US 8,803,443 B2 · Current regulator for multimode operation of solid state lighting

Abstract

A representative apparatus embodiment provides a plurality of operating modes for solid state lighting, such as a flash mode and a constant or background lighting mode for use with devices such as cameras. A representative apparatus comprises a memory adapted to store a plurality of average current parameters; and a controller adapted to modulate an energizing cycle time period (“T”) for providing power to the solid state lighting as proportional to the product of the selected average current parameter (“a”) and a reset time period (“TR”) for an inductor current to return to a substantially zero level from a predetermined peak level (T∝a·TR). The average current parameter is predetermined as substantially proportional to a ratio of a peak inductor current level (“IP”) to an average output D.C. current level (“IO”) ( a ∝ I P I O ) .

Claims40

Dependent claims

A current regulator configured to provide a plurality of operating modes for solid state lighting, the current regulator couplable to a DC power supply, the current regulator comprising:

a memory configured to store a plurality of average current parameters;
and
a control circuit coupled to the memory, wherein the control circuit is configured to modulate an energizing cycle time period, and wherein the control circuit is further configured to provide power to the solid state lighting in response to a selected average current parameter from the plurality of average current parameters.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a computing device, cause the computing device to:

start an energizing cycle by providing current through an inductor until a predetermined peak inductor current level is reached;
transfer energy stored in the inductor to a solid state lighting system;
determine a reset time period as a time duration for the inductor current to decrease substantially to a zero level from the peak inductor current level;
determine an energizing cycle time period based on the reset time period and a predetermined average current parameter;
and
commence a next energizing cycle when the energizing cycle time period has elapsed.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Current regulator for multimode operation of solid state lighting

Life of this patent

Current regulator for multimode operation of solid state lighting

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims40