Reserve power and control for light sources in a light fixture

• US 10,306,713 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2017
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Zhang, Hui
• Primary Examiner(s): Deberadinis, Robert L
• Application Number:
  US15/436,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20170245334A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3725 Switched mode power supply [SMPS]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/38 using boost topology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/40 Details of LED load circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/44 with an active control inside an LED matrix
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters

Abstract

An electrical circuit for a light fixture can include a power supply that provides primary power. The electrical circuit can also include a light module having at least one first light source coupled to the power supply, where the at least one light source illuminates when the light module receives the primary power. The electrical circuit can further include an energy storage unit having at least one energy storage device, where the at least one energy storage device charges using the primary power. The at least one first light source can receive reserve power from the energy storage unit when the power supply ceases providing the primary power.

Claims

1. An electrical circuit for a light fixture, the electrical circuit comprising:

a power supply that provides primary power, wherein the power supply comprises a rectifier;

a light module comprising at least one first light source and coupled to the power supply, wherein the at least one first light source illuminates when the light module receives the primary power; and

an energy storage unit comprising at least one energy storage device, wherein the energy storage unit and the at least one first light source, coupled in parallel with each other, are coupled in series with the power supply, wherein the at least one energy storage device charges using the primary power,

wherein the at least one first light source receives reserve power from the energy storage unit when the power supply ceases providing the primary power.

2. The electrical circuit of claim 1, wherein the energy storage unit further comprises a sensor device, wherein the sensor device detects when the power supply ceases providing the primary power.

3. The electrical circuit of claim 2, wherein the sensor device detects an amount of primary power flowing to the at least one first light source.

4. The electrical circuit of claim 2, wherein the sensor device detects an amount of light emitted by the at least one first light source.

5. The electrical circuit of claim 2, wherein the energy storage unit further comprises at least one controller coupled to the sensor device and the energy storage device, wherein the at least one controller releases the reserve power from the at least one energy storage device when the sensor device detects that the power supply ceases providing the primary power.

6. The electrical circuit of claim 5, wherein the energy storage unit further comprises at least one switch controlled by the at least one controller, wherein the at least one switch regulates the flow of the primary power and the reserve power into and out of the energy storage unit.

7. The electrical circuit of claim 5, wherein the light module further comprises at least one second light source coupled to the at least one first light source, wherein the at least one second light source is illuminated by the primary power delivered by the power supply.

8. The electrical circuit of claim 7, wherein the at least one controller directs the reserve power from the at least one energy storage device to the at least one first light source without directing the reserve power from the at least one energy storage device to the at least one second light source.

9. The electrical circuit of claim 7, wherein the at least one controller directs the reserve power from the at least one energy storage device to the at least one first light source and the at least one second light source.

10. The electrical circuit of claim 7, wherein the at least one first light source and the at least one second light source are connected in series with respect to each other.

11. The electrical circuit of claim 7, wherein the at least one first light source and the at least one second light source are connected in parallel with respect to each other.

12. The electrical circuit of claim 2, wherein the energy storage unit further comprises at least one controller coupled to the sensor device and the at least one energy storage device, wherein the at least one controller controls the primary power delivered to the at least one energy storage device.

13. The electrical circuit of claim 1, wherein the at least one first light source comprises at least one light-emitting diode (LED).

14. The electrical circuit of claim 1, wherein the at least one first light source is among a first array of light sources.

15. The electrical circuit of claim 1, wherein the primary power is direct current (DC) power.

16. The electrical circuit of claim 15, wherein the reserve power is DC power.

17. The electrical circuit of claim 16, wherein the energy storage unit further comprises at least one DC-to-DC converter disposed between the at least one energy storage device and the light module.

18. The electrical circuit of claim 17, wherein the at least one DC-to-DC converter comprises a DC-DC converter disposed between the light module and the at least one energy storage device, wherein the DC-DC converter manipulates the primary power for storage by the at least one energy storage device.

19. The electrical circuit of claim 17, wherein the at least one DC-to-DC converter comprises a boost converter disposed between the at least one energy storage device and the light module, wherein the boost converter manipulates the reserve power for use by the light module.

20. A lighting circuit, comprising:

a power source that provides main power;

a driving circuit coupled to the power source, wherein the driving circuit receives the main power and produces primary power, wherein the driving circuit comprises a rectifier;

at least one light source array coupled to the driving circuit, wherein the at least one light source array comprises at least one first light source that illuminates using the primary power received from the driving circuit; and

an energy storage unit electrically coupled in parallel to the at least one light source array, wherein the energy storage unit, along with the at least one light source array, is coupled in series with the driving circuit, wherein the energy storage unit comprises at least one energy storage device, wherein the at least one energy storage device charges using the primary power,

wherein the at least one light source array receives reserve power from the energy storage unit when the driving circuit ceases providing the primary power.