Digitally controlled current regulator for high power solid state lighting

An apparatus for controlling current to solid state lighting, the apparatus couplable to a power source, the apparatus comprising:

• a memory configured to store a predetermined minimum current level (IMIN) parameter and a predetermined peak current level (IP) parameter;
• an inductor coupled to the solid state lighting;
• a controller coupled to the memory, wherein the controller is configured to provide a substantially constant DC average current to the solid state lighting, wherein the controller is further configured to modulate a current provided to the solid state lighting in response to the predetermined minimum current level (IMIN) parameter and the predetermined peak current level (IP) parameter, and wherein the controller includes:
• a control circuit;
• a switch coupled to the control circuit and to either the inductor or the solid state lighting;
• and
• a current sensor coupled to the switch;
• and
• a first comparator coupled to the current sensor and the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to turn the switch on to commence an energizing cycle and to turn the switch off when the first comparator indicates that an inductor current has reached the predetermined peak current level.

A current regulator configured to provide substantially constant DC average current to solid state lighting, the current regulator couplable to a power source, the current regulator comprising:

• an inductor coupled to the power source and the solid state lighting;
• a switch coupled to either the inductor or the solid state lighting;
• a first current sensor coupled to the switch;
• a first comparator coupled to the first current sensor;
• a voltage sensor coupled to the switch;
• a second comparator coupled to the voltage sensor;
• a memory configured to store a plurality of current parameters;
• and
• a control circuit coupled to the memory and to the first and second comparators, wherein the control circuit is configured to turn the switch on to commence an energizing cycle when the second comparator indicates that an inductor current has reached a predetermined minimum level and to turn the switch off when the first comparator indicates that the inductor current has reached a predetermined peak level.

An apparatus couplable to solid state lighting, the apparatus comprising:

• means for storing a plurality of current parameters;
• means for modulating an energizing cycle time period;
• means for providing a substantially constant DC average current to the solid state lighting in response to a selected current parameter from the plurality of current parameters;
• means for indicating that an inductor current has increased to a predetermined peak level;
• and
• means for activating a switch to commence an energizing cycle and deactivating the switch when the inductor current has increased to a predetermined peak level.

An apparatus configured to control current to solid state lighting, the system couplable to a power source, the system comprising:

• means for storing a predetermined minimum current level (IMIN) parameter and a predetermined peak current level (IP) parameter;
• means for providing a substantially constant DC average current to the solid state lighting;
• means for modulating a current provided to the solid state lighting in response to the predetermined minimum current level (IMIN) parameter and the predetermined peak current level (IP) parameter;
• means for indicating that an inductor current level has reached a predetermined peak level;
• and
• means for turning a switch on to commence an energizing cycle and turning the switch off when the inductor current has reached the predetermined peak level.