Adaptive Current Regulation for Solid State Lighting

• US 20110309759A1
• Filed: 12/15/2010
• Published: 12/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chemtron Research LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Exclara, Inc. (Million Star Technology Ltd.)
• Inventors: Shteynberg, Anatoly, Rodriguez, Harry, Lehman, Bradley M., Zhou, Dongsheng, Ohara, Harlan H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,742,674 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/201
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/14 using electrical feedback from LEDs or from LED modules
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3575 by means of dummy loads or bleeder circuits, e.g. for dimmers
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/385 using flyback topology
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments provide an apparatus, system and method for power conversion to provide power to solid state lighting, and which may be coupled to a first switch, such as a dimmer switch. An exemplary system comprises: a switching power supply; solid state lighting; a first adaptive interface circuit to provide a resistive impedance to the first switch and conduct current from the first switch in a default mode; and a second adaptive interface circuit to create a resonant process. An exemplary apparatus comprises: a switching power supply; and an adaptive interface circuit comprising a resistive impedance coupled in series to a reactive impedance to conduct current from the first switch in a first current path in a default mode, and further comprising a second switch coupled to the reactive impedance to conduct current from the first switch in a second current path, with the adaptive interface circuit further damping oscillation when the first switch turns on.

Claims

1. An apparatus for power conversion, the apparatus couplable to a first, phase-modulated dimmer switch coupled to an alternating current (AC) power source, the apparatus couplable to a solid state lighting, the apparatus comprising:

a switching power supply;

a first adaptive interface circuit comprising an at least partially resistive impedance to conduct current from the first switch in a default mode; and

a second adaptive interface circuit to create a resonant process when the first switch turns on.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a third adaptive interface circuit to modulate a current of the first switch during the resonant process of the switching power supply.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller coupled to the second switch, to the first adaptive interface circuit and to the second adaptive interface circuit, and when the first switch turns on, the controller to modulate the second adaptive interface circuit to provide a current path during the resonant process of the switching power supply.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller further is to modulate the second adaptive interface circuit to modulate a current of the first switch during the resonant process of the switching power supply.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first adaptive interface circuit comprises a resistor.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first adaptive interface circuit further comprises a diode coupled in parallel to the resistor.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the second adaptive interface circuit comprises:

an inductor coupled to the resistor; and

a capacitor coupled in series to the resistor.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first adaptive interface circuit and the second adaptive interface circuit comprise:

an inductor;

a resistor coupled to the inductor;

a capacitor coupled in series to the resistor; and

a diode coupled in parallel to the resistor and further coupled to the inductor.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a filter capacitor coupled in parallel to the series-coupled resistor and capacitor.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the solid state lighting is one or more light emitting diodes.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is couplable through a rectifier to the first switch.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a ripple cancellation circuit.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the ripple cancellation circuit comprises:

a differential amplifier comprising a first transistor and a second transistor;

a pass transistor coupled to the differential amplifier;

a first zener diode coupled to the first transistor; and

a second zener diode coupled to the second transistor.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the ripple cancellation circuit further comprises:

a low pass filter coupled to the first transistor.

15. A system for power conversion, the system couplable to a first switch coupled to an alternating current (AC) power source, the system comprising:

a switching power supply;

solid state lighting coupled to the switching power supply;

a first adaptive interface circuit comprising an at least partially resistive impedance to conduct current from the first switch in a default mode; and

a second adaptive interface circuit to create a resonant process when the first switch turns on.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first switch is a phase-modulated dimmer switch.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a third adaptive interface circuit to modulate a current of the first switch during the resonant process of the switching power supply.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a controller coupled to the second switch, to the first adaptive interface circuit and to the second adaptive interface circuit, and when the first switch turns on, the controller to modulate the second adaptive interface circuit to provide a current path during the resonant process of the switching power supply.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the controller further is to modulate the second adaptive interface circuit to modulate a current of the first switch during the resonant process of the switching power supply.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the first adaptive interface circuit comprises a resistor.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the first adaptive interface circuit further comprises a diode coupled in parallel to the resistor.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the second adaptive interface circuit comprises:

an inductor coupled to the resistor; and

a capacitor coupled in series to the resistor.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein the first adaptive interface circuit and the second adaptive interface circuit comprises:

an inductor;

a resistor coupled to the inductor;

a capacitor coupled in series to the resistor; and

a diode coupled in parallel to the resistor and further coupled to the inductor.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising:

a filter capacitor coupled in parallel to the series-coupled resistor and capacitor.

25. The system of claim 15, wherein the solid state lighting is one or more light emitting diodes.

26. The system of claim 15, further comprising a rectifier couplable to the first switch.

27. The system of claim 15, further comprising a ripple cancellation circuit.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the ripple cancellation circuit comprises:

a differential amplifier comprising a first transistor and a second transistor;

a pass transistor coupled to the differential amplifier;

a first zener diode coupled to the first transistor; and

a second zener diode coupled to the second transistor.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the ripple cancellation circuit further comprises:

a low pass filter coupled to the first transistor.

30. An apparatus for power conversion, the apparatus couplable to a first, phase-modulated dimmer switch coupled to an alternating current (AC) power source, the apparatus couplable to a solid state lighting, the apparatus comprising:

a switching power supply;

a first adaptive interface circuit comprising a resistive impedance coupled in series to a reactive impedance to conduct current from the first switch in a first current path in a default mode; and

a second adaptive interface circuit comprising a second switch coupled to the reactive impedance to conduct current from the first switch in a second current path, the first and second adaptive interface circuits further damping oscillation when the first switch turns on.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, further comprising:

a controller coupled to the second switch, and when the first switch turns on, the controller to modulate the second switch to provide the second current path during the damped oscillation.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the controller further is to modulate the second adaptive interface circuit to modulate a current of the first switch during the damped oscillation process.

33. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the first adaptive interface circuit comprises a first resistor coupled in series to a first capacitor.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the second switch comprises a transistor and wherein the second adaptive interface circuit further comprises the transistor coupled in series to the first capacitor.

35. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the second adaptive interface circuit further comprises:

a voltage divider comprising a second resistor coupled in series to a third resistor, the second and third resistors further coupled to a gate of the transistor; and

a capacitor coupled in parallel to the third resistor.

36. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the solid state lighting is one or more light emitting diodes.

37. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the apparatus is couplable through a rectifier to the first switch.

38. The apparatus of claim 30, further comprising a ripple cancellation circuit.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the ripple cancellation circuit comprises:

a differential amplifier comprising a first transistor and a second transistor;

a pass transistor coupled to the differential amplifier;

a first zener diode coupled to the first transistor; and

a second zener diode coupled to the second transistor.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the ripple cancellation circuit further comprises:

a low pass filter coupled to the first transistor.

41. A system for power conversion, the system couplable to a first switch coupled to an alternating current (AC) power source, the system comprising:

a switching power supply;

solid state lighting coupled to the switching power supply;

a first adaptive interface circuit comprising a resistive impedance coupled in series to a reactive impedance to conduct current from the first switch in a first current path in a default mode; and

a second adaptive interface circuit comprising a second switch coupled to the reactive impedance to conduct current from the first switch in a second current path, the first and second adaptive interface circuits further damping oscillation when the first switch turns on.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the first switch is a phase-modulated dimmer switch.

43. The system of claim 41, further comprising:

a controller coupled to the second switch, to the first adaptive interface circuit and to the second adaptive interface circuit, and when the first switch turns on, the controller to modulate the second adaptive interface circuit to provide a current path during the damped oscillation.

44. The system of claim 41, wherein the controller further is to modulate the second adaptive interface circuit to modulate a current of the first switch during the damped oscillation process.

45. The system of claim 41, wherein the first adaptive interface circuit comprises a first resistor coupled in series to a first capacitor.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the second switch comprises a transistor and wherein the second adaptive interface circuit further comprises the transistor coupled in series to the first capacitor.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the second adaptive interface circuit further comprises:

a voltage divider comprising a second resistor coupled in series to a third resistor, the second and third resistors further coupled to a gate of the transistor; and

a capacitor coupled in parallel to the third resistor.

48. The system of claim 41, wherein the solid state lighting is one or more light emitting diodes.

49. The system of claim 41, further comprising a rectifier couplable to the first switch.

50. The system of claim 41, further comprising a ripple cancellation circuit.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein the ripple cancellation circuit comprises:

a differential amplifier comprising a first transistor and a second transistor;

a pass transistor coupled to the differential amplifier;

a first zener diode coupled to the first transistor; and

a second zener diode coupled to the second transistor.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the ripple cancellation circuit further comprises:

a low pass filter coupled to the first transistor.

53. An apparatus for power conversion, the apparatus couplable to a first, phase-modulated dimmer switch coupled to an alternating current (AC) power source, the apparatus couplable to a solid state lighting, the apparatus comprising:

a switching power supply; and

an adaptive interface circuit comprising a resistive impedance coupled in series to a reactive impedance to conduct current from the first switch in a first current path in a default mode, and further comprising a second switch coupled to the reactive impedance to conduct current from the first switch in a second current path, the adaptive interface circuit further damping oscillation when the first switch turns on.

54. The apparatus of claim 53, further comprising:

a controller coupled to the second switch, and when the first switch turns on, the controller to modulate the second switch to provide the second current path during the damped oscillation.

55. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the adaptive interface circuit comprises a first resistor coupled in series to a first capacitor.

56. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the second switch comprises a transistor and wherein the adaptive interface circuit further comprises the transistor coupled in series to the first capacitor.

57. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the adaptive interface circuit further comprises:

a voltage divider comprising a second resistor coupled in series to a third resistor, the second and third resistors further coupled to a gate of the transistor; and

a capacitor coupled in parallel to the third resistor.

58. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the solid state lighting is one or more light emitting diodes.

59. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the apparatus further comprising a rectifier couplable to the first switch.

60. The apparatus of claim 53, further comprising a ripple cancellation circuit.

61. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the ripple cancellation circuit comprises:

a differential amplifier comprising a first transistor and a second transistor;

a pass transistor coupled to the differential amplifier;

a first zener diode coupled to the first transistor; and

a second zener diode coupled to the second transistor.

62. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the ripple cancellation circuit further comprises:

a low pass filter coupled to the first transistor.

63. An apparatus for power conversion, the apparatus couplable to a first, phase-modulated dimmer switch coupled to an alternating current (AC) power source, the apparatus couplable to a solid state lighting, the apparatus comprising:

a switching power supply;

a first, switchable adaptive interface circuit comprising a first resistive impedance coupled in series to a second switch and to a reactive impedance to conduct current from the first switch in a first current path in a default mode when the first switch is in an off state or when the switching power supply is in a startup mode; and

a second, switchable adaptive interface circuit comprising a second resistive impedance coupled in series to a third switch to conduct current from the first switch in a second current path when the switching power supply is in a full operation mode.

64. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the first adaptive interface circuit comprises a first resistor coupled in series to the second switch coupled to a first diode coupled to a first capacitor.

65. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the second switch comprises a first transistor having a gate coupled to the third switch.

66. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the second adaptive interface circuit comprises a second resistor coupled in series to the third switch and further coupled to a gate of the first transistor.

67. The apparatus of claim 63, further comprising:

a sensor; and

a fourth switch coupled to the sensor and to the third switch.

68. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the sensor comprises:

a transistor having a collector coupled through a diode to the fourth switch; and

a voltage divider comprising a third resistor coupled in series to a fourth resistor, the second and third resistors further coupled to a base of the transistor.

69. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the solid state lighting is one or more light emitting diodes.

70. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the apparatus is couplable through a rectifier to the first switch.

71. The apparatus of claim 63, further comprising a ripple cancellation circuit.

72. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein the ripple cancellation circuit comprises:

a differential amplifier comprising a first transistor and a second transistor;

a pass transistor coupled to the differential amplifier;

a first zener diode coupled to the first transistor; and

a second zener diode coupled to the second transistor.

73. The apparatus of claim 72, wherein the ripple cancellation circuit further comprises:

a low pass filter coupled to the first transistor.

74. A system for power conversion, the system couplable to a first, phase-modulated dimmer switch coupled to an alternating current (AC) power source, the system comprising:

a switching power supply;

a ripple cancellation circuit coupled to the switching power supply;

solid state lighting coupled to the ripple cancellation circuit;

a first, switchable adaptive interface circuit comprising a first resistive impedance coupled in series to a second switch and to a reactive impedance to conduct current from the first switch in a first current path in a default mode when the first switch is in an off state or when the switching power supply is in a startup mode; and

a second, switchable adaptive interface circuit comprising a second resistive impedance coupled in series to a third switch to conduct current from the first switch in a second current path when the switching power supply is in a full operation mode.

75. The system of claim 74, wherein the first adaptive interface circuit comprises a first resistor coupled in series to the second switch coupled to a first diode coupled to a first capacitor.

76. The system of claim 74, wherein the second switch comprises a first transistor having a gate coupled to the third switch.

77. The system of claim 76, wherein the second adaptive interface circuit comprises a second resistor coupled in series to the third switch and further coupled to a gate of the first transistor.

78. The system of claim 74, further comprising:

a sensor; and

a fourth switch coupled to the sensor and to the third switch.

79. The system of claim 78, wherein the sensor comprises:

a transistor having a collector coupled through a diode to the fourth switch; and

a voltage divider comprising a third resistor coupled in series to a fourth resistor, the second and third resistors further coupled to a base of the transistor.

80. The system of claim 74, wherein the solid state lighting is one or more light emitting diodes.

81. The system of claim 74, wherein the apparatus is couplable through a rectifier to the first switch.

82. The system of claim 74, wherein the ripple cancellation circuit comprises:

a differential amplifier comprising a first transistor and a second transistor;

a pass transistor coupled to the differential amplifier;

a first zener diode coupled to the first transistor; and

a second zener diode coupled to the second transistor.

83. The system of claim 82, wherein the ripple cancellation circuit further comprises:

a low pass filter coupled to the first transistor.