Power conversion and power limiting
Configurable led driver/dimmer for solid state lighting applications
Cited by:
- Philips Lighting Holding B.V.
- Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
- Cooper Technologies Company
- LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
- Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
- Cree, Inc.
134x combined
This patent family describes a driver/dimmer for powering low voltage fixtures in a distributed lighting system.
The patent family includes the following US Patents:
WO2020037429 - The patent invention and method comprises a primary side sensing circuit for monitoring the power received by the driver, and a secondary side sending circuit for monitoring the power sent to the connected light loads. If a power anomaly or fault is detected, an alert is provided.
8525446 - Claims (21) The patent invention includes a power circuit having a power factor correction boost connecting an inrush current limit and a DC/DC converter, a primary digital controller, and a set of output current drivers connected to LED light fixture(s) for controlling the associated light fixture load. Anticipated Expiration - 05/21/2030
9049759 - Claims (25) A continuation of patent 8525446 further including an apparatus for configuring the set of output current drivers to an output current set point. Anticipated Expiration - 01/26/2030
9078310 - Claims (20) A continuation of patent 9049759 with claims to a low voltage dimmer/driver that includes an apparatus for mapping the set of output current drivers to various dimming zones and for mapping output channels into groups. Anticipated Expiration - 09/17/2029
8957601 - Claims (20) A continuation-in-part of patent 8525446 further including a break-out module connecting to multiple light fixture loads via cabling. Anticipated Expiration - 01/24/2030
9320093 - Claims (20) A continuation of patent 8957601 with claims including a method for configuring and powering light fixture loads for an LED low voltage distribution system. Anticipated Expiration - 09/17/2029
9775207 - Claims (17) A continuation of patent 9320093 with claims including delivering the multiple current outputs to the set of light fixture loads via a set of multi conductor cables. Anticipated Expiration - 09/17/2029
10187946 - Claims (20) A continuation of patent 9775207 with claims including a secondary controller receiving a program comprising an algorithm for converting an input signal to the LED control information. Anticipated Expiration - 09/17/2029
Bootstrap startup and assist circuit
Cited by:
- Tridonic Gmbh & Co Kg
- OSRAM GmbH
- Cypress Semiconductor
- Corporation
10x combined
This patent family describes a circuit that enables the use of more efficient transistors within a power converter.
The patent family includes the following US WO CA Patents:
9041379 - Claims (7) This patent invention describes a method and apparatus for a bootstrap and start up circuit that is used to increase the voltage within a MOSFET switching circuit during the initial power on of the converter until appropriate or predetermined voltages are present. Anticipated Expiration - 12/18/2031
Apparatus and method for monitoring and limiting power to ssl devices
Cited by:
- Cree, Inc.
- Dell Products L.P.
- Lear Corporation
10x combined
This patent family describes a low voltage limiting system that may provide limited functionality to a light fixture while an operational fault condition is present.
The patent family includes the following US Patents:
9591713 - Claims (13) The patent invention includes a physical power limit that monitors the level of the load power and reduces the level of the load power for a predetermined period of time when the load power exceeds a predetermined power limit. Anticipated Expiration - 06/25/2034
10045421 - Claims (16) A continuation of patent 9591713 further including a method for disabling the receipt of input power if the reduced power load is not below a predetermined acceptable level within a predetermined period of time. Anticipated Expiration - 06/25/2034
Dimming
Modulation method and apparatus for dimming
Cited by:
- Philips Lighting Holding B.V.
- Lutron
- Samsung
45x combined
This patent family describes a method for the precise dimming of low voltage lighting in the problematic range between 0 and 25 percent.
The patent family includes the following US CA Patents:
8299987 CA 2564659 - Claims (28) When powering LEDs, Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) is the most efficient method. PWM works very well until dimming the light below 25%. This patent invention provides smooth and precise dimming at low light levels, using variable timing, and using some changes between consecutive dimming intensity levels of less than 3%. Smooth and precise dimming is a fundamental when mixing LEDs for human centric lighting. Anticipated Expiration - 01/15/2029
Method and system for controlling solid state lighting via dithering
Cited by:
- Philips Lighting Holdings B.V
- Hunter Industries, Inc.
- Tridonic GmbH & Co. KG
19x combined
This patent family describes controlling LED light fixtures at low light intensity with reduced flicker using a dithering approach.
The patent family includes the following US Patents:
9433053 - Claims (11) This patent method provides for controlling solid state lighting by translating dimming information into SSL control information which includes load/LED control information, which is translated into dithering information which is used to control the current source for the associated light fixture load. Anticipated Expiration - 05/13/2031
9942954 - Claims (19) A continuation of patent 9433053 with claims including a method for controlling solid state lighting with a combination of constant current reduction over a high light intensity range and the dithering approach over a low light intensity range. Anticipated Expiration - 05/13/2031
Fixtures
System, method, and apparatus for dissipating heat from a led
Cited by:
- Hubbell Incorporated
- DMF, Inc.
19x combined
The patent family describes an LED fixture that dissipates the heat created by the fixture into the room below as opposed to the dead air space in the cavity where the fixture is installed.
The patent family includes the following US Patents:
8926133 - Claims (22) The patent invention and method comprises an LED fixture having a thermally conductive base that physically interfaces with a removable bezel constructed of similar material in such a way that heat from the fixture is conducted through the bezel and radiates into the room ambient environment. Anticipated Expiration - 08/16/2033
Apparatus, system, and method for track lighting
Cited by:
- Apex Technologies, Inc.
- Wistron Corp
- Diode-On Optoelectronics Limited
11x combined
The patent family describes a low voltage track lighting system that allows for independent control of individual light fixtures or groups of fixtures connected to a single track. Independent multiple channel control is required for a human centric light fixture.
The patent family includes the following US Patents:
9039230 - Claims (18) The patent invention and method comprises a power distributor electrically connected to a track frame with 2 or more electrically insulated supply channels, wherein each supply channel forms an incomplete series circuit. Light fixtures may be mounted to the frame in a manner that competes a series circuit, providing independent control of the fixtures within each circuit. Anticipated Expiration - 07/19/2033
Internet of things
Network connected low voltage lighting systems
Cited by:
- Intel Corporation
1x combined
A patent invention that describes a low voltage lighting system including the connection to the cloud for configuration.
The patent family includes the following US Patents:
10076016- This patent includes a controller with an internet gateway, LED drivers, and remote modules for connecting dimmers and other sensors.
Data acquisition methods and apparatus for network connected led driver
This patent family describes an LED driver with a system for detecting power anomalies.
The patent family includes the following US WO Patents:
11330683 - Claims (20) A lighting system including monitoring of input power and output power parameters to a set of lighting loads to detect power faults and/or anomalies. The set of sensing circuits include primary side and secondary side sensing circuits that communicate with a set of monitoring circuits to process the information supplied by the sensing circuits. If a fault and/or anomaly is sensed or detected, a signal is transmitted to provide an alert.
Patents pending
Centrally controlled systems and methods for direct-current tunable lighting
This patent family describes a system for controlling DC tunable solid state lights for the purpose of producing light to match phases of the solar day.
TBD - This patent application describes, in part, a low voltage lighting system comprising light fixtures with independently controllable orange and blue channels; a DC power regulator; and a physical or virtual bridge controller configured to receive information indicative of times of predetermined solar events. The bridge controller uses the solar events information to send amounts of power to the orange and blue channels to cause the fixtures to emit light in the ranges assigned to the corresponding solar events.
US 2021/0296981 - The patent invention and method comprises a first mode of operation using a buck converter section to charge an output capacitor to below a predetermined threshold, wherein the first mode is deactivated and a second mode of operation is activated using a boost converter section to continue charging the output capacitor.
Method and system for measuring and controlling tunable white light fixtures (mate meter)
This patent family describes creating power setting profiles for tunable white light fixtures. Precise color mixing is a vital component of a human centric lighting system.
TBD - The patent invention and method describes sending every possible combination of power settings to a tunable light fixture and measuring the light emitted by each combination to obtain the power settings required to cause the light fixture to produce light at every brightness from 0 to 100 percent, at every color temperature increment required by the fixtures application. The power settings are used to create a profile for the fixture, which is used to produce uniform, precise brightness and color temperature from fixtures with different light emitting properties.
Glossary
Solid State Lighting (SSL) - A type of lighting that uses light emitting diodes (LEDs) as sources of illumination rather than electrical filaments (used in traditional lightbulbs), plasma (used in arc lamps such as fluorescent lamps), or gas.
Bootstrap Startup - A circuit where part of the output of an amplifier stage is applied to the input. Generally, any technique where part of the output of a system is used at startup is described as bootstrapping.
Inrush - The maximum instantaneous input current drawn by an electrical device when first turned on.
Dithering - Intentionally applying noise to a signal to break up patterns through randomization.
Assist Circuit - A circuit that is engaged during startup but quickly disengages when the system is running normally.
Modulation - The process of varying one or more properties of a waveform, such as the frequency.
MOSFET - A type of transistor where the amount of power it conducts can be controlled by the voltage applied to its control input.
Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) - The power sent to a load is controlled by turning a switch between the supply and load on and off at a fast rate. The longer the switch is on compared to the off periods, the higher the total power supplied to the load.