AC Light Emitting Diode and AC LED Drive Methods and Apparatus

• US 20170208656A1
• Filed: 10/25/2016
• Published: 07/20/2017
• 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 10,091,842 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/39 Circuits containing inverter bridges
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/42 Antiparallel configurations
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/25 Circuit arrangements for protecting against overcurrent

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

1. An LED driver comprising:

an input of a first AC voltage and a first frequency to the LED driver,

the LED driver connected to at least one LED circuit and providing an output of a second AC voltage and a second frequency to the LED circuit, wherein the second frequency is a relatively higher frequency than the first frequency,

wherein the LED driver includes a voltage regulator which regulates the second AC voltage at a relatively fixed level with respect to changes in a load connected to the output of the LED driver.

2. The LED driver of claim 1, wherein the LED driver further includes protection against exceeding the wattage of the LED Driver when adding LED circuits to the output of the LED driver.

3. The LED driver of claim 1, wherein the voltage regulator is feedback voltage regulator circuitry.

4. The LED driver of claim 1 wherein the relatively fixed level of the second AC voltage is 12V.

5. The LED driver of claim 1, wherein the bridge rectifier and the LED circuit are packaged together on a single substrate.

6. The LED driver of claim 1, wherein a dimmer is coupled to the LED driver, wherein the dimmer includes integrated circuitry that allows for adjustability of the level of the second AC voltage and/or the second frequency output of the LED driver.

7. An LED driver comprising:

an input of a first AC voltage and a first frequency to the LED driver,

the LED driver being electrically connected to at least one LED circuit comprising at least one LED and a bridge rectifier,

the LED driver connected to at least one LED circuit and providing an output of a second AC voltage and a second frequency to the LED circuit, wherein the second frequency is a relatively higher frequency than the first frequency,

the LED driver providing AC voltage and current to the bridge rectifier and the bridge rectifier providing DC voltage and current to the LED circuit

wherein the driver includes a voltage regulator which regulates the second AC voltage at a relatively fixed level with respect to changes in a load connected to the output of the LED driver.

8. The LED driver of claim 7, wherein the driver further includes protection against exceeding the wattage of the LED Driver when adding LED circuits to the output of the LED driver.

9. The LED driver of claim 7, wherein the voltage regulator is feedback voltage regulator circuitry.

10. The LED driver of claim 7, wherein the bridge rectifier and the LED circuit are packaged together on a single substrate.

11. The LED driver of claim 7, wherein a dimmer is coupled to the LED driver, wherein the dimmer includes integrated circuitry that allows for adjustability of the level of the second AC voltage and/or the second frequency output of the LED driver.