Automatic Regulation Patents (Class 315/297)
  • Patent number: 8841860
    Abstract: A power converter includes a single magnetic element in communication with a plurality of output channels. Each output channel includes one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that may output a desired light output. Desired amounts of current may be discharged from the single magnetic element through the LEDs to generate the desired light output. The current may be drawn through the LEDs by switching “on” and “off” switches connected to the LEDs. A controller in communication with the power converter may generate switching signals to turn “on” and “off” the switches to draw the desired amounts of current. The controller may measure the current and determine whether to adjust the switching signals if the measured current draw is not the desired current draw in order to generate the desired light output from the LEDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Gilliom
  • Patent number: 8841859
    Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention, a method and system is provided for designing improved intelligent, LED-based lighting systems. The LED based lighting systems may include fixtures with one or more of rotatable LED light bars, integrated sensors, onboard intelligence to receive signals from the LED light bars and control the LED light bars, and a mesh network connectivity to other fixtures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Digital Lumens Incorporated
    Inventors: Brian Chemel, Colin N. Piepgras, Steve T. Kondo, Scott D. Johnston
  • Patent number: 8841854
    Abstract: A driving device for a discharge lamp includes: an alternating current supply section adapted to supply two electrodes of the discharge lamp with an alternating current; a frequency modulation section adapted to modulate a frequency of the alternating current, which the alternating current supply section supplies, in accordance with a predetermined condition of the discharge lamp within a range between a predetermined upper limit frequency and a predetermined lower limit frequency; and a modulation condition setting section adapted to set a modulation condition of the frequency by the frequency modulation section, wherein the modulation condition setting section sets the modulation condition so that the lower limit frequency when the discharge lamp is in a first state is higher than the lower limit frequency when the discharge lamp is in a second state in which a flicker is harder to occur than in the first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeyasu Soma, Tetsuo Terashima
  • Patent number: 8841861
    Abstract: A dimming device includes: a constant current generator for generating a current to a main LED unit; a state generator for generating a state counting output having a counting value that is equal to one of continuous values respectively associated with different light-mixing states of a secondary LED unit; and an RGB modulation circuit operable to generate, based on the state counting output, multiple PWM signals with the same PWM cycle for driving respectively R, G, and B LEDs of the secondary LED unit such that the secondary LED unit is sequentially operated in the light-mixing states. The secondary LED unit emits a mixed light with an individual color in each of the different light-mixing states to compensate lighting of the main LED unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: National Chi Nan University
    Inventor: Tai-Ping Sun
  • Publication number: 20140265923
    Abstract: A light-emitting diode (LED) bulb comprises a base and a shell connected to the base. A first set of LEDs is disposed within the shell and is configured to emit light at a first color corresponding to a first black-body color temperature. A second set of LEDs is also disposed within the shell and is configured to emit light at a second color corresponding to a second black-body color temperature that is different from the first black-body color temperature. A control circuit is configured to provide a transitional-power state to the first and second sets of LEDs to transition between an initial-power state and a reduced-power state by producing a shifting color output that corresponds to a predetermined light-output curve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: SWITCH BULB COMPANY, INC.
    Inventor: Ronan LE TOQUIN
  • Publication number: 20140265921
    Abstract: A light emitting device can include a solid state lighting source and a luminophoric medium for down-converting at least some of the radiation emitted by the solid state lighting source. The luminophoric medium may include a first material that down-converts the radiation emitted by the solid state lighting source to radiation having a first peak wavelength and that has a first decay time. The luminophoric medium may include a second material that down-converts the radiation emitted by the solid state lighting source to radiation having a second peak wavelength and that has a second decay time that is longer than the first decay time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Cree, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Collins
  • Publication number: 20140265873
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a luminaire that includes a plurality of different light engines. Light engines having different light distributions can be included in a single luminaire and a subset of the light engines selectively driven to dynamically change the light distribution of the luminaire. In this way, a single luminaire is capable of illuminating an area with a variety of different light distributions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: ABL IP HOLDING LLC
    Inventors: Craig Eugene Marquardt, Daniel Aaron Weiss, Jie Chen
  • Publication number: 20140265928
    Abstract: A display backlight assembly includes a light guide panel having first and second principal faces and at least one edge surface. A display screen is aligned with and substantially perpendicular to the first principal face of the light guide panel. The assembly also includes a light source with one or more white LEDs and one or more first color LEDs, where each first color LED emits a first color of light that is red, green, blue, or yellow. Each white LED and each first color LED is positioned to emit light into the light guide panel. A controller is electrically coupled to the light source and capable of independently setting an intensity value for each white LED and for each first color LED. The controller controls illumination of the LEDs independently as needed to provide backlighting with the selected intensity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: C-Marine Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles J. Wagner
  • Publication number: 20140265924
    Abstract: A lighting system includes at least one lighting control console for controlling lighting devices, at least two redundant data networks, at least one conversion module, and at least one lighting device actuated by the DMX control data of the conversion module. The conversion module includes at least two redundant conversion devices. At least one switch-over device is interconnected between the two conversion devices on the one side and at least one lighting device actuated by the conversion devices on the other side. The two conversion devices on the one side and the switch-over device on the other side are connected to one another via at least one monitoring data line over which monitoring signals are transmitted. The switch-over device can be switched depending on the monitoring signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: MA Lighting Technology GmbH
    Inventor: MA Lighting Technology GmbH
  • Publication number: 20140265926
    Abstract: The present invention provides an illumination apparatus with gradually changeable color temperatures; the apparatus includes an illumination module and a control module. The illumination module is utilized to generate an illuminating light which has a plurality of different color temperatures. The control module is utilized to control a color temperature variation of the illuminating light so that a color difference in Duv corresponding to the variation of the illuminating light is less than 0.006 under the color temperature variation. Moreover, all color rendering indices of the illuminating light corresponding to the different color temperatures are larger than 90, thereby completely simulating the variation of sun.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: National Taiwan University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Neng-chung Hu, Chin-chuan Wu, Yen-cheng Feng
  • Publication number: 20140265927
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods and systems for controlling lighting, an environment factor, or security of a structure are discloses. A lighting control system includes a plurality of lighting devices, a central server and a switch. The central server communicates with each of the plurality of lighting devices, and controls an operating configuration of each of the lighting devices. The switch communicates with at least some of the plurality of lighting devices, wherein the communication includes information, and wherein the at least some of the plurality of lighting devices respond to the information based on the operating configuration of the at least some of the plurality of lighting devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: enLighted, Inc.
    Inventors: Tanuj Mohan, Omkar Prabhu, Saurabh Gupta
  • Publication number: 20140265874
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a luminaire that includes a plurality of different light engines. Light engines having different light distributions can be included in a single luminaire and a subset of the light engines selectively driven to dynamically change the light distribution of the luminaire. In this way, a single luminaire is capable of illuminating an area with a variety of different light distributions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: ABL IP HOLDING LLC
    Inventors: Craig Eugene Marquardt, Daniel Aaron Weiss, Jie Chen
  • Publication number: 20140265925
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a light emitting diode (LED) backlight driving circuit, a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, and a method for driving the LED backlight driving circuit. The LED backlight driving circuit includes an odd number of LED lightbars and a constant current driver chip including an even number of channels. The channels include a work channel connected to the LED lightbar, and a dangling channel that is not connected to the LED lightbar. The dangling channel is connected to a reference signal, and a voltage of the reference signal is more than an internal comparison voltage of the constant current driver chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Hua Zhang, Fei Li
  • Publication number: 20140265922
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes at least one light emitting device and a reconfigurable driver circuit configured to drive the at least one light emitting device with an intensity that varies responsive to a dimming signal according to an adjustable mapping of the dimming signal to output of the light emitting device. In some embodiments, the mapping may be configurable using circuit component selection. In further embodiments, the mapping may be provided by a data input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Burbank Gilliom, Douglas E. Keiter, Danwei Liu, Michael Walters
  • Publication number: 20140265875
    Abstract: A mechanism for control and configuration of a lighting system from a user interface. For instance, a wall module designed as a user interface for a tenant to control the system may be implemented so as to be used not only to control the lighting system but also to configure it. The lighting system may involve a controller, circuits of lights, relays, motion and ambient detectors, scenes, schedules, and more. An additional user interface such as a wall module may be connected to the lighting system for control and configuration of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Nelson, John Marden
  • Publication number: 20140265864
    Abstract: Systems and methods for creating and previewing a lighting effect, such as displaying an array of colors across a number of lighting fixtures are provided. A user may specify some of the colors for the array, as well as relative positions of the colors. A lighting management system determines transitional or intermediary colors and assigns the colors specified by the user, as well as the intermediary colors to the lighting fixtures. The resulting lighting effect may be displayed in a preview bar. The colors and the order of the colors may be edited to obtain a desired lighting effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: ABL IP HOLDING LLC
    Inventors: John T. Hickok, Mark Norton, Richard L. Westrick, JR.
  • Patent number: 8836229
    Abstract: An LED driver circuit includes: a bridge rectifier, a first compensation capacitor, a second compensation capacitor, and an LED module. The bridge rectifier is connected to an AC input power for producing a rectification output power. The first compensation capacitor is connected to a first rectification output terminal and an AC input terminal of the bridge rectifier. The second compensation capacitor is connected to a second rectification terminal and the AC input terminal of the bridge rectifier. The LED module is connected to the first rectification output terminal and the second rectification output terminal of the bridge rectifier. The first and second compensation capacitors in the present invention can effectively improve the total current harmonic distortion of the LED module and its utilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: National Cheng Kung University
    Inventors: Tsorng-Juu Liang, Wei-Ching Tseng, Yi-Chuan Tsai, Jiann-Fuh Chen
  • Patent number: 8836221
    Abstract: A lighting system includes a plurality of organic light emitting diode (OLED) devices. By selecting the plurality of OLED devices, or by selectively controlling the plurality of OLED devices, the color characteristics of the lighting system can be tuned. The lifetime of the lighting system can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Solvay USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark L. Storch, Mathew K. Mathai, Glenn Thompson, Joseph Greenberg
  • Patent number: 8836244
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an input impedance control circuit. In one embodiment, the automatic input impedance control circuit includes a circuit controller that comprises a module for calculating an impedance and a control logic module, wherein the control logic module provides a current enable signal and a current control output signal, a driver in communication with the circuit controller for receiving the current enable signal and the current control output signal, an input voltage sensing circuit in communication with the module for calculating the impedance and the control logic module and an input current sensing circuit in communication with the module for calculating the impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Dialight Corporation
    Inventor: Kevin A. Hebborn
  • Patent number: 8836241
    Abstract: A driving controller for driving a load is disclosed. The driving circuit includes a driving power supply and the driving controller. The driving power supply provides a first power source to the load. The controller is coupled to a second power source to receive an electric power for operating. The controller controls the amount of the electric power to the load when operating in a first mode and stops the driving power supply from providing the electric power to the load when operating in a second mode. The controller operates exclusively in the first mode before the driving power supply provides the first power source to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Green Solution Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shian-Sung Shiu, JuanJuan Liu
  • Patent number: 8836243
    Abstract: A system and method involving lighting fixtures, a control network, a controller and other devices such as light sensors, input devices and network adapters for coordinating precise brightness and color schedules among the lighting fixtures while maintaining a high color reliability including provisions for managing a plurality of lighting fixtures. The lighting fixtures contain lighting elements selected such that when controlled properly, operating along a daytime locus, the resultant light output closely resembles sunlight on a cloudless day in spectral characteristics, and wherein the total flux of blue light can be adjusted from a relative level of 1-100% the maximum blue flux of the lighting fixture by controlling individual lighting elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Delos Living, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Jon Eisele, Adam K. Fontecchio, Donald Sheldon
  • Publication number: 20140252960
    Abstract: A driver arrangement comprises a current regulator (12), to which at least one light-emitting diode (15, 42) can be connected, and a driver circuit (13) that is coupled to the current regulator (12) and features a measurement input (20) for receiving a measurement signal (SM) that is dependent on the operation of the at least one light-emitting diode (15, 42). The driver circuit (13) is designed for adjusting the current level of the current regulator current (IS) of the current regulator (12) in dependence on the measurement signal (SM) such that a light quantity (SL) emitted by the at least one light emitting diode (15, 42) has a constant brightness value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: AMS AG
    Inventor: Karl Georg Waser
  • Publication number: 20140253562
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for improving light output resolution of a backlight by individually controlling light sources in the backlight. Illumination intensity levels of light sources are individually controlled such that an overall illumination intensity level of all the light sources is substantially equal to a desired whole backlight illumination intensity value. The individual illumination levels of the light sources or a group of the light sources is controlled such that the backlight is uniformly illuminated. In some implementations, the illumination intensity levels are varied over different portions of an illumination period to provide uniform illumination of the backlight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: PIXTRONIX, INC.
    Inventor: Fahri Yaras
  • Publication number: 20140252987
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an illumination device comprising a number of light sources arranged in a first group and in a second and controlling means adapted to control the first group and said second group individually. The controlling means is further adapted to control of light sources based on an input signal indicative of at least a first effect function and a second effect function. The first effect function generates a first output related to the light sources and said second effect function generates a second output light sources. The first and second effect functions are stored in a memory in the in the illumination device. The that controlling means is adapted to control the first and the second group of light sources based on a priority schema and/or synchronizing schema both stored in a memory in the illumination device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: MARTIN PROFESSIONAL A/S
    Inventor: Matthias Hinrichs
  • Patent number: 8829810
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a circuit for controlling at least one LED and to a light- and/or signal element including said circuit, wherein the circuit facilitates an optimum utilization of any input voltage provided by an energy source and provides constant light intensity of the LEDs independent from an input voltage. For this purpose, the circuit contains a step-up converter arranged in the circuit in a way such that the step-up converter outputs a voltage adapted to a forward voltage of the at least one LED at a constant current independent from an input voltage provided by the energy source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Inventor: Robert Stahl
  • Patent number: 8823284
    Abstract: Optimal power supply topologies that do not use output bulk capacitors as well as freewheeling diodes in output section to therefore provide efficiency, cost, volume, and weight advantage over the existing solutions. The present invention applies a pulse-width modulated switched current at higher frequency (in order of 10 to 100 kHz) to LEDs without degrading optical performance. LEDs' average current control is attained using a feedback loop that senses the average value of LEDs' current and controls the current by varying the pulse width of applied current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Sunit K. Saxena, Milan Rajne, Sukumar De
  • Patent number: 8823289
    Abstract: A lighting system includes one or more methods and systems to control the color spectrum of a lamp in response to both temperature and dim levels. In at least one embodiment, the lighting system includes a controller to control a correlated color temperature (CCT) and intensity of the lamp by independently adjusting currents to electronic light sources based on a dim level of the lighting system and temperature of the lighting system. The controller controls a first current to a first set of LEDs and a second current to a second set of LEDs. The control of the first current by the controller is jointly dependent on a dim level and temperature in the lighting system. In at least one embodiment, the control of the second current is dependent on the dim level or the dim level and temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfredo R. Linz, Michael A. Kost, Sahil Singh
  • Patent number: 8823277
    Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention, a method and system is provided for designing improved intelligent, LED-based lighting systems. The LED based lighting systems may include fixtures with one or more of rotatable LED light bars, integrated sensors, onboard intelligence to receive signals from the LED light bars and control the LED light bars, and a mesh network connectivity to other fixtures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Digital Lumens Incorporated
    Inventors: Brian J. Chemel, Colin Piepgras, Steve T. Kondo, Scott D. Johnston
  • Publication number: 20140239847
    Abstract: Disclosed are a light emitting diode illumination apparatus and a control method thereof. The light emitting diode illumination apparatus includes a a light source that includes a plurality of light emitting diode channels including one or more light emitting diodes, and emits light by application of a rectified voltage obtained by converting an AC voltage, and a control circuit that selectively provides current paths according to a change in a level of the rectified voltage through a plurality of switching circuits connected to the light emitting diode channels, and controls pulse widths of control pulses provided to the switching circuits such that an current supplied to the light source of each channel follows a waveform of the rectified voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: SILICON WORKS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yong Geun KIM, Sang Young LEE
  • Publication number: 20140239846
    Abstract: An organic EL device comprising: an organic EL element; a first transistor that controls a drive current of the organic EL element in accordance with a brightness adjustment voltage; and a temperature correction circuit that corrects the brightness adjustment voltage in accordance with a temperature; wherein the temperature correction circuit includes: a second transistor that has a same temperature characteristic as the first transistor; a resistor element that is connected to the second transistor; and an operational amplifier that controls the second transistor such that a predetermined reference voltage and a voltage across the resistor element become equal to each other; wherein the temperature correction circuit corrects the brightness adjustment voltage in accordance with an output from the operational amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohei SHOJI, Akimasa MARUO
  • Publication number: 20140239808
    Abstract: A system includes at least one lighting device, e.g., at least one LED luminaire, and a control circuit configured to control a spectral output produced by the at least one lighting device responsive to environmental information about an area illuminated by the at least one lighting device. The control circuit may be configured to control a color temperature of the illumination responsive to the environmental information. In some embodiments, the control circuit may be configured to lower the color temperature of the illumination responsive to the environmental information indicating a level of reflected light and/or a weather condition, such as precipitation, correlated with the presence or likely presence of glare.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Dante P. Nava, Joshua J. Markle, Robert E. Higley, Edward Steinke
  • Patent number: 8816604
    Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) light source, LED driver circuitry and methods for controlling the brightness of an LED light source are presented. In some embodiments, an LED driver control circuit receives a dimming command signal to dim the LED light source, modulates a continuous direct current (DC) level to dim the LED light source, and determines that a predetermined threshold level has been reached. At this time, the process includes initiating a fixed pulse width generator (PWG) control signal having a fixed duty cycle, automatically adjusting the LED current amplitude to its nominal current level, and decreasing the current amplitude while the fixed PWG control signal is active to achieve commanded lower dimming of the LED light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: GE Lighting Solutions, LLC.
    Inventor: Giampaolo Carli
  • Patent number: 8816602
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for controlling a lighting system by proximity sensing of a spotlight control device, particularly to controlling a spotlight generated by a lighting system such as a large LED lighting array by means of a spotlight control device. A device is provided for controlling a lighting system by proximity sensing of a spotlight control device, wherein a predefined area around the spotlight control device is illuminated if a proximity sensor signals presence of the spotlight control device within the predefined area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Markus Gerardus Leonardus Maria Van Doorn
  • Patent number: 8816603
    Abstract: A method for controlling the operation of an electronic converter (10), comprising a power output (120) for providing a power supply signal (120) for a light source (L), wherein said light source (L) is coupled to an identification element (300, 400) which identifies at least one control parameter of said light source (L), and a data line (200b) for connection to said identification element (300, 400), wherein said method comprises: detecting (1002) the value of the voltage on said data line; (200b), comparing (1004, 1010) the detected value of said voltage with at least a first and a second range of values; (802, 804, 806), and a) determining said at least one control parameter as a function of the detected voltage (1002, 1044) on said data line (200b), if the detected voltage is within the first range (802), or b) communicating (1032) with said identification element (300) by means of a digital communication protocol in order to receive said at least one control parameter from said identification element (3
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: OSRAM GmbH
    Inventors: Filippo Branchetti, Alessandro Brieda, Paolo De Anna, Tobias Frost, Uwe Liess
  • Patent number: 8816606
    Abstract: A driving circuitry arranged to pass a dead time over an isolation transformer, the driving circuitry constituted of: a three-state driver arranged to output a first signal, the first signal selectively at one of two complementary voltage levels and a high impedance state; a first capacitor, a first end of the first capacitor coupled to receive the first signal; and a first isolation transformer, a first end of a first winding of the first isolation transformer coupled to a second end of the first capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Microsemi Corporation
    Inventor: Xiaoping Jin
  • Patent number: 8816591
    Abstract: A plurality of LED-based lighting units is segmented into a plurality of LED-based lighting segments connected in series. Each lighting segment has a plurality of LED-based lighting units connected in series with at least a series-connection switch, and a bypass-connection switch is connected in parallel with the series of LED-based lighting units. The total number of LED-based lighting units can be determined by a maximum voltage level of an input voltage supply and the forward voltage of the LED-based lighting unit for achieving optimal efficiency. The number of lighting segments and the number of lighting units in each lighting segment are properly chosen based on the total number of the LED-based lighting units in such away that any number up to the total number of all the LED-based lighting units can be connected in series by respectively controlling the series-connection switch and the bypass-connection switch of each LED-based lighting segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: VastView Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Hung-Chi Chu, Yuh-Ren Shen
  • Publication number: 20140232294
    Abstract: A lighting control system and apparatus that may be utilized with aquariums are provided. The light control system and apparatus may be utilized with various lighting fixtures. The lighting control system and apparatus provides easy control over different lighting fixtures comprising various lighting sources. In addition, a user may program various lighting characteristics and effects such as the turn on or turn off date and time, the color, the brightness, the power supplied to the lighting fixtures via different user interfaces by using different user systems. Further, multiple lighting control systems may operate seamlessly together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Current-USA, Inc.
    Inventor: DENNIS FREDRICKS
  • Publication number: 20140235339
    Abstract: A game machine has a game machine main body, a plurality of light sources arranged on the game machine main body, a light source control device that controls the plurality of light sources, and a rendition control unit that controls a rendition depending on a state of a game. Each of the plurality of light sources has an anode connected to any one of a plurality of first signal lines, a cathode connected to any one of a plurality of second signal lines, and a different combination of the connected first signal lines and the connected second signal lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Katsumi Matsushita, Yasuyuki Ohba, Norihisa Takahashi, Hiroyuki Ibuki
  • Publication number: 20140232295
    Abstract: An LED driving device has a first constant current source circuit and a voltage control circuit. The first constant current source outputs a first constant current to a first node and the first constant current flows into a first LED module disposed between a driving node and the first node; wherein, the first constant current source circuit has a first detection node for generating a first detection signal in response to the voltage level of the first node. The voltage control circuit is coupled to the first detection node, for outputting a control signal in response to the first detection signal to a voltage regulator circuit in order to control and modulate the voltage regulator circuit to output a driving voltage to the driving node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: PRINCETON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: MING-YUAN TSAO, MEAN-SEA TSAY, SHIH-CHOU KUO, CHIUNG-HUNG CHEN
  • Patent number: 8810142
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a detection circuit (100) capable to detect a rectified phase-cut or sinusoidal wave-form using its duty cycle or average value and in response, to select the respective dim mode amongst the linear phase-cut and step-dimming. The circuit (100) receives the rectified waveform with its duty cycle, which is derived through a comparator (22, 24) and converted into a DC signal. The latter which is controlled by the duty cycle is then compared to a reference level (40) through another comparator (20) that, in response, supplies a signal controlling a switching device (30). The switching device (30) will be thus automatically connected either to one set signal level when the DC signal is greater than the reference level (40), namely when the circuit (100) detects a rectified sinusoidal waveform, or to the same level as the DC signal when the DC signal is less than the reference level (40), namely when the circuit (100) detects a rectified phase-cut waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Henricus T. P. J. Van Elk, Jeroen Kleinpenning
  • Patent number: 8810149
    Abstract: In a lighting apparatus including an emission unit and a constant current control part and/or a constant voltage control part for controlling a light quantity of the emission unit on the basis of a control signal, the constant current control part and/or the constant voltage control part includes light quantity control means for controlling the light quantity by changing the magnitude of a current and/or a voltage to be supplied to the emission unit in accordance with the control signal. Since no switching element is used in dimming level control of the emission unit, noise derived from an on/off operation of a switching element is not caused, and hence, noise may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noriaki Terazawa
  • Patent number: 8810155
    Abstract: An illumination light communication device includes a power supply unit controlling a load current in a light source unit to be maintained constant based on a dimming signal; an impedance unit series connected to the light source unit; a switch element parallel connected to the impedance unit to connect/disconnect the impedance unit with the light source unit; and a control unit controlling on/off of the switch element to modulate a light intensity of the light source unit such that a binary communication signal is superimposed on illumination light therefrom. The control unit controls the impedance of the impedance unit such that a difference between magnitudes of the load currents respectively when the pulse of the communication signal is superimposed and is not superimposed is maintained constant regardless of a dimming rate of the dimming signal in a range of a dimming rate equal to or greater than a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masao Kamada, Eiji Shiohama, Hiroyuki Nishino, Minoru Maehara, Yosiaki Hasitani, Yosuke Kondo
  • Patent number: 8810156
    Abstract: A light-emitting diode (LED) driver system includes a control circuit that provides a waveform for driving a power transistor to generate a regulated current through one or more LEDs, and an error amplifier that generates an output compensation signal based on a comparison of a desired regulated current and an actual regulated current through the one or more LEDs. The output compensation signal is used to set an output compensation voltage that sets the duty cycle of the waveform. The LED driver system further comprises a dimming control device configured during a dimming control mode to alternate between dimming-on time periods and dimming-off time periods, and a sample and hold switch having a first state for holding the output compensation voltage fixed during each dimming-off time period, and a second state for restoring the error amplifier to its previous dimming-on operating state upon returning to each subsequent dimming-on time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Joel Nathan Brassfield, Ashish Khandelwal
  • Patent number: 8810157
    Abstract: A current sense and feedback circuit is provided for a non-isolated Buck power converter to maintain constant current load regulation. The Buck converter may have a high side power switch and may include an input port, a switcher unit including a switch and a controller, an inductor coupled to the output, and a freewheeling diode for circulating the inductor current when the switch is open. The simplified current sense and feedback circuit of the power converter may include a current sense resistor module coupled to the freewheeling diode to provide a sense signal to the controller. The controller may also be coupled to the output of the power converter to sense an over voltage condition. The simplified current sense and feedback circuit may provide output regulation while maintaining a low component count, small size, and low loss that makes the power converter suitable for use in compact design applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventor: Jose R. Del Carmen, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20140225529
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an illumination device comprising a number of LEDs, means for receiving an input signal, means for generating an activation signal for at least one of the LEDs based on the input signal. The illumination device comprises further means for obtaining the voltage across and current through the LED and the means for generating the activation signal is adapted to generate the activating signal based on the voltage, the current and a current-voltage model related to LED. The current-voltage model defines a relationship between the current, the voltage and the colorimetric properties of said light emitted by LED. The present invention relates also to a method of controlling and a meted of calibrating such illumination device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: MARTIN PROFESSIONAL A/S
    Inventor: Szymon Beczkowski
  • Publication number: 20140225514
    Abstract: Solid state light emitting devices include multiple LED components separately arranged to generate spectral output having different ratios of scotopic to photopic light (S/P ratios) but similar chromaticities preferably within seven MacAdam ellipses. A light emitting device may be controlled to permit transitioning between different modes of operation of multiple LED components, with aggregated output of different modes having different S/P ratios but similar chromaticities. Multiple LED components of a light emitting device may be simultaneously controlled with different dimming profiles to effect increased color rendering at maximum emissive output of the apparatus, and to effect increased aggregated S/P ratio at minimum emissive output of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: CREE, INC.
    Inventor: Paul Kenneth Pickard
  • Patent number: 8803449
    Abstract: An example controller for a switched mode power supply includes a zero crossing detector, drive logic, and a logic gate. The zero-crossing detector generates a zero-crossing signal indicating a zero-crossing condition in the power supply. The drive logic generates a drive logic output signal in response to the zero-crossing signal and in response to a feedback signal, where the drive logic output signal is representative of an on-time of a switch to regulate an output of the power supply. The logic gate is coupled to receive a first signal representative of a current through the switch and a second signal representative of a zero-crossing time threshold. The logic gate is further coupled to extend the on-time of the switch until current through the switch reaches a zero-crossing current threshold or until the on-time of the switch reaches the zero-crossing time threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Yury Gaknoki, Mingming Mao, Tiziano Pastore
  • Patent number: 8803445
    Abstract: A circuit for driving light emitting diodes includes a first semiconductor switch that is responsive to a driver signal and a freewheeling device coupled between a first supply terminal that provides a supply voltage and a second supply terminal that provides a reference potential. An LED and an inductor are coupled in series between a common circuit node of the first semiconductor switch and the freewheeling device and either the first supply terminal or the second supply terminal. A current measurement circuit is coupled to the LED and provides a load current signal that represents a load current passing through the at least one LED. A first feedback circuit includes an on-off controller that receives load current signal and a reference signal, compares the load current signal with the reference signal and generates the driver signal dependent on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventor: Bernd Pflaum
  • Patent number: 8803443
    Abstract: A representative apparatus embodiment provides a plurality of operating modes for solid state lighting, such as a flash mode and a constant or background lighting mode for use with devices such as cameras. A representative apparatus comprises a memory adapted to store a plurality of average current parameters; and a controller adapted to modulate an energizing cycle time period (“T”) for providing power to the solid state lighting as proportional to the product of the selected average current parameter (“a”) and a reset time period (“TR”) for an inductor current to return to a substantially zero level from a predetermined peak level (T?a·TR). The average current parameter is predetermined as substantially proportional to a ratio of a peak inductor current level (“IP”) to an average output D.C. current level (“IO”) ( a ? I P I O ) .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Point Somee Limited Liability Company
    Inventors: Anatoly Shteynberg, Harry Rodriguez
  • Publication number: 20140217901
    Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for outputting light with a controlled spatial intensity distribution. According to some examples, this disclosure describes a device that includes at least one LED matrix that includes a plurality of LED elements. According to these examples, the device controls the LED elements of the LED matrix to output the light by causing at least a first LED element of the LED matrix to output light of a first intensity, and causing a second LED element of the LED matrix to output light of a second, different intensity. In some examples, the device controls the first at least one LED element to output light of the first intensity to illuminate a first object, and controls the second LED element to output light of the second intensity to illuminate a second object. The second object may have a different location than the first object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA AG
    Inventor: Andrea LOGIUDICE