Electronic light generating element with power circuit

• US 8,004,203 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2009
• Issued: 08/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lighting Science Group Corporation (Pegasus Capital Advisors, L.P.)
• Original Assignee: Lighting Science Group Corporation (Pegasus Capital Advisors, L.P.)
• Inventors: Maxik, Fredric
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Tuyet Thi
• Application Number:
  US12/401,259
• Publication Number:
  US 20090174342A1
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 315/247, 315/224, 315/209.R, 315/291, 315/185.S
• US Class Current: 315/247
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/23 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with a single fitting for each light source, e.g. for substitution of incandescent lamps with bayonet or threaded fittings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/02 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/327 Burst dimming
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3725 Switched mode power supply [SMPS]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/50 responsive to malfunctions or undesirable behaviour of LEDs; responsive to LED life; Protective circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/56 involving measures to prevent abnormal temperature of the LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/59 for reducing or suppressing flicker or glow effects
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/00 Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

The present system for driving an electronic light generating element, includes: (i) input terminals, (ii) an input circuit coupled to the input terminals and operable to convert a sinusoidal signal to a signal independent of negative current attributes, (iii) a switch control circuit coupled to the input circuit and operable to generate a switching signal having pulses, and (iv) a switching element coupled to the input circuit and the switch control circuit. The switching element is operable to generate an output signal formed as a series of bursts having peak amplitudes above a maximum forward current rating for a duty cycle less than a maximum operating duty cycle over which an electronic light generating element may be catastrophically damaged in response to the signal independent of negative current attributes and switching being applied to the switching element. The output signal is applied to the electronic light generating element to produce light.

Claims

1. A light source, comprising:

an electronic light generating element comprising a light emitting diode (LED) and having a maximum forward current rating (max I_F); and

a power circuit having an output connected to said electronic light generating element, the output capable of applying a forward voltage (V_F) to said LED that drives forward current (I_F) for said electronic light generating element above the maximum forward current rating (max I_F) up to a maximum current value (I_max), said LED providing radiant power when said power circuit is connected to a power source;

wherein said power circuit generates the output for a duty cycle less than a maximum operating duty cycle (DC_max);

wherein the duty cycle is increased above the maximum operating percentage (DC_max) as the forward current (I_F) is decreased below the maximum current value (I_max).

2. A light source, comprising:

an electronic light generating element comprising a light emitting diode (LED) and having a maximum forward current rating (max I_F); and

a power circuit having an output connected to said electronic light generating element, the output capable of applying a forward voltage (V_F) to said LED that drives forward current (I_F) for said electronic light generating element above the maximum forward current rating (max I_F) up to a maximum current value (I_max), said LED providing radiant power when said power circuit is connected to a power source;

wherein said power circuit generates the output for a duty cycle less than a maximum operating duty cycle (DC_max);

wherein the maximum current value (I_max) is less than about three times the maximum forward current rating (max I_F) and the maximum operating percentage of the duty cycle no greater than ten percent (10%) at the maximum current value (I_max).

3. A light source, comprising:

an electronic light generating element comprising a light emitting diode (LED) and having a maximum forward current rating (max I_F); and

a power circuit having an output connected to said electronic light generating element, the output capable of applying a forward voltage (V_F) to said LED that drives forward current (I_F) for said electronic light generating element above the maximum forward current rating (max I_F) up to a maximum current value (I_max), said LED providing radiant power when said power circuit is connected to a power source;

wherein said power circuit generates the output for a duty cycle less than a maximum operating duty cycle (DC_max);

and further comprising dimmer and comparator electronic components, said comparator component operable to detect a change in voltage applied to said power circuit by said dimmer to cause either the amplitude of the forward current (I_F) to be reduced or pulses for driving the forward current to be reduced in frequency.

4. A light source, comprising:

an electronic light generating element comprising a light emitting diode (LED) and having a maximum forward current rating (max I_F); and

a power circuit having an output connected to said electronic light generating element, the output capable of applying a forward voltage (V_F) to said LED that drives forward current (I_F) for said electronic light generating element above the maximum forward current rating (max I_F) up to a maximum current value (I_max), said LED providing radiant power when said power circuit is connected to a power source;

wherein the power circuit comprises;

an input circuit coupled to input terminals and operable to convert an alternating current signal comprising positive and negative current attributes to a signal that is independent of negative current attributes;

a switch control circuit coupled to said input circuit and operable to generate a switching signal having pulses; and

a switching element coupled to said input circuit and said switch control circuit and operable to generate an output signal formed as a series of bursts, at least one of the series of bursts having a peak amplitude above said max I_F, and being applied to the electronic light generating element to produce light, and each said burst having a frequency sufficiently high so that a human eye is incapable of noticing flicker in the light produced by said electronic light generating element.

5. The light source of claim 4, wherein said frequency sufficiently high comprises a frequency greater than 100 Hertz.

6. The light source of claim 4, wherein:

said light source is a light bulb comprising a base configured as an Edison base; and

at least a portion of said circuit for driving is disposed at least partially within said base.

7. The light source of claim 4, wherein said alternating current signal is a sinusoidal signal.

8. The light source according to claim 4, wherein the light source is a light bulb.

9. The light source according to claim 8, wherein the light bulb includes a base configured as an Edison base.

10. A light source in combination with a driving circuit:

said light source comprising;

an electronic light generating element comprising a light emitting diode (LED) and having a maximum forward current rating (max I_F); and

a power circuit having an output connected to said electronic light generating element, the output capable of applying a forward voltage (V_F) to said LED that drives forward current (I_F) for said electronic light generating element above the maximum forward current rating (max I_F) up to a maximum current value (I_max), said LED providing radiant power when said power circuit is connected to a power source;

said driving circuit for driving said electronic light generating element, said driving circuit comprising;

an input circuit coupled to input terminals and operable to convert an alternating current signal comprising positive and negative current attributes to a signal that is independent of negative current attributes;

a switch control circuit coupled to said input circuit and operable to generate a switching signal having pulses; and

a switching element coupled to said input circuit and said switch control circuit and operable to generate an output signal formed as a series of bursts, at least one of the series of bursts having a peak amplitude above said max I_F, and being applied to the electronic light generating element to produce light, and each said burst having a frequency sufficiently high so that a human eye is incapable of noticing flicker in the light produced by said electronic light generating element.