Devices and systems having AC LED circuits and methods of driving the same

• US 9,693,405 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2015
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lynk Labs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lynk Labs, Inc.
• Inventors: Miskin, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Owens, Douglas W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kaiser, Syed M
• Application Number:
  US14/886,252
• Publication Number:
  US 20160057827A1
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 315 50, 315294, 315129, 315136, 257 43, 257 98, 257 88, 362157
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/141 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/192 Details of lamp holders, terminals or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/48 with means for conducting heat from the inside to the outside of the lighting devices, e.g. with fins on the outer surface of the lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/14 using electrical feedback from LEDs or from LED modules
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/30 Driver circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/42 Antiparallel configurations
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/46 having LEDs disposed in parallel lines
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/48 having LEDs organised in strings and incorporating parallel shunting devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/50 responsive to malfunctions or undesirable behaviour of LEDs; responsive to LED life; Protective circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/58 involving end of life detection of LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/59 for reducing or suppressing flicker or glow effects

Abstract

A lighting device and system having at least one circuit, the circuit having at least two LEDs connected in series, parallel or anti-parallel configuration and at least one current limiting diode. The device or system may be driven with AC or DC power and may further include a sensor and polarity switching circuit to utilize all LEDs within the circuit when drive by DC power.

Claims

1. A method of driving a lighting device or system, the method comprising the steps of:

connecting at least two LEDs such that at least one of the at least two LEDs is capable of emitting light during a positive phase from an AC power source, and at least one of the at least two LEDs is capable of emitting light during a negative phase from an AC power source;

providing DC power across the at least two LEDs, the at least two LEDs forming a load such that at least one of the at least two LEDs is forward biased by the DC power and at least one of the at least two LEDs is reversed biased by the DC power;

sensing the load to insure that the at least one LED configured to be forward biased by the DC power is operational; and

,

reversing the polarity of the DC power across the load dynamically so as to forward bias the at least one LED that was previously reverse biased if the at least one LED previously configured to forward biased is no longer operational.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of sensing the load at a DC power supply to insure that the at least one LED configured to be forward biased by the DC power is operational;

and,

reversing the polarity of the DC power across the load dynamically at the DC power supply so as to forward bias the at least one LED that was previously reverse biased if the at least one LED previously configured to forward biased is no longer operational.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

providing a switch for reversing the polarity of the DC power across the load manually using the switch so as to forward bias the at least one LED that was previously reverse biased.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

reversing the polarity of the DC power across the load by manually disconnecting the circuit from the DC power and reconnecting the circuit to the DC power in a reversed configuration so that the at least one LED that was previously reverse biased is now forward biased.

5. The method claim 1 further comprising the step of connecting the at least two LEDs in an anti-parallel configuration.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of connecting at least one current limiting diode in series with each of the at least two LEDs.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of connecting at least four diodes in a bridge configuration, wherein at least two of the at least four diodes are LEDs and at least two of the at least four LEDs are forward biased when connected to DC power, and at least two of the at least two LEDs are reversed biased when connected to DC power.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of connecting at least one constant current diode across the output of the bridge rectifier.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of connecting at least one wire across the output of the bridge rectifier.