Method of providing power to solid state lighting

• US 9,763,301 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2015
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chemtron Research LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Chemtron Research LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Shteynberg, Anatoly, Rodriguez, Harry
• Primary Examiner(s): VO, TUYET THI
• Application Number:
  US14/635,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20150230311A1
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 315247, 315224, 315185 S, 315209 R, 315246, 315219, 315291, 315307-326
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/14 using electrical feedback from LEDs or from LED modules
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3725 Switched mode power supply [SMPS]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/375 using buck topology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/38 using boost topology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/165 following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/17 Operational modes, e.g. switching from manual to automatic mode or prohibiting specific operations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

A method of providing power to solid state lighting is disclosed. The method includes starting a first cycle by providing current to the solid state lighting system, monitoring a solid state lighting system current level, and reducing the solid state lighting system current level when a predetermined peak current level is reached. A second cycle is commenced by increasing the solid state lighting system current level when a predetermined minimum current level is reached. Corresponding apparatus and computer-readable medium are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of providing power to a solid state lighting system, the method comprising:

starting a first cycle by providing current to the solid state lighting system;

monitoring a solid state lighting system current level;

reducing the solid state lighting system current level when a predetermined peak current level is reached; and

commencing a second cycle by increasing the solid state lighting system current level through a resistor coupled in series with the solid state lighting system and an inductor when a predetermined minimum current level is reached.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the solid state lighting system current level by measuring a first corresponding voltage; and

comparing the first corresponding voltage to a first predetermined reference voltage to determine when the predetermined peak current level is reached.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the solid state lighting system current level by measuring a second corresponding voltage; and

comparing the second corresponding voltage to a second predetermined reference voltage to determine when the predetermined minimum current level is reached.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined minimum current level is substantially close to zero.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a substantially constant DC average current to the solid state lighting system by maintaining substantially constant the predetermined peak current level and the predetermined minimum current level.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the substantially constant DC average current is substantially proportional to one-half of a sum of the predetermined peak current level and the predetermined minimum current level.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the substantially constant DC average current is substantially equal to one-half of a sum of the predetermined peak current level and the predetermined minimum current level.

8. A computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by at least one computing device, cause the at least one computing device to:

start a first cycle by providing current to a solid state lighting system;

monitor a solid state lighting system current level;

reduce the solid state lighting system current level when a predetermined peak current level is reached; and

commence a second cycle by increasing the solid state lighting system current level when a predetermined minimum current level through a resistor coupled in series with the solid state lighting system and an inductor is reached.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the predetermined minimum current level is substantially close to zero.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the instructions, in response to execution, further cause the at least one computing device to:

determine the solid state lighting system current level by measuring a first corresponding voltage; and

compare the first corresponding voltage to a first predetermined reference voltage to determine when the predetermined peak current level is reached.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the instructions, in response to execution, further cause the at least one computing device to:

determine the solid state lighting system current level by measuring a second corresponding voltage; and

compare the second corresponding voltage to a second predetermined reference voltage to determine when the predetermined minimum current level is reached.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the instructions, in response to execution, further cause the at least one computing device to provide a substantially constant DC average current by maintaining substantially constant the predetermined peak current level and the predetermined minimum current level.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the substantially constant DC average current is substantially equal to one-half of a sum of the predetermined peak current level and the predetermined minimum current level.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the substantially constant DC average current is substantially proportional to one-half of a sum of the predetermined peak current level and the predetermined minimum current level.

15. An apparatus for providing power to a solid state lighting system, the apparatus comprising:

means for starting a first cycle by providing current to the solid state lighting system;

means for monitoring a solid state lighting system current level;

means for reducing the solid state lighting system current level when a predetermined peak current level is reached; and

means for commencing a next energizing cycle by increasing the solid state lighting system current level through a resistor coupled in series with the solid state lighting system and an inductor when a predetermined minimum current level is reached.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

means for determining the solid state lighting system current level by measuring a first corresponding voltage; and

means for comparing the first corresponding voltage to a first predetermined reference voltage to determine when the predetermined peak current level is reached.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

means for determining the solid state lighting system current level by measuring a second corresponding voltage; and

means for comparing the second corresponding voltage to a second predetermined reference voltage to determine when the predetermined minimum current level is reached.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising means for providing a substantially constant DC average current to the solid state lighting system by maintaining substantially constant the predetermined peak current level and the predetermined minimum current level.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the substantially constant DC average current is substantially equal to one-half of a sum of the predetermined peak current level and the predetermined minimum current level.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the substantially constant DC average current is substantially proportional to one-half of a sum of the predetermined peak current level and the predetermined minimum current level.