ADAPTIVE LOAD CIRCUIT

• US 20130134783A1
• Filed: 05/17/2012
• Published: 05/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Current Lighting Solutions, LLC (f/k/a GE Lighting Solutions, LLC) (American Industrial Partners)
• Original Assignee: GE Lighting Solutions LLC (Savant Systems, LLC)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Truong-Khoa, Doss, Michel, Poirier, Christian, Mohammediyan, Shahriyar, Yong, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 9,373,961 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/39
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3725 Switched mode power supply [SMPS]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/58 involving end of life detection of LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/22 with communication between the lamps and a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/72 in street lighting

Abstract

The present subject matter is directed to an adaptive load circuit for use with traffic light control systems so as to permit operation using low current consumption lamps where the traffic light control systems were originally manufactured for operation with higher current consuming lamps. The adaptive load circuit provides a mechanism whereby an existing traffic light control system is fooled into accepting use of a low current consuming lamp by creating a specifically timed signal during an interval that the traffic light control system normally checks to determined lamp load characteristics.

Claims

1. An adaptive load circuit configured to enable use of low power consumption loads with an apparatus which is configured to periodically test for power consumption, the adaptive load circuit comprising:

a timing signal input;

a command transfer circuit coupled to said timing signal input and configured to produce a signal in synchronism with a timing signal applied to said timing signal input;

a switch configured to receive a signal from said command transfer circuit; and

a load,

wherein receipt of a signal from said command transfer signal causes said switch to connect said load such that periodic tests for power consumption will be successful.

2. A circuit as in claim 1, wherein said circuit is configured as an options board for association with an apparatus which is configured to periodically test for power consumption.

3. A circuit as in claim 1, wherein said circuit is configured for association with a low power-consuming lighting device.

4. A circuit as in claim 1, further comprising:

a feedback controlled constant current source coupled to said load by way of said switch,

whereby current to said load remains constant while said switch is conductive.

5. A circuit as in claim 4, wherein said feedback controlled constant current source is configured to operate independently of current flow through said low power consumption loads.

6. A lighting device, comprising:

a low power-consuming lighting device; and

an adaptive load circuit coupled in parallel with said low power consuming device,

wherein said adaptive load circuit is configured to periodically provide an increased power load whereby total power consumption by said low power consuming lighting device and said adaptive load circuit will periodically exceed a predetermined value.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said lighting device is a light emitting diode.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the adaptive load circuit is configured as an option board for said lighting device.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein said adaptive load circuit is configured to periodically provide an increased power load only while said lighting device is operational.

10. A method of permitting operation of a low power consuming device in an apparatus periodically expecting higher power consumption, the method comprising:

monitoring the apparatus to determine times that the apparatus expects higher power consumption; and

supplying an increased load on the apparatus during expected higher power consumption periods.

11. A method as in claim 10, wherein the supplying an increased load comprises coupling an electrical load device in parallel with the low power consuming device.

12. A method for enabling use of a low power-consuming lighting device with a street traffic light control system configured to periodically require power consumption from an AC input line of a lighting device above a predetermined level, comprising:

associating an adaptive load circuit with one of the low power consuming lighting device and the street traffic control system;

monitoring the AC input line to determine periods of required power consumption above the predetermined level; and

activating the adaptive load circuit during the determined periods.

13. A method as in claim 12, wherein associating comprises associating a controllably switched load with the low power-consuming lighting device.

14. A method as in claim 12, wherein associating comprises associating a controllably switched load in parallel with a light emitting diode.

15. A method for enabling use of adaptive consumption loads with apparatus that periodically test for predetermined power consumption levels, comprising:

associating a low power consuming load device with the apparatus;

receiving a timing signal from the apparatus; and

supplying a square wave signal in synchronism with the timing signal independent of the input frequency to increase apparatus determined power consumption,

whereby the apparatus conducted power consumption test to determine whether power consumption exceeds the predetermined power consumption level is successful.