Configurable LED driver/dimmer for solid state lighting applications

• US 9,049,759 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2013
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mate, LLC
• Original Assignee: Lumastream Canada Ulc
• Inventors: Tikkanen, David, Neudorf, Jason, Lyons, Steven, Hathaway, Kyle Grahame
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford, Jason M
• Application Number:
  US13/941,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20130300312A1
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 315/247, 315/291, 315/294, 315/297, 315/302, 315/307, 315/312
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/30 Driver circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/355 Power factor correction [PFC]; Reactive power compensation
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/37 Converter circuits
• 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 45/60 Circuit arrangements for operating LEDs comprising organic material, e.g. for operating organic light-emitting diodes [OLED] or polymer light-emitting diodes [PLED]

Abstract

A configurable light emitting diode (LED) driver for powering a set of light fixture loads comprising a power circuit which includes an inrush current limit and a DC/DC convertor, a power factor correction (PFC) boost connected to the inrush current limit and the DC/DC converter, a regulated output voltage bus connected to the DC/DC converter, and a primary digital controller for controlling the power circuit. The driver further includes 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 powering the associated light fixture load. The driver also includes an apparatus for configuring the set of output current drivers to an output current set point and at least one power limit connected to the regulated output voltage bus.

Claims

1. A configurable light emitting diode (LED) driver for powering a set of light fixture loads comprising:

a power circuit including;

an inrush current limit;

a DC/DC converter;

a power factor correction (PFC) boost connected to the inrush current limit and the DC/DC converter;

a regulated output voltage bus connected to the DC/DC converter;

a primary 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 powering the associated light fixture load, and;

an apparatus for configuring the set of output current drivers to an output current set point.

2. The LED driver of claim 1 wherein the apparatus for configuring comprises at least one port associated with at least one of the set of output current drivers for configuration of the output current drivers.

3. The LED driver of claim 2 wherein the port is at least one in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) port.

4. The LED driver of claim 2 wherein the at least one port is connected to the set of output current drivers.

5. The LED driver of claim 2 wherein the apparatus for configuring programs the output current set point.

6. The LED driver of claim 1 wherein the apparatus for configuring is integrated with a secondary controller.

7. The LED driver of claim 6 wherein the apparatus for configuring calibrates the current set point.

8. The LED driver of claim 6 further comprising a communication interface for receiving data from an external transmitter.

9. The LED driver of claim 8 wherein the communication interface is either DMX512A, 0-10Vdc analog control, Zigbee wireless or Remote Device Management (RDM) compatible.

10. The LED driver of claim 8 comprising a means to map output current drivers to various dimming zones for DMX512A control.

11. The LED driver of claim 8 comprising a means to map output current drivers to various dimming zones for 0-10 Vdc control.

12. The LED driver of claim 8 comprising an auxiliary flyback converter to provide power to the primary controller, secondary controller and communication interface.

13. The LED driver of claim 6 wherein the primary and secondary controllers are digital controllers.

14. The LED driver of claim 13 wherein the primary digital controller can disable the PFC boost and DC/DC Converter at zero light intensity state.

15. The LED driver of claim 1 wherein the output voltage bus is connected to at least one power limit.

16. The LED driver of claim 1 wherein the set of output current drivers comprise a buck topology power converter.

17. The LED driver of claim 1 further comprising a housing portion for housing the components of the driver.

18. The LED driver of claim 17 wherein the apparatus for configuring is integrated with the housing portion.

19. The LED driver of claim 1 wherein the light fixture load is one of an Organic LED (OLED) load or an LED load.

20. A configurable light emitting diode (LED) driver for powering a set of light fixture loads comprising:

a power circuit including;

an inrush current limit;

a DC/DC converter;

a power factor correction (PFC) boost connected to the inrush current limit and the DC/DC converter;

a regulated output voltage bus connected to the DC/DC converter; and

at least one power limit connected to the regulated output voltage bus; and

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 powering the associated light fixture load.

21. The LED driver of claim 20 wherein the at least one power limit comprises a current sensor.

22. The LED driver of claim 21 wherein the current sensor is monitored by a controller.

23. The LED driver of claim 22 wherein the controller includes an apparatus for configuring the regulated output voltage bus to a calibrated voltage.

24. The LED driver of claim 20 wherein the regulated output voltage bus and at least one power limit are enclosed within a housing.

25. The LED driver of claim 24 wherein the housing comprises a heatsink with fins.