Apparatus, Method and System for Providing AC Line Power to Lighting Devices
First Claim
1. A method of providing power to a plurality of light emitting diodes couplable to receive an AC voltage, the plurality of light emitting diodes coupled in series to form a plurality of segments of light emitting diodes each comprising at least one light emitting diode, the plurality of segments of light emitting diodes coupled to a plurality of current regulators, the method comprising:
- monitoring and regulating a current level through a series light emitting diode current path;
providing for a first segment of light emitting diodes to be in or out of the series light emitting diode current path at about a first predetermined current level or until the current level has reached about the first predetermined current level; and
providing for a second segment of light emitting diodes to be in or out of the series light emitting diode current path at about a second predetermined current level or until the current level has reached about the second predetermined current level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus, method and system are disclosed for providing AC line power to lighting devices such as light emitting diodes (“LEDs”). An exemplary apparatus comprises: a plurality of LEDs coupled in series to form a plurality of segments of LEDs; first and second current regulators; a current sensor; and a controller to monitor a current level through a series LED current path, and to provide for first or second segments of LEDs to be in or out of the series LED current path at different current levels. A voltage regulator is also utilized to provide a voltage during a zero-crossing interval of the AC voltage. In an exemplary embodiment, first and second segments of LEDs are both in the series LED current path regulated at a lower current level compared to when only the first segment of LEDs is in the series LED current path.
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Citations
57 Claims
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1. A method of providing power to a plurality of light emitting diodes couplable to receive an AC voltage, the plurality of light emitting diodes coupled in series to form a plurality of segments of light emitting diodes each comprising at least one light emitting diode, the plurality of segments of light emitting diodes coupled to a plurality of current regulators, the method comprising:
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monitoring and regulating a current level through a series light emitting diode current path; providing for a first segment of light emitting diodes to be in or out of the series light emitting diode current path at about a first predetermined current level or until the current level has reached about the first predetermined current level; and providing for a second segment of light emitting diodes to be in or out of the series light emitting diode current path at about a second predetermined current level or until the current level has reached about the second predetermined current level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An apparatus for providing power to a plurality of light emitting diodes couplable to receive an AC voltage, the plurality of light emitting diodes coupled in series to form a plurality of segments of light emitting diodes each comprising at least one light emitting diode, the apparatus further couplable to a current sensor, the apparatus comprising:
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a first current regulator coupled to a first segment of light emitting diodes of the plurality of segments of light emitting diodes; a second current regulator coupled to a second segment of light emitting diodes of the plurality of segments of light emitting diodes; and a controller coupled to the first and second current regulators and couplable to the current sensor, the controller to monitor a current level through a series light emitting diode current path, to provide for the first segment of light emitting diodes to be in or out of the series light emitting diode current path at about a first predetermined current level or until the current level has reached about the first predetermined current level; and
to provide for the second segment of light emitting diodes to be in or out of the series light emitting diode current path at about a second predetermined current level or until the current level has reached about the second predetermined current level. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. An apparatus couplable to receive an AC voltage, the apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of light emitting diodes coupled in series to form at least one segment of light emitting diodes; a first current regulator coupled at a light emitting diode cathode of the at least one segment of light emitting diodes; a second current regulator coupled at a light emitting diode anode of the at least one segment of light emitting diodes; a current sensor; a voltage regulator to provide a voltage or a current sufficient for at least one light emitting diode to be on and conducting; and a controller coupled to the first and second current regulators and to the current sensor, the controller to monitor a current level through the at least one segment of light emitting diodes, to turn on the second current regulator to provide current through the at least one segment of light emitting diodes and to charge the voltage regulator, and to turn on the first current regulator to provide current through the at least one segment of light emitting diodes and to discharge the voltage regulator.
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Specification