US 8,324,840 B2 · Apparatus, method and system for providing AC line power to lighting devices

Abstract

An apparatus, method, and system are disclosed for providing AC line power to lighting devices such as light emitting diodes (“LEDs”). A representative apparatus comprises: a plurality of LEDs coupled in series to form a first plurality of segments of LEDs coupled in series; a plurality of switches coupled to the plurality of segments of LEDs to switch a selected segment into or out of a series LED current path in response to a control signal; a memory; and a controller which, in response to a first parameter and during a first part of an AC voltage interval, determines and stores in the memory a value of a second parameter and generates a first control signal to switch a corresponding segment of LEDs into the series LED current path, and during a second part of the AC voltage interval, when a current value of the second parameter is substantially equal to the stored value, generates a second control signal to switch a corresponding segment of LEDs out of the first series LED current path.

Claims118

Dependent claims

A method of providing power to a plurality of light emitting diodes couplable to receive an AC voltage, the method comprising:

in response to a first parameter during a first part of an AC voltage interval:
determining and storing a value of a second parameter, wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes are coupled in series and form a plurality of segments of light emitting diodes, each segment of light emitting diodes comprising one or more light emitting diodes, and wherein the plurality of segments of light emitting diodes are coupled in series and are coupled to a corresponding plurality of switches to switch a selected segment of light emitting diodes into or out of a series light emitting diode current path;
and
switching a corresponding segment of light emitting diodes into the series light emitting diode current path;
and
during a second part of the AC voltage interval:
monitoring the second parameter;
and
in response to a current value of the second parameter being substantially equal to the stored value of the second parameter, switching the corresponding segment of light emitting diodes out of the series light emitting diode current path.

6 more elements

An apparatus couplable to receive an AC voltage, the apparatus comprising:

a rectifier configured to provide a rectified AC voltage;
a plurality of light emitting diodes coupled in series, wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes form a plurality of segments of light emitting diodes, and wherein the plurality of segments of light emitting diodes are coupled in series;
a plurality of switches correspondingly coupled to the plurality of segments of light emitting diodes and configured to switch a selected segment of light emitting diodes into or out of a series light emitting diode current path;
a current sensor configured to sense a light emitting diode current level;
a voltage sensor configured to sense a rectified AC voltage level;
a memory configured to store a plurality of parameters;
and
a controller coupled to the plurality of switches, the memory, the current sensor, and the voltage sensor, wherein the controller is configured to:
during a first part of an AC voltage interval and in response to the light emitting diode current level reaching a predetermined peak light emitting diode current level, to determine and store in the memory a corresponding value of the rectified AC voltage level and to switch a corresponding segment of light emitting diodes into the series light emitting diode current path;
and
during a second part of the AC voltage interval, monitor the rectified AC voltage level and in response to the current value of the rectified AC voltage level being substantially equal to the stored corresponding value of the rectified AC voltage level, switch the corresponding segment of light emitting diodes out of the series light emitting diode current path.

8 more elements

An apparatus couplable to receive an AC voltage, the apparatus comprising:

a first plurality of light emitting diodes coupled in series, wherein the first plurality of light emitting diodes form a first plurality of segments of light emitting diodes, and wherein the first plurality of segments of light emitting diodes are coupled in series;
a first plurality of switches coupled to the first plurality of segments of light emitting diodes configured to switch a selected segment of light emitting diodes into or out of a first series light emitting diode current path in response to a control signal;
a memory;
and
a controller coupled to the first plurality of switches and to the memory, wherein the controller is configured to:
in response to a first parameter and during a first part of an AC voltage interval, determine and store in the memory a value of a second parameter and generate a first control signal to switch a corresponding segment of light emitting diodes of the first plurality of segments of light emitting diodes into the first series light emitting diode current path;
and
during a second part of the AC voltage interval, in response to a current value of the second parameter being substantially equal to the stored value of the second parameter, generate a second control signal to switch a corresponding segment of light emitting diodes of the first plurality of segments of light emitting diodes out of the first series light emitting diode current path.

5 more elements

An apparatus couplable to receive an AC voltage, the apparatus comprising:

a first plurality of light emitting diodes coupled in series, wherein the first plurality of light emitting diodes form a first plurality of segments of light emitting diodes, and wherein the first plurality of segments of light emitting diodes are coupled in series;
a first plurality of switches coupled to the first plurality of segments of light emitting diodes and configured to switch a selected segment of light emitting diodes into or out of a first series light emitting diode current path in response to a control signal;
a sensor;
and
a control circuit coupled to the first plurality of switches and to the sensor, wherein the control circuit is configured to:
in response to a first parameter and during a first part of an AC voltage interval, determine a value of a second parameter and generate a first control signal to switch a corresponding segment of light emitting diodes of the first plurality of segments of light emitting diodes into the first series light emitting diode current path;
and
during a second part of the AC voltage interval, in response to a current value of the second parameter being substantially equal to a corresponding determined value, generate a second control signal to switch a corresponding segment of light emitting diodes of the first plurality of segments of light emitting diodes out of the first series light emitting diode current path.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus, method and system for providing AC line power to lighting devices

Life of this patent

Apparatus, method and system for providing AC line power to lighting devices

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims118