Burst pulse circuit for signal lights and method
First Claim
1. A circuit for over-driving a light emitting diode comprising:
- at least one super-luminescent light emitting diode having a maximum forward continuous current rating;
a power supply that provides a pulse width modulated signal;
an analog memory connected to said power supply;
a pulse generator comprising a window comparator engaged with said analog memory and responsive to a portion of said pulse width modulated signal; and
a power driver controlled by the output of said pulse generator and operably connected with said at least one super-luminescent light emitting diode and with said power supply so as to over-drive said at least one super-luminescent light emitting diode with a current having a magnitude above said maximum forward continuous current rating.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A circuit is provided for over-driving a super-luminescent light emitting diode having a maximum forward continuous current rating. A power supply provides a pulse width modulated signal to an analog memory connected to the power supply and a pulse generator. The pulse generator includes a window comparator engaged with the analog memory, and is responsive to a portion of the pulse width modulated signal. A power driver that is controlled by the output of the pulse generator, is operably connected with the super-luminescent light emitting diode and with the power supply so as to energize the super-luminescent light emitting diode with a current that is above the maximum forward continuous current rating by between two and ten times that rated current. A signal is also provided along with a method of over-driving a super-luminescent light emitting diode.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A circuit for over-driving a light emitting diode comprising:
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at least one super-luminescent light emitting diode having a maximum forward continuous current rating;
a power supply that provides a pulse width modulated signal;
an analog memory connected to said power supply;
a pulse generator comprising a window comparator engaged with said analog memory and responsive to a portion of said pulse width modulated signal; and
a power driver controlled by the output of said pulse generator and operably connected with said at least one super-luminescent light emitting diode and with said power supply so as to over-drive said at least one super-luminescent light emitting diode with a current having a magnitude above said maximum forward continuous current rating. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A circuit for over-driving a light emitting diode comprising:
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at least one super-luminescent light emitting diode having a maximum forward continuous current rating;
a power supply that provides a pulse width modulated signal;
an analog memory connected to said power supply;
a window comparator engaged with said analog memory and responsive to a portion of said pulse width modulated signal; and
a power driver controlled by the output of said window comparator and operably connected with said at least one super-luminescent light emitting diode and with said power supply such that when said pulse width modulated signal encounters said analog memory circuit, said window comparator is caused to trigger said power driver to “
over-drive”
said at least one super-luminescent light emitting diode for approximately twenty-five to thirty milliseconds so as to create a super-bright pulse of light to be emitted.
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17. A circuit for over-driving a light emitting diode comprising:
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at least one super-luminescent light emitting diode having a maximum forward continuous current rating;
a power supply that provides a pulse width modulated signal;
an analog memory connected to said power supply;
a pulse generator engaged with said analog memory and responsive to a portion of said pulse width modulated signal; and
a power driver controlled by the output of said pulse generator and operably connected with said at least one super-luminescent light emitting diode and with said power supply so as to over-drive said at least one super-luminescent light emitting diode with a current that is at least two times said maximum forward continuous current rating.
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18. A circuit for over-driving a light emitting diode comprising:
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at least one super-luminescent light emitting diode having a maximum forward continuous current rating;
a power supply that provides a pulse width modulated signal;
an analog memory connected to said power supply;
a pulse generator comprising a window comparator engaged with said analog memory and responsive to a portion of said pulse width modulated signal; and
a power driver controlled by the output of said pulse generator and operably connected with said at least one super-luminescent light emitting diode and with said power supply so as to over-drive said at least one super-luminescent light emitting diode with a current that is between two and ten times said maximum forward continuous current rating.
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19. A signal comprising:
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a power supply that provides a pulse width modulated signal;
an array of flashing lights arranged in electrical communication with said pulse width signal, each light comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes having a first color and a first brightness wherein each of said flashing lights includes at least one super-luminescent light emitting diode having a maximum forward continuous current rating, a second color, and a second brightness;
an analog memory connected to said power supply and responsive to a portion of said pulse width signal;
a pulse generator comprising a window comparator responsive to said analog memory and a portion of said pulse width modulated signal; and
a power driver controlled by the output of said pulse generator and operably connected with said at least one super-luminescent light emitting diode and with said power supply so as to over-drive said at least one super-luminescent light emitting diode with at least five times said maximum forward continuous current rating. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A signal comprising:
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a power supply that provides a pulse width modulated signal;
an array of flashing lights arranged in electrical communication with said pulse width signal, each light comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes having a first color and a first brightness wherein each of said flashing lights includes at least one super-luminescent light emitting diode having a maximum forward continuous current rating, a second color, and a second brightness;
at least one analog memory connected to said power supply and responsive to a portion of said pulse width signal;
at least one pulse generator comprising a window comparator responsive to said at least one analog memory and a portion of said pulse width modulated signal; and
at least one power driver controlled by the output of said at least one pulse generator and operably connected with said at least one super-luminescent light emitting diode and with said power supply so as to over-drive said at least one super-luminescent light emitting diode with at least five times said maximum forward continuous current rating. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42)
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- 37. A method for creating a bright strobed light comprising over-driving at least one super-luminescent light emitting diode having a maximum forward continuous current rating, into forward biased conduction with a current of at least five times said maximum forward continuous current rating.
Specification