Burst pulse circuit for signal lights and method
First Claim
1. A circuit for over-driving a light emitting diode comprising:
- at least one white 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 an array of amber light emitting diodes controllably connected to said pulse generator through an inverter and a timer; and
at least one power driver controlled by the output of said pulse generator and operably connected with said at least one white super-luminescent light emitting diode, said array of amber light emitting diodes and with said power supply so as to over-drive said at least one white super-luminescent light emitting diode with a current having a magnitude above said maximum forward continuous current rating, and said array of amber light emitting diodes are illuminated at time intervals determined by said timer that are wholly distinct from time intervals when said at least one white super-luminescent light emitting diode is over-driven.
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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. An inverter and timer are coupled to the pulse generator and an array of light emitting diodes that operate at time intervals determined by the timer that are wholly distinct from time intervals when the at least one super-luminescent light emitting diode is over-driven.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A circuit for over-driving a light emitting diode comprising:
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at least one white 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 an array of amber light emitting diodes controllably connected to said pulse generator through an inverter and a timer; and
at least one power driver controlled by the output of said pulse generator and operably connected with said at least one white super-luminescent light emitting diode, said array of amber light emitting diodes and with said power supply so as to over-drive said at least one white super-luminescent light emitting diode with a current having a magnitude above said maximum forward continuous current rating, and said array of amber light emitting diodes are illuminated at time intervals determined by said timer that are wholly distinct from time intervals when said at least one white super-luminescent light emitting diode is over-driven. - 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;
an array of amber light emitting diodes controllably connected to said window comparator through an inverter and a timer; 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;
wherein said array of amber light-emitting diodes are driven by driver means operably engaged with said power supply, and said inverter is responsive to said portion of said pulse width modulated signal and operatively engaged with said timer so as to suppress operation of said driver means for a period of time less than the pulse frequency of said pulse width modulated signal thereby to delay by a predetermined and adjustable amount of time the illumination cycle of said array of amber light-emitting diodes so as to allow for a complete “
off-on”
cycle of said at least one white super-luminescent light emitting diode.
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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;
at least one light emitting diode controllably connected to said window comparator through an inverter and a timer; 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, said at least one 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, and said at least one light emitting diode being illuminated at time intervals determined by said timer that are wholly distinct from time intervals when said at least one super-luminescent light emitting diode is over-driven.
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18. 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 an inverter and a timer and each light comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes having a first color and a first brightness wherein each of said flashing lights also 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, and said plurality of light emitting diodes having said first color and said first brightness being illuminated at time intervals determined by said timer that are wholly distinct from time intervals when each of said at least one super-luminescent light emitting diode is over-driven. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. 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;
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delaying operation of an array of light emitting diodes associated with said at least one super-luminescent light emitting diode such that time intervals determined by said timer are wholly distinct from time intervals when said at least one super-luminescent light emitting diode is over-driven. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification