Solid state lighting circuit and controls

• US 8,410,720 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2009
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MetroSpec Technology LLC
• Original Assignee: MetroSpec Technology LLC
• Inventors: Holec, Henry V., Crandell, Wm. Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): Hammond, Crystal L
• Application Number:
  US12/419,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20090251068A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,456 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 315/294
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/20 Light sources comprising attachment means
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/005 the substrate is supporting also the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/30 on the outer surface of cylindrical surfaces, e.g. rod-shaped supports having a circular or a polygonal cross section
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/395 Linear regulators
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/48 having LEDs organised in strings and incorporating parallel shunting devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/60 Circuit arrangements for operating LEDs comprising organic material, e.g. for operating organic light-emitting diodes [OLED] or polymer light-emitting diodes [PLED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0263 High current adaptations, e.g. printed high current conductors or using auxiliary non-printed means; Fine and coarse circuit patterns on one circuit board H05K1/0293 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09309 Core having two or more power planes; Capacitive laminate of two power planes
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10106 Light emitting diode [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10166 Transistor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

In some embodiments, a solid state lighting circuit may include one or more of the following features: (a) a plurality of emitters operably connected to a power supply (b) the power supply operably coupled in series with a current limiting device, where one or more of the emitters is bypassed with a switched circuit, and (c) at least one MOSFET switch operably coupled to the voltage divider circuit.

Claims

1. A solid state lighting circuit, comprising:

a plurality of emitters operably connected to a power supply;

the power supply operably coupled in series with a current limiting device;

a plurality of switched circuits, where one or more of the emitters is bypassed with each of the switched circuits;

wherein a controlling signal for the switched circuits to bypass one or more of the emitters is derived from the voltage of the power supply and increased applied voltage results in fewer emitters being bypassed.

2. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the power supply is operably connected to an AC power source.

3. The circuit of claim 1, wherein each switched circuit comprises at least one MOSFET switch.

4. The circuit of claim 1, wherein a plurality of emitters can be dimmed.

5. The circuit of claim 1, the plurality of emitters connected in series with one another.

6. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the power supply is operably connected to a DC power source.

7. A solid state lighting circuit, comprising:

a plurality of emitters operably connected to a power supply; and

the power supply operably coupled in series with a current limiting device, where one or more ballast resistors can be bypassed with a switched circuit,

wherein the switched circuit bypasses the one or more ballast resistors until the power supply reaches a threshold voltage.

8. The circuit of claim 7, wherein the plurality of emitters can be bypassed with the switching circuit.

9. A solid state lighting circuit, comprising:

a plurality of emitters operably connected to a power supply path;

a plurality of switches, the switches arranged in parallel with one or more of the plurality of the emitters in order to bypass one or more of the plurality of emitters by shunting current back to a power return path when the switches are activated;

wherein the number of switches activated to bypass emitters is dependent on the voltage of the power supply path;

wherein the number of switches activated decreases as the voltage of the power supply path increases.

10. The circuit of claim 9, the emitters having a minimum onset voltage to produce light, wherein the number of emitters reaching the minimum onset voltage increases as the voltage of the power supply path increases.