LED drive for generating constant light output
First Claim
1. A light emitting diode (LED) light source drive, comprising:
- an LED voltage supply adapted to receive an input voltage signal from a voltage source and to generate an output voltage signal that can be applied to an LED light source having an effective operating lifetime; and
an LED voltage controller connected to the LED voltage supply and adapted to control the output voltage signal so that light output by the LED light source when it is connected to the LED voltage supply remains approximately constant over the effective operating lifetime of the LED light source.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An LED light source drive includes an LED current generating circuit and an LED drive controller. The current generating circuit is operable to receive power from a power source and to generate a dc current that can be used to the drive an LED light source. The drive controller is operable to control the dc current to ensure that the light output of the light source remains approximately constant over its operating lifetime. In one embodiment, the drive controller ensures that the effective light output of the light source remains approximately constant by automatically increasing the dc current in predetermined amounts at predetermined times. In an alternative embodiment, the drive controller includes an LED light sensor that is operable to generate a light signal indicative of the effective light output of the light source and the controller uses this light signal to control the dc current output.
57 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A light emitting diode (LED) light source drive, comprising:
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an LED voltage supply adapted to receive an input voltage signal from a voltage source and to generate an output voltage signal that can be applied to an LED light source having an effective operating lifetime; and
an LED voltage controller connected to the LED voltage supply and adapted to control the output voltage signal so that light output by the LED light source when it is connected to the LED voltage supply remains approximately constant over the effective operating lifetime of the LED light source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A current supply for a light emitting diode (LED) light source, comprising:
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an LED current generating circuit adapted to receive current from a power source and to generate a current signal that can be supplied to an LED light source having an effective light output; and
an LED current controller connected to the LED current generating circuit and adapted to control the current signal output by the LED current generating circuit so that the current signal compensates for reductions in the effective light output of the LED light source. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A power supply for a light emitting diode (LED) light source, comprising:
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an LED power converter adapted to receive power from a power source and to generate an output power signal that can be applied to an LED light source having an effective operating lifetime and an effective light output; and
an LED power controller connected to the LED power converter and adapted to control the output power signal so that it compensates for degradations in the effective light output of the LED light source and ensures that light output by the LED light source when it is connected to the LED power converter remains relatively constant over the effective operating lifetime of the LED light source. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A light emitting diode (LED) light source control system, comprising:
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an LED current converter adapted to receive current from a current source and to generate a current signal that can be supplied to an LED light source having an effective operating lifetime and an effective light output;
an LED light sensor adapted to receive light output by the LED light source and to generate a light signal based on the light output; and
an LED controller connected to the LED current converter and the LED light sensor, the LED controller adapted to adjust the current signal output by the LED power converter based on the light signal so that the current signal compensates for degradations in the effective light output of the LED light source and maintains the light output by the LED light source at a relatively constant level over the effective operating lifetime of the LED light source. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A drive for an LED light source, comprising:
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an LED current generator, the LED current generator including an ac/dc converter, an inverter connected to the ac/dc converter, and a rectifier connected to the inverter; and
an LED current controller connected to the LED current generator, the LED current controller including an LED connection sensing module, a timing module, a memory module, and a control module. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification