METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SIMULATING RESISTIVE LOADS
First Claim
1. A lighting system, comprising:
- a plurality of lighting nodes coupled in series to draw power from a power source, each lighting node of the plurality of lighting nodes comprising;
at least one lighting unit having a significantly nonlinear or variable current-to-voltage characteristic; and
a converter circuit coupled to the at least one lighting unit and configured such that the lighting node has a substantially linear current-to-voltage characteristic over at least some range of operation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for simulating resistive loads, and facilitating series, parallel, and/or series-parallel connections of multiple loads to draw operating power. Current-to-voltage characteristics of loads are altered in a predetermined manner so as to facilitate a predictable and/or desirable behavior of multiple loads drawing power from a power source. Exemplary loads include LED-based light sources and LED-based lighting units. Altered current-to-voltage characteristics may cause a load to appear as a substantially linear or resistive element to the power source, at least over some operating range. In connections of multiple such loads, the voltage across each load is relatively more predictable. In one example, a series connection of multiple loads with altered current-to-voltage characteristics may be operated from a line voltage without requiring a transformer.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A lighting system, comprising:
a plurality of lighting nodes coupled in series to draw power from a power source, each lighting node of the plurality of lighting nodes comprising; at least one lighting unit having a significantly nonlinear or variable current-to-voltage characteristic; and a converter circuit coupled to the at least one lighting unit and configured such that the lighting node has a substantially linear current-to-voltage characteristic over at least some range of operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A lighting method, comprising:
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A) coupling a plurality of lighting nodes in series to draw power from a power source, each lighting node including at least one lighting unit; and B) converting a nonlinear or variable current-to-voltage characteristic of the at least one lighting unit of each lighting node to a substantially linear current-to-voltage characteristic.
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18. A lighting system, comprising:
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a plurality of lighting nodes coupled in series to draw power from a power source, each lighting node of the plurality of lighting nodes having a node voltage and comprising; at least one lighting unit having a significantly nonlinear or variable current-to-voltage characteristic; and a converter circuit coupled to the at least one lighting unit to provide an operating voltage for the at least one lighting unit, wherein each converter circuit is configured such that respective node voltages of the plurality of lighting nodes are substantially similar over at least some range of operation when the plurality of lighting nodes draws power from the power source. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A lighting method, comprising:
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A) coupling a plurality of lighting nodes in series to draw power from a power source, each lighting node including at least one lighting unit; and B) converting a nonlinear or variable current-to-voltage characteristic of the at least one lighting unit of each lighting node such that respective node voltages of the plurality of lighting nodes are substantially similar over at least some range of operation when the plurality of lighting nodes draws power from the power source.
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Specification