Configurable LED driver/dimmer for solid state lighting applications

• US 8,957,601 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2012
• Issued: 02/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mate, LLC
• Original Assignee: Lumastream Canada Ulc
• Inventors: Tikkanen, David, Booth, Christopher Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Tan, Vibol
• Application Number:
  US13/466,509
• Publication Number:
  US 20120280637A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 315/294, 315/152, 315/155, 315/210, 315/246, 315/291, 315/77, 315/299, 362/85, 362/147, 362/148, 362/150, 362/240, 362/576
• US Class Current: 315/294
• 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 45/32 Pulse-control circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/36 Circuits for reducing or suppressing harmonics, ripples or electromagnetic interferences [EMI]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/375 using buck topology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/38 using boost topology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/385 using flyback topology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/39 Circuits containing inverter bridges
• 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: H05B 47/175 by remote control

Abstract

The disclosure is directed at a configurable light emitting diode (LED) dimmer for controlling a set of light fixture loads comprising: a power circuit; a primary digital controller for controlling the power circuit; a set of output current drivers, each of the set of output current drivers connected to one of the set of light fixture loads for controlling the associated light fixture load; a secondary digital controller for controlling the set of output current drivers; wherein the secondary controller transmits LED control information to control outputs of the set of output current drivers; and wherein the secondary digital controller provides digital feedback control information to the primary digital controller.

Claims

1. Apparatus for configuring and powering a set of light fixture loads in a light emitting diode (LED) low voltage distribution system comprising:

an LED driver including a power circuit having at least one power limit and a set of output current drivers connected to the at least one power limit in the power circuit; and

a break-out module electrically connected to an output of the LED driver and the set of light fixture loads, the break-out module including power connectors;

wherein the break-out module receives power from the LED driver via a set of input channels and delivers power to the set of light fixture loads via a set of output channels; and

splits the set of input channels into individual output channels;

wherein the LED driver is located remotely from the set of light fixture loads.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the set of output current drivers are connected to the break-out module via cabling.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

a set of series connect modules, each of the set of series connect modules associated with one of the set of light fixture loads and connected to an output of the break-out module.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the power cabling includes the set of input channels.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the break-out module connects to multiple light fixture loads via cabling.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the break-out module comprises:

at least one printed circuit board (PCB).

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the at least one PCB assists in splitting the set of input channels into individual output channels.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the power connectors include apparatus to enable quick connection and release of the cabling.

9. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein at least one of the set of series connect modules comprises:

at least one printed circuit board (PCB) assembly for connecting to an output from the break-out module.

10. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the break-out module and the set of series connect modules are integrated together.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the LED driver and the break-out module are integrated together.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the LED driver further comprises a communication interface for receiving data from an external transmitter.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one current driver comprises a buck topology power stage with hysteretic control.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a DC/DC converter.

19. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the cabling comprises at least four conductors.

20. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the cabling comprises at least two twisted pairs of conductors.

15. Apparatus for configuring and powering a set of light fixture loads in a light emitting diode (LED) low voltage distribution system comprising:

an LED driver including a power circuit having at least one power limit and a set of output current drivers connected to the at least one power limit in the power circuit; and

a break-out module electrically connected to an output of the LED driver and the set of light fixture loads, the break-out module including power connectors;

wherein the break-out module receives power from the LED driver via a set of input channels and delivers power to the set of light fixture loads via a set of output channels;

wherein the break-out module regroups the number of output channels from the number of input channels

wherein the LED driver is located remote from the set of light fixture loads.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the break-out module connects to multiple light fixture loads via cabling.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the break-out module comprises:

at least one printed circuit board (PCB).

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the at least one PCB assists in regrouping the set of input channels into a different grouping of output channels.