Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
  • H05B45/00—Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
  • H05B45/20—Controlling the colour of the light
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
  • H05B45/00—Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
  • H05B45/00—Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
  • H05B45/30—Driver circuits
  • H05B45/37—Converter circuits
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
  • H05B45/00—Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
  • H05B45/30—Driver circuits
  • H05B45/37—Converter circuits
  • H05B45/3725—Switched mode power supply [SMPS]
  • H05B45/38—Switched mode power supply [SMPS] using boost topology
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
  • H05B45/00—Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
  • H05B45/30—Driver circuits
  • H05B45/32—Pulse-control circuits
  • H05B45/325—Pulse-width modulation [PWM]
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
  • H05B45/00—Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
  • H05B45/30—Driver circuits
  • H05B45/345—Current stabilisation; Maintaining constant current
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
  • H05B45/00—Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
  • H05B45/30—Driver circuits
  • H05B45/395—Linear regulators
  • H05B45/397—Current mirror circuits

Definitions

• Light emitting diodes are known which, when disposed on a circuit, accept
• LEDs are
• LEDs include air gap LEDs, GaAs light-emitting diodes
• LEDs single-diode package
• polymer LEDs polymer LEDs
• semi-conductor LEDs among others.
• LEDs in current use are red.
• Conventional uses for LEDs include displays for low light
• LEDs digital display of a wristwatch. Improved LEDs have recently been used in arrays for longer- lasting traffic lights. LEDs have been used in scoreboards and other displays. Also, LEDs
• LEDs may take any color; moreover, a single LED may be designed to
• the present invention takes
• LEDS diodes
• primary colors encompasses any different colors that can be combined to
• Patent No. 5, 184,1 14, issued to Brown shows an LED display system.
• Illumination systems exist in which a network of individual lights is controlled by a
• central driver which may be a computer-controlled driver.
• illumination systems may be a computer-controlled driver.
• the DMX-512 protocol was originally designed to standardize the control of light
• the DMX-512 protocol is a multiplexed digital lighting control
• non-dim relays parameters of a moving light, or a graphical light in a computerized virtual
• DMX-512 is used for control for a network of devices.
• a receiving device such as a dimmer transforms these codes into a function
• the device will perform the desired task.
• DMX-512 protocol information is transferred between devices
• the first wire is referred to as a data + wire
• the second wire is referred to as a data - wire.
• the voltage used on the line is typically positive five volts.
• the data + wire is taken to positive five volts
• RS-485 is generally understood to be better for data transmission than RS-232.
• RS-232 With RS-232,
• the receiver has to measure if the incoming voltage is positive or negative.
• the two wires over which RS-485 is transmitted are preferably twisted. Twisting
• RS-485 also increases the maximum data rate, i.e., the maximum amount
• DMX-512 (using RS-485) permits
• one start bit which is used to warn the receiver that the next character is starting
• eight data bits this conveys up to two hundred fifty six different levels
• two stop bits which are
• the receiver looks at the two incoming signals on a pair of pins and compares the
• the signal driver sends five hundred twelve device codes in a continual, repetitive stream of data.
• the receiving device is addressed with a number between one and five hundred
• a terminator resistor is typically installed at the end of a DMX line of devices, which
• the value of the resistor is determined by the cable type used. Some devices allow for self
• This device creates a physical break in the line by transforming the electrical
• DMX messages are typically generated through computer software. Each DMX
• break is a signal for the receiver that the previous message has ended and the next message is about to start.
• the signal can be more than eighty-eight micro seconds. After the break
• This start character may be used to
• the disadvantage is a reduction in the number of messages
• Each of these characters may have a
• make after break time and may have a refresh rate of seventy or eighty messages per second.
• Certain devices are capable of using sixteen-bit DMX. Normal eight bit
• one set of wires is needed for electrical power, while a second set of
• wires is needed for data, such as DMX-512 protocol data. Accordingly, the owner of an existing set of lights must undertake significant effort to rewire in order to have a digitally
• LED based lights are appropriate
• incandescent lamps or halogen lamps may be more appropriate
• pulse width modulated signals to control electrical devices, such as motors.
• microprocessor receives periodic interrupts at a known rate. Each time through the interrupt
• the processor uses the hardware timer to generate a periodic
• the difficulty with the third method is that for multiple PWM channels
• the present invention is an
• a current control for a lighting assembly which may be an
• LED system or LED lighting assembly which may be a pulse width modulated (“PWM)
• PWM pulse width modulated
• each current-controlled unit is uniquely addressable and capable of receiving illumination color information on a computer lighting
• current control means PWM current control, analog current
• control digital current control
• any other method or system for controlling current any other method or system for controlling current.
• LED system means any system that is capable of receiving
• LED system should be understood to include light emitting diodes of all types, light emitting
• an "LED system” may be any one of electro-luminescent strips, and other such systems.
• an "LED system” may be any one of electro-luminescent strips, and other such systems.
• an "LED system” may be any one of electro-luminescent strips, and other such systems.
• an "LED system” may be any one of electro-luminescent strips, and other such systems.
• an "LED system” may be any one of electro-luminescent strips, and other such systems.
• LED system is one type of illumination source. As used herein "illumination
• illumination source should be understood to include all illumination sources, including LED systems, as
• incandescent sources including filament lamps, pyro-luminescent sources, such as
• candle-luminescent sources such as gas mantles and carbon arch radiation sources, as
• photo-luminescent sources including gaseous discharges, flourescent sources,
• electro-luminescent sources such as electro-luminescent
• lamps, light emitting diodes, and cathode luminescent sources using electronic satiation as
• miscellaneous luminescent sources including galvano-luminescent sources, crystallo-
• luminescent sources kine-luminescent sources, thermo-luminescent sources, triboluminescent
• Illumination sources may also include luminescent polymers capable of producing primary colors.
• the invention includes a tree network configuration of
• the present invention comprises a heat
• dissipating housing made out of a heat-conductive material, for housing the lighting assembly.
• the heat dissipating housing contains two stacked circuit boards holding respectively a power
• the LED board is thermally connected to
• the light module is adapted to be conveniently interchanged with other light modules having
• organic LEDs may include organic LEDs, electro-luminescent strips, and other modules, in addition to
• LED lighting network which may be an LED lighting network.
• LED lighting network Disclosed herein is a LED lighting network
• a heat-dissipating housing to contain the lighting units of the lighting network.
• thermometer general environmental indicator and lightbulb, all utilizing the general computer
• the present invention provides applications for digitally controlled LED based lights.
• Systems and methods of the present invention include uses of such lights in a number of
• present invention include systems whereby such lights may be made responsive to a variety of
• Systems and methods of the present invention include improved data and
• Systems and methods of the present invention include use of LEDs as part of or on a wide range of items to provide aesthetically appealing or function effects.
• LEDs controlled light emitting diodes
• Fig. 1 depicts a light module of the present invention.
• Fig. 2 depicts a light module of Fig. 1 in data connection with a generator of control
• Fig. 3 depicts a schematic of an embodiment of light module.
• Fig. 4 depicts an array of LEDs in an embodiment of a light module.
• Fig. 5 depicts a power module in an embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 6 depicts a circuit design for an embodiment of a light module.
• Fig. 7 depicts a circuit design for an array of LEDs in a light module in an embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 8 depicts an array of LEDs that may be associated with a circuit such as that of
• Fig. 9 depicts a schematic of the electrical design of an embodiment of a light module.
• Fig. 10 depicts a power module for a light module of the invention.
• Fig. 11 depicts another view of the power module of Fig. 10.
• Fig. 12 depicts a circuit for a power supply for a light module of the invention.
• Fig. 13 depicts a circuit for a power/data multiplexor.
• Fig. 14 depicts a circuit for another embodiment of a power/data multiplexor.
• Fig. 15 depicts flow charts depicting steps in a modified pulse width modulation
• Fig 16 depicts a data delivery track lighting system
• Fig 17 depicts a circuit design for a data driver for the track system of Fig 16
• Fig 18 depicts a circuit design for a terminator for a track system of Fig 16
• Fig 19 depicts an embodiment of a light module in which a cylindrical housing houses the light module
• Fig 20 depicts a modular light module
• Fig 21 depicts a modular light module constructed to fit a halogen socket
• Fig 22 depicts a circuit design for an embodiment of a light module
• Fig 23 depicts a modular housing for a light module
• Fig 24 is a schematic illustration of a modular LED unit in accordance with one
• Fig 25 illustrates a light module in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention
• Fig 26 illustrates a light module in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention
• Fig 27 illustrates a light module in accordance with a further embodiment of the
• Figs 28A-C illustrate a plurality of LEDs arranged within the various configurations
• Figs 29-68 illustrate the various environments within which the modular LED unit of
• the present invention may illuminate
• Fig 69 depicts a smart light bulb embodiment of the invention
• Fig 70 depicts the embodiment of Fig 69 in data connection with another device
• Fig 71 depicts the embodiment of Fig 69 in connection with other smart light bulbs
• Fig. 72 depicts a network of smart light bulbs in data connection with each other.
• Fig. 73 depicts a light buffer sensor/feedback application using a smart light bulb.
• Fig. 74 depicts an EKG sensor/feedback environment using a smart light bulb.
• Fig. 75 depicts a schematic diagram of a sensor/feedback application.
• Fig. 76 depicts a general block diagram relevant to a color thermometer.
• Fig. 77 depicts a color speedometer.
• Fig. 78 depicts a color inclinometer.
• Fig. 79 depicts a color magnometer.
• Fig. 80 depicts a smoke alert system.
• Fig. 81 depicts a color pH meter.
• Fig. 82 depicts a security system to indicate the presence of an object.
• Fig. 83 depicts an electromagnetic radiation detector.
• Fig. 84 depicts a color telephone indicator.
• Fig. 85 depicts a lighting system using a light module of the present invention.
• Fig. 86 depicts a schematic of the system of Fig. 85.
• Fig. 87 depicts a schematic of an encoder for the system of Fig. 85.
• Fig. 88 depicts a schematic of an encoding method using the encoder of Fig. 87.
• Fig. 89 depicts a schematic of a decoder of the system of Fig. 85.
• Fig. 90A depicts an embodiment of a system for precision illumination.
• Fig. 90B depicts a block diagram of a control module for the precision illumination
• Fig. 91 depicts an embodiment comprising a precision illumination system held in an
• Fig 92A depicts fruit-bearing plants illuminated by an array of LED systems
• Fig 92B depicts fruit-bea ⁇ ng plants illuminated by natural light
• Fig 93 A is a generally schematic view illustrating the anatomy of the porta hepatis as
• Fig 93B depicts an embodiment of an LED system affixed to a medical instrument
• Fig 93C depicts an embodiment of an LED system affixed to an endoscope
• Fig 93 D depicts an embodiment of an LED system affixed to a surgical headlamp
• Fig 93E depicts an embodiment of an LED system affixed to surgical loupes
• Fig 94 depicts a method for treating a medical condition by illuminating with an
• Fig 95 depicts changing the perceived color of colored objects by changing the color
• Fig 96 depicts creating an illusion of motion in a colored design by changing the color
• Fig 97 depicts a vending machine in which an illusion of motion in a colored design is
• Fig 98 depicts a vending machine in which objects appear and disappear in a colored
• Fig 99 depicts a system for illuminating a container
• Fig 100 depicts an article of clothing lit by an LED system
• a light module 100 is depicted in block diagram format.
• module 100 includes two components, a processor 16 and an LED system 120, which is
• Fig. 1 depicted in Fig. 1 as an array of light emitting diodes.
• processor is used herein to
• the LED system 120 is
• the processor 16 controls the processor 16 to produce controlled illumination.
• the processor 16 controls the processor 16 to produce controlled illumination.
• the processor 16 controls the processor 16 to produce controlled illumination.
• the module 100 may be made capable of receiving power and data.
• the light module 100 may be made capable of receiving power and data.
• the light module 100 may be constructed to be used either alone or
• modules 100 can be provided with a data connection 500 to one or more external devices, or,
• data connection should be understood to encompass any system for delivering data
• a network such as a network, a data bus, a wire, a transmitter and receiver, a circuit, a video tape, a
• a data connection may thus include any system of method to deliver data by radio frequency, ultrasonic, auditory, infrared, optical, microwave, laser, electromagnetic, or other transmission
• the light module 100 may be equipped with a transmitter
• the processor 16 may be programmed to
• the light modules 100 may
• a transmitter 502 which may be a
• the transmitter 502 should be understood to
• transmitter 502 may be linked to or be part of a control device 504 that generates control data
• control device 504 is a computer, such as a laptop computer.
• the control data may be in any form suitable
• control data is formatted according to the DMX-512 protocol, and conventional
• control device 504 to control the light modules 100.
• the light module 100 may also be
• module 100 may act in stand alone mode according to pre-programmed instructions.
• Fig. 3 shown is an electrical schematic representation of the light module
• Figs. 4 and 5 show the LED-containing side
• Light module 100 may be constructed, in an embodiment, as a self-contained module that is configured to be a standard item interchangeable with any similarly constructed light module.
• Light module 100 contains a ten-pin electrical connector 1 10 of the general type. In this
• the connector 1 10 contains male pins adapted to fit into a complementary ten-pin
• Pin 180 is the power supply.
• LED light emitting diode
• LED system 120 includes a set 121 of red LEDs, a set 140 of blue LEDs, and a set
• the LEDs may be conventional LEDs, such those obtainable from the
• LED system 120 includes LED set 121, which contains three parallel connected rows of nine
• red LEDs (not shown), as well as LED sets 140 and 160, which each contain five parallel
• each red LED drops the potential in the line by a lower amount
• each blue or green LED about two and one-tenth V, compared to four volts
• rows of five blue LEDs in LED set 140 are connected in common, and go to pin 148 on
• each LED set in the LED system 120 is associated with a programming resistor that combines
• resistor 122 Between pin 124 and 126 is resistor 122, six and two-tenths ohms. Between pin 144 and 146 is resistor 142, four and seven-tenths ohms. Between pin 164 and 166 is resistor
• Resistor 122 programs maximum current through red LED
• resistor 142 programs maximum current through blue LED set 140, and resistor 162
• a circuit 10 for a digitally controlled LED-based light includes an
• LED assembly 12 containing LED output channels 14, which are controlled by the processor
• switch unit 20 containing switches which are connected to individual pins of pin set 21 of processor 16.
• An oscillator 19 provides a clock signal for the processor 16
• data and power input unit 18 has four pins
• a power supply 1 which may be a twenty-four volt LED power supply, a processor
• power supply 2 which may be a five volt processor power supply, a data in line 3 and a
• the first power supply 1 provides power to LED channels 14 of LED assembly
• the second processor power supply 2 may be connected to power supply input 20 of
• processor 16 to provide operating power for the processor 16 and also may be connected to a
• the capacitor may be connected between the processor power supply 2 and ground.
• 3 may be connected to pin 18 of processor 16 and may be used to program and dynamically
• the ground may be connected to pins 8 and 19 of the processor 16.
• LED assembly 12 may be supplied with power from the LED power supply 1 and may
• the LED channel 14 may supply power to at least one LED. As shown in Fig. 1, the LED assembly 12 may supply multiple LED channels
• each LED channel 14 for different color LEDs (e.g., red, green and blue), with each LED channel 14 individually
• LEDs 15 may be arrayed in series to receive signals through each
• LEDs 15 may also be arrayed to receive data according to a protocol
• the output of the microprocessor appears on pins 12, 13 and 14 of processor 16,
• pins of processor 16 could be used to control additional LEDs. Likewise, different pins of
• processor 16 could be used to control the illustrated LEDs 15, provided that appropriate
• a resistor 28 may be connected between transistor 26 and ground. In the illustrated embodiment
• resistor 28 associated with the red LED has a resistance value of sixty-two ohms
• a capacitor 29 may be connected between the first LED power supply 1 and ground.
• this capacitor has a value of one-tenth of a microfarad.
• Processor 16 may be connected to an oscillator 19.
• One acceptable oscillator is a
• crystal tank circuit oscillator which provides a twenty megaHertz clock. This oscillator may
• processor 16 is a programmable integrated circuit
• PIC chip such as a PIC 16C63 or PIC 16C66 manufactured by Microchip Technology, Inc.
• any processor capable of controlling the LEDs 15 of LED assembly 12 mav be used
• any processor capable of controlling the LEDs 15 of LED assembly 12 mav be used
• ASIC application specific integrated circuit
• a total of eighteen LEDs 15 are
• the processor 16 can be used to separately control the precise intensity of
• the user may precisely control the color and intensity of the LED Due to the relatively instantaneous
• the processor 16 may be controlled by
• control may be digital, so that precise control is
• Figs 10 and 1 1 show the power terminal side
• power module 200 may be self contained Interconnection with a male pin set 110 is achieved through complementary female pin set 210.
• Pin 280 connects with pin 180 for supplying power, delivered to pin 280 from supply 300.
• Supply 300 is shown as a functional block for
• supply 300 can take numerous forms for generating a DC voltage.
• supply 300 provides twenty-four volts through a connection terminal
• supply 300 may also supply a DC voltage after
• pin connector 210 Also connected to pin connector 210 are three current programming integrated
• ICR 220 may be a three terminal adjustable
• Each regulator contains an input terminal, an output terminal and an
• the regulators function to maintain a
• Pin 228 in the power module is coupled to pin 128 in the
• resistor 122 is ordinarily disposed between the output and adjustment terminals of ICR
• resistor 122 programs the amount of current regulated by ICR 220. Eventually, the current output from the adjustment terminal of ICR 220 enters a Darlington driver. In this way, ICR 220 and associated resistor 122 program the maximum
• the red, blue and green LED currents enter another integrated circuit, ICI 380, at
• ICI 380 may be a high current/voltage Darlington driver
• ICI 380 may be used as a current sink, and may function to switch current
• ICI contains six sets of Darlington transistors with
• nodes 324, 344 and 364 couple the current
• each of the three on-board Darlington pairs is used in the following manner as a switch.
• the base of each Darlington pair is used in the following manner as a switch.
• input 424 is the signal input
• Input 444 is the signal
• Input 464 is the
• microcontroller IC2 400 as described below. In essence, when a high frequency square wave
• ICI 380 switches current through a respective node
• microcontroller IC2 400 in the embodiment of Fig. 9
• Microcontroller IC2 400 is preferably a MICROCHIP brand
• microcontroller IC2 performs the software functions described herein.
• the main function of microcontroller IC2 performs the software functions described herein.
• the main function of microcontroller IC2 performs the software functions described herein.
• microcontroller IC2 400 is partially
• Microcontroller IC2 400 is powered through pin 450, which is coupled to a five volt
• Source 700 is preferably driven from supply 300 through a coupling
• An exemplary voltage regulator is
• microcontroller IC2 400 The clock frequency of microcontroller IC2 400 is set by crystal 480,
• Pin 490 is the microcontroller IC2 400 ground reference.
• Switch 600 is a twelve position dip switch that may be alterably and mechanically set
• microcontroller IC2 400 "knows" its unique address ("who am
• network protocol such as a DMX protocol
• DMX DMX protocol
• microcontroller IC2 400 individually addressed microcontroller IC2 400 from a central network controller (not shown).
• the DMX protocol is described in a United States Theatre Technology, Inc. publication
• controller (not shown) creates a stream of network data consisting of sequential data packets.
• Each packet first contains a header, which is checked for conformance to the standard and discarded, followed by a stream of sequential characters representing data for sequentially
• Each character corresponds to a decimal number zero to two hundred fifty-five
• the refresh cycle is defined by the standard to be a minimum of one thousand
• Microcontroller IC2 400 is programmed continually to "listen" for its data stream
• microcontroller IC2 400 When microcontroller IC2 400 is "listening,” but before it detects a data packet intended for it,
• each register can take on a value from zero to two hundred fifty five, these values create two
• PWM pulse width modulation
• the PWM interrupt routine is implemented using a
• microcontroller IC2 400 When microcontroller IC2 400 receives new data, it freezes the counter, copies the
• intensity values may be updated in the middle of the PWM cycle. Freezing the counter
• each lighting unit to quickly pulse/strobe as a strobe light does. Such strobing happens when
• the central controller sends network data having high intensity values alternately with network data having zero intensity values at a rapid rate. If one restarted the counter without first
• LEDS unlike incandescent elements
• the central controller can send a continuous dimming signal
• red register is set at 4 and the counter is set at 3 when it is frozen. Here, the counter is frozen
• the network data changes the value in the red register from four to two and the counter is
• microprocessors that provide the digital control functions of the LEDs of the
• present invention may be responsive to any electrical signal; that is, external signals may be used to direct the microprocessors to control the LEDs in a desired manner.
• a computer may be responsive to any electrical signal; that is, external signals may be used to direct the microprocessors to control the LEDs in a desired manner.
• program may control such signals, so that a programmed response to given input signals is
• signals may be generated that turn individual LEDs on and off, that vary the
• predetermined intervals that are controllable to very short time intervals, and that vary the
• Input signals can range from simple on-off or intensity signals, such as that from a
• detectors such as detectors of
• Jack 800 is used as an input jack, and is shown for
• IC3 500 which is an RS-485/RS-422 differential bus repeater of the standard type
• DS96177 from the National Semiconductor Corporation, Santa Clara, California.
• inputs 860, 870 enter IC3 500 at pins 560, 570.
• the data signal is passed through from pin
• Jack 900 is used as an output jack and is shown for
• signal outputs 960, 970, 980, 990 and ground 950 are simplified as having only five outputs: signal outputs 960, 970, 980, 990 and ground 950.
• Outputs 960 and 970 are split directly from input lines 860 and 870, respectively.
• Outputs 980 and 990 come directly from IC3 500 pins 580 and 590, respectively. It will be
• a network may be constructed as a daisy chain, if only
• illumination or display units can be constructed from a collection of power modules each
• any illumination or display color may be generated simply by preselecting the light intensity
• each color LED emits. Further, each color LED can emit light at any of 255 different
• the maximum intensity can be
• modules of different maximum current ratings may thereby be conveniently interchanged.
• a special power supply module 38 is
• the power supply module 38 may be disposed on any combination of
• platform of the light module 100 such as, for example, the platform of the embodiment
• the output of the power supply module 38 supplies power to a
• power supply module 38 is capable of taking a voltage or current input in a variety of forms
• the power supply module includes inputs 40, which
• rectifying element 42 which in an embodiment of the
• the invention is a bridge rectifier consisting of four diodes 44.
• the rectifying element 42 rectifies
• a storage element 48 which may include one or more capacitors 50.
• the storage element stores power that is supplied by the rectifying element 42, so that the power
• supply module 38 can supply power to the input 18 of the circuit 10 of Fig. 6, even if power to
• the input 40 of the power supply module 38 is intermittent.
• the capacitors is an electrolytic capacitor with a value of three hundred thirty microfarads.
• the power supply module 38 may further include a boost converter 52.
• the boost may be further included.
• the boost converter 52 may include an inductor 54, a controller 58, one or more capacitors 60, one or more resistors 62,
• the resistors limit the data voltage excursions in the signal to the
• the controller 58 may be a conventional controller suitable for
• boost conversion such as the LTC1372 controller provided by Linear Technology
• the boost converter 52 is capable of taking power at
• a separate data wire may provide data to control the LEDs 15, if the platform 30 is inserted into a
• the device which may be a lighting device such as the LED-based lighting device of Fig. 1 or
• Electrical power and data may be any other device that requires both electrical power and data. Electrical power and
• data may be supplied to multiple lighting devices on a single pair of wires.
• power is delivered to the device (and, where applicable, through
• the power supply module 38 recovers power from
• a power data multiplexer 60 is
• 64 is provided, which may be a line driver or other input for providing data.
• a line driver or other input for providing data.
• the data is DMX-512 protocol data for control of lighting, such as LEDs. It
• power data multiplexer 60 could manipulate data according to
• the power data multiplexer 60 may include a data input element 68 and a data output
• the data output element 70 may include an output element 72 that supplies
• the data input element 68 may include a receiver 74,
• the data input element 68 may further include a power supply 78 with a voltage regulator 80, for providing regulated power to the
• the data input element 68 supplies a data signal
• a TTL data signal is
• the data output element 70 amplifies the data signal and determines the relative
• a chip 82 consists of a high
• zero volts could represent logical zero, with a particular
• the voltage is sufficient to supply power while maintaining the logical data values of the data stream.
• the chip 82 may be any conventional chip capable of
• the device may be a light module 100, such as that depicted in Fig. 1.
• the data supplied to the power data multiplexer 60 is the data supplied to the power data multiplexer 60
• the power data multiplexer 60 can amplify the DMX-512 signal from the standard signal voltage and/or
• the resulting higher power signal from the power data multiplexer 60 can be converted
• the data stream from the power data multiplexor 60 can be recovered by simple
• Resistive division can be accomplished by the resistors 84 of Fig. 12.
• the power data multiplexer 62 when combined with the power supply module 38 and
• the array 37 mounted on a modular platform 30, permits the installation of LED-based
• the power data multiplexor 60 can be installed along a conventional data
• the user can have LED based, digitally controlled lights by
• the power supply module 38 can be supplied with
• module can supply the array 37 from alternating current present in conventional fixtures, such
• FIG. 14 Another embodiment of a power data multiplexor 60 is depicted in Fig. 14. In this embodiment, a power supply of between twelve and twenty-four volts is used, connected to
• the voltage at 803 is eight volts greater than the supply voltage.
• the voltage at 805 is
• the power data multiplexor 60 is about negative eight volts.
• the voltage at 801 is five volts.
• a voltage volt difference may include decoupling capacitors 807 and 809 for the input power supply.
• a voltage volt difference may include decoupling capacitors 807 and 809 for the input power supply.
• regulator 81 1 creates a clean, five volt supply, decoupled by capacitor 813. A voltage
• regulator 815 which may be an LM317 voltage regulator available from National
• LT1375 step down regulator available from Linear Technology of Milpitas CA, operated in the voltage inverting configuration.
• the teachings of the LT1375 data sheet are
• resistors 817 and 819 have been selected
• a diode 844 is a higher voltage version than that indicated in
• inductor 846 is may be any conventional inductor, for example, one with a
• Diode 854 may be a plastic
• a step up voltage regulator 825 which may be an LT1372
• the step up voltage regulator may be of a standard design.
• Diode 862 may be a diode with higher voltage than that taught
• Inductor 864 and capacitor 839 may be sized appropriately according to
• Capacitor 866 may be sized for frequency
• Resistors 833 and 837 form a voltage divider, producing a voltage in proportion to the output
• Resistors 827 and transistors 829 form a current
• the voltage at feedback pin 835 is thus proportional to the output voltage minus the input
• resistor 827 for the subtraction to work is chosen to produce eight volts.
• Capacitors 839 may
• Incoming data which may be in the form of an incoming RS-485 protocol data stream, is received by a receiver chip 841 at the pins 843 and 845, buffered, and amplified to produce
• Each of the signals from the pins 853 and 855 is then processed by an output amplifier.
• cascode type current sources 861 and 863 the first composed of resistor 865 and transistor
• the current source 863 will sink a current of approximately 20 milliamps when the signal entering the amplifier is low, such as at zero volts, and will sink no
• 861 will source approximately twenty milliamperes when the signal is high, but not when low.
• transistors 877 and 885 are connected together, forming a current
• Transistors 899 and 901 form a bi-directional
• Class B voltage follower of a standard design and the voltage at the junction of their emitters
• transistor 901 conducts, causing the voltage at the gates of transistors 903 and 907 to
• Field effect transistors 903 and 907 which may be of
• transistor 907 will remain on so long as the input signal remains high.
• capacitor 893 will charge at the same rate, eventually being clamped to a value of the
• Transistor 899 will cause the voltage at the gates of transistor
• Transistor 905 and resistor 911 form a
• Diode 913 isolates the short circuit protector circuit when transistor 903 is not on.
• transistor 907 No protection is provided for transistor 907, because the expected short circuit paths would be either to ground or to the other amplifier channel. In the first case no current could flow
• the circuit of Fig. 14 produces a controlled slew rate; that is, the power and data
• the controlled slew rate produced by the circuit of Fig 14 decreases the magnitude of the
• termination is only needed in the case of a device that is commanded to be off, with actual data
• the method may be accomplished by computer software coding of the steps depicted in the flow charts 202 and
• the processor schedules an interrupt of at least N
• this interrupt is
• step 208 each sub-period's coarse PWM values are computed In step 212, the
• the first sub-period is one, etc
• step 214 all PWM signals are updated from pre-computed values corresponding to this specific sub-period. In most cases this entails a single read from an array of pre-computed values, followed by a single write to update the
• step 218 one of the PWM signals is then modified.
• the step 218 is accomplished
• a step 222 the processor advances the sub-period bookkeeping value to point to the
• the vernier in the step 218 can reduce or increase the amount of time that the PWM
• each PWM signal can change multiple times per PWM period.
• the method disclosed thus far consumes a maximum of approximately half of the
• vernier update need not be known, so long as the time spent between the vernier updates is the
• periods per PWM cycle can generate non-uniform PWM waveforms at frequencies higher than
• the microprocessor still executes interrupts at fixed intervals.
• the software can asynchronously change the duty cycles of the signals produced.
• This software routine can thus utilize a single timer to generate multiple PWM signals
• waveform is a non-uniform nine thousand seven hundred sixty-five Hertz signal, with much
• the LED arrays of the present invention are responsive to external
• the data connection 500 can be a DMX or lighting data
• a track capable of delivering data signals may be run inside a track lighting apparatus for LEDs
• the data signals may then be controlled by a microprocessor to permit
• present invention to provide distributed lights that are responsive to both electrical and data
• the LEDs of the present invention are highly responsive to changes the input signal.
• DMX-512 networks send data at two
• the present invention may also include an automation system chassis that consists of a
• mother board that communicates with a network and/or bus using the DMX, Ethernet or other
• the input signals for the microprocessor can be any suitable input signals for the microprocessor.
• a switch that is mounted on a wall or a remote control can transmit a
• Another embodiment provides a different track lighting system. Present track lighting
• a conventional track lighting system delivers power and provides a
• a track provides only two conductors, and all fixtures along the
• the track are controlled by a single control device. It is not possible to control remotely (switch on or off, or dim) a subset of the fixtures attached to the track without affecting the
• Track systems have generally included more than two conductors, primarily because of
• a fixture is assigned to a subset at the time of insertion into the track. Thus, that fixture will be affected by signals for the particular subset. If there is
• the fixture typically only receives power, which can be modified somewhat (i.e.
• termination devices for ensuring that the signals do not cause excessive spurious reflections.
• a user may wish to send lighting control data
• the fixture 6000 could be a light module 100, such as that disclosed herein, or it could be any other conventional fixture capable of connection to a conventional track lighting track.
• the data control standard is the DMX-512 standard described herein.
• DMX-512 specifies the use of RS-485 voltage signaling levels and input/output
• each section cannot be "terminated" with its characteristic impedance to achieve a properly
• a specialized termination network may be utilized. Certain characteristics of the track system are relevant. First, multiple sections of track
• the minimum impedance of such loads shall be not less than ten and five-tenths kilo-ohms
• the total number of fixtures can easily exceed two hundred in just a single room.
• the track itself may
• wavelength of the highest frequency signal transmitted on them can be analyzed and viewed as a lumped load; i.e., their transmission line effects can be effectively ignored.
• the highest frequency signal delivered to it For a digital signal, the highest
• frequency component is the edge, at which the signal transitions between the two voltage
• edge transition time required to reliably transmit such a signal is at least five times faster than
• network length is about forty-two meters. This is an adequate length for most applications.
• the driver is preferably capable of
• the driver output current is preferably at least two hundred milliamps to ensure adequate margin.
• harmonics generated by the system fall well below the thirty megahertz starting frequency for
• conductors should have a low resistance per unit length, ideally less than that needed to deliver one and one-half volts of signal to all receivers as specified in the RS-485 standard.
• This termination is preferably not purely resistive
• Halo Power Track provided by
• the data can correspond not only to light
• control effects such as moving a yoke, gobo control, light focus, or the
• system can be used to control non-lighting devices that are RS-485
• Units can send status information to the driver, or information can be provided to the
• a circuit design for the data driver 6004 includes a
• unregulated power is delivered to the data driver 6004.
• the power may be split into positive
• a shunt regulator 6014 consisting of a resistor 6016, a resistor 6018, and a
• transistor 6020 Decoupling may be provided by capacitors 6022, 6024 and 6028.
• regulator 6014 may be of a standard design familiar to analog circuit designers.
• one-half volt supply is further regulated to produce a five volt supply by a voltage regulator 6030, which may be an LM78L05ACM voltage regulator available from National

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• 1998
  • 1998-12-17 EP EP98964035.4A patent/EP1040398B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-12-17 ES ES98964035.4T patent/ES2666995T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-12-17 AU AU19241/99A patent/AU1924199A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1998-12-17 WO PCT/US1998/026853 patent/WO1999031560A2/en active Application Filing

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