DEVICES AND SYSTEMS HAVING AC LED CIRCUITS AND METHODS OF DRIVING THE SAME

• US 20170295616A1
• Filed: 06/26/2017
• Published: 10/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lynk Labs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lynk Labs, Inc.
• Inventors: Miskin, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 10,257,892 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/141 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/192 Details of lamp holders, terminals or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/48 with means for conducting heat from the inside to the outside of the lighting devices, e.g. with fins on the outer surface of the lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/14 using electrical feedback from LEDs or from LED modules
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/30 Driver circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/42 Antiparallel configurations
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/46 having LEDs disposed in parallel lines
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/48 having LEDs organised in strings and incorporating parallel shunting devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/50 responsive to malfunctions or undesirable behaviour of LEDs; responsive to LED life; Protective circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/58 involving end of life detection of LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/59 for reducing or suppressing flicker or glow effects

Abstract

A lighting device and system having at least one circuit, the circuit having at least two LEDs connected in series, parallel or anti-parallel configuration and at least one current limiting diode. The device or system may be driven with AC or DC power and may further include a sensor and polarity switching circuit to utilize all LEDs within the circuit when drive by DC power.

Claims

1. A lighting system comprising:

at least one circuit having at least two LEDs, the at least two LEDs electrically connected and configured so that when the LEDs are connected to a power source at least a first LED within the circuit is forward biased by the power source;

a load sensor connected to the at least two LEDs, wherein the load sensor senses the operation of the at least first LED forward biased by the power source; and

,

a switching circuit capable of switching the output of the power source to forward bias the at least a second LED if the operation of the at least first LED which is forward biased fails.

2. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein the at least second LED within the at least one circuit is reversed biased by the DC power source when the at least first LED is forward biased.

3. The lighting system of claim 2 wherein the at least two LEDs are connected in an anti-parallel configuration.

4. The lighting system of claim 3 wherein the power source is a DC power source.

5. The lighting system of claim 4 wherein the DC power source includes a bridge rectifier to rectify power provided by an AC power source.

6. The lighting system of claim 5 wherein the DC power source includes the load sensor.

7. The lighting system of claim 4 further comprising at least a first limiting diode connected in series with the at least first LED forward biased by the DC power source, and at least a second current limiting diode connected in series with the at least second LED.

8. The lighting device of claim 1 comprising at least four LEDs, the four LEDs being configured in a bridge configuration.

9. The lighting device of claim 8 further comprising at least one additional LED, the at least one additional LED being connected across the output of the bridge rectifier.

10. The lighting device of claim 8 further comprising at least one current limiting diode, the at least one current limiting diode being connected across the output of the bridge rectifier.

11. The lighting device of claim 8 further comprising a wire connected across the output of the bridge rectifier.

12. A method of driving a lighting device or system, the method comprising the steps of:

connecting at least two LEDs to a power source such that at least a first LED of the at least two LEDs is forward biased by the power source;

sensing operation of the first LED;

switching the output of the power source to forward bias at least a second LED of the at least two LEDs is forward biased if it is determined that the first LED is inoperable.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the first LED and the second LED are connected to each other in an anti-parallel configuration.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the power source is a DC power source.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of:

reversing the polarity of the DC power across the load manually using a switch so as to forward bias at least the second LED.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of:

reversing the polarity of the DC power across the load by manually disconnecting the circuit from the DC power and reconnecting the circuit to the DC power in a reversed configuration so that the at least one LED that was previously reverse biased is now forward biased.

17. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of connecting at least a first current limiting diode in series with the first LED and at least a second current limiting diode in series with the second LED.

18. The method of any one of claims 12 further comprising the step of connecting at least four diodes in a bridge configuration, wherein at least two of the at least five diodes are LEDs and at least two of the at least four LEDs are forward biased when connected to DC power, and at least two of the at least two LEDs are reversed biased when connected to DC power.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of connecting at least one constant current diode across the output of the bridge rectifier.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of connecting at least one wire across the output of the bridge rectifier.