Methods and apparatus for controlling respective load currents of multiple series-connected loads
First Claim
1. A lighting apparatus, comprising:
- at least one first LED for generating first radiation having a first spectrum;
at least one second LED for generating second radiation having a second spectrum different from the first spectrum, wherein the at least one first LED and the at least one second LED are electrically connected in series between a first node and a second node, and a series current flows between the first node and the second node when an operating voltage is applied across the first node and the second node;
a controllable current path connected in parallel with the at least one second LED, the controllable current path including an energy storage device and a switch; and
a switching power supply for providing power factor correction and the operating voltage, the switching power supply controlling the switch of the controllable current path to selectively divert at least a portion of the series current around the at least one second LED to the energy storage device, such that a first current through the at least one first LED and a second current through the at least one second LED are different,wherein the energy storage device subsequently provides the diverted portion of the series current to the at least one first LED.
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Abstract
A lighting apparatus (100) includes one or more first LEDs (202) for generating a first spectrum of radiation (503), and one or more second LEDs (204) for generating a second different spectrum radiation (505). The first and second LEDs are electrically connected in series between a first node (516A) and a second node (516B), between which a series current (550) flows with the application of an operating voltage (516) across the nodes. A controllable current path (518) is connected in parallel with one or both of the first and second LEDs so as to at least partially divert the series current, such that a first current (552) through the first LED(s) and a second current (554) through the second LED(s) are different. Such current diversion techniques may be employed to compensate for shifts in color or color temperature of generated light during thermal transients, due to different temperature-dependent current-to-flux relationships for different types of LEDs.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A lighting apparatus, comprising:
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at least one first LED for generating first radiation having a first spectrum; at least one second LED for generating second radiation having a second spectrum different from the first spectrum, wherein the at least one first LED and the at least one second LED are electrically connected in series between a first node and a second node, and a series current flows between the first node and the second node when an operating voltage is applied across the first node and the second node; a controllable current path connected in parallel with the at least one second LED, the controllable current path including an energy storage device and a switch; and a switching power supply for providing power factor correction and the operating voltage, the switching power supply controlling the switch of the controllable current path to selectively divert at least a portion of the series current around the at least one second LED to the energy storage device, such that a first current through the at least one first LED and a second current through the at least one second LED are different, wherein the energy storage device subsequently provides the diverted portion of the series current to the at least one first LED. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 19)
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11. A method for controlling a color temperature of white light generated by an LED-based lighting apparatus during a thermal transient, the LED-based lighting apparatus comprising at least one first LED for generating first radiation having a first spectrum and at least one second LED for generating second radiation having a second spectrum different from the first spectrum, wherein the white light results from a mixture of the first radiation and the second radiation, and wherein the at least one first LED and the at least one second LED are electrically connected in series between a first node and a second node and a series current flows between the first node and the second node when an operating voltage is applied across the first node and the second node, the method comprising:
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A) generating a temperature signal representing a temperature proximate to the at least one first LED and the at least one second LED; B) controlling, based on the temperature signal, at least one controllable current path connected in parallel with the at least one second LED so as to divert at least a portion of the series current around the at least one second LED, such that a first current through the at least one first LED and a second current through the at least one second LED are different; and C) recycling the at least a portion of the series current diverted around the at least one second LED back to the at least one first LED. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for controlling a color temperature of white light generated by an LED-based light source during a thermal transient, the LED-based light source mounted to a thermally conductive substrate and comprising at least one first LED for generating first radiation having a first spectrum and at least one second LED for generating second radiation having a second spectrum different from the first spectrum, wherein the white light results from a mixture of the first radiation and the second radiation, the thermally conductive substrate having a recess formed therein proximate to the LED-based light source, the apparatus comprising:
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a printed circuit board defining a protruding tab for insertion into the recess formed in the thermally conductive substrate; a temperature sensor disposed on the tab of the printed circuit board, such that when the tab is inserted into the recess formed in the thermally conductive substrate, the temperature sensor is essentially embedded in the thermally conductive substrate proximate to the LED-based light source; and a plurality of components disposed on the printed circuit board and constituting a switching power supply for providing power factor correction and an operating voltage for the LED-based light source, the switching power supply comprising at least one integrated circuit (IC) controller for controlling flow of a first current through the at least one first LED and flow of a second current through the at least one second LED. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification