Controlling a light emitting diode fixture

• US 8,154,221 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2008
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Inventors: Vargha, Doug, Godbole, Kedar
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Tung X
• Application Number:
  US12/341,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20090160369A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,205 Days
• Field of Search: 315149-159, 315/209.R, 315/219, 315/224, 315/247, 315/291, 315/294, 315/297, 315307-308
• US Class Current: 315/307
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/31 Phase-control circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/357 specially adapted for retrofit LED light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/36 Circuits for reducing or suppressing harmonics, ripples or electromagnetic interferences [EMI]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

One embodiment in accordance with the invention can include a circuit for controlling a light emitting diode (LED) lighting fixture via a power line. The circuit can include a power switch coupled to the power line and is for outputting a firing angle. Additionally, the circuit can include a control circuit coupled to the power switch and is for implementing firing angle control of the power switch. Furthermore, the circuit can include a translator coupled to receive the firing angle and for mapping the firing angle to a function of the LED lighting fixture.

Claims

1. A circuit for controlling a light emitting diode (LED) lighting fixture via a power line, said circuit comprising:

a power switch coupled to said power line and for outputting a firing angle;

a control circuit coupled to said power switch and for implementing firing angle control of said power switch; and

a translator coupled to receive said firing angle and for mapping said firing angle to one of a plurality of commands of said LED lighting fixture,

wherein the LED lighting fixture is configurable to provide a plurality of functions controllable based on the plurality of commands.

2. The circuit of claim 1, further comprising a LED driver circuit coupled to said LED lighting fixture and for receiving said firing angle.

3. The circuit of claim 1, further comprising a bridge rectifier coupled to said power switch and for receiving said firing angle.

4. The circuit of claim 1, wherein said firing angle is less than 90 degrees of a sine wave of said power line.

5. The circuit of claim 1, wherein said plurality of functions include an intensity function of said LED lighting fixture.

6. The circuit of claim 1, wherein said plurality of functions include a color function of said LED lighting fixture.

7. The circuit of claim 1, wherein said plurality of functions include a power factor of said LED lighting fixture.

8. The circuit of claim 1, wherein said plurality of functions include a power dissipation function of said LED lighting fixture.

9. A method for controlling a light emitting diode (LED) lighting fixture via a power line, said method comprising:

controlling a power switch coupled to said power line to generate a firing angle;

receiving said firing angle;

translating said firing angle into one of a plurality of commands of said LED lighting fixture; and

utilizing said function to control said LED lighting fixture,

wherein the LED lighting fixture is configurable to provide a plurality of functions controllable based on the plurality of commands.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said power switch comprises a thyristor.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said plurality of functions comprise an intensity command for said LED lighting fixture.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said plurality of functions comprise a color command for said LED lighting fixture.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said plurality of functions comprise a power factor command for said LED lighting fixture.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein said plurality of functions comprise a power dissipation command for said LED lighting fixture.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein said LED lighting fixture comprises a plurality of LEDs coupled in series.

16. A circuit for controlling a light emitting diode (LED) lighting fixture via a power line, said circuit comprising:

a power switch coupled to said power line and for outputting a firing angle;

a control circuit coupled to said power switch and for implementing firing angle control of said power switch;

a translator coupled to receive said firing angle and for mapping said firing angle to one of a plurality of commands of said LED lighting fixture; and

a LED driver circuit coupled to said translator to receive said one of the plurality of commands and coupled to a LED,

wherein the LED lighting fixture is configurable to provide the plurality of functions controllable based on the plurality of commands.

17. The circuit of claim 16, further comprising:

a filter coupled to said translator and said LED driver circuit; and

a bridge rectifier coupled to said power switch and to said LED driver circuit.

18. The circuit of claim 16, wherein said firing angle is less than 20 degrees of a cosine wave of said power line.

19. The circuit of claim 16, wherein said translator comprises a microcontroller.

20. The circuit of claim 16, wherein the plurality of functions include a color function of said LED lighting fixture.