Dual input voltage constant power indicator
First Claim
1. An apparatus to manage power dissipation in a linear mode area indicating device subject to multiple supply voltage levels, the apparatus comprising:
- a supply input terminal operable to receive operating load current at a supply node;
a return input terminal operable to return the operating load current from a return node;
a first lighting element;
a second lighting element;
a first current regulator configured to operate in a linear mode;
a second current regulator configured to operate in a linear mode;
a soft start module operably coupled to disable the first and the second current regulators for a predetermined time period after an electrical supply of power is applied to the first and second terminals; and
,a voltage-responsive controller circuit (VRCC) operably coupled to monitor a supply voltage defined between the supply node and the return node, and further operably coupled to directly control the first and second regulators between a first mode and a second mode,wherein, in response to the supply voltage exceeding a predetermined threshold, the VRCC enters the second mode, and in response to the supply voltage being below the predetermined threshold, the VRCC enters the first mode,wherein, in the first mode, the first current regulator and the second current regulator are each controlled by the VRCC to limit the current in the first lighting element and the second lighting element, respectively, to a predetermined current level, the first current regulator regulates the predetermined current level in the first lighting element through a first circuit branch, the second current regulator regulates the predetermined current level in the second lighting element through a second circuit branch, and the first and second circuit branches are in parallel, and,wherein, in the second mode, the first current regulator and the second current regulator are each controlled by the VRCC to limit the current in the first lighting element and the second lighting element, respectively, to the predetermined current level, the predetermined current level flows through the first lighting element connected in series with the second lighting element, and the predetermined current level splits to flow through the first current regulator and the second current regulator connected in parallel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and associated methods relate to a dual-input voltage range compatible light adapted to reconfigure two light elements in series or in parallel and make corresponding current limit adaptations, in response to the input voltage entering one of two predetermined ranges. In an illustrative example, the lighting elements may be strings of LEDs. The current limit may be regulated, for example, by two linear current regulators. In various examples, the current through each of the light elements may be maintained at a predetermined current level independent of the input voltage range. A network of switches may reconfigure current paths among the light elements and the current regulators, for example, in response to the voltage range detected by a control module. The current limit adaptations may advantageously maintain power dissipation of the linear current regulators at a reduced level across a wide input voltage range, and without generating substantial electromagnetic interference.
12 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An apparatus to manage power dissipation in a linear mode area indicating device subject to multiple supply voltage levels, the apparatus comprising:
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a supply input terminal operable to receive operating load current at a supply node; a return input terminal operable to return the operating load current from a return node; a first lighting element; a second lighting element; a first current regulator configured to operate in a linear mode; a second current regulator configured to operate in a linear mode; a soft start module operably coupled to disable the first and the second current regulators for a predetermined time period after an electrical supply of power is applied to the first and second terminals; and
,a voltage-responsive controller circuit (VRCC) operably coupled to monitor a supply voltage defined between the supply node and the return node, and further operably coupled to directly control the first and second regulators between a first mode and a second mode, wherein, in response to the supply voltage exceeding a predetermined threshold, the VRCC enters the second mode, and in response to the supply voltage being below the predetermined threshold, the VRCC enters the first mode, wherein, in the first mode, the first current regulator and the second current regulator are each controlled by the VRCC to limit the current in the first lighting element and the second lighting element, respectively, to a predetermined current level, the first current regulator regulates the predetermined current level in the first lighting element through a first circuit branch, the second current regulator regulates the predetermined current level in the second lighting element through a second circuit branch, and the first and second circuit branches are in parallel, and, wherein, in the second mode, the first current regulator and the second current regulator are each controlled by the VRCC to limit the current in the first lighting element and the second lighting element, respectively, to the predetermined current level, the predetermined current level flows through the first lighting element connected in series with the second lighting element, and the predetermined current level splits to flow through the first current regulator and the second current regulator connected in parallel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus to manage power dissipation in a linear mode area indicating device subject to multiple supply voltage levels, the apparatus comprising:
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a supply input terminal operable to receive operating load current at a supply node; a return input terminal operable to return the operating load current from a return node; a first lighting element; a second lighting element; a first current regulator configured to operate in a linear mode; a second current regulator configured to operate in a linear mode; and
,a voltage-responsive controller circuit (VRCC) operably coupled to monitor a supply voltage defined between the supply node and the return node, and further operably coupled to control the first and second current regulators between a first mode and a second mode, wherein, in response to the supply voltage exceeding a predetermined threshold, the VRCC enters the second mode, and in response to the supply voltage being below the predetermined threshold, the VRCC enters the first mode, wherein, in the first mode, the first current regulator and the second current regulator are each controlled by the VRCC to limit the current in the first lighting element and the second lighting element, respectively, to a predetermined current level, the first current regulator regulates the predetermined current level in the first lighting element through a first circuit branch, the second current regulator regulates the predetermined current level in the second lighting element through a second circuit branch, and the first and second circuit branches are in parallel, and, wherein, in the second mode, the first current regulator and the second current regulator are each controlled by the VRCC to limit the current in the first lighting element and the second lighting element, respectively, to the predetermined current level, the predetermined current level flows through the first lighting element connected in series with the second lighting element, and the predetermined current level splits to flow through the first current regulator and the second current regulator connected in parallel. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus to manage power dissipation in a linear mode area indicating device subject to multiple supply voltage levels, the apparatus comprising:
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a supply input terminal operable to receive operating load current at a supply node; a return input terminal operable to return the operating load current from a return node; a first lighting element; a second lighting element; a first current regulator configured to operate in a linear mode; a second current regulator configured to operate in a linear mode; a voltage-responsive controller circuit (VRCC) operably coupled to monitor a supply voltage defined between the supply node and the return node, and further operably coupled to control the first and second current regulators between a first mode and a second mode; and
,switching means for directing the current through the first lighting element, the second lighting element, the first current regulator and the second current regulator in response to the VRCC, wherein, in response to the supply voltage exceeding a predetermined threshold, the VRCC enters the second mode, and in response to the supply voltage being below the predetermined threshold, the VRCC enters the first mode, wherein, in the first mode, the first current regulator and the second current regulator are each controlled by the VRCC to limit the current in the first lighting element and the second lighting element, respectively, to a predetermined current level, wherein the first current regulator regulates the predetermined current level in the first lighting element through a first circuit branch, the second current regulator regulates the predetermined current level in the second lighting element through a second circuit branch, and the first and second circuit branches are in parallel, and, wherein, in the second mode, the first current regulator and the second current regulator are each controlled by the VRCC to limit the current in the first lighting element and the second lighting element, respectively, to the predetermined current level, the predetermined current level flows through the first lighting element connected in series with the second lighting element, and the predetermined current level splits to flow through the first current regulator and the second current regulator connected in parallel. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification