APPARATUS AND METHODS OF OPERATION OF PASSIVE AND ACTIVE LED LIGHTING EQUIPMENT
First Claim
1. An LED lighting system comprising:
- a driver for receiving an AC input power and generating an output power, the driver having an energy storage element for storing said AC input power as stored power when said AC input power is higher than required to generate said output power, and for delivering said stored power when said AC input power is lower than required to generate said output power; and
at least one LED receiving said output power;
wherein said driver allows said output power to vary a predetermined amount such that said at least one LED provides continuous flux as observable to the human eye, and said energy storage element has a decreased capacity requirement as said predetermined amount is increased.
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Abstract
This invention is concerned with the control and design of a passive or an active LED lighting system that does not need electrolytic capacitors in the entire system and can generate light output with reduced luminous flux fluctuation. The proposal is particularly suitable, but not restricted to, off-line applications in which the lighting system is powered by the ac mains. By eliminating electrolytic capacitors which have a limited lifetime of typically 15,000 hours, the proposed system can be developed with robust electrical components such as inductor and diode circuits, and it features long lifetime, low maintenance cost, robustness against extreme temperature variations and good power factor. The proposed circuits can become dimmable systems if the AC input voltage can be adjusted by external means.
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Citations
106 Claims
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1. An LED lighting system comprising:
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a driver for receiving an AC input power and generating an output power, the driver having an energy storage element for storing said AC input power as stored power when said AC input power is higher than required to generate said output power, and for delivering said stored power when said AC input power is lower than required to generate said output power; and at least one LED receiving said output power; wherein said driver allows said output power to vary a predetermined amount such that said at least one LED provides continuous flux as observable to the human eye, and said energy storage element has a decreased capacity requirement as said predetermined amount is increased. - 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, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 83, 84, 85, 89, 90, 91, 92)
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40. A method of operating a LED lighting system comprising the steps of:
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providing an AC input power; generating an output power for delivery to at least one LED; storing said AC input power as stored power in an energy storage element when said AC input power is higher than required to generate said output power; delivering said stored power from said energy storage element when said AC input power is lower than required to generate said output power; and allowing said output power to vary such that said at least one LED provides continuous flux as observable to the human eye, and said energy storage element has a decreased capacity requirement as said predetermined amount is increased. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 86, 87, 88, 93, 94, 95, 96)
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- 97. A system including a valley-fill circuit for generating a DC output voltage, said system including a parallel capacitor connected across said valley-fill circuit such that the voltage ripple of the DC output voltage is reduced.
- 102. A method of generating a DC output by using a valley-fill circuit and a parallel capacitor connected across said valley-fill circuit such that the DC output voltage is generated with reduced voltage ripple.
Specification