# US 9,520,784 B2 · Illumination device control systems and methods

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- Number: US 9,520,784 B2
- Document ID: US9520784B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/976,828
- 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/US9520784B2

## 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 lighting system powerable by a primary power source, the lighting system comprising:
a lighting apparatus (i) comprising one or more light-emitting devices, and (ii) having a non-linear current-voltage relationship; and
a converter for operating the lighting apparatus via application of first and second voltages, the primary power source supplying power to the converter,
wherein the converter comprises:
a variable voltage source;
a sense element; and
a controller configured to:
(A) apply, via the variable voltage source, the first voltage to the lighting apparatus;
(B) measure, via the sense element, a first current resulting from the first voltage applied to the lighting apparatus;
(C) apply, via the variable voltage source, the second voltage to the lighting apparatus;
(D) measure, via the sense element, a second current resulting from the second voltage applied to the lighting apparatus, a current difference between the second current and the first current having a magnitude;
(E) set the first current equal to the second current;
(F) alter the second voltage by a voltage increment based on the magnitude of the current difference; and
(G) repeat steps (C)-(F) during operation of the circuit to regulate operation of the lighting apparatus notwithstanding any changes in the non-linear current-voltage relationship of the lighting apparatus during operation.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the primary power source supplies a constant-voltage output to the converter.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the primary power source supplies a constant-current output to the converter.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the converter is discrete and spaced apart from the primary power source.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The lighting system of claim 1, wherein an output of the converter is limited to a predetermined power value.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to alter the second voltage by:
if the magnitude of the current difference is greater than a pre-determined value, increasing the second voltage by the voltage increment; and
if the magnitude of the current difference is smaller than the pre-determined value, decreasing the second voltage by the voltage increment.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The lighting system of claim 6, wherein the pre-determined value is adjustable.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to apply, via the controller, a time delay after at least one of the steps (A)-(F).

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The lighting system of claim 8, wherein the time delay is applied between step (B) and step (C).

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The lighting system of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to vary the time delay.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the non-linear current-voltage relationship of the lighting apparatus comprises a knee therewithin.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The lighting system of claim 11, wherein the current increases as the voltage increases in the knee region.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The lighting system of claim 11, wherein the current decreases as the voltage increases in the knee region.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The lighting system of claim 1, wherein at least one light-emitting device comprises a plurality of light-emitting elements.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The lighting system of claim 1, wherein at least one light-emitting device comprises a plurality of light-emitting strings each comprising a plurality of series-connected light-emitting elements and at least one current-control element.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The lighting system of claim 15, wherein the at least one current-control element comprises two transistors and two resistors.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the sense element comprises a resistor.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to limit the maximum voltage applied to the lighting apparatus.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

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

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the lighting apparatus 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 elements 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 21 (depends on 1)

The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting devices emit substantially white light.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The lighting system of claim 20, 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 23 (depends on 1)

The lighting system of claim 1, wherein an intensity of light emitted by the lighting apparatus is at least partially determined by a current at which the lighting apparatus operates.

### Claim 24 (depends on 1)

The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the first and second voltages are substantially constant over time in the absence of temporary or permanent variations of the non-linear current-voltage relationship.

### Claim 25 (depends on 1)

The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the non-linear current-voltage relationship comprises a relatively optimal operating point, the relatively optimal operating point comprising a minimum operating voltage resulting in a desired current.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The lighting system of claim 25, wherein the first and second voltages converge towards the relatively optimal operating point over time in the absence of temporary or permanent variations of the non-linear current-voltage relationship.

### Claim 27 (depends on 25)

The lighting system of claim 25, wherein the relatively optimal operating point varies as a function of time.

### Claim 28 (depends on 25)

The lighting system of claim 25, wherein the controller is configured to, during a start-up phase preceding an operation phase, apply a series of different voltages to the lighting apparatus that approach, but do not necessarily bound, the relatively optimal operating point.

### Claim 29 (depends on 25)

The lighting system of claim 25, wherein the controller is configured to, in the event of a temporary or permanent variation of the non-linear current-voltage relationship, apply a series of different voltages to the lighting apparatus that approach, but do not necessarily bound, the relatively optimal operating point.

### Claim 30 (depends on 1)

The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to alter the first and second voltages in response to a temporary or permanent variation of the non-linear current-voltage relationship.

### Claim 31 (depends on 1)

The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to pause for a pre-determined amount of time between application of the first and second voltages.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The lighting system of claim 31, wherein the pre-determined amount of time increases as a function of time.

### Claim 33 (depends on 31)

The lighting system of claim 31, wherein the controller is configured to alter the pre-determined amount of time in the event of a temporary or permanent variation of the non-linear current-voltage relationship.

### Claim 34 (depends on 1)

The lighting system of claim 1, wherein (i) the primary power source is configured to output a third voltage, and (ii) the converter comprises a boost circuit for converting output of the primary power source to a voltage larger than the third voltage.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The lighting system of claim 34, wherein (i) the primary power source is configured to output a third voltage, and (ii) the output voltage is boosted by a boost circuit discrete from and spaced apart from the primary power source.