receive corresponding pixel data addressed thereto solely from one corresponding transceiver. The corresponding transceiver and the respective drivers are daisy-chained to form one first linear daisy chain, where each pair of immediately-adjacent first drivers are connected. Plural first linear daisy chains are formed for all groups. The transceivers are daisy-chained to form a second linear daisy chain by connecting each pair of immediately-adjacent transceivers. The first and second linear daisy chains form a fishbone topology network to enable transmission of pixel data from the timing controller to the drivers while reducing a data-line footprint on the substrate that mounts the pixels, driver and transceivers in comparison to a conventional star-topology network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Solomon Systech (Shenzhen) Limited
    Inventors: Wing Chi Stephen Chan, Chi Wai Lee, Pie Chih Ke, Johnkid Lo
  • Patent number: 10945325
    Abstract: A luminaire for a workstation, including a tunable light source, a control circuit in association with the luminaire configured to automatically modulate a spectral power distribution of the tunable light source in a response to a changeable ambient lighting condition and an operator interface in communication with the control circuit, where the operator interface is configured to allow a workstation occupant to activate and deactivate the response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: SYLVAN R. SHEMITZ DESIGNS, INC.
    Inventor: David R. Pfund
  • Patent number: 10942435
    Abstract: A light emission control device includes a first detection circuit, a second detection circuit, and a light emission control circuit. The first detection circuit detects a first potential difference that is a potential difference between both ends of a first resistor. The second detection circuit detects a second potential difference that is a potential difference between both ends of a second resistor. The light emission control circuit outputs a first control signal for controlling turning on/off of the first switching element and a second control signal for controlling turning on/off of the second switching element. The light emission control circuit performs a stop process of making at least one of the first control signal and the second control signal inactive, when the first potential difference is detected to be smaller than a first threshold value and the second potential difference is detected to be larger than a second threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10936088
    Abstract: Disclosures of the present invention describe an intelligent brightness modulating device for being applied in a gaming input device like a gaming mouse. The intelligent brightness modulating device comprises a photoresistor and a voltage regulating unit. In case of a resistance of the photoresistor varying with an intensity of an ambient light, the voltage regulating unit is adaptively configured for controlling a light driver chip according to the resistance of the photoresistor, such that a driving power of at least one light unit of the gaming mouse is hence correspondingly modulated with the intensity of the ambient light. By using the intelligent brightness modulating device, not only does the gaming mouse be therefore provided with a power saving function, but eyes of a game player are also protected from being stimulated or hurt by a high-intensity light that is radiated from the light unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: PRIMAX ELECTRONICS LTD.
    Inventor: Zhou Liu
  • Patent number: 10939516
    Abstract: An inventive solution directed to an apparatus and system for creating a dynamic ambient lighting experience wherein the level of brightness increases and decreases along a horizonal path to create an impression of linear movement. This simulates the traversal of the sun along its horizon. The device comprising subsection units which may be coordinated to increase or decrease length. The time and speed for dimming and brightening of light from start to finish along the length of the device may be defined by preconfigured parameters or customized to desired setting. The device creating a diurnal pattern of light transition and movement along the length of an indoor space subject to the peripheral view of the observer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Inventor: Gregory Barrett
  • Patent number: 10928434
    Abstract: The subject disclosure describes a structure and method that generates the average of two or more reference quantities (e.g., reference voltage potentials) and monitors the integrity of the voltage reference potentials. The subject technology produces a reference with improved accuracy and more accurate monitoring compared to traditional techniques. For example, the subject technology provides for a fault circuit that includes a monitoring circuit, and an averaging circuit configured to receive a plurality of reference signals and to produce an averaged reference signal based on the received plurality of reference signals. In some examples, the monitoring circuit is configured to receive the averaged reference signal from the averaging circuit, compare the averaged reference signal to each of the plurality of reference signals, and generate a fault signal when the averaged reference signal deviates from at least one of the plurality of reference signals by at least a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Analog Devices International Unlimited Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey David Marvin, Benjamin Thomas Voegeli, Gregg Romeo Castellucci, Andrew Bishop
  • Patent number: 10918455
    Abstract: A light source includes features configured to compensate for discontinuous solid state sources. The light source can produce a wide color gamut in display, and improved color rendering of tissue under observation by phosphor gap filling with colored LEDs. The light source can include provisions to depart from a white light spectrum to heighten differences in anatomical features or functions. The light source can include provisions to introduce narrow-band solid-state sources for producing false-color and pseudo-color images, with variable color rendering to change the power spectral distribution and to compensate for fiber optic length and fiber optic diameter tip sensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: CamPlex, Inc.
    Inventor: John Tesar
  • Patent number: 10925138
    Abstract: A flicker-free linear LED drive circuit is disclosed. The flicker-free linear LED drive circuit converts the input voltage of the external power supply to form an output current to the LED. The flicker-free linear LED drive circuit includes a measuring module, a regulating module and a rectifier module. The flicker-free linear LED drive circuit is characterized in that the measuring module is configured to measure the phase angle of the input voltage after full-wave rectification; the regulating module is used to form the complex voltage signal according to the measurement signal in the voltage waveform of the regulating module for the half-wave period, the conduction angle range formed at the fixed power is used as the basis for electrical conduction in the half-wave period of the input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: UNITY OPTO TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chih-Hsien Wu, Kai-Cheng Chuang, Chun-Chieh Kuo, Yu-Hsien He
  • Patent number: 10921357
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method and device for measuring the resistance of a light-emitting diode that can measure the resistance value of the light-emitting diode accurately in a non-destructive manner. The disclosed method may include: measuring a first radiative current component of an injected current for the light-emitting diode by using the internal quantum efficiency of the light-emitting diode; generating a second radiative current component by modeling the first radiative current component; and computing a resistance value of the light-emitting diode by using the first and second radiative current components resulting from an applied voltage to the light-emitting diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: INDUSTRY-UNIVERSITY COOPERATION FOUNDATION HANYANG UNIVERSITY ERICA CAMPUS
    Inventors: Jong-In Shim, Dong Pyo Han, Dong-Soo Shin
  • Patent number: 10917957
    Abstract: An LED circuit board, system, and method of using an LED configuration tool are described. The LED circuit board contains a microprocessor that wakes up when power is supplied from the tool. The microprocessor determines that the tool is present by sending a signal from one pin and detecting whether the same signal is received at another pin. When analog or digital programming information received from the tool indexes the information in a table of the microprocessor or also uses a new table provided by digital programming information, the programming information is used to change a lighting configuration of the LEDs. Feedback from the microprocessor to the tool provides information regarding the status of programming the microprocessor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Lumileds LLC
    Inventors: Alan Andrew McReynolds, Yifeng Qiu
  • Patent number: 10900620
    Abstract: A light-emitting diode (LED) tube lamp comprising a tube, end caps with contact pins and located on both ends of the tube, a first rectifying circuit and a second rectifying circuit and a filtering circuit that are coupled with the contact pins on the two end caps respectively, and a switch circuitry that is located between the rectifying circuits and the filtering circuit characterized in that the switch circuitry is capable of detecting whether the LED tube lamp is correctly installed on a lamp socket so as to reduce the risk of electric shock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: JIAXING SUPER LIGHTING ELECTRIC APPLIANCE CO., LTD
    Inventors: Aiming Xiong, Xintong Liu
  • Patent number: 10902777
    Abstract: A display driver is disclosed that reduces first frame dimming and flicker in light-emitting diode pixels of a display device. The display driver may receive a display brightness value and determine a value of a dynamic supply voltage parameter based on the display brightness value. Over a first time interval, the display driver may apply a supply voltage that is based on the dynamic supply voltage parameter to one of a gate of a drive transistor of a light-emitting-diode circuit and a channel of the drive transistor. Over a second time interval, the display driver may apply a parking voltage to an anode of a light-emitting diode of the light-emitting-diode circuit and to the channel of the drive transistor. The value of the parking voltage may be below a threshold voltage of the light-emitting diode and correspond to the value of the dynamic supply voltage parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ruo-Gu Huang, Kyung Hoae Koo, Michael H. Lim, Chuang Qian, Weijun Yao, Yue Jack Chu
  • Patent number: 10893595
    Abstract: A two-way load control system comprises a power device, such as a load control device for controlling an electrical load receiving power from an AC power source, and a controller adapted to be coupled in series between the source and the power device. The load control system may be installed without requiring any additional wires to be run, and is easily configured without the need for a computer or an advanced commissioning procedure. The power device receives both power and communication over two wires. The controller generates a phase-control voltage and transmits a forward digital message to the power device by encoding digital information in timing edges of the phase-control voltage. The power device transmits a reverse digital message to the controller via the power wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Mark S. Taipale, Timothy P. Gredler, Akshay Bhat
  • Patent number: 10879689
    Abstract: A control circuit turns ON or OFF a switch that is provided at a midpoint of a wire. Thus, power supply via the wire is controlled. A current output circuit outputs a current that corresponds to a current flowing through the wire to a resistance circuit. In the resistance circuit, a series circuit of a resistor (R2) and a capacitor (C1) is connected in parallel to a resistor (R1). The control circuit) turns OFF the switch if the end-to-end voltage value of a voltage across both ends of the resistance circuit is larger than or equal to a reference voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunichi Sawano, Yuuki Sugisawa, Kota Oda, Keisuke Mase
  • Patent number: 10877500
    Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to methods and apparatus for switching between modes of a multi-mode power supply circuit. One example power supply circuit generally includes a switched-mode power supply (SMPS) circuit, a voltage regulator circuit having an input coupled to an output of the SMPS circuit, the voltage regulator circuit being configured to be selectively enabled, a first voltage divider selectively coupled to the output of the SMPS circuit and selectively coupled to an output of the voltage regulator circuit, and a second voltage divider coupled to the output of the voltage regulator circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Yikai Wang, Sivaprasad Embanath, Joseph Dale Rutkowski
  • Patent number: 10871280
    Abstract: A connection terminal is provided, including at least one impedance branch circuit, where each impedance branch circuit includes one or more impedance elements and two first conductive connectors, each first conductive connector has a first end and a second end, first ends of the two first conductive connectors are configured to be coupled with a driving power supply and an illumination lamp, and second ends of the two first conductive connectors are configured to be coupled with two ends of the one or more impedance elements. An illumination device is provided, including a driving power supply, an illumination lamp and the connection terminal in the present disclosure, input ends of the driving power supply are coupled with an AC power grid, its out ends are coupled with two ends of the illumination lamp to form a driving circuit, and the connection terminal is connected to the driving circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: SHANGHAI LUMIXESS LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
    Inventors: Xin Wu, Zhong Chen, Xinsheng Wang
  • Patent number: 10874009
    Abstract: A load driving apparatus receives an input voltage from a power supply, and supplies electric power to a load under processor control. The processor outputs first and second signals via first and second pins in a conjunction such that they are negated when the load is instructed to suspend operation. An output circuit supplies electric power to the load. A protection switch is provided on a driving path that extends from the power supply to the load and returns to the power supply. When the first signal is asserted (negated), a control circuit sets the output circuit to an operation state (suspension state). The control circuit turns on the protection switch on assertion of the second signal, and turns it off on negation of this signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Toshiaki Tsuda
  • Patent number: 10863981
    Abstract: A surgical instrument for use by an operator in a surgical procedure includes an elongate shaft, an end effector extending from the elongate shaft, and a control system. The end effector is articulatable relative to the elongate shaft between a home state position and an articulated position. The control system includes a processor and a memory coupled to the processor to store program instructions. The processor can alert the operator when the end effector reaches the home state position from the articulated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Mark D. Overmyer, Brett E. Swensgard, Shane R. Adams, Thomas W. Lytle, IV, Richard L. Leimbach, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin L. Houser
  • Patent number: 10863606
    Abstract: A server device can periodically obtain information concerning illuminance of ambient light from light sensors associated with light sources, and can obtain respective brightness level values associated with respective brightness levels of the light sources. The server device can calculate an illuminance value associated with the illuminance of the ambient light based on the information, determine an adjusted brightness level value for the light sources based on the illuminance value, and determine transition times and transition rates based on the respective brightness level values and the adjusted brightness level value. The server device can cause the respective brightness levels to change according to the adjusted brightness level value, the transition times, and the transition rates, where the transition times and the transition rates are to be used to transition the respective brightness levels of the light sources from the respective brightness level values to the adjusted brightness level value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Refsdal, Nick G. Suizo, Udit Batra, Kent Ryhorchuk, David Vucich
  • Patent number: 10862294
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a pulsed-width modulation signal corresponding to a cutoff voltage, a periodic signal generation circuit, a comparator, and logic. The comparator is configured to compare a voltage input with an output of the periodic signal generation circuit and, based on a comparison of the voltage input with the output of the periodic signal generation circuit, generate another pulsed-width modulation signal. The logic is configured to compare the pulsed-width modulation signal and the other pulsed-width modulation signal to determine whether the voltage input has reached the cutoff voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Gheorghe Turcan