Devices and systems having AC LED circuits and methods of driving the same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A lighting system comprising:
- a driver providing a DC output;
at least two LED circuits, each of which includes at least two LEDs, the at least two LED circuits electrically configured so that when the at least two LED circuits are connected to the DC output a first LED circuit of the at least two LED circuits is forward biased by the driver;
a load sensor connected to at least one of the at least two LED circuits, wherein the load sensor senses operation of the first LED circuit forward biased by the driver; and
a switching circuit capable of switching the DC output of the driver to forward bias a second LED circuit of the at least two LED circuits based on the operation of the first LED circuit sensed by the load sensor.
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Abstract
A lighting device and system having at least one circuit, the circuit having at least two LEDs connected in series, parallel or anti-parallel configuration and at least one current limiting diode. The device or system may be driven with AC or DC power and may further include a sensor and polarity switching circuit to utilize all LEDs within the circuit when drive by DC power.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A lighting system comprising:
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a driver providing a DC output; at least two LED circuits, each of which includes at least two LEDs, the at least two LED circuits electrically configured so that when the at least two LED circuits are connected to the DC output a first LED circuit of the at least two LED circuits is forward biased by the driver; a load sensor connected to at least one of the at least two LED circuits, wherein the load sensor senses operation of the first LED circuit forward biased by the driver; and a switching circuit capable of switching the DC output of the driver to forward bias a second LED circuit of the at least two LED circuits based on the operation of the first LED circuit sensed by the load sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of driving a lighting device or system, the method comprising the steps of:
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connecting a first LED circuit of at least two LED circuits to a power source such that the first LED circuit is forward biased by the power source; sensing at least one of a voltage or a current being delivered to the first LED circuit; and switching a DC output of the power source to forward bias a second LED circuit of the at least two LED circuits if the first LED circuit is determined inoperable based on the at least one of the voltage or the current that is sensed. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of driving a lighting device or system, the method comprising the steps of:
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connecting at least two LEDs such that at least one of the at least two LEDs is capable of emitting light during a positive phase from an AC power source, and at least one of the at least two LEDs is capable of emitting light during a negative phase from an AC power source; providing DC power across the at least two LEDs, the at least two LEDs forming a load such that a first LED of the at least two LEDs is forward biased by the DC power and a second LED of the at least two LEDs is reversed biased by the DC power; sensing the load to monitor whether the first LED configured to be forward biased by the DC power is operational; and reversing the polarity of the DC power across the load dynamically so as to forward bias the second LED that was previously reverse biased in response to the first LED being sensed as no longer operational. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification