AC Light Emitting Diode and AC LED Drive Methods and Apparatus

• US 20120242239A1
• Filed: 04/02/2012
• Published: 09/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lynk Labs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lynk Labs, Inc.
• Inventors: Miskin, Michael, Andersen, James N.
• Granted Patent: US 8,531,118 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/201
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/382 with galvanic isolation between input and output
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/39 Circuits containing inverter bridges
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/42 Antiparallel configurations

Abstract

An LED device for use with an AC voltage power source configured such that at least one LED emits light during a positive phase of power provided from an AC power supply and at least one LED emits light during the negative phase of power provided from an AC power supply. The LED device includes a first power connection lead and a second power connection lead, both leads capable of being connected to and receiving power from an AC power supply.

Claims

2. An LED device for use with an AC voltage power source comprising:

at least one bridge rectifier;

at least one LED circuit having at least one LED, the at least one LED circuit being connected across the output of the bridge rectifier;

a first power connection lead connected to a first input of the at least one rectifier;

a second power connection lead connected to a second input of the at least one rectifier;

an assembly including the at least one bridge rectifier, the at least one LED circuit, and the power connection leads forming an LED package.

3. The LED device of claim 2 wherein the LED package is integrated on a single substrate such that electrical connection between the rectifier and the power connection leads, and the rectifier and the at least one LED circuit, are formed on the substrate.

4. The LED device of claim 3 wherein the electrical connection between the rectifier and the power connection leads, and the rectifier and the at least one LED circuit, is formed within the substrate.

5. The LED device of claim 2 wherein a capacitor is connected between the first input of the rectifier and the second input of the rectifier.

6. The LED device of claim 2 wherein a capacitor is connected in series between at least one of the first input and the first power connection lead, or the second input and the second power connection lead.

7. The LED device of claim 2 wherein a resistor is connected in series between at least one of:

the first input and the first power connection lead, or the second input and the second power connection lead.

8. The LED device of claim 2 wherein the LED circuit includes a single LED.

9. The LED device of claim 2 wherein the LED circuit includes at least two LEDs.

10. The LED device of claim 2 wherein the at least one LED circuit and the at least one bridge rectifier are discretely packaged and wire bonded together on an insulating substrate.

11. The LED device of claim 10 wherein the at least one discretely packaged LED circuit includes at least two LED power connection leads and the at least one discretely packaged bridge rectifier circuit includes at least two output power connection leads, the at least two output power connection leads capable of connection to the at least two LED power connection leads to provide power to the at least one discretely packaged LED circuit.

12. The LED device of claim 2 further comprising a lens.

13. The LED device of claim 12 wherein the lens is doped with nano-crystals.

14. The LED device of claim 2 further comprising at least one reflector.

15. The LED device of claim 2 wherein the LED package is encapsulated in a housing forming a light bulb.

16. The LED device of claim 2 wherein the at least one bridge rectifier includes at least one LED.

17. The LED device of claim 2 wherein the at least one LED circuit includes at least two pre-packaged LEDs wire bonded together on an insulating substrate, the insulating substrate forming part of the LED package.

18. The LED device of claim 17 wherein the bridge rectifier is pre-packaged, the bridge rectifier being wire bonded with the LED circuit on the insulating substrate.

19. The LED device of claim 18 wherein each diode forming the bridge rectifier is pre-packaged and wire bonded on the insulating substrate to form the bridge rectifier.

20. A lighting system comprising:

at least one LED circuit having at least one LED, the at least one LED circuit being capable of emitting light during both a positive phase and a negative phase of an AC power supply;

a driver connected to the least one LED circuit, the driver providing AC voltage and current to the at least one LED circuit, the driver having an input of a first AC voltage and a first frequency and an output of a second AC voltage and a second frequency, which the second AC voltage is a relatively fixed voltage and the second frequency is a relatively higher frequency

wherein the driver and the at least one LED circuit form a driven circuit and the driver and the at least one circuit being configured such that one or more additional LED circuits can be added to or subtracted from the driven circuit so long as the total wattage output of the driver is not exceeded;

(a) without significantly affecting a pre-determined desired output range of light from any individual LED;

(b) without the need to;

(i) change a value of any discrete component;

or, (ii) to add or subtract any discrete components, of any of the pre-existing driven circuit components which remain after the change.

21. A lighting system comprising:

at least one LED circuit;

at least one bridge rectifier;

a driver connected to the least one bridge rectifier, the driver providing AC voltage and current to the at least one bridge rectifier, and the bridge rectifier providing DC voltage and current to the at least one LED circuit, the driver having an input of a first AC voltage and a first frequency and an output of a second AC voltage and a second frequency, which the second AC voltage is a relatively fixed voltage and the second frequency is a relatively higher frequency

wherein the driver, the at least one bridge rectifier, and the at least one LED circuit form a driven circuit and the driver, the at least one bridge rectifier, and the at least one LED circuit being configured such that one or more LED circuits can be added to or subtracted from the driven circuit so long as the total wattage output of the driver is not exceeded;

(a) without significantly affecting a pre-determined desired output range of light from any individual LED;

(b) without the need to;

(i) change a value of any discrete component;

or, (ii) to add or subtract any discrete components, of any of the pre-existing driven circuit components which remain after the change.

22. The lighting system of claim 21 wherein the bridge rectifier and at least one LED circuit are packaged together on a single substrate.

23. The lighting system of claim 21 wherein the bridge rectifier and at least one LED circuit are discretely packaged.

24. The lighting system of claim 23 wherein at least one additional LED circuit is connected to the outputs of the bridge rectifier, the at least one additional LED circuit being connected in parallel with the at least one LED circuit.

25. An LED device for use with an AC power supply comprising:

at least one bridge rectifier;

at least one LED circuit having at least one LED, the at least one LED circuit being connected across the output of the bridge rectifier;

a first power connection lead connected to a first input of the rectifier;

a second power connection lead connected to a second input of the rectifier;

a housing encapsulating the at least one bridge rectifier, the at least one LED circuit, and at least a portion of the first and second power connections, wherein at least a portion first power connection lead and the second power connection lead extend outside the housing to allow the at least one LED circuit to connect to an AC power supply.

1. An LED device for use with an AC voltage power source comprising:

at least one LED circuit capable of emitting light during both a positive phase and a negative phase of power provided from an AC power supply,

a first power connection lead connected to a first end of the circuit,

a second power connection lead connected to a second end of the circuit,

an assembly including the at least one LED circuit and power connection leads being formed on an insulating substrate material forming an LED package.

26. The LED device of claim 25 wherein a capacitor is connected between the first input of the rectifier and the second input of the rectifier.

27. The LED device of claim 25 wherein a capacitor is connected in series between at least one of:

the first input of the rectifier and the first power connection lead, or the second input of the rectifier and the second power connection lead.

28. The LED device of claim 25 wherein a resistor is connected in series between at least one of:

the first input of the rectifier and the first power connection lead, or the second input of the rectifier and the second power connection lead.

29. The LED device of claim 25 wherein the LED circuit includes a single LED.

30. The LED device of claim 25 wherein the LED circuit includes at least two LEDs.

31. The LED device of claim 25 wherein the housing is doped with nano-crystals.

32. The LED device of claim 25 further comprising at least one reflector.

30-1. The LED device of claim 25 wherein the at least one bridge rectifier includes at least one LED.