Using Electronic Tube Patents (Class 323/227)
  • Patent number: 8890427
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of operation of a low-current LED lighting circuit are disclosed. The invention utilizes high AC voltage input and unreduced voltage ripple component of the rectified DC power signal, which provides the ability to drive an LED load at high power factor at low current. The invention discloses both active and passive circuits to limit the peak current flowing to the LED and create a current source for the LED load. The proposed circuit increases reliability by optionally eliminating capacitor, inductor, and heatsink components while minimizing luminous flux fluctuations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Inventors: Todd W Hodrinsky, Donald T Wesson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8884538
    Abstract: A light-emitting diode (LED) driving circuit includes a power factor correction (PFC) circuit and a driving controller. The PFC circuit controls a power factor of the LED driving circuit. The LED driving circuit includes an inductor, a switch, a current detection circuit, and a time detection circuit. The inductor senses an inductor current and provide energy to at least one LED. The switch connected to the inductor is conducted according to a driving signal. The current detection circuit connected to the switch detects inductor current information. The time detection circuit connected to the switch detects an energy discharging time during which the inductor current decrease from a peak value to zero. The driving controller connected to the switch, the current detection circuit, and the time detection circuit outputs the driving signal to the switch according to the voltage level and the energy discharging time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Macroblock, Inc.
    Inventors: Yan-Cun Li, Chin-Chung Cheng
  • Patent number: 7319310
    Abstract: An improved power supply unit includes a DC power source having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, and a voltage regulating circuit that includes a plurality of elements coupled in series between the positive and negative terminals of the DC power source to regulate the power supply signals supplied thereto to effectively cancel ripple and noise in such power supply signals. In one embodiment, the series-coupled elements include at least one resistor and a transconductive element having a characteristic transconductance value of T. The at least one resistor provides a resistance substantially equal to 1/T. The transconductive element and the one resistor cooperate to suppress spurious voltage level variations produced by the DC power source. The transconductive element may be realized by a thermionic triode, field effect transistor or other suitable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Audio Note UK Ltd.
    Inventor: Andrew B. Grove
  • Patent number: 7202645
    Abstract: An improved power supply unit includes a DC power source having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, and a voltage regulating circuit that includes a plurality of elements coupled in series between the positive and negative terminals of the DC power source to regulate the power supply signals supplied thereto to effectively cancel ripple and noise in such power supply signals. In one embodiment, the series-coupled elements include at least one resistor and a transconductive element having a characteristic transconductance value of T. The at least one resistor provides a resistance substantially equal to 1/T. The transconductive element and the one resistor cooperate to suppress spurious voltage level variations produced by the DC power source. The transconductive element may be realized by a thermionic triode, field effect transistor or other suitable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Audio Note UK Ltd.
    Inventor: Andrew B. Grove
  • Patent number: 7071405
    Abstract: An independent power bank system and intended use therefor, comprising an electromagnetic field generator and a power bank comprising one or more light bulbs, the light bulbs being filled with a gas capable of being lighted when subjected to a generated electromagnetic field; a system for producing usable voltage by producing a photovoltaic effect, said system being in a juxtaposition relationship to the one or more light bulbs; and a secondary antenna connected at one end to each end of the one or more light bulbs and another end being located near an edge of the generated electromagnetic field. The invention typically may be adapted to have a plurality of power banks arranged in a desired configuration to suit the intended use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Inventor: Leslie A. Moore
  • Patent number: 4453263
    Abstract: An x-ray tube voltage generator with automatic stabilization circuitry is disclosed. The generator includes a source of pulsating direct current voltage such as from a rectified 3 phase transformer. This pulsating voltage is supplied to the cathode and anode of an x-ray tube and forms an accelerating potential for electrons within that tube. The accelerating potential is stabilized with a feedback signal which is provided by a feedback network. The network includes an error signal generator which compares an instantaneous accelerating potential with a preferred reference accelerating potential and generates an error function. This error function is transmitted to a control tube grid which in turn causes the voltage difference between x-ray tube cathode and anode to stabilize and thereby reduce the error function. In this way stabilized accelerating potentials are realized and uniform x-ray energy distributions produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1984
    Assignee: Picker Corporation
    Inventors: Theodore A. Resnick, Walter A. Dupuis, Anthony Palermo, Jr.