Series wiring of highly reliable light sources
First Claim
1. A lighting device, comprising:
- an array of LEDs consisting of plural columns and rows, wherein each row of LEDs in each column is connected in series and each column is connected in parallel;
a low equivalent series resistance capacitor electrically connected to the array of LEDs; and
a metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) electrically connected in series with the array of LEDs, the MOSFET arranged to act as a switch to the capacitor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The light array of this invention includes a number of columns and rows of LED'"'"'s connected in a series/parallel combination. The series parallel combinations effectively optimize the impedance, accommodate failure rate, facilitate light mixing, provide a means of imbedding redundancy, and common cathodes or anodes. This arrangement provides a superior light source for consumer, industrial and specialty markets in respect to mean time between failure, process control, radiant intensity, wavelength mixing, power requirements and other characteristics of the light source. Each column includes a number of rows of plural LED'"'"'s. The LED'"'"'s in each row are wired in series and each column is wired in parallel so that if one LED fails only the LED'"'"'s connected in series with the failed LED will also fail. There is redundancy in the circuit as well as the arrays so that if there are failures different current carrying elements or different series LEDS will automatically by powered on. The array may be connected in series with one or more LED arrays to form a module. Multiple modules may be connected in series with other multiple modules.
160 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A lighting device, comprising:
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an array of LEDs consisting of plural columns and rows, wherein each row of LEDs in each column is connected in series and each column is connected in parallel; a low equivalent series resistance capacitor electrically connected to the array of LEDs; and a metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) electrically connected in series with the array of LEDs, the MOSFET arranged to act as a switch to the capacitor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. The lighting device 3, wherein each module is connected in series to one or more modules.
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9. The lighting device 3, wherein each module is connected in parallel to one or more modules.
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10. A method of operating a lighting device, comprising:
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charging a capacitor to a voltage at least three times higher than an operating voltage of an LED using an input DC power level; periodically switching on a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) to create a current in the LED; and generating a peak optical output int he LED, the peak optical output being a multiple of the DC power level and is generated while the MOSFET is on. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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Specification