# US 9,520,783 B2 · Illumination device control systems and methods

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- Number: US 9,520,783 B2
- Document ID: US9520783B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/976,770
- Filed: 2015-12-21
- Published: 2016-06-30
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2013-04-17
- Assignees: Cooledge Lighting Inc.
- Applicants: Michael A. Tischler; William P. Coetzee; Paul Jungwirth
- Inventors: Michael A. Tischler; William P. Coetzee; Paul Jungwirth
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9520783B2

## CPC

- H05B 45/46: having LEDs disposed in parallel lines
- H02M 1/08: Circuits specially adapted for the generation of control voltages for semiconductor devices incorporated in static converters
- H02M 3/158: including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load
- H05B 45/10: Controlling the intensity of the light
- H05B 45/3725: Switched mode power supply [SMPS]
- H05B 45/382: with galvanic isolation between input and output
- H05B 45/48: having LEDs organised in strings and incorporating parallel shunting devices
- H02M 1/0009: {Devices or circuits for detecting current in a converter}
- H02M 1/007: {Plural converter units in cascade (push-pull DC/DC converters with pre-regulator H02M3/3374; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC stage including a high frequency transformer H02M7/4807; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC conversion stage generating periodically varying voltages H02M7/4826)}
- H02M 1/4225: {using a non-isolated boost converter}
- H02M 3/33515: {with digital control}
- H02M 3/337: in push-pull configuration {(H02M3/33576 takes precedence; with self-oscillating arrangements H02M3/3382, H02M3/3385)}
- H05B 45/18: using temperature feedback
- H05B 45/395: Linear regulators
- Y02B 70/10: Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P)
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS

## Abstract

In various embodiments, a control system for an electronic circuit iteratively applies voltage to and senses current from a load to regulate operation of the load.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for controlling, via application of first and second voltages, a circuit incorporating a load having a non-linear current-voltage relationship, the method comprising:
(A) applying the first voltage to the load;
(B) measuring a first current resulting from the first voltage applied to the load;
(C) applying the second voltage to the load;
(D) measuring a second current resulting from the second voltage applied to the load, a current difference between the second current and the first current having a magnitude;
(E) altering the second voltage by a voltage increment having a magnitude and polarity based at least in part on the magnitude of the current difference between the second current and the first current; and
(F) repeating steps (A)-(E) during operation of the circuit to regulate operation of the load notwithstanding any changes in the non-linear current-voltage relationship of the load during operation.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising setting the first current equal to the second current after step (D).

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the second voltage is increased above a maximum operating voltage, further comprising decreasing the second voltage to the maximum operating voltage or less prior to applying the second voltage to the load.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the voltage increment decreases as a number of times steps (A)-(E) are repeated increases.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the magnitude and polarity of the voltage increment are determined from a table of pre-determined rules.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the non-linear current-voltage characteristic of the load comprises at least one of a global minimum or a global maximum therewithin.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the load comprises a lighting system, an intensity of light emitted by the lighting system being at least partially determined by a current at which the lighting system operates.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the non-linear current-voltage characteristic of the load comprises at least one of a local minimum or a local maximum therewithin.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein step (E) comprises:
(i) if the magnitude of the current difference is greater than a pre-determined value, increasing the second voltage by the voltage increment; and
(ii) if the magnitude of the current difference is smaller than the pre-determined value, decreasing the second voltage by the voltage increment.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising (i) receiving an output voltage from a primary power source, and (ii) boosting the output voltage to a boosted voltage larger than the output voltage.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the output voltage is boosted by a boost circuit discrete from and spaced apart from the primary power source.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the voltage increment decreases during step (F) in the absence of temporary or permanent variations of the non-linear current-voltage relationship.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising pausing for a pre-determined amount of time prior to applying the second voltage to the load.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the pre-determined amount of time increases as a number of times steps (A)-(E) are repeated increases.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the circuit is configured to operate at a design point, the design point comprising a design current and a design voltage.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the voltage increment is less than about 10% of the design voltage.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the magnitude and polarity of the voltage increment are determined from a comparison of a pre-determined value to the magnitude of the current difference between the second current and the first current.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the pre-determined value is constant as steps (A)-(E) repeat.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein (i) the circuit is configured to operate at a design point, the design point comprising a design current and a design voltage, and (ii) the pre-determined value is less than approximately 20% of the design current.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the pre-determined value decreases as a number of times steps (A)-(E) are repeated increases.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the load comprises a light-emitting array comprising:
first and second spaced-apart power conductors; and
a plurality of light-emitting strings, at least one light-emitting string (i) comprising a plurality of interconnected light-emitting diodes spaced along the light-emitting string, (ii) having a first end electrically coupled to the first power conductor, (iii) having a second end electrically coupled to the second power conductor, wherein the power conductors supply power to each of the light-emitting strings.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein the light-emitting diodes emit substantially white light.

### Claim 23 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein the light-emitting array comprises a plurality of control elements, at least one control element being (i) electrically connected to at least one light-emitting string and (ii) configured to utilize power supplied from the power conductors to control the current to the at least one light-emitting string to which it is electrically connected.

### Claim 24 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein, after a plurality of repetitions of steps (A)-(E), the circuit operates at a stable operating range of voltages for at least a second plurality of repetitions of steps (A)-(E).

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The method of claim 24, further comprising decreasing the voltage increment at least once while the circuit operates at the stable operating range.

### Claim 26 (depends on 24)

The method of claim 24, further comprising pausing for a pre-determined amount of time prior to applying the second voltage to the load, the pre-determined amount of time increasing at least once while the circuit operates at the stable operating range.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The method of claim 26, further comprising resetting the pre-determined amount of time to a default value if circuit operation diverges from the stable operating range.

### Claim 28 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the non-linear current-voltage characteristic of the load comprises a knee therewithin.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein the current increases as the voltage increases in the knee region.

### Claim 30 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein the current decreases as the voltage increases in the knee region.

### Claim 31 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein (i) a first plurality of cycles of steps (A)-(E) repeating constitutes a start-up phase, and (ii) a second plurality of cycles of steps (A)-(E) repeating constitutes an operation phase, the start-up phase preceding the operation phase.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The method of claim 31, wherein, during the start-up phase, the voltage increment decreases as a number of times steps (A)-(E) are repeated increases.

### Claim 33 (depends on 31)

The method of claim 31, wherein, during the operation phase, the voltage increment decreases as a number of times steps (A)-(E) are repeated increases.

### Claim 34 (depends on 31)

The method of claim 31, wherein, after the start-up phase, the circuit operates at a stable operating range of voltages for at least a portion of the operating phase.

### Claim 35

A method for controlling, via application of first and second inputs, a system incorporating a load having a non-linear output-input relationship, the method comprising:
(A) applying the first input to the load;
(B) measuring a first output resulting from the first input applied to the load;
(C) applying the second input to the load;
(D) measuring a second output resulting from the second input applied to the load, an output difference between the second output and the first output having a magnitude;
(E) altering the second input by an input increment having a magnitude and polarity based at least in part on the magnitude of the output difference between the second output and the first output; and
(F) repeating steps (A)-(E) during operation of the system to regulate operation of the load notwithstanding any changes in the non-linear output-input relationship of the load during operation.

### Claim 36 (depends on 35)

The method of claim 35, further comprising setting the first output equal to the second output after step (D).

### Claim 37 (depends on 35)

The method of claim 35, wherein step (E) comprises:
(i) if the magnitude of the output difference is greater than a pre-determined value, increasing the second input by the input increment; and
(ii) if the magnitude of the output difference is smaller than the pre-determined, decreasing the second input by the input increment.

### Claim 38 (depends on 37)

The method of claim 37, wherein step (E) comprises, before altering the second input, setting the first output equal to the second output.