Three Or More Controlled Load Device Circuits Patents (Class 315/317)
  • Patent number: 11265982
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a light bulb apparatus for changing a color temperature of a luminaire using an encoded alternating current (AC) power signal transmitted from a lighting control system to the luminaire electrically coupled to the light bulb apparatus, wherein the color temperature is encoded with a cut phase of the AC power signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Savant Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Yao Hua Chu
  • Patent number: 11249142
    Abstract: A detecting device for detecting a stack light state includes a low-pass filter configured to perform low-pass filtering on an input signal to generate a first output voltage; and a logic circuit coupled to the low-pass filter and configured to determine the stack light state according to the first output voltage; wherein the input signal is a pulse width modulation signal and a voltage level of the first output voltage is between a highest voltage level and a lowest voltage level of the pulse width modulation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventor: Meng-Ru Tsai
  • Patent number: 11000449
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing network connectivity and remote monitoring, optimization, and control of pool/spa equipment are provided. “Internet-of-Things” (IoT) functionality is provided for pool and spa equipment in a flexible and cost-effective manner. Network connectivity and remote monitoring/control of pool and spa equipment is provided by various components such as a network communication and local control subsystem installed in pool/spa equipment, and other components. Also disclosed are various control processes (“pool logic”) which can be embodied as software code installed in any of the various embodiments of the present disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Potucek, James Murdock, James Carter, Gregory Fournier, Arthur W. Johnson, III, David Blaine, Jason DeBruin, Scott Petty, Jason Parcell, Douglas Sawyer, Jr., Craig Horrocks
  • Patent number: 10646685
    Abstract: Multipurpose lighting systems and methods of providing controllable lighting are provided. A lighting system includes a sheet of flexible material, a plurality of light sources and a controller. The plurality of light sources are attached to the sheet of flexible material and configured to emit diffused light. The controller is coupled to the plurality of light sources and is configured to control one or more of the plurality of light sources according to one of a plurality of prescribed lighting characteristics associated with a respective plurality of different lighting tasks. In some examples, the lighting system includes a camera coupled to the sheet of flexible material configured to capture at least one image of an object synchronously with the light emitted by the plurality of light sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Mark S. Rea, Mariana Gross Figueiro, Martin B. Overington, Jean Paul Freyssinier, Robert White
  • Patent number: 10602671
    Abstract: A plant-light system that includes a plurality of ducted plant-lighting plenum sheets, wherein each ducted plant-lighting plenum sheet includes a plurality of flexible perforated LED sheets, each LED sheet including a plurality of LEDs arranged on a grid, the plurality of LEDs including LEDs emitting light that appears red, light that appears blue, light that appears white, and light that is at least mostly infrared light, wherein each plant lighting sheet has a length and a width, and wherein the plurality of lighting sheets is arranged along a length of a room; a plurality of plant-holding pockets arranged along the length of the room generally parallel to the plurality of ducted plant-lighting plenum sheets; and a plant-lighting plenum sheets motion and withdrawal system arranged to move the plurality of ducted plant-lighting plenum sheets to a plurality of different locations relative to the plurality of plant-holding pockets for different time periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Grow Lites, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew P. Limpert, Barbara A. DeBaun, Walter J. Paciorek, John T. Golle, Charles A. Lemaire
  • Patent number: 10555391
    Abstract: A light-emitting diode assembly having at least one light-emitting diode, a controller which is designed to dim the at least one light-emitting diode by means of pulse width modulation, wherein the pulse width modulation is characterized by a clock pulse and a pulse duration during a clock pulse. The controller is designed to actuate the at least one light-emitting diode with packets of at least two clock pulses. The controller being optionally designed to actuate the at least one light-emitting diode in a first operating mode and at least one second operating mode, wherein the at least one light-emitting diode is actuated in the first operating mode with the same pulse durations within the packet and is actuated in the second operating mode with at least one different pulse duration within the packet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGAA
    Inventor: Dieter Nietfeld
  • Patent number: 10254306
    Abstract: A method of performing a measurement routine on a probe, the probe comprising a cantilever extending from a support. An interferometer is operated to reflect a sensing beam with the cantilever thereby generating a reflected sensing beam and combine the reflected sensing beam with a reference beam to generate an interferogram. The interferometer generates a first interference measurement value at a first measurement time by measuring the interferogram and a second interference measurement value at a second measurement time by measuring the interferogram, The cantilever deforms to form a different shape between the measurement times. A change in height of the probe between the measurement times is estimated in accordance with a difference between the first and second interference measurement values, and corrected in accordance with the difference in shape of the cantilever between the measurement times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: INFINITESIMA LIMITED
    Inventor: Andrew Humphris
  • Patent number: 10194510
    Abstract: A multiple location load control system comprises a main device and remote devices, which do not require neutral connections, but allow for visual and audible feedback at the main device and the remote devices. The main device and the remote devices are adapted to be coupled together via an accessory wiring. The main device can be wired on the line side and the load side of the load control system. The main device is configured to enable a charging path to allow the remote devices to charge power supplies through the accessory wiring during a first time period of a half cycle of the AC power source. The main device and the remote devices are configured to communicate with each other via the accessory wiring during a second time period of the half cycle, for example, by actively pulling-up and actively pulling-down the accessory wiring to communicate using tri-state logic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: Ehsan Dadashnialehi, Robert C. Newman, Jr., Daniel Curtis Raneri, Jaykrishna A. Shukla
  • Patent number: 9976725
    Abstract: A luminaire having an electronically adjustable light beam distribution is disclosed. In some embodiments, the disclosed luminaire includes a plurality of solid-state lamps mounted on one or more surfaces of a housing. The lamps can be electronically controlled individually and/or in conjunction with one another, for example, to provide highly adjustable light emissions from the luminaire (e.g., pixelated control over light distribution). In some cases, a given solid-state lamp may include tunable electro-optic componentry to provide it with its own electronically adjustable light beam. One or more heat sinks optionally may be mounted on the housing to assist with heat dissipation for the solid-state lamps. The luminaire can be configured to be mounted or as a free-standing lighting device, in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, the aperture through which the lamps provide illumination is smaller than the distribution area of the solid-state lamps of the luminaire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: OSRAM SYLVANIA Inc.
    Inventors: Seung Cheol Ryu, Michael Quilici
  • Patent number: 9526135
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a driver device (50a-50e) and a corresponding driving method for driving a load (22), in particular an LED unit comprising a power input unit (52) for receiving an input voltage (V20) from an external power supply and for providing a rectified supply voltage (V52), a power conversion unit (54) for converting said supply voltage (V52) to a load current (154) for powering the load (22), a charge capacitor (56) for storing a charge and powering the load (22) when insufficient energy for powering the load (22) and/or the power conversion unit (54) is drawn from said external power supply (20) at a given time, and a control unit (58) for controlling the charging of said charge capacitor (56) by said supply voltage (V52) to a capacitor voltage (V56) that can be substantially higher than the peak voltage (V52) of said supply voltage and for powering the load (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Philips Lighting Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Toni Lopez, Reinhold Elferich
  • Patent number: 9490611
    Abstract: A universal load control module may include a power supply that operates over a wide voltage range, a microcontroller, and one or more functional control blocks. A functional control block may include a dimmer circuit for controlling a lighting load that provides reverse phase cut mode dimming, forward phase cut mode dimming, and hybrid phase cut mode dimming, as well as thermal protection. One or more universal control modules may be housed in a cabinet that include a cabinet control module. The cabinet may include additional thermal protection measures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC
    Inventors: Richard L. Westrick, Jr., Dalibor Zulim
  • Patent number: 9287975
    Abstract: A lighting system (100) comprising a central lighting device (111), at least one satellite lighting device (121, 131), and a controller (141) for adjusting light settings, is provided. The controller is arranged for transmitting, in response to a user request (140), an association request over a first communication link (142). The central lighting device is arranged for receiving the association request and re-transmitting the association request over a second communication link by means of coded light (112). The satellite lighting device is arranged for transmitting, in response to receiving the association request, its identifier to the central lighting device. The identifier is only transmitted if an association process is enabled. The association process is enabled, in response to a user request, during a limited time period. The central lighting device is further arranged for associating, in response to receiving the identifier, the satellite lighting device with the central lighting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Johannes Weda, Roel Peter Geert Cuppen, Steven Broeils Luitjens, Stefan Henricus Swinkels
  • Patent number: 9185756
    Abstract: A load driving device and system, and a limiting point control method and device. The load driving device comprising: a voltage/current regulative main circuit placed under the control of an output current controller, for use in conducting a voltage conversion on an input voltage, and in supplying electric power to a subsequent load unit; a sampling unit connected to an output terminal of the main circuit, for use in sampling an output feature parameter of the main circuit; the output current controller, for use in controlling a limiting point of the main circuit, and on the basis of the adjustment direction of the limiting point and on changes of the output feature parameters of the main circuit before and after an adjustment, determining a steady working point for the main circuit, and controlling the main circuit to work at the steady working point. The load driving device and system enable an increase in driver reliability and a reduction in circuit complexity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: INVENTRONICS (HANGZHOU), INC.
    Inventors: Liang'an Ge, Guichao Hua, Xiaoli Yao, Yang Liu
  • Patent number: 9041309
    Abstract: A dynamically programmable LED illumination system, method and apparatus provides for a dynamically programming an LED illumination unit including LED bulbs affixed on a circuit board and arranged to providing an animating display (such as a logo, sign, . . . ), where a user can customize the animating display on the LED illumination unit by selecting control signals. LED bulbs in the unit can illuminate or be adjusted such as to provide an animating display to a viewer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Inventor: Scott M. Shane
  • Patent number: 8907573
    Abstract: A LED current control system for use with an LED drive system which includes LED strings connected in series with respective current sink circuits, each of which causes a current to be conducted by the LED string to which it is connected. The drive system includes 3 or more ‘dimming’ inputs with which the LED string currents can be adjusted. The LED current control system comprises at least one minimum circuit which receives two or more dimming inputs and produces an output which is proportional to the lesser of the inputs, a multiplier circuit which receives the outputs of the minimum circuits and at least one other dimming input and produces an output ILED which is proportional to the product of the received signals, and a sink control circuit which receives ILED and controls the current sink circuits such that the string currents vary with ILED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Kraft
  • Publication number: 20140203173
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus adapted to aid in an illumination of a test sample in a test vessel. The method includes sequencing multiple wavelength light sources by turning OFF all but the light source of interest and taking a reading. The illumination apparatus has a bracket with a first and second arms and a space between them adapted to receive a test vessel, an array of light sources and a lens array coupled to the first arm, an array of bandpass filters adapted to filter light signals from each light source, at least one aperture array adapted to limit an extent of light emitted to the test vessel, and a single photo detector coupled to the second arm adapted to receive light signals from each of the light sources without moving the test vessel. Systems are disclosed, as are other aspects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc.
    Inventor: Frank Krufka
  • Patent number: 8760262
    Abstract: A method of automatically programming a new load control device that replaces an old load control device takes advantage of a remote identification tag (e.g., an RFID tag) located in the vicinity of the old device. The remote identification tag stores an identifier that is representative of a location in which the old device is installed. The method includes the steps of: (1) storing a setting of an old device in a memory of a controller; (2) associating the setting with the identifier of the old device in the memory of the controller; (3) the new device retrieving the identifier from the remote identification tag after the new device is installed in the location of the old device; (4) the new device transmitting the identifier to the controller; and (5) the controller transmitting the setting of the old device to the new device in response to receiving the identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Dragan Veskovic
  • Patent number: 8742680
    Abstract: A control system controls the operation of at least a first and a second independently controllable LED light member. The control system includes a frame member on which a plurality of electrical components can be mounted, and at least one input port for receiving at least one of a power source and a command signal source capable of sending a command signal to at least one of the first and second LED light members. A first driver member is provided for conducting power to deliver conditioned DC power to the first LED member. A first driver to frame connector removably couples the first driver member to the frame member. A second driver member conditions power to deliver conditioned DC power to the second LED member, and a second driver to frame connector removably couples the first driver member to the frame member. A first external output port is coupled to the first driver, and a second external output port coupled to the second driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Lumen Cache, Inc
    Inventor: Derek Cowburn
  • Patent number: 8723450
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the spectral content of the output of a light fixture. The method of one embodiment includes driving the output of a light fixture to a target color and controlling the spectral content of the output of the light fixture. For example, a desired color is inputted using a color control methodology. A set of light source output intensity values that produce the desired color are identified, and then the light sources are driven to the identified output intensity values. A user is able to control the spectral content of the output of the light fixture by modifying the output intensity value of one or more of the light sources. After modifying the output intensity values, the color control and matching technique is used to identify a new set of output intensity values that maintain the previous target color but incorporate the changes in spectral content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Electronics Theatre Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Troy Bryan Hatley, Timothy George Robbins, Mike Wood, Dennis W. Varian
  • Patent number: 8552666
    Abstract: The invention relates to the controlling of a lighting system with a plurality of light sources, particularly to the semi-automatic commissioning of light sources of the lighting system or controlling of the creation of lighting scenes with the lighting system. A basic idea of the invention is to use a spatial coding of light for controlling a lighting system, particularly for commissioning of light sources of the lighting system instead of or in addition to the temporal light coding as applied in the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Matthias Wendt, Harald J. G. Radermacher, Paul Leyten
  • Patent number: 8531134
    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 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Digital Lumens Incorporated
    Inventors: Brian J. Chemel, Colin Piepgras, Steve T. Kondo, Scott D. Johnston
  • Publication number: 20130099689
    Abstract: A current monitor is described that indicates a condition of attached electrical equipment. The current monitor can determine a predetermined range in which current being withdrawn by the attached electrical apparatus lies. Based on the determined range, corresponding display electronic elements, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), can be activated. Activated LEDs of a particular color can indicate corresponding conditions of the electrical equipment. For example, activation of green LEDs can indicate normal functioning of the electrical equipment, activation of one or more amber/yellow LEDs can indicate that lubrication of the electrical equipment is required soon, and activation of one or more red LEDs can indicate that lubrication of the electrical equipment is required and that the electrical equipment may not be used to avoid damage/failure due to overheating of the electronic circuitry associated with the electrical equipment. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventor: Justin Hai
  • Patent number: 8339054
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling light in a 3-way light circuit, where at least one of the switches in a 3-way light circuit includes an occupancy sensor and the on/off state of the load in the 3-way circuit is determined based on the voltage output of circuits configured to provide power to the 3-way light circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Daming Yu, Tom Batko
  • Publication number: 20120249712
    Abstract: A light-emitting chip includes plural light-emitting thyristors having a first anode terminal, a first cathode terminal, and a first gate terminal, plural setting thyristors having a second anode terminal, a second cathode terminal, and a second gate terminal and setting the absolute value of a threshold voltage of each light-emitting thyristor to be smaller than that in an OFF state, plural transmission thyristors having a third anode terminal, a third cathode terminal, and a third gate terminal and setting the absolute value of a threshold voltage of each setting thyristor to be smaller than that in an OFF state, plural first connecting resistors connecting the first gate terminals and the second gate terminals, plural second connecting resistors connecting the second gate terminals and the third gate terminals, and plural third connecting resistors connecting the first gate terminals to a power supply line supplied with a source potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seiji OHNO
  • Patent number: 8237380
    Abstract: A method of arranging light emitting diodes (LEDs) is disclosed. The method includes M virtual lateral lines and N virtual vertical lines, which form virtual intersection nodes at the intersections; disposing N-1 lateral LEDs in each virtual lateral line with one lateral LED placed between two adjacent virtual intersection nodes, connecting the positive terminal of one later LED to the positive terminal of one of the two adjacent lateral LEDs, and connecting the negative terminal of the one lateral LED to the negative terminal of the other adjacent lateral LED; disposing M-1 vertical LEDs in each virtual vertical line except for the first and last virtual vertical lines, connecting the positive and negative terminal of one vertical LED in the same way; and connecting the AC power to the first and last virtual vertical lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: King Diode Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kun-Chieh Chang, Ko-Wen Jwo
  • Patent number: 8143809
    Abstract: A LED illuminating device includes: a power source device, a controller, an LED lighting device, and an LED unit 4 incorporating LEDs of a plurality of emission colors. The device is configured to mix the lights of the LEDs at an arbitrary proportion and set the lights in an arbitrary color mixture proportion on the basis of a dimming signal from the controller. The device is further configured so that: a coefficient specific to the LED unit at which an emission color of the LED unit becomes a desired color can be set to a signal value of the controller preliminarily set as a standard. The LED lighting device can control an emission amount of the LEDs having the respective emission colors by using a value calculated by a calculation expression employing the specific coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeaki Yamazaki, Hiroyuki Sako
  • Patent number: 8049435
    Abstract: An oscillator generates a triangular wave signal whose inclination for charging a capacitor and inclination for discharging the same are the same and which is used to turn on/off FETs Qp1 and Qn1. A signal generation part generates first drive signal in a period shorter than a half period of the triangular wave signal to drive the Qp1, and generates a second drive signal having a pulse width substantially equal to that of the first drive signal and a phase difference of about 180 degrees with respect to the first drive signal, to drive the Qn1 and provide a current to the discharge tube in a direction opposite to the current driven by the first drive signal. Furthermore a pulse current generation circuit converts a synchronization pulse voltage signal into a pulse current that alternates between positive and negative current values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kengo Kimura
  • Patent number: 7990082
    Abstract: A system and method for increasing a number of lights operated and/or controlled by dimmer boxes of theatrical light systems. In one embodiment, a master box is coupled to a chain of slave boxes in series. The master box receives a control signal and generates a switching signal for controlling the master box and the slave boxes. The switching signal is transmitted from the master box to the slave boxes through the series connections. Each of the master box and the slave boxes include a light signal input and a plurality of light signal outputs, and select among the plurality of light signal outputs according to the switching signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Inventors: Robert Dilley, David Noriega, Jim Mullens
  • Publication number: 20110164103
    Abstract: A light emitting element array that can perform a time-division driving operation with a small number of driving ICs is provided. A light emitting element array chip (1) includes n switch thyristors (S) (wherein n is an integer equal to or greater than 2), n signal transmission lines (GH) connected to N-gate electrodes (d) of the switch thyristors (S) individually, a plurality of light emitting thyristors (T) having N-gate electrodes (b) connected to one of the n signal transmission lines (GH). Anodes (e) of selection thyristors (U) are connected to the N-gate electrodes (d) of the n switch thyristors (S), and N-gate electrodes (f) of the selection thyristors (U) are connected to a common selection signal transmission line (CSL).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hironori Kii
  • Patent number: 7804191
    Abstract: A method for collective control of lights comprises connecting a positive output and a negative output of a main control device (1) by a wire to form a closed output circuit (4); independently connecting each of a plurality of lights (2) to an auxiliary control device (3); coupling a transducer (31) of each auxiliary control device with the output circuit; encoding each light (2); and inputting a code number of a light to be controlled to the main control device, the main control device generating and outputting an encoded control signal in response to the code number, the encoded control signal passing through the wire of the output circuit, the transducer of an auxiliary control device in association with the light to be controlled generating a control signal in response to the encoded control signal, thereby controlling the lights. A system for collective control of lights is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Inventor: Keng Kuei Su
  • Patent number: 7791282
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling light in a 3-way light circuit, where at least one of the switches in a 3-way light circuit includes an occupancy sensor and the on/off state of the load in the 3-way circuit is determined based on the voltage output of circuits configured to provide power to the 3-way light circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Daming Yu, Tom Batko
  • Publication number: 20100213880
    Abstract: The current invention teach LED light device has special effects which meet persistence of vision theory to have LED or LEDs or LED array has quickly changing than the human eye response time within 1/16 to 1/24 second to let people see the message display from the said light device with special message, time, drawing, light patterns, light color changing. It also teach a sealed-unit with receiving means to receive all eye-catching shades to make said light device been used for desktop or outlet for desire power source or interchangeable power source. Also teach the power saving and cost saving LED light device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventor: Tseng-Lu CHIEN
  • Patent number: 7746008
    Abstract: A group control type fluorescent, LED and/or halide lighting control system comprises at least a control interface, which generates a main control signal based on user's operation. This control interface is connected to one or more controllable driver to drive corresponding light sources according to the main control signal. The controllable drivers are cascaded to one or more drivers in order. These drivers control the connected light sources to produce corresponding actions according to control signals generated by the controllable drivers. Through a cascading design collocated with several controllable dimmable drivers, unlimited installation and immediate usage after installation can be accomplished without the need of any preset action. Moreover, the advantages of simple operation and easy learning can also be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Inventor: Yu-Sheng So
  • Patent number: 7672760
    Abstract: A searchlight (3) on board a vessel (1) arranged for illuminating a point (2p) and maintain said point (2p) illuminated regardless of the movements of said vessel (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Aptomar AS
    Inventors: Lars Andre Solberg, Jonas Aamodt Moræus
  • Publication number: 20100026191
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a power supply device for light elements comprising a power supply unit (12), a first light element (30) having a first color, preferably white, a second and a third light element (34, 38) having second and third colors, preferably for tuning the color of the first light element, and a controllable switch (42) coupled in series to said third light element (38), wherein said series connection of said third light element (38) and said switch is arranged in parallel to said second light element (34).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Harald Josef Gunther Radermacher, Volkmar Schulz, Matthias Wendt
  • Patent number: 7605547
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an addressable light emitting diodes (LED) architecture that is able to control a plurality of LEDs individually. The present disclosure further provides a method of controlling the operation of at least one chain of serially connected LEDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics Asia Pacific PTE Ltd.
    Inventor: Chee Yu Ng
  • Publication number: 20090230895
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and device for communicating data to devices which have been brought randomly together, e.g. user equipment provided to a plurality of persons grouped within a geographical area, e.g. an audience or spectators, for example as used in concerts or sports events, in particular for example such that the user equipment effectively forms part of a light emitting display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventors: Martin De Prycker, Stephan Paridaen, Koenraad Maenhout, Bruno Verhenne, Rick Buskens
  • Patent number: 7554274
    Abstract: The present invention provides a master-slave architecture for a radio frequency RF networked lighting control system having all slave elements (ballasts) configured as backups for a network master control unit. In the system and method of the present invention a slave element can become the network master network unit without reconfiguring the network and without any human intervention. Similarly, both a master and one or more slave elements may recover from a temporary outage without necessitating reconfiguration of the network and without any human intervention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Ling Wang, Demetri J. Giannopoulos
  • Publication number: 20090128061
    Abstract: A system and method for increasing a number of lights operated and/or controlled by dimmer boxes of theatrical light systems. In one embodiment, a master box is coupled to a chain of slave boxes in series. The master box receives a control signal and generates a switching signal for controlling the master box and the slave boxes. The switching signal is transmitted from the master box to the slave boxes through the series connections. Each of the master box and the slave boxes include a light signal input and a plurality of light signal outputs, and select among the plurality of light signal outputs according to the switching signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Robert Dilley, David Noriega, Jim Mullens
  • Patent number: 7458490
    Abstract: An article carrier assembly for attachment to a vehicle roof panel comprises two siderails and at least one cross-rail releasably stowed on one of the siderails. Attachment of the cross-rail to the siderails is carried out with the use of latching mechanisms. The mechanism is composed of a stanchion mounted on the cross-rail, with a lever pivotally placed therein, and of a lock plate assembly slidably attached to the siderail. For deployment of the assembly, the stanchion is put on the lock plate assembly which becomes engaged therewith upon turning the lever. The structure of the mechanism contributes to preventing the roof panel from being damaged upon the deployment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Sportrack LLC
    Inventors: John E. Klinkman, Terry L. Obermesik, Kevin D. Wilson, Robert G. Cronce
  • Publication number: 20080290821
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electric circuit. The electric circuit comprises at least six light-emitting elements and at least three switching networks for individually controlling the light-emitting elements. Each switching network is connected with at least four light-emitting elements. The at least three switching networks are connected with each other by parallel connections of respective two of the at least six light-emitting elements. The respective two light-emitting elements have opposite current blocking directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventors: Benedict Brandt, Johannes Dietrich, Antonio Pascucci, Stefan Lugmair, Volker Senft, Stefan Wiest
  • Patent number: 7449847
    Abstract: In one example, a lighting apparatus comprises a processor wherein the processor is configured to control a color-changing lighting effect generated by the lighting apparatus; wherein the processor is further configured to monitor an operating power source; and wherein the processor is further configured to synchronize the color-changing lighting effect in coordination with a parameter of the operating power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric K. Schanberger, Kevin J. Dowling
  • Patent number: 7394210
    Abstract: The present invention provides a programmable lighting system comprising a plurality of light-emitting elements and a controller responsive to a hierarchically encoded data input stream. The controller determines and provides appropriate control signals for controlling the characteristics of the light generated by the plurality of light-emitting elements operatively coupled thereto. The data input stream may use a DMX512 or other network protocol and can be hierarchically encoded by varying the value of the START code of the data packets. When a DMX512 or other data packet with a NULL START code or “color” packet is received by the controller, the controller interprets the frames to be intensity control data wherein each frame can correspond to a particular light-emitting element or group of light-emitting elements. The color packet can provide data for the generation of a particular temporal color sequence or a temporal color sequence that is random or any other lighting sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: TIR Technology LP
    Inventor: Ian Ashdown
  • Patent number: 7374288
    Abstract: An improved image projection lighting device is disclosed. Commands received by a communications port of the base housing may be acted upon to change zoom and focus values of a zoom and focus lens. A cooling system may be provided which compares an input air temperature of the image projection lighting device to an exiting air temperature to determine if a filter needs service. A video projector may project a first image comprised of first, second, and third separate images and the first separate image can be faded up to project light that is void of an image by a first command received at the communications port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Inventor: Richard S. Belliveau
  • Patent number: 7325930
    Abstract: An improved image projection lighting device is disclosed. Commands received by a communications port of the base housing may be acted upon to change zoom and focus values of a zoom and focus lens. A cooling system may be provided which compares an input air temperature of the image projection lighting device to an exiting air temperature to determine if a filter needs service. A video projector may project a first image comprised of first, second, and third separate images and the first separate image can be faded up to project light that is void of an image by a first command received at the communications port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Inventor: Richard S. Belliveau
  • Patent number: 7221110
    Abstract: A lighting control system includes a plurality of light controllers. Each light controller contains a microprocessor-based intelligence. The plurality of light controllers form a distributed architecture. The microprocessor-based intelligence is operative to store, calculate, and execute complex lighting scenarios. The microprocessor-based intelligence executes a lighting control script during operation. The lighting control script is sufficiently detailed and the light controller is sufficiently intelligent so as to allow the light controller to control lighting without the necessity of a having a present external control architecture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Bruce Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Storm S. Sears, John Martinelli
  • Patent number: 7129654
    Abstract: The present invention describes a flashing light apparatus and method for operating the same. A pulse signal generated by a pulse signal generator and the states of the general purpose Input/Output pins of a CPU are used to control the lights to flash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: High Tech Computer Corp.
    Inventors: Jung-Yuan Tsai, Kuo-Feng Chen, Chung-An Chien, Wei-Shao Chen
  • Patent number: 7098611
    Abstract: A dimming control system includes dimmer modules that receive dimming level information from one of at least two control modules. Each dimmer module includes a microprocessor that provides internal intelligence for controlling power to a load in response to dimming level information. Control modules receive industry standard protocol dimming information from various sources, convert it to dimming level information, and serially communicate the dimming level information to the dimmer modules. Dimmer modules and control modules are mounted in a rack which includes a backplane having a nonvolatile memory device that retains configuration data even if control modules are removed from the rack. An inactive control module can assume control of the rack when an active control module fails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard M. Chansky, Ken Vannice, Craig LeVasseur
  • Patent number: 6869204
    Abstract: Light fixtures for illumination of liquids in a variety of environments. In one example, multi-color LED-based light fixtures are employed to achieve a wide range of enhanced lighting effects in liquids. In another example, a pool or spa is illuminated by one or more multi-color light fixtures that may be employed as individually and independently controllable devices, or coupled together to form a networked lighting system to provide a variety of programmable and/or coordinated color illumination effects in the pool or spa environment. The light fixtures may have a significantly thin depth dimension to facilitate streamlined mounting in the pool or spa. Additionally, the light fixtures may be particularly constructed to take advantage of the liquid in contact with the light fixture so as to facilitate the dissipation of heat generated by the light fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Color Kinetics Incorporated
    Inventors: Frederick M. Morgan, Thor A. Lys, George G. Mueller, Kevin J. Dowling, Brian Roberge
  • Patent number: 6836083
    Abstract: An illumination light supply system that can save users from the task of replacing defective light source lamps with proper ones, enabling the users to use illumination light over an extended time period, and can easily change the lighting atmosphere as requested by the user. The illumination light supply system comprises: two or more light source units that generate and output lights of different colors; mixing means for mixing the lights output from the two or more light source units; adjustment means for adjusting an amount of light supplied from each light source unit to the mixing means; light transfer means for transferring the mixed light output from the mixing means to a user; and an illumination unit that radiates the transferred light into a space for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Mukai