Automatic Regulation Patents (Class 315/297)
  • Publication number: 20140217902
    Abstract: A tunable light-emitting diode (LED) lamp for producing an adjustable light output is provided. In one embodiment, the LED lamp includes a drive circuit for driving LED dies in one of a plurality of light output configurations (e.g., a pre-sleep configuration, a phase-shift configuration, and a general lighting configuration). Further, the LED lamp may include an output select controller and/or input sensor electrically coupled to the drive circuit to select the light output configuration. As such, the LED lamp is tunable to generate different levels of spectral output, appropriate for varying biological circumstance, while maintaining a commercially acceptable light quality and color rendering index.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Biological Illumination, LLC
    Inventors: Fredric S. Maxik, David E. Bartine, Robert R. Soler, Eliza Katar Grove, Eric Bretschneider
  • Patent number: 8796949
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ultraviolet light irradiation device having a planer UV light source in which the irradiation intensity of UV light can be adjusted finely in a wider range. The ultraviolet light irradiation device of the present invention comprises an UV light source and a housing that holds the planer UV light source. In the UV light source, a plurality of thin plasma tubes, each of which has an UV phosphor layer formed therein, are arranged in parallel with each other on an electrode support sheet, and drive circuits apply a pulse voltage to electrode pairs provided between the electrode support sheet and an array of the thin plasma tubes. A control circuit controls a factor of the pulse voltage to be applied to the electrode pairs so as to adjust the irradiation intensity of the UV light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignees: Shinoda Plasma Co., Ltd., Yumex Inc.
    Inventors: Kenji Awamoto, Bingang Guo, Koji Shinohe, Tsutae Shinoda, Yoshitaka Chigi, Tetsuro Nishimoto, Hiroyuki Tanaka, Mikihiro Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8796951
    Abstract: A location commissioning method for a lighting system, having several lighting arrangements, includes selecting an illuminated position, assigning the position a position id, measuring light at the position, deriving light data associated with each lighting arrangement from the measured light, associating the light data with the position id, determining light transfer data from the light data and current drive data for the lighting arrangements, and storing in a light effect setting array for the position id. A light effect setting method includes requesting a selected light effect at a selected position, receiving a position id and a target light effect setting associated with the position, deriving the associated initial light effect setting array, for example by retrieving a stored one, determining the drive data for obtaining the target light effect setting, via the light transfer data in the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Lorenzo Feri, Dragan Sekulovski, Sel Brian Colak, Johan-Paul Marie Gerard Linnartz, Paulus Henricus Antonius Damink, Jorge Guajardo Merchan
  • Patent number: 8796952
    Abstract: Semiconductor light emitting devices include a first string of at least one blue-shifted-yellow LED, a second string of at least one blue-shifted-green LED, and a third string of at least one LED that emits light in the red color range. These devices include at least a first circuit that is configured to provide an operating current to at least one of the first LED or the second LED and a second circuit that is configured to provide an operating current to the third light source. The drive currents supplied by the first and second circuits may be independently controlled to set a color point of the light emitting device at a desired color point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventor: Antony Paul Van de Ven
  • Patent number: 8796953
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a DC converter has a frequency adjusting device with a frequency selection circuit, a frequency change-over switch (17), a frequency generator (18), a threshold signal generator (19), a state machine (20) and a unit (21) for providing a ready signal (S3). The frequency selection circuit has an output (15), at which a control signal (S5) is provided, which is set up to select a frequency of the switching frequency signal (DCLK) of the DC converter. The invention further relates to a method for selecting a frequency of the DC converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: ams AG
    Inventors: Stefan Wiegele, Thomas Jessenig, Peter Trattler
  • Patent number: 8796939
    Abstract: An illumination system for mobile dispensing devices is disclosed. An acceleration sensor detects the acceleration of the device and a microcontroller analyzes the acceleration to determine if motion and tilt are present. If motion is greater than a threshold value, then side lights turn on at maximum brightness. Once motion is equal to or less than the threshold level, the side lights will progressively dim over a configurable period until being turned off. If the tilt angle of the device is greater than a configurable value from its vertical position, the top lights turn on at maximum brightness. Once the tilt is below or equal to its configurable value, the top lights will progressively dim over a configurable period until being turned off. If either the motion or tilt angle become greater than the programmable value during the dimming process, the corresponding light will again be illuminated at maximum brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Inventor: Curtis William Naumann
  • Publication number: 20140210375
    Abstract: An illumination system for mobile dispensing devices is disclosed. An acceleration sensor detects the acceleration of the device and a microcontroller analyzes the acceleration to determine if motion and tilt are present. If motion is greater than a threshold value, then side lights turn on at maximum brightness. Once motion is equal to or less than the threshold level, the side lights will progressively dim over a configurable period until being turned off. If the tilt angle of the device is greater than a configurable value from its vertical position, the top lights turn on at maximum brightness. Once the tilt is below or equal to its configurable value, the top lights will progressively dim over a configurable period until being turned off. If either the motion or tilt angle become greater than the programmable value during the dimming process, the corresponding light will again be illuminated at maximum brightness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventor: CURTIS WILLIAM NAUMANN
  • Publication number: 20140210374
    Abstract: A lighting system and method are provided for controlling a PWM duty cycle. The lighting system is provided with at least one device that is configured to emit light in response to receiving electrical power. The lighting system includes a power circuit and a feedback circuit. The power circuit is configured to selectively supply power to the device at a duty cycle corresponding to a first mode and a second mode, wherein the duty cycle of the first mode is less than 10% of the duty cycle of the second mode. The feedback circuit is configured to provide a feedback signal that is indicative of the energy provided to the device. The power circuit is further configured to disable power to the device during the first mode in response to the energy being greater than a threshold energy value, thereby adjusting the duty cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: NORTH AMERICAN LIGHTING, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth Wayne Schoel, Daniel Robert Edwards, Manuel Saldana de Leon
  • Patent number: 8791652
    Abstract: A signal shaping circuit that shapes a drive signal and includes a main-signal amplifying circuit that amplifies the drive signal; a preemphasis generating circuit that symmetrically emphasizes a rising portion and a falling portion of the drive signal; a current source that is provided in the main-signal amplifying circuit; and a condenser that couples the main-signal amplifying circuit and the preemphasis generating circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Hideki Oku, Yukito Tsunoda
  • Publication number: 20140203731
    Abstract: System and method for igniting one or more high-intensity-discharge lamps. A system includes an ignition controller configured to generate one or more signal pulses for a pulse signal during a first predetermined time period and to cause one or more voltage pulses to be applied to the one or more high-intensity-discharge lamps, the pulse signal changing between a first logic level and a second logic level during the first predetermined time period, each of the one or more signal pulses corresponding to a pulse period, the pulse period being no larger than the first predetermined time period. The ignition controller is further configured to, if the one or more high-intensity-discharge lamps are not successfully ignited after the first predetermined time period, stop generating any signal pulse for the pulse signal for a second predetermined time period, the second predetermined time period being equal to or larger than the pulse period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: ON-BRIGHT ELECTRONICS (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Huawei Lv, Dongze Yang, Lieyi Fang
  • Publication number: 20140203730
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a light emitting device power supply circuit, a light emitting device control circuit and an identifiable light emitting device circuit therefor, and an identification method thereof. The light emitting device control circuit includes an operation signal generation circuit and an identification circuit. The operation signal generation circuit determines whether the light emitting device control circuit operates in an identified mode or amiss mode according to an enable signal. In the identified mode, the light emitting device control circuit operates a power stage circuit to supply an output current to an identifiable light emitting device circuit. In the miss mode, an output voltage is maintained at a predetermined level. The identification circuit determines whether the light emitting device control circuit switches from the miss mode to the identified mode according to whether the output voltage meets a condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chih-Tai Cheng, Chi-Hsiu Lin, Pei-Yuan Chen
  • Patent number: 8786211
    Abstract: A system includes a single-inductor-multiple-out (SIMO) converter having storage circuitry in communication with a plurality of output channels, and a controller that controls and measures current flow through the SIMO converter. A signal generator may output switching signals to store current in the storage circuitry and discharge the stored current into the plurality of output channels. The discharged current may be measured and compared to a desired current draw through the output channels over a sample period. A compensator may determine whether to change one or more timing parameters used to control the flow of current through the SIMO converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Gilliom
  • Patent number: 8786215
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a double-output high-efficiency LED light-modulating circuit, comprising: a single-stage flyback power factor corrector, a DC/DC convertor, an LED module, and a light-modulating switch. In the present invention, it mainly utilizes the single-stage flyback power factor corrector for carrying out the purposes of reducing the components of an LED luminaire controlling circuit and increasing the circuit power conversion efficiency. Moreover, the double-output high-efficiency LED light-modulating circuit further includes a twin-bus light modulation framework, which can not only reduce the cross voltage of the power switch in back-end DC/DC convertor, but also process a high-frequency light modulation and a low-frequency light modulation to the LED luminaire. Therefore, because the cross voltage of the power switch has been reduced, a power switch with lower Rds can be used in the back-end DC/DC convertor for increasing switching speed and reducing switching losses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Kuo-Kuang Jen, Kuo-Sheng Fu, Ying-Sun Huang, Ywh-Ming Gong, Zen-Shan Chang
  • Patent number: 8786212
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes a power unit supplied with power; an emission unit to be lit with power supplied from the power unit, with a light quantity of the emission unit being controlled in accordance with a control signal; and a power control part lighting the emission unit after the control signal is supplied. Since the emission unit may be lit after the control signal is supplied, the emission unit may be lit with a light quantity in accordance with the control signal from an initial stage, and hence a user may be prevented from feeling uncomfortable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noriaki Terazawa
  • Patent number: 8786202
    Abstract: A lighting device and a method of controlling a light emitted thereby are disclosed. A lighting device according to the present invention includes a rectifier unit configured to rectify an alternation current voltage to supply the rectified voltage to each of light emitting units, the light emitting units configured of a plurality of light emitting diodes connected with each other in series, a control unit configured to control each light emitting unit and a first switching element based on the input voltage and the first switching element configured to be switched on and off based on the control of the control unit, wherein the control unit controls to the first switching element switch on and off based on the input voltage to connect the first light emitting unit and the second light emitting unit alternatively in series and parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Namjin Kim
  • Patent number: 8786201
    Abstract: An LED lighting device includes a power converter for outputting a variable output voltage, two LED lamps being connected in series between output terminals of the power converter; a current detector for detecting an output current from the power converter; a first detector for detecting the output voltage of the power converter and generating a first detection voltage corresponding to the output voltage; a second detector for detecting an applied voltage to one of the two LED lamps and generating a second detection voltage corresponding to the applied voltage; and a controller for controlling the power converter to adjust the output voltage to thereby make the output current coincide with a target value. The controller controls the power converter to decrease the output voltage if at least one of the second detection voltage and the deference between the first and the second detection voltage does not fall within a range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Katunobu Hamamoto, Masafumi Yamamoto, Keisuke Ueda, Hisaya Takikita
  • Patent number: 8783902
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an illuminating device includes a light source, a light source control unit, an estimation unit, a first calculating unit, and a second calculating unit. The light source includes light emitters, each having a different spectral distribution. The light source control unit determines an emission intensity of each of the light emitters. The estimation unit estimates a spectral reflectivity of an object. The first calculating unit calculates a first evaluation value, indicating an adequacy of a color of the object visually perceived, based on the spectral distributions and the spectral reflectivity. The second calculating unit calculates a second evaluation value, indicating how much an influence is given by the illuminating light to factors other than a visual sense. The light source control unit determines the emission intensities by which the first evaluation value and the second evaluation value satisfy a restraint condition determined beforehand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Junya Takakura, Yoshie Imai, Toshimitsu Kaneko
  • Patent number: 8783900
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus for retrofitting an existing luminaire includes a plurality of light emitting diodes (LED) of similar or differing wavelengths arranged and configured in at least one light bar array, a heat sink module thermally coupled to the at least one light bar array, an electronic power module electrically coupled to the at least one light bar array, and a plate coupled to the at least one light bar array, electronic power module and the heat sink module, the plate arranged and configured for coupling to the luminaire to provide quick and easy installation and replacement of the at least one light bar array, heat sink module and electronic power module into and from the luminaire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Illumination Management Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald G. Holder, Greg Rhoads
  • Patent number: 8786194
    Abstract: An LED constant current driving apparatus includes a power supply module; an LED module comprising one or more LEDs connected in serial, the LED module that is luminous by the power supplied by the power supply module; a current detection module connected to an output terminal of the LED module, to detect a current flowing to the LED module; an error amplification module configured to compare the current signal detected by the current detection module to a first preset signal and to amplify and output an error signal base on the result of the comparison; and a plurality of sequential driving control modules connected to the one or more LEDs provided in the LED module in serial, to compare the error signal amplified and outputted by the error amplification module to a second preset reference and to control luminosity and off driving of each LED of the LED module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Inventor: Bong Sub Shin
  • Patent number: 8786213
    Abstract: LED dimming control circuit and method compensate LED current or LED average current by LED characteristics to improve dimming efficiency and performance. LED characteristic related look-up tables are stored to provide compensation values, and input LED current setting information is compensated by the compensation values to generate corrected LED current setting information for determining LED brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Shei-Chie Yang, Shui-Mu Lin, Jun-Sheng Cheng, Ming-Yu Lin, Chun-I Lin
  • Patent number: 8786210
    Abstract: A drive circuit for a light emitting diode, and applications thereof, are disclosed. In one example, the drive circuit includes an input voltage and a ground, and a current control block including a voltage supply connection, a ground connection, a first voltage sense connection, and a second voltage sense connection. The voltage supply connection electrically connects to the input voltage and the ground connection connected to the ground. The drive circuit includes a current sense resistor connected to the first voltage sense connection, a first current adjustment resistor connected between the current sense resistor and the second voltage sense connection, and a second current adjustment resistor connected between the second voltage sense connection and the input voltage. A light emitting diode can connect from a point between the current sense resistor and the first current adjustment resistor to the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Welch Allyn, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Delucia
  • Publication number: 20140197759
    Abstract: A lighting system has first and second light sources operable to generate light having cool and warm white color temperatures, respectively. A color control provides a variable color control signal to adjust a perceived color output of the lighting system. Throughout a range of the color control signal, the controller is operable to smoothly vary the perceived color output of the lighting system between the cool white color and the warm white color. In second and thirds ranges of the color control signal, the perceived color output of the lighting system is the cool or warm white color, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Inventor: Donald L. Wray
  • Publication number: 20140197750
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus having a plurality of light-emitting devices (LEDs) can include at least one first LED that is configured to emit first chromaticity light, at least one second LED that is configured to emit second chromaticity light, and at least one additional LED that is configured to emit third chromaticity light. A control circuit can be operatively coupled to the plurality of light-emitting devices and configured to cause a color temperature produced by the plurality of LEDs to vary substantially in conformance with a Planckian locus in response to a dimming control input less than about 1800K.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: Cree, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Cash
  • Publication number: 20140197758
    Abstract: A power supply system may include power supply circuitry configured to power an output load, and a processor configured to generate configuration information that configures a remote device with the capability to control the power supply circuitry. The processor may also be configured to transmit the configuration information with a network interface to the remote device in response to a triggering event associated with the remote device. In response to receipt of the configuration information, the remote device may be configured to generate a control interface. A user of the remote device may control the power supply circuitry through the control interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: Cree, Inc.
    Inventor: Harald Thomas
  • Patent number: 8779695
    Abstract: A method of configuring an LED driver is disclosed. The LED driver being arranged to provide a supply current to an LED fixture comprising a plurality of LEDs. The method comprises: identifying the LED fixture (LF), sending via a communication network (NTW) a configuration request to a configuration database (DB), receiving configuration data from the configuration database; and configuring the LED driver (LPS) according to the configuration data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Eldolab Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Marc Saes, Petrus Johannes Maria Welten
  • Patent number: 8779669
    Abstract: At least one controllable source of visible light is configured to illuminate a space to be utilized by one or more occupants. A controller causes the source(s) to emit light in a manner that varies at least one characteristic of visible light emitted into the space over a period of time at least in part in accordance with a chaotic function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC
    Inventors: David P. Ramer, Jack C. Rains, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8779684
    Abstract: A high gate voltage generator and a display module are provided. The high gate voltage generator includes a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal generating circuit, a boost circuit, and an amplifier circuit. The PWM signal generating circuit is used for outputting a PWM signal. The boost circuit is electrically connected to the PWM signal generating circuit and used for receiving an input voltage to boost the input voltage according to the PWM signal and then outputting a power voltage. The amplifier circuit is electrically connected to the boost circuit and used for receiving a reference voltage to amplify the power voltage and then outputting a high gate voltage. The reference voltage is greater than the high gate voltage and is provided by a backlight module electrically connected to the amplifier circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Au Optronics Corporation
    Inventor: Meng-Sheng Chang
  • Patent number: 8779665
    Abstract: A backlight unit including: at least one light emitting diode (“LED”) string having an anode, which receives a string current, and a chassis-grounded cathode; and a current source control unit which receives a driving current and outputs the string current to the at least one LED string, where the current source control unit senses the driving current and compensates for the string current based on the sensed driving current and a reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Won Sik Oh, Youngsup Kwon, Jaekyu Park, Eun Chul Shin, Jaeeun Um
  • Patent number: 8779664
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an organic EL element lighting device whereby surge current can be reduced at start-up while controlling start-up variation, along with a lighting fixture using the same. Provided are a current supply part for supplying lighting current to a light source formed of one or more organic EL elements and connected between output terminals of the current supply part, a current detection part for detecting the lighting current, a target setting part for setting a target value of the lighting current, and a control part for performing feedback control of the lighting current by controlling the current supply part so that the detected value of the current detection part matches the target value of the lighting current. The target setting part has a sweep period during which the target value is gradually increased at start-up of the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Nakajo, Hiroshi Kido
  • Patent number: 8782190
    Abstract: A demand response management system which may be implemented with demand response logic. The system may be used by utilities, independent system operators, intermediaries and others to manage operations of demand response programs relative to customers, clients, participants, and users of outputs from the utilities, independent system operators, and the like. Demand response logic of the demand response management system may provide demand signal propagation and generation from demand response events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward Koch
  • Patent number: 8777432
    Abstract: A first light source arranged behind a display field and configured to generate an elementary color or a secondary color from red, green and blue elementary colors for increasing safety of a display device having an optical display field, wherein the first light source is connected to an activation module which is configured to activate the first light source based on the desired color. A second light source is arranged behind the display field and configured to generate the elementary color or the secondary color from the red, green and blue elementary colors. The second light source is connected to the activation module which is configured to activate the second light source based on the desired color of the first light source, and a monitor is provided which is configured to identify an error or a fault on one of the light sources and to shutdown the faulty light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Michael Mayer
  • Publication number: 20140191666
    Abstract: The invention relates to a network of luminaires for an automatic lighting system comprising at least two luminaires (1) and at least one controller, each luminaire comprising a light source (4) and at least two communication ports (3, 6, 9, 12), wherein the communication ports have predetermined configuration and orientation (3, 6, 9, 12), each communication port (3, 6, 9, 12) is adapted to be communicatively connected to a communication port of another luminaire (1) in said network in the direction and orientation of the port (3, 6, 9, 12), and wherein the identification of unused communication ports (3, 6, 9, 12) is communicated to said at least one controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Michel Cornelis Josephus Marie VISSENBERG, Ramon Pascal van Gorkom
  • Publication number: 20140191664
    Abstract: A hands-free lighting system comprising: a master control unit, a light unit, and a remote control unit. The master control unit is configured for controlling the operation of a remote light unit based on a signal received from a remote control unit. The light unit comprising at least one light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: RAPTOR INVENTIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Neal Landon Johnson, Stegen David Phillips
  • Patent number: 8773027
    Abstract: A current-shunting AC LED driving circuit has a rectification unit, an LED unit, a voltage-controlled transistor, a shunt resistor, a current detection unit and a steady current control unit. The LED unit and the rectification unit constitute a power loop and acquire a pulsed DC power through the rectification unit. The voltage-controlled transistor and the current detection unit are serially connected to the power loop. The steady current control unit acquires an average loop current through the current detection unit to control the voltage-controlled transistor so that the LED unit can stably emit light. The shunt resistor is parallelly connected to the voltage-controlled transistor to constitute a current-shunting path to shunt the loop current flowing through the voltage-controlled transistor so as to reduce the power withstood by the voltage-controlled transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Luxul Technology Incorporation
    Inventor: Cheng-Hung Pan
  • Patent number: 8773087
    Abstract: The invention relates to a power supply circuit (10) and methods for supplying electrical power to at least one load output. The circuit comprises a main power supply unit (12) with a voltage input (14), a main switching element (26) and a reactive element (28). The switching element (26) is controllable to deliver an output voltage or current (I out). Output units (20a, 20b, 20c) with load outputs are connected to a main power supply unit (12). In order to drive loads connected to the load outputs, e.g. LEDs, OLEDs or laser diodes, with exact pulses, each output unit (20a, 20b, 20c) has a load switching element (38) to connect or disconnect the main power supply unit (12) to or from the load output. There are further provided switched capacitor units (34), each with a capacitor (C) and a capacitor switching element (40). The capacitor units may be operated such that the capacitors remain essentially charged at different voltage levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Rob Otte, Henricus Marie Peeters, Vincent Gerardus Petrus Cornelis Van Den Broek, Carsten Deppe
  • Patent number: 8773030
    Abstract: A power source and control system is particularly suited for use in an outdoor landscape lighting system. The power source and control system includes at least one switching mode AC-to-DC power supply having an additional output stage for efficiently converting the DC output signal into another relatively low frequency AC signal for transmission to a plurality of buried power conductors. A Manchester encoded control signal is encoded at a relatively high frequency onto the AC signal sent over the buried power conductors so that intelligent LED lighting fixtures can be powered by the AC signal and selectively have their intensity changed when they decode the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter J. Woytowitz
  • Patent number: 8773045
    Abstract: An LED driving device includes a DC to DC converter module and a driving module. The DC to DC converter module includes a full-bridge switching circuit for converting a first DC electric power into an AC electric power, a rectifier circuit for converting the AC electric power into a second DC electric power, and a control circuit for modulating pulse phase of the second DC electric power and for controlling switching operation of the full-bridge switching circuit, such that the second DC electric power has a predetermined voltage value. The driving module is operable to receive the second DC electric power, to output a third DC electric power with a predetermined current value for driving an LED module, and to modulate pulse width of the third DC electric power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: I Shou University
    Inventors: Hung-Liang Cheng, Chao-Shun Chen, Guan-Long Huang
  • Publication number: 20140184099
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus includes a determination unit that determines whether or not the supply of power from the system power supply is performed. In addition, the illumination apparatus includes a control unit that performs control such that power is supplied to the light source from the battery based on setting information of the light source when the determination unit determines that the supply of power from the system power supply is not performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA LIGHTING & TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takahiro Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20140185637
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for active voltage regulation in optical modules utilize a voltage regulator to change the supply voltage provided to laser diode driver and receiver electronics to optimize module performance over temperature. The ambient temperature of the module is monitored. The outputs of the voltage regulator are controlled to provide voltages that are optimized with respect to temperature for the integrated circuits in the optical module. This control is implemented via a temperature sensitive feedback or a control input from a microcontroller with a temperature monitor input. The supply voltage is optimized to minimize the voltage required to achieve acceptable performance at a given temperature. Minimizing the supply voltage lengthens the lifetime of the integrated circuit and the optical module. The voltage regulator provides higher than standard supply voltages to a laser diode driver to compensate for higher laser voltage at low temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Inventor: Duane Louderback
  • Publication number: 20140184101
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a controller (30) for controlling the light- output of two light-emitting devices (10, 20). The two light-emitting devices are adapted to provide a McCandless effect on an illuminated object (40). The controller (30) comprises a first user interface for a user to set a first color (11) to be output by a first light-emitting device (10) and second user interface for a user to set a desired mixed color (81) of a common area (80) being illuminated by both light-emitting devices (10, 20). The controller (30) further comprises a processing circuitry for determining first lighting parameters resulting in said first color (11) when provided to the first light-emitting device (10), and for determining second lighting parameters resulting in a second color (21) when provided to a second light-emitting device (20). A mix of the first color (11) and the second color (21) provides the mixed color (81).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Stefan Marcus Verbrugh, Ralph Kurt
  • Publication number: 20140184100
    Abstract: An illumination control system includes an illumination control device, and a plurality of illumination lamps that are connected to the illumination control device via a network and are controlled by a control signal from the illumination control device. In addition, the illumination control device includes a reception unit configured to receive route information specified by a user from a user terminal, a decision unit configured to decide a schedule in which an illumination lamp which is a control target and an illumination process executed in the illumination lamp are specified according to the route information, and a transmission unit configured to transmit a control signal according to the schedule to the illumination lamp which is a control target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA LIGHTING & TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hisashi Yamada, Yoshiki Terashima, Hisashi Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20140184097
    Abstract: A track lighting system incorporates an elongate track that includes a plurality of longitudinal guideways. Multiple light fixtures selected from a group consisting of LED, incandescent, quartz halogen, compact fluorescent (CFL), high intensity discharge (HID) and ultra-violet (UV) luminaires are supported on the track. Conductors are arranged in at least some of the longitudinal guideways including power conductors and data conductors electrically isolated from each other. Adaptors are connected to a source of power for applying electrical power to the power conductors and connected to a source of control data for applying data signals to the data conductors. At least one light fixture is a luminaire responsive to a 0-10 volt dimming control voltage and a data converter for converting data on the data lines to 0-10 volt dimming control signals for selectively dimming at least one light fixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Inventor: John F. Luk
  • Publication number: 20140184098
    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: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Dialight Corporation
    Inventor: Kevin A. Hebborn
  • Patent number: 8766558
    Abstract: A lighting circuit for lighting a semiconductor light source includes: a DC/DC converter configured to receive a DC first voltage and a DC second voltage and generate a DC third voltage; a first connector including a first terminal, wherein the third voltage is applied to the first terminal, wherein the first connector connects the first terminal and one end of the semiconductor light source; and a control circuit that controls the DC/DC converter. The control circuit selects only the first voltage as a voltage applied to the other end of the semiconductor light source, when a voltage for emitting the semiconductor light source is less than an absolute value of a difference between the first and second voltages. The control circuit selects the first voltage or the second voltage as the voltage applied to the other end thereof, when the voltage is not less than the absolute value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takayoshi Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 8766559
    Abstract: A constant power limiter includes a control circuit and a power source circuit thereof, and the control circuit includes a voltage detection circuit configured for detecting a voltage of power source; a current detection circuit configured for detecting a load current; a zero-cross detection circuit configured for detecting a zero-cross point of AC power; a load driving circuit including a controlled silicon; and a micro control unit (MCU) configured for receiving output signals from the voltage detection circuit, the current detection circuit, and the zero-cross detection circuit, and outputting a control signal respectively to the load driving circuit to control a load power, wherein when the load power is less than or equal to a set power value, the load driving circuit has the controlled silicon fully open, when load power is no less than the set power value, the load driving circuit has the controlled silicon conduction angle decreased to stabilize the load power at the set power value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Shenzhen H & T Intelligent Control Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yonglian Yang, Baoning Deng, Xianfang Wang, Xiaoyong Dong, Jianwei Liu
  • Patent number: 8766557
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention provide power factor correction in solid state lighting applications. In certain embodiments, an LED driver for an LED array is controlled for power factor correction by a control circuit block. The control circuit block comprises electronic circuitry that enables the input current to the LED driver to be measured and controlled. This control circuit block comprises at least one switching device that enables an alternating form of current at a particular frequency to be applied to the LED array regardless of whether the main power source is a DC or AC power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Suresh Hariharan
  • Patent number: 8764223
    Abstract: A lighting device includes first and second light emission units. The first light emission unit emits light having a relatively low color temperature and a high feeling of contrast index. The second light emission unit emits light having a relatively high S/P ratio, which is the ratio of scotopic luminance to photopic luminance. The first light emission unit illuminates a region located at a vertical upper side of a region illuminated by the second light emission unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Ayako Tsukitani, Takashi Saito, Akira Takashima, Kouichi Wada, Yoshinori Karasawa, Toshihide Mori, Hiroshi Hamano, Kensuke Yamazoe
  • Patent number: 8766550
    Abstract: An AC LED lighting apparatus using a voltage edge detector is provided. The AC LED lighting apparatus includes: a rectification unit configured to rectify an AC voltage to output a DC rectified voltage; an LED unit including a first light emitting group and a second light emitting group each including at least one LED; and an LED driving control unit configured to control a serial/parallel connection relationship between the first light emitting group and the second light emitting group by comparing a voltage level of the rectified voltage input from the rectification unit with a reference voltage. The LED driving control unit sets the reference voltage by detecting a slope of the rectified voltage and simultaneously detecting the voltage level of the rectified voltage and the detected slope of the rectified voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Posco LED Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seong Bok Yoon, Dae Won Kim, Jong-Bum Kim
  • Publication number: 20140175987
    Abstract: A color temperature adjusting method includes steps: providing a controller storing a color temperature setting value therein, a main white light source including first and second sub-main white light sources having different color temperatures, and an adjusting light source comprising red, green and blue light sources; comparing the color temperature setting value with that of an environmental light to obtain a difference value; controlling currents to the two sub-main white light sources, the red light source, the green light source and the blue light source to obtain a compensation light according to the difference value; and mixing the compensation light and the environmental light to obtain a resulted light which has a color temperature equal to the setting value. An illuminating device using the color temperature adjusting method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: CHIH-CHEN LAI
  • Publication number: 20140176010
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of adjusting the fixture color emitted by a first and a second lighting fixture to a target color, each lighting fixture comprising at least a first and a second light source emitting light having different source colors, and said fixture color is obtained as a combination of said source colors, and said fixture color can be varied by varying the intensity of each light source; where the adjusting of said fixture color to a target color is performed by varying the intensity of said light sources based on both a first color gamut and a second color gamut respectively described by said source colors from said first lighting fixture and said second lighting fixture. The invention further relates to a light adapter and light system for adjusting the fixture color emitted by a first and a second lighting fixture to a target color and to a computer-readable medium having stored therein instructions for causing a processing unit to execute said method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventor: Christian Krause