Apparatus, method and system for providing AC line power to lighting devices
First Claim
1. A method of providing power to a plurality of light emitting diodes couplable to receive an AC voltage, the plurality of light emitting diodes coupled in series to form a plurality of segments of light emitting diodes each comprising at least one light emitting diode, the plurality of segments of light emitting diodes coupled to a corresponding plurality of switches configured to switch a selected segment of light emitting diodes into or out of a series light emitting diode current path, the method comprising:
- monitoring a first parameter;
during a first part of an AC voltage interval, in response to the first parameter having reached a first predetermined current level, switching a corresponding segment of light emitting diodes into the series light emitting diode current path; and
during a second part of the AC voltage interval, in response to the first parameter having decreased to a second predetermined current level, switching the corresponding segment of light emitting diodes out of the series light emitting diode current path.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus, method, and system are disclosed for providing AC line power to lighting devices such as light emitting diodes (“LEDs”). A representative apparatus comprises: a plurality of LEDs coupled in series to form a first plurality of segments of LEDs; a plurality of switches coupled to the plurality of segments of LEDs to switch a selected segment into or out of a series LED current path in response to a control signal; a current sensor; and a controller which, in response to a first parameter and during a first part of an AC voltage interval, generates a first control signal to switch a corresponding segment of LEDs into the series LED current path; and during a second part of the AC voltage interval, generates a second control signal to switch the corresponding segment of LEDs out of the first series LED current path.
119 Citations
86 Claims
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1. A method of providing power to a plurality of light emitting diodes couplable to receive an AC voltage, the plurality of light emitting diodes coupled in series to form a plurality of segments of light emitting diodes each comprising at least one light emitting diode, the plurality of segments of light emitting diodes coupled to a corresponding plurality of switches configured to switch a selected segment of light emitting diodes into or out of a series light emitting diode current path, the method comprising:
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monitoring a first parameter; during a first part of an AC voltage interval, in response to the first parameter having reached a first predetermined current level, switching a corresponding segment of light emitting diodes into the series light emitting diode current path; and during a second part of the AC voltage interval, in response to the first parameter having decreased to a second predetermined current level, switching the corresponding segment of light emitting diodes out of the series light emitting diode current path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An apparatus couplable to receive an AC voltage, the apparatus comprising:
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a rectifier configured to provide a rectified AC voltage; a plurality of light emitting diodes coupled in series, wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes form a plurality of segments of light emitting diodes, and wherein the plurality of segments of light emitting diodes are coupled in series; a plurality of switches correspondingly coupled to the plurality of segments of light emitting diodes and configured to switch a selected segment of light emitting diodes into or out of a series light emitting diode current path; a current sensor configured to sense a light emitting diode current level; and a controller coupled to the plurality of switches and the current sensor, wherein the controller is configured to; during a first part of a rectified AC voltage interval and in response to the light emitting diode current level having increased to a first predetermined current level, switch a corresponding segment of light emitting diodes into the series light emitting diode current path; and during a second part of the rectified AC voltage interval and in response to the light emitting diode current level having decreased to a second predetermined current level, switch the corresponding segment of light emitting diodes out of the series light emitting diode current path. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. An apparatus couplable to receive an AC voltage, the apparatus comprising:
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a first plurality of light emitting diodes coupled in series, wherein the first plurality of light emitting diodes form a first plurality of segments of light emitting diodes, and wherein the first plurality of segments of light emitting diodes are coupled in series; a first plurality of switches coupled to the first plurality of segments of light emitting diodes and configured to switch a selected segment of light emitting diodes into or out of a first series light emitting diode current path in response to a control signal; a current sensor configured to determine a light emitting diode current level; and a controller coupled to the first plurality of switches and to the current sensor, wherein the controller is configured to; during a first part of an AC voltage interval and in response to the light emitting diode current level, generate a first control signal to switch a corresponding segment of light emitting diodes of the first plurality of segments of light emitting diodes into the first series light emitting diode current path; and during a second part of the AC voltage interval and in response to the light emitting diode current level, switch the corresponding segment of light emitting diodes of the first plurality of segments of light emitting diodes out of the first series light emitting diode current path. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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65. A computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by at least one computing device, cause the at least one computing device to:
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monitor a first parameter; during a first part of an AC voltage interval, in response to the first parameter having reached a first predetermined current level, switch a corresponding segment of one or more light emitting diodes from a plurality of segments of series coupled light emitting diodes into a series light emitting diode current path; and during a second part of the AC voltage interval, in response to the first parameter having decreased to a second predetermined current level, switch the corresponding segment of one or more light emitting diodes out of the series light emitting diode current path. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86)
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Specification