METHOD AND APPARATUS TO FACILITATE COUPLING AN LED-BASED LAMP TO A FLUORESCENT LIGHT FIXTURE

• US 20130038230A1
• Filed: 08/15/2012
• Published: 02/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nularis, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nularis, Inc.
• Inventors: Brown, Wendell, Fram, Jonathan, Wang, Eric
• Application Number:
  US13/586,447
• Publication Number:
  US 20130038230A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/201
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3725 Switched mode power supply [SMPS]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/40 Details of LED load circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to facilitate coupling a light-emitting diode (LED)-based lamp to an electronic or inductive fluorescent light fixture (typically with ballast). An LED-based lamp may include circuitry that simulates an electrical behavior of a fluorescent lamp, and can be installed and operate in the fixture without any modification to the fixture. The LED-based lamp may also include one or more LEDs that are controlled by the circuitry.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a first connector compatible with a first receptacle of a fluorescent light fixture;

one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs); and

analog circuitry for providing direct current to the one or more LEDs from the fluorescent light fixture.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the analog circuitry comprises:

a rectifier converting alternating current to the direct current; and

a capacitor.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a thermistor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more LEDs are positioned on a single, substantially flat, side of the apparatus.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the apparatus comprises one or more substantially flat exterior surfaces; and

the one or more LEDs are positioned on a first substantially flat exterior surface of the apparatus.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second connector compatible with a second receptacle of the fluorescent light fixture.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the apparatus is substantially columnar in shape; and

the one or more LEDs are aligned about the substantially columnar shape.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a user-operable switch for adjusting the apparatus to accept a power output of the fluorescent light fixture.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a dual in-line package switch to configure one or more characteristics of the one or more LEDs.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein a characteristic is one of:

brightness, color, whether an LED turns on/off suddenly or gradually, whether an LED is capable of being dimmed, and whether an LED is capable of being programmed to turn on/off after a predetermined duration.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluorescent light fixture receives and operates the apparatus without modification to the fluorescent light fixture other than receipt of the apparatus.

12. Apparatus for replacing a fluorescent light bulb without alteration of a fluorescent light fixture in which the fluorescent light bulb is replaced, the apparatus comprising:

means for coupling the apparatus to the fluorescent light fixture; and

one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

means for converting alternating current received from the fluorescent light fixture into direct current.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

means for smoothing the direct current.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

means for accepting a high voltage spike from the fluorescent light fixture without failure of the apparatus.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus does not include a fluorescent light bulb.