Illumination systems

• US 9,192,005 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2014
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EMD Technologies Inc (Benchmark Electronics Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: EMD Technologies Inc (Benchmark Electronics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Beland, Robert, Carli, Giampaolo
• Primary Examiner(s): CRAWFORD, JASON
• Application Number:
  US14/120,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20140354172A1
• Time in Patent Office: 570 Days
• Field of Search: 315/291, 315/294, 315/297, 315/307
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/4258 using a single converter stage both for correction of AC input power factor and generation of a regulated and galvanically isolated DC output voltage H02M1/4241 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5458 Monitor sensor; Alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/04 Controlling
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/044 continuously H05B39/042 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/38 using boost topology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/382 with galvanic isolation between input and output
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/385 using flyback topology
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/10 Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes

Abstract

An illumination system includes a master power supply providing power to several illumination modules. The master power supply is constructed and arranged to generate high-frequency and low-voltage electrical power provided to a primary wire forming a current loop. Each illumination module includes an electromagnetic coupling element and several light sources.

Claims

1. An illumination system, comprising:

a master power supply including an AC inverter and an amplitude modulator, said master power supply being constructed and arranged to generate high-frequency current provided to a primary wire forming a current-carrying loop;

said amplitude modulator being constructed to amplitude modulate said current at at least two modulation frequencies; and

at least two illumination modules each including several light emitting diodes receiving power by inductive coupling from said current-carrying loop, each said illumination module including a frequency discriminator, responsive to one of said modulation frequencies, constructed to enable control of a DC current to said light emitting diodes and thereby control emission of light from said light emitting diodes.

2. The illumination system of claim 1 wherein said inductive coupling is achieved by an electromagnetic coupling element including a magnetic core arranged to receive said current-carrying loop as a primary wire, and a secondary wire wound around at least a portion of said magnetic core to enable said inductive coupling from said primary wire, said secondary wire being connected to provide current to said light emitting diodes.

3. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein said high-frequency current is in the range of 20 kHz to 100 kHz, and said modulation frequencies are in the range of 1 kHz to 10 kHz.

4. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein said illumination module includes a switch that acts as an on/off shunt for said light emitting diodes.

5. The illumination system of claim 1 wherein said light emitting diodes include a red light emitting diode, a green light emitting diode, and a blue light emitting diode.

6. The illumination system of claim 1 wherein said master power supply includes a microcontroller connected to receive control signals from a module controller.

7. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein said illumination module is constructed to enable dimming of said light emitting diodes.

8. An illumination system, comprising:

a master power supply, including an AC inverter and a modulator, constructed and arranged to generate high-frequency and low-voltage electrical power being modulated and provided to a primary wire forming a current carrying loop; and

an illumination module including an electromagnetic coupling element and a light source, said electromagnetic coupling element including a magnetic core arranged to receive said current loop, and a secondary wire wound around at least a portion of said magnetic core to enable inductive coupling of said modulated power from said primary wire, said secondary wire being connected to provide current to said light source.

9. The illumination system of claim 8 wherein said light source includes one or more light emitting diodes.

10. The illumination system of claim 9 wherein said light emitting diodes include a red light emitting diode, a green light emitting diode, and a blue light emitting diode.

11. The illumination system of claim 9 wherein said master power supply includes a microcontroller connected to receive control signals from a module controller.

12. The illumination system of claim 9, wherein said illumination module is constructed to enable dimming of said light emitting diodes.

13. The illumination system of claim 8 wherein said light source includes one or more incandescent lights.

14. The illumination system of claim 8 wherein said magnetic core and a part of said secondary wire wound around said core are encapsulated, thereby sealing said core and wire portion while enabling displacement of said primary wire with respect to said encapsulated magnetic core.

15. The illumination system of claim 8 wherein said magnetic core is shaped to include a closed magnetic path, and wherein said secondary wire is wound around at least a portion of said core to provide electromagnetic coupling.

16. The illumination system of claim 15 wherein said primary wire is located inside said core and arranged to provide electromagnetic coupling.

17. The illumination system of claim 8 wherein said modulator provides amplitude modulation at frequencies in the range of 1 kHz to 10 kHz.

18. The illumination system of claim 8 wherein said resonant inverter providing an output in the range of about 20 kHz to about 40 kHz.

19. The illumination system of claim 8 wherein said master power supply includes an AC current source.

20. The illumination system of claim 8 wherein said AC inverter includes a self-oscillating inverter providing substantially a sine wave output.

21. The illumination system of claim 8 wherein said master power supply includes:

said AC inverter constructed and arranged to generate said high-frequency and low-voltage electrical output;

an AC current source including an inductor connected to receive said electrical output; and

a transformer including a primary side and a secondary side, said primary side being connected to said current source and said secondary side being arranged to provide current to said current carrying loop.

22. An illumination method, comprising the acts of:

generating high-frequency and low-voltage electrical power;

modulating said high-frequency and low-voltage electrical power at modulation frequencies in the range of 1 kHz to 10 kHz

providing said modulated high-frequency and low-voltage electrical power to a primary wire forming a current carrying loop;

inductively coupling energy from said current carrying loop in a contactless manner to a secondary wire included in an illumination module;

demodulating a signal corresponding to said inductively coupled energy in said illumination module; and

delivering current to one or more light sources.

23. The illumination method of claim 22 comprising controlling said high-frequency and low-voltage electrical power, and

sensing a loop current by monitoring output of said high-frequency and low-voltage electrical signal.

24. The illumination method of claim 22 wherein said delivering current to one or more light sources includes delivering current to light emitting diodes included in said illumination module.