Light emitting diode replacement lamp
First Claim
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1. A method for regulating current drive through at least one light emitting diode to compensate for temperature induced resistance changes in the light emitting diode, comprising:
- supplying a source voltage;
using the source voltage to create a regulated current that is usable by the light emitting diode;
applying the regulated current to the light emitting diode to cause the regulated current to flow through the light emitting diode;
generating a sense voltage that is related to the regulated current and to a temperature at a position in a thermal pathway of heat emanating from the light emitting diode which heat is produced by the light emitting diode responsive to the regulated current; and
using the sense voltage as a feedback to modify the regulated current to be maintained within a non-destructive operating range of the light emitting diode when the regulated current would otherwise be outside of the non-destructive range due to a decreased resistance of the light emitting diode caused by an increased temperature of the light emitting diode.
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Abstract
Thermal management and control techniques for light emitting diode and other incandescent replacement light technologies using a current controller are disclosed.
138 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for regulating current drive through at least one light emitting diode to compensate for temperature induced resistance changes in the light emitting diode, comprising:
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supplying a source voltage; using the source voltage to create a regulated current that is usable by the light emitting diode; applying the regulated current to the light emitting diode to cause the regulated current to flow through the light emitting diode; generating a sense voltage that is related to the regulated current and to a temperature at a position in a thermal pathway of heat emanating from the light emitting diode which heat is produced by the light emitting diode responsive to the regulated current; and using the sense voltage as a feedback to modify the regulated current to be maintained within a non-destructive operating range of the light emitting diode when the regulated current would otherwise be outside of the non-destructive range due to a decreased resistance of the light emitting diode caused by an increased temperature of the light emitting diode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A current regulator for regulating current drive through at least one light emitting diode to compensate for temperature induced resistance changes in the light emitting diode, the current regulator comprising:
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a source voltage input for receiving a source voltage from a voltage source; a voltage regulator connected to the source voltage input for regulating the source voltage to create the regulated current and for connection to the light emitting diode to cause the regulated current to flow through the light emitting diode; and a sense voltage generator for generating a sense voltage that is related to the regulated current and to a temperature at a position in a thermal pathway of heat emanating from the light emitting diode, which heat is produced by the light emitting diode responsive to the regulated current, where the sense voltage is used as a feedback to modify the regulated current to be maintained within a non-destructive operating range of the light emitting diode when the regulated current would otherwise be outside of the non-destructive range due to a decreased resistance of the light emitting diode caused by an increased temperature of the light emitting diode. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification