WO2017066496A1 - Éclairage à semi-conducteur et systèmes de capteur - Google Patents

Éclairage à semi-conducteur et systèmes de capteur Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2017066496A1
WO2017066496A1 PCT/US2016/056924 US2016056924W WO2017066496A1 WO 2017066496 A1 WO2017066496 A1 WO 2017066496A1 US 2016056924 W US2016056924 W US 2016056924W WO 2017066496 A1 WO2017066496 A1 WO 2017066496A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
ballast
limited
voltage
power
lighting system
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2016/056924
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Laurence P. Sadwick
Original Assignee
Innosys, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Innosys, Inc. filed Critical Innosys, Inc.
Publication of WO2017066496A1 publication Critical patent/WO2017066496A1/fr

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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]
    • H05B45/30—Driver circuits
    • H05B45/37—Converter circuits
    • H05B45/3725—Switched mode power supply [SMPS]
    • 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]
    • H05B45/375—Switched mode power supply [SMPS] using buck 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
    • H05B45/37—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
    • H05B45/37—Converter circuits
    • H05B45/3725—Switched mode power supply [SMPS]
    • H05B45/385—Switched mode power supply [SMPS] using flyback 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
    • H05B45/37—Converter circuits
    • H05B45/3725—Switched mode power supply [SMPS]
    • H05B45/39—Circuits containing inverter bridges
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
    • Y02B20/00—Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps
    • Y02B20/30—Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Definitions

  • Fluorescent and high intensity discharge (HID) lamps are widely used in a variety of applications, such as for general purpose lighting in commercial, industrial, office, home and residential locations, etc.
  • Conventional fluorescent tubes and HIDs used for general lighting cannot, in general, be directly plugged into alternating current (AC) voltage lines.
  • Fluorescent lamps generally include a glass tube, circle, spiral or other shaped bulb containing a gas at low pressure, such as argon, xenon, neon, or krypton, along with low pressure mercury vapor.
  • a fluorescent coating is deposited on the inside of the lamp. As an electrical current is passed through the lamp, mercury atoms are excited and photons are released, most having frequencies in the ultraviolet spectrum. These photons are absorbed by the fluorescent coating, causing it to emit light at visible frequencies.
  • Electronic ballasts convert the input AC voltage supplied (typically at a low AC frequency of 50 or 60 Hz) power into generally a sinusoidal AC output waveform typically designed for a constant current output in the frequency range of above 20 to 40 kHz to typically less than 100 kHz and sometimes greater than 100 kHz.
  • Fluorescent and HID lamps can suffer from a number of disadvantages, such as a relatively short life span, flickering, and noisy ballasts, etc.
  • high quality electronic ballasts that are available.
  • the ballasts may be of high quality and long life, often the fluorescent tubes that are powered by the ballasts, suffer from a number of undesirable effects including reduced lifetime due, for example, to being switched on and off too often. Therefore it would be desirable to have a replacement for fluorescent tubes that are not susceptible and immune from such effects or at least not so susceptible to these undesirable issues and effects.
  • the electrical contacts or pins at the ends of the tube replacements are exposed, which can carry dangerously high electrical currents.
  • the fluorescent tubes are not able to allow intelligence, connectivity, communications, or support additional electronics, sensors, detectors, controls, etc.
  • the present invention provides solid state lighting and sensor systems including a fluorescent replacement that, for example, powers a solid state lighting source such as, for example, but not limited to, a LED and/or OLED and/or QD lamp from a fluorescent fixture, including operating and being powered by electronic ballasts.
  • a solid state lighting source such as, for example, but not limited to, a LED and/or OLED and/or QD lamp from a fluorescent fixture, including operating and being powered by electronic ballasts.
  • Embodiments of the present invention also allow for digital lighting and a digital platform in general.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a solid state lighting system with a fluorescent lamp replacement connected to a ballast output with a ballast conditioning circuit in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a solid state lighting system with a fluorescent lamp replacement connected to a ballast output with a switched ballast conditioning circuit in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 3 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a solid state lighting system with a fluorescent lamp replacement connected to a ballast with a switched ballast conditioning circuit in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a solid state lighting system with a fluorescent lamp replacement connected to a ballast output with a switched ballast conditioning circuit in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 5 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a solid state lighting system with a fluorescent lamp replacement connected to a ballast output with a switched ballast conditioning circuit in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 6 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a solid state lighting system with a fluorescent lamp replacement connected to a ballast output with multiple ballast conditioning circuits in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a solid state lighting system with a fluorescent lamp replacement connected to a ballast output with a switched ballast conditioning circuit controlled by a ballast conditioning control circuit in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 8 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a solid state lighting system with a fluorescent lamp replacement connected to a ballast output with a variable ballast conditioning circuit in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 9 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a solid state lighting system with a fluorescent lamp replacement connected to a ballast output with a variable ballast conditioning circuit controlled by a ballast conditioning control circuit in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 10 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a solid state lighting system including a variable ballast conditioning circuit and solid state lighting in accordance with some
  • Fig. 11 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a solid state lighting system including heater emulation, variable ballast conditioning circuit and solid state lighting in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 12 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a solid state lighting system including heater emulation, variable ballast conditioning circuit, solid state lighting and power supply in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 13 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a solid state lighting system with a fluorescent lamp replacement connected to a ballast output with a variable ballast conditioning circuit controlled by a ballast conditioning control circuit in response to an isolated load current feedback signal in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 14 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a solid state fluorescent replacement lighting system receiving power from both AC input and ballast output in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 15 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a solid state fluorescent replacement lighting system receiving power from both AC input and ballast output and with rectified EMI filtering in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 16 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a solid state fluorescent replacement lighting system receiving power from both AC input and ballast output and with rectified EMI filtering in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 17 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a solid state fluorescent replacement lighting system receiving power from a ballast output and with lighting and power supply outputs in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 18 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a solid state fluorescent replacement lighting system receiving power from both AC input and ballast output and with lighting and power supply outputs in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 19 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a solid state fluorescent replacement lighting system receiving power from both AC input and ballast output and with lighting and power supply outputs in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 20 is a schematic of an example ballast conditioning circuit with fixed capacitor and inductor and with switched capacitor in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 21 is a schematic of an example ballast conditioning circuit with fixed and switched capacitors in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 22 is a schematic of an example ballast conditioning circuit with fixed capacitor and switched inductor in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 23 is a schematic of an example ballast conditioning circuit with fixed and switched capacitors and switched inductor in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 24 is a schematic of an example ballast conditioning circuit with fixed and multiple switched capacitors and switched inductor in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 25 is a schematic of an example ballast conditioning circuit with fixed and multiple switched inductors and with fixed and switched capacitors in accordance with some
  • Fig. 26 is a schematic of an example ballast conditioning circuit with fixed and multiple switched inductors, with fixed and switched capacitors, and with a switched LC network in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 27 is a schematic of an example ballast conditioning circuit with fixed and multiple switched capacitors and with fixed and switched inductors in accordance with some
  • Fig. 28 is a schematic of an example ballast conditioning circuit with fixed and multiple switched capacitors and with fixed inductor in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 29 is a schematic of an example ballast conditioning circuit with fixed capacitor and inductor and with switched capacitor in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 30 is a schematic of an example ballast conditioning circuit with fixed resistor, capacitor and inductor and with switched capacitor in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 31 is a schematic of an example ballast conditioning circuit with fixed resistor and capacitor and with switched capacitor in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 32 is a schematic of an example ballast conditioning circuit with fixed resistor and capacitor and with switched inductor in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 33 is a schematic of an example ballast conditioning circuit with fixed capacitor and with switched inductor in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 34 is a schematic of an example ballast conditioning circuit with fixed capacitor and with switched inductor, with rectified switching of the inductor in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 35 is a schematic of an example ballast conditioning circuit with fixed resistor and capacitor and with switched inductor, with rectified switching of the inductor in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 36 is a schematic of an example ballast conditioning circuit with fixed resistor, inductor and capacitor and with switched inductor, with rectified switching of the inductor in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 37 is a schematic of an example ballast conditioning circuit with fixed resistor, inductor and capacitor and with switched capacitor, with rectified switching of the capacitor in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 38 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a solid state lighting system including heater emulation, variable ballast conditioning circuit and solid state lighting in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 39 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a solid state lighting system including heater emulation, variable ballast conditioning circuit, solid state lighting and power supply in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 40 depicts a solid state fluorescent lamp replacement input stage with variable ballast conditioning circuit in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 41 depicts a schematic of an example solid state lighting ballast output power stage in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 42 depicts a schematic of a voltage regulator, current control circuit for ballast mode operation, with over temperature protection circuit, over voltage protection circuit, and undervoltage protection circuit that can be used in a fluorescent lamp replacement in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 43 depicts a schematic of a ballast output flyback power supply with PWM circuit in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 44 depicts a schematic of a set point generation circuit in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 45 depicts a dual power source circuit in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 46 depicts a dual power source circuit with tagalong inductor to power internal circuits in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 47 depicts a boost power supply circuit that can be used in some embodiments of a solid state fluorescent replacement lighting system for either or both lighting or secondary power supply in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 48 depicts a buck-boost power supply circuit that can be used in some
  • Fig. 49 depicts a flyback converter power supply circuit that can be used in some embodiments of a solid state fluorescent replacement lighting system for either or both lighting or secondary power supply in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 50 depicts a flyback converter power supply circuit with half bridge that can be used in some embodiments of a solid state fluorescent replacement lighting system for either or both lighting or secondary power supply in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 51 depicts a buck-boost power supply circuit with inverted output that can be used in some embodiments of a solid state fluorescent replacement lighting system for either or both lighting or secondary power supply in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 52 depicts a buck power supply circuit that can be used in some embodiments of a solid state fluorescent replacement lighting system for either or both lighting or secondary power supply in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 53 depicts a forward converter power supply circuit with full bridge that can be used in some embodiments of a solid state fluorescent replacement lighting system for either or both lighting or secondary power supply in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 54 depicts a power supply circuit with feedback control that can be used in some embodiments of a solid state fluorescent replacement lighting system in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 55 depicts a power supply circuit with feedback control and variable input capacitor that can be used in some embodiments of a solid state fluorescent replacement lighting system in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 56 depicts a solid state fluorescent lamp replacement input stage for receiving power from a ballast output in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 57 depicts a solid state fluorescent lamp replacement input stage with heater emulation circuits for receiving power from a ballast output in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 58 depicts a solid state fluorescent lamp replacement input stage with EMI filtering for receiving power from a ballast output in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 59 depicts a power supply circuit with output control that can be used in some embodiments of a solid state fluorescent replacement lighting system in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 60 depicts a solid state fluorescent lamp replacement input stage with variable capacitance circuit in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 61 depicts a pulse-width modulated (PWM) or one-shot controller or other control signal including, but not limited to a linear signal (s), that can be used to generate the variable capacitance control signal to control the AC switch across the power input of Fig. 55 to regulate the output current and/or power in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • PWM pulse-width modulated
  • s linear signal
  • Fig. 62 depicts an example embodiment of a control circuit that can be used with a solid state fluorescent lamp replacement in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 63 depicts an example of a feedback control circuit to provide a constant output current or for other purposes using a setpoint reference signal in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 64 depicts a circuit schematic of an example embodiment of a solid state fluorescent lamp replacement where, among other things, shunting is used to set the solid state light output that can be remote controlled and monitored in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 65 depicts an over- voltage protection and/or over-temperature protection circuit that can be used with a solid state fluorescent lamp replacement in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 66 depicts a ballast sequencing circuit in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 67 depicts a solid state lighting power supply that can draw power from a fluorescent lamp fixture to power a lighting system and to provide power for internal circuits, sensors or other applications in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Figs. 68-70 depict block diagrams of identification circuits that can be used to identify, interact, work with, turn on or off, dim, etc. solid state fluorescent lamp replacements in a solid state lighting system, powered by one or more of multiple sources in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 71 depicts a wired and/or wireless controller/dimmer/monitor for use in a solid state lighting system in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 72 depicts a solid state lighting system with color controllable multiple light sources in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • FIGs. 73-75 depict block diagrams of solid state lighting systems with isolated control inputs in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 76 depicts a block diagram of an example solid state lighting system with a dimmer implementing control and monitoring in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 77 depicts a schematic of a solid state lighting dimmer in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 78 depicts a schematic of a ballast output flyback power supply with PWM circuit and set point signal in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 79 depicts a schematic of a set point generation circuit in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 80 depicts a schematic of a two stage linear switching regulator that can be used with a solid state lighting system in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 81 depicts a regulator and current control circuit for detecting when a ballast is active in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 82 depicts an example floorplan of a building with a solid state lighting and motion sensor system in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 83 depicts a block diagram of a solid state lighting system which comprises multiple fluorescent lamp fixtures, including multiple smart capable fluorescent lamp replacements, control systems, multiple remote sensors, buss connection and gateway in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 84 depicts a block diagram of a solid state lighting system which comprises multiple control panels, power sockets and relays, FLRs and control interfaces in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Solid state lighting systems including solid state fluorescent lamp replacements, are disclosed herein that may be used to power one or more light-emitting diode (LED), organic light-emitting diode (OLED) and/or quantum dot (QD) or other solid state lamps from a fluorescent fixture, whether the fixture includes a ballast of any type or not, or from other sources.
  • LED light-emitting diode
  • OLED organic light-emitting diode
  • QD quantum dot
  • Various power supplies that draw power from the fluorescent fixture are disclosed to power one or more solid state lamps.
  • Various dimming control systems are disclosed to receive and process control signals from one or more sources and to control one or more solid state lamps.
  • the present invention may use any type of circuit, integrated circuit (IC), microchip(s), microcontroller, microprocessor, digital signal processor (DSP), application specific IC (ASIC), field gate programmable array (FPGA), complex logic device (CLD), analog and/or digital circuit, system, component(s), filters, etc. including, but not limited to, any method to provide a switched signal such as a PWM drive signal to the switching devices.
  • IC integrated circuit
  • DSP digital signal processor
  • ASIC application specific IC
  • FPGA field gate programmable array
  • CLD complex logic device
  • analog and/or digital circuit system, component(s), filters, etc.
  • additional voltage and/or current detect circuits may be used in place of or to augment the control and feedback circuits.
  • Some embodiments of the present invention comprise an LED Fluorescent Lamp Replacement (FLR) that is remote dimmable and can also be Triac, Triac -based, forward and reverse dimmer dimmable, etc.
  • Control systems can use or receive control signals/commands from, for example, but not limited to any or all of wired, wireless, optical, acoustic, voice, voice recognition, motion, light, sonar, gesturing, sound, ultrasound, ultrasonic, mechanical, vibrational, and/or PLC, etc., combinations of these, etc. remote control, monitoring and dimming, motion detection/proximity detection/gesture detection, etc.
  • dimming or/other control can be performed using
  • methods/techniques/approaches/algorithms/etc. that implement one or more of the following: motion detection, recognizing motion or proximity to a detector or sensor and setting a dimming level or control response/level in response to the detected motion or proximity, or with audio detection, for example detecting sounds or verbal commands to set the dimming level in response to detected sounds, volumes, or by interpreting the sounds, including voice recognition or, for example, by gesturing including hand or arm gesturing, etc. sonar, light, mechanical, vibration, detection and sensing, etc.
  • Some embodiments may be dual or multiple dimming and/or control, supporting the use of multiple sources, methods, algorithms, interfaces, sensors, detectors, protocols, etc. to control and/or monitor including data logging, data mining and analytics.
  • Some embodiments of the present invention may use multiple dimming or control (i.e., accept dimming information, input(s), control from two or more sources).
  • Remote interfaces include, but are not limited to, 0 to 10 V, 0 to 2 V, 0 to 1 V, 0 to 3 V, etc., RS 232, RS485, DMX, DALI, WiFi, Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE or BTLE), ZigBee, Thread, 6L0WPAN, IEEE 801, IEEE 802, two wire, three wire, SPI, I2C, PLC, and others discussed in this document, etc.
  • the control signals can be received and used by the remote fluorescent lamp replacement ballast or by the LED, OLED and/or QD fluorescent lamp replacement or both.
  • the solid state lighting systems can include single and multi-color lights including RGB, White plus red-green- blue (RGB) LEDs or OLEDs or other lighting sources, RGB plus one or more colors, red yellow blue (RYB), other variants, etc.
  • Color-changing/tuning can include more than one color including RGB, WRGB, RGBW, WRGBA where A stands for amber, etc. 5 color, 6 color, N color, etc., more than one white color temperature, etc.
  • Color-changing/tuning can include, but is not limited to, white color-tuning including the color temperature tuning/adjustments/settings/ etc., color correction temperature (CCT), color rendering index (CRI), etc. including but not limited to with one or more of a red, green, blue, amber, cool white (i.e., relatively high kelvin color temperature), warm white (i.e., relatively low Kelvin color temperature), etc., combinations of these, etc., combinations that produce full spectrum lighting, etc.
  • CCT color correction temperature
  • CRI color rendering index
  • Color rendering, color monitoring, color feedback and control can be implemented using wired or wireless circuits, systems, interfaces, etc. that can be interactive using for example, but not limited to, smart phones, tablets, computers, laptops, servers, remote controls, etc.
  • the present invention can use or, for example, make, create, produces, etc. any color of white including but not limited to soft, warm, bright, daylight, cool, etc.
  • Color temperature monitoring, feedback, and adjustment can be performed in such embodiments of the present invention.
  • Some embodiments of the present invention can change to different colors when using light sources capable of supporting such (i.e., LEDs, OLEDs and/or QDs including but not limited to red, green, blue, amber, white LEDs and/or any other possible combination of LEDs and colors).
  • Embodiments of the present invention have the ability to store color choices, selections, etc. and retrieve, restore, display, update, etc. these color choices and selections when using non- fluorescent light sources that can support color changing and can also coordinate, copy, duplicate color setting including but not limited to color settings that are stored, coded, interpreted, etc. in digital format.
  • the solid state lighting and sensor systems are configured for installation in and/or connection to existing or yet to be developed or installed fluorescent lamp fixtures. In some such cases, power is drawn from the fluorescent lamp fixture, whether a ballast of any type is installed in the fluorescent lamp fixture or whether it has been removed or omitted. Thus, the solid state lighting and sensor systems can draw power for lighting or other applications from the fluorescent lamp fixture, from an AC line from the fluorescent lamp fixture or from a ballast in the fluorescent lamp fixture.
  • the solid state lighting and sensor systems comprise FLRs that are configured with a form factor that can be installed in a fluorescent lamp fixture, with pins, bi-pins or other connectors adapted to electrically and/or physically connect to tombstone sockets in the fluorescent lamp fixture.
  • heater emulation circuits can be included in the FLRs to facilitate or enable proper function of the ballast, emulating or simulating the characteristics of fluorescent lamp heaters that are replaced by the FLRs.
  • the FLRs include ballast conditioning circuits that provide control over the load current. Such control can be combined with other control circuits or techniques, including but not limited to load current and/or voltage regulation, switching, shunting, dimming, etc.
  • the term "ballast conditioning circuit” is used herein to refer to any circuit that is connected to a ballast output to control or influence the voltage from the ballast output. In some embodiments, this comprises a fixed impedance. In some other embodiments, this comprises a variable impedance with switchable impedance levels. In some embodiments, this comprises a continuously variable impedance.
  • Such a ballast conditioning circuit can be used, for example but not limited to, in a fluorescent lamp fixture with a solid state lighting fluorescent lamp replacement to control or influence load current by lowering the voltage from the ballast output in the fluorescent lamp fixture if a ballast is installed.
  • FIG. 1 an example embodiment of a solid state lighting system with a fluorescent lamp replacement 14 connected to a ballast output 10 with a ballast conditioning circuit 12 is depicted in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • the ballast conditioning circuit 12 is connected to the ballast output 10 in parallel with the fluorescent lamp replacement 14.
  • the ballast conditioning circuit 12 presents an impedance to a ballast upstream from the ballast output 10 which alters the voltage from the ballast output 10, for example lowering the voltage from the ballast output 10, thereby reducing the load current to the fluorescent lamp replacement 14.
  • the ballast conditioning circuit 12 can be any passive or active device or circuit that applies an impedance to the ballast output 10, such as, but not limited to, resistor(s), capacitor(s), inductor(s), transistor(s), etc. , combinations of these, etc. [0101]
  • Fig. 2 an example embodiment of a solid state lighting system with a fluorescent lamp replacement 20 connected to a ballast output 16 with a switched ballast conditioning circuit 18 is depicted in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • part or all of the impedance in the switched ballast conditioning circuit 18 is switchably connected to the ballast output 16, such that the impedance presented to the ballast output 16 by the switched ballast conditioning circuit 18 can be varied between two or more levels or states.
  • the voltage from the ballast output 10 can be varied between different levels.
  • FIG. 3 an example embodiment of a solid state lighting system with a fluorescent lamp replacement 26 connected to the output of a fluorescent ballast 22 with a switched ballast conditioning circuit 24 is depicted in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • part or all of the impedance in the switched ballast conditioning circuit 24 is switchably connected to the output of the fluorescent ballast 22, such that the impedance presented to the fluorescent ballast 22 by the switched ballast conditioning circuit 24 can be varied between two or more levels or states.
  • the fluorescent ballast 22 can be any type of ballast, such as, but not limited to, magnetic and electronic ballasts, low frequency and high frequency ballasts, instant start, rapid start, programmed start, program start, pre-start, warm, cold, hot types of ballasts, etc.
  • Switched ballast conditioning circuits can be switched in any suitable manner, using internal or external switches or a combination of these, mechanical, electromechanical, semiconductor, solid state, relay, etc., of any types and forms, etc., combinations, etc.
  • Fig. 4 an example embodiment of a solid state lighting system is depicted with a fluorescent lamp replacement 34 connected to a ballast output 28 with a ballast conditioning circuit 30 switched on a low side by a switch 32 in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 5 an example embodiment of a solid state lighting system is depicted with a fluorescent lamp replacement 42 connected to a ballast output 36 with a ballast conditioning circuit 40 switched on a high side by a switch 38 in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • the switches e.g., 32, 38
  • the switches can be of any appropriate type or form including ones that are manually or automatically activated, mechanically or electrically activated, are
  • semiconductor switches such as but not limited to field effect transistors (FETs) including but not limited to MOSFETs, JFETs, UFETs, etc., of both depletion and enhancement types, bipolar junction transistors including but not limited to PNP and NPN, heteroj unction bipolar transistors (HBTs), unijunction transistors, triacs, silicon controlled rectifiers (SCRs), diacs, insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs), GaN-based transistors including but not limited to GaNFETs, silicon carbide (SiC) based transistors including but not limited to SiCFETs, etc., solid state and mechanical relays, reed relays, electromechanical relays, latching relays, contactors, etc.
  • FETs field effect transistors
  • MOSFETs MOSFETs
  • JFETs JFETs
  • UFETs UFETs
  • bipolar junction transistors including but not limited to PNP and NPN
  • HBTs heteroj unction bipolar
  • ballast conditioning circuits can be included.
  • FIG. 6 an example embodiment of a solid state lighting system is depicted with a fluorescent lamp replacement 52 connected to a ballast output 44 with multiple ballast conditioning circuits, including a fixed or static impedance ballast conditioning circuit 46 and a switched ballast conditioning circuit 48 with external switch 50 in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Multiple ballast conditioning circuits can be used to provide finer granularity or control of the impedance presented to the ballast output 44, to accommodate various types of ballasts, to provide redundancy and fault tolerance, etc.
  • FIG. 7 an example embodiment of a solid state lighting system is depicted with a fluorescent lamp replacement 62.
  • a ballast conditioning circuit 58 is switchably connected in parallel with the fluorescent lamp replacement 62 to the ballast output 54.
  • the switch 60 is controlled by a ballast conditioning control circuit 56 in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • the ballast conditioning control circuit 56 can apply any suitable control algorithm to control the switch 60.
  • a load current feedback signal from the fluorescent lamp replacement 62 is provided to the ballast conditioning control circuit 56, and when the load current exceeds a threshold, the ballast conditioning control circuit 56 closes the switch 60, connecting the ballast conditioning circuit 58 to the ballast output 54, lowering the voltage at the ballast output 54 and thus reducing the current to the fluorescent lamp replacement 62.
  • a pulse or pulse width modulation signal is used to turn on and off the switch 60 at, for example, but not limited to a fixed or variable pulse width, a fixed or variable frequency, a fixed or variable duty cycle, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • Feedback can be used to set, control, regulate, etc., the fixed or variable control parameters.
  • variable ballast conditioning circuit 66 presents a continuously or substantially continuously variable impedance to the ballast output 16.
  • impedances in the variable ballast conditioning circuit 66 are controllably connected to the ballast output 64 by one or more continuously variable or analog switches.
  • the variability of the impedance can be achieved by but not limited to controlling a digital switch with a pulse width modulated signal, with the duty cycle of the control signal changed so that the time averaged impedance can be continuously varied.
  • FIG. 9 an example embodiment of a solid state lighting system is depicted with a fluorescent lamp replacement 76.
  • a variable ballast conditioning circuit 74 is connected in parallel with the fluorescent lamp replacement 76 to the ballast output 70.
  • the variable ballast conditioning circuit 74 is controlled by a ballast conditioning control circuit 72 in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • the ballast conditioning control circuit 72 can apply any suitable control algorithm to control the variable ballast conditioning circuit 74.
  • a load current feedback signal from the fluorescent lamp replacement 76 is provided to the ballast conditioning control circuit 72, and as the load current increases, the ballast conditioning control circuit 72 controls the variable ballast conditioning circuit 74 to modify the impedance to the ballast output 70, for example, but not limited to, lowering the voltage at the ballast output 70 and thus reducing the current to the fluorescent lamp replacement 76.
  • a variable ballast conditioning circuit 80 connected to a ballast output 78 in parallel with a rectification circuit 82, lighting driver circuit 84 and solid state lighting 86 in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • the load current to the solid state lighting 86 can be controlled at least in part by the variable ballast conditioning circuit 80, for example increasing the impedance presented by the variable ballast conditioning circuit 80 to the ballast output 78 to reduce the voltage across the ballast output 78.
  • the driver can be any suitable circuit based on the requirements of the solid state lighting 86 and the voltage and/or current output from the ballast output 78, such as, but not limited to, a dimmable constant current driver.
  • the solid state lighting 86 can be any type of solid state lighting including but not limited to light emitting diodes (LEDs), organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), quantum dot-based (QD)-based LEDs, etc.
  • the solid state lighting 86 can comprise a digital lighting platform as well as a sensor, detector, communications, etc. power hub, source and support for digital communications of all types and forms including but not limited to big data, environmental, information, entertainment, infotainment, etc.
  • FIG. 11 an example embodiment of a solid state lighting system is depicted with a variable ballast conditioning circuit 91 connected to a ballast output 88 in parallel with a rectification circuit 92, lighting driver circuit 94 and solid state lighting 96 in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • An optional heater emulation circuit 90 can also be connected to the ballast output 88 to emulate a fluorescent or HID tube for instant/rapid/prestart ballasts to enable or assist the ballast to operate normally when the fluorescent or HID tube has been replaced.
  • the load current to the solid state lighting 96 can be controlled at least in part by the variable ballast conditioning circuit 91, for example increasing the impedance presented by the variable ballast conditioning circuit 91 to the ballast output 88 to reduce the voltage across the ballast output 88.
  • FIG. 12 an example embodiment of a solid state lighting system is depicted with a variable ballast conditioning circuit 102 connected to a ballast output 98 in parallel with a rectification circuit 104, lighting driver circuit 106 and solid state lighting 108 in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • An optional heater emulation circuit 100 can also be connected to the ballast output 98 to emulate a fluorescent or HID tube for instant/rapid/prestart ballasts to enable or assist the ballast to operate normally when the fluorescent or HID tube has been replaced.
  • Power at a load output 112 is also derived from the ballast output 98 using power supply 110 to power loads which can be, but which are not limited to, internal circuits in the solid state lighting system, sensors, etc.
  • the load current to the solid state lighting 108 and the voltage to the power supply 110 can be controlled at least in part by the variable ballast conditioning circuit 102, for example increasing the impedance presented by the variable ballast conditioning circuit 102 to the ballast output 98 to reduce the voltage across the ballast output 98, as well as external circuits, controls, sensors, transducers, audio and/or video, Internet of Things (IOT) devices, sensors, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • IOT Internet of Things
  • FIG. 13 an example embodiment of a solid state lighting system is depicted with a fluorescent lamp replacement 120.
  • a variable ballast conditioning circuit 118 is connected in parallel with the fluorescent lamp replacement 120 to the ballast output 114.
  • the variable ballast conditioning circuit 118 is controlled by a ballast conditioning control circuit 116 in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • the ballast conditioning control circuit 116 can apply any suitable control algorithm to control the variable ballast conditioning circuit 118.
  • a load current feedback signal from the fluorescent lamp replacement 120 is provided to the ballast conditioning control circuit 116 via an optional isolation circuit 122 such as, but not limited to, opto-isolators, transformers, or other level- shifters or isolators.
  • the ballast conditioning control circuit 116 controls the variable ballast conditioning circuit 118 to change the effective impedance to the ballast output 114, and, for example but not limited to, lowering the voltage at the ballast output 114 and thus reducing the current to the fluorescent lamp replacement 120.
  • FIG. 14 an example embodiment of a solid state fluorescent replacement lighting system receiving power from both AC input and ballast output is depicted in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • the block diagrams do not show optional elements such as a snubber, the feedback, set point, control, sense, other components, UVP, OVP, OTP, OCP, SCP, remote interfaces including but not limited to 0 to 10 V, 0 to 3V, DALI, DMX, UART, SPI, I2C, RS232, RS485, Probus, etc., microcontrollers, digital signal processors, Bluetooth, BLE, WiFi, IPv6, IPv4, 6L0WPAN, Zigbee, Zwave, Thread, etc.
  • a solid state fluorescent replacement lighting system derives power from ballast outputs 130, 142 through optional heater emulation circuits 132, 140, ballast conditioning circuits 134, 138, and rectifier 136.
  • ballast conditioning circuits 134, 138 in some embodiments only one ballast conditioning circuit is included, for example to be connected to the ballast output through one tombstone socket in a fluorescent lamp fixture.
  • Power can also or alternatively be derived from an AC input 144 through rectifier 148, with one or more optional EMI filters and varistor(s) 146. Power is converted in switch/storage circuit 150 to drive the solid state light(s) 152 and/or other loads.
  • the EMI components are for illustrative purposes only and are not limited in any way or form to what is shown and depicted herein and may contain, but are not limited to, inductors, chokes, beads, capacitors, resistors, other types of passive and active components, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • the rectification can be shared and common to both the ballast and AC line powered modes of operation, etc.
  • power can also be by DC voltage including lower voltage DC such as 12 volts DC or even ⁇ 3 volts DC and also higher to hundred and, in some embodiments, even higher DC voltage inputs.
  • a solid state fluorescent replacement lighting system receiving power from both AC input and ballast output and with rectified EMI filtering is depicted in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • a solid state fluorescent replacement lighting system derives power from ballast outputs 154, 166 through optional heater emulation circuits 156, 164, ballast conditioning circuits 158, 162 and rectifier 160.
  • Power can also or alternatively be derived from an AC input 168 through rectifier 172, with one or more optional EMI filters and varistor(s) 170, 174.
  • Power is converted in switch/storage circuit 176 to drive the solid state light(s) 178.
  • the ballast conditioning circuit(s) may consist of and exist at one or more or only one locations in certain implementations or may be shared, etc.
  • a solid state fluorescent replacement lighting system receiving power from both AC input and ballast output and with rectified EMI filtering is depicted in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • a solid state fluorescent replacement lighting system derives power from ballast outputs 180, 192 through optional heater emulation circuits 182, 190, ballast conditioning circuits 184, 188 and rectifier 186.
  • Power can also or alternatively be derived from an AC input 194 through rectifier 198, with one or more optional EMI filters and varistor(s)/capacitors 196, 200 as well as other EMI and protection circuitry including inductors, chokes, other passive and active components, etc.
  • Power is converted in switch/storage circuit 202 to drive the solid state light(s) 204.
  • a solid state fluorescent replacement lighting system receiving power from ballast outputs is depicted in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • a solid state fluorescent replacement lighting system derives power from ballast outputs 206, 218 through optional heater emulation circuits 208, 216, ballast conditioning circuits 210, 214 and rectifier 212.
  • Power is converted in switch/storage circuit 220 to drive the solid state light(s) 222.
  • Power is also derived from the ballast outputs 206, 218 using power supply 224 to power loads 226 which can be, but which are not limited to, internal circuits in the solid state lighting system, internal and/or external sensors, etc.
  • a solid state fluorescent replacement lighting system receiving power from ballast outputs is depicted in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • a solid state fluorescent replacement lighting system derives power from ballast outputs 230, 242 through optional heater emulation circuits 232, 240, ballast conditioning circuits 234, 238 and rectifier 236.
  • Power can also or alternatively be derived from an AC input 252 through rectifier 256, with one or more optional EMI filters and varistor(s) 254. Power is converted in switch/storage circuit 244 to drive the solid state light(s) 246.
  • Power is also generated in power supply 248 to power loads 250 which can be, but which are not limited to, internal circuits in the solid state lighting system, sensors, etc.
  • loads 250 can be, but which are not limited to, internal circuits in the solid state lighting system, sensors, etc.
  • a solid state fluorescent replacement lighting system derives power from ballast outputs 260, 272 through optional heater emulation circuits 262, 270, ballast conditioning circuits 264, 268 and rectifier 266.
  • Power can also or alternatively be derived from an AC input 282 through rectifier 286, with one or more optional EMI filters and varistor(s)/capacitors 284, 288 as well as other passive and active components and elements not shown in the figure. Power is converted in switch/storage circuit 274 to drive the solid state light(s) 276. Power is also generated by power supply 278 to power loads 280 which can be, but which are not limited to, internal circuits in the solid state lighting system, internal and/or external sensors, internet of things sensors, detectors, devices, etc. including but not limited to those discussed herein such as motion, sound, light, temperature, etc., sensors, detectors, controllers, as well as communications devices including but not limited to wireless, wired, powerline, combinations of these, etc.
  • the present invention can receive Demand Response (DR) in any format, form or signal, including via the Web, wired, wirelessly and/or powerline communications based and act on such a signal to reduce, dim, trim, etc. In some circumstances, in response to a DR request, even turn off some of the lighting or other load if required. Some embodiments of the present invention can also include automatic voltage regulation (AVR). [0121] Turning to Figs. 20-28, a variety of non-limiting example embodiments of ballast conditioning circuits are shown.
  • ballast conditioning circuits can be implemented using any devices, passive or active, in any arrangement or topology to present a desired impedance, set of impedances or range(s) of impedances to a ballast output in a solid state lighting system.
  • Networks of devices such as, but not limited to, capacitors, inductors, resistors, etc. in parallel, series, or combinations of these can be arranged to present the desired impedance with the desired controllable variability or changeability.
  • Switches can be implemented in any suitable manner, using internal or external switches or a combination of these, mechanical, electromechanical, solid state, relay, etc., of any types and forms, etc., combinations, etc., semiconductor such as, but not limited to, field effect transistors (FETs) of any type such as metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) including either p-channel or n- channel MOSFETs of any type, junction field effect transistors (JFETs) of any type, metal emitter semiconductor field effect transistors, etc.
  • FETs field effect transistors
  • MOSFETs metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors
  • JFETs junction field effect transistors
  • bipolar junction transistors BJTs
  • BJTs bipolar junction transistors
  • HBTs heteroj unction bipolar transistors
  • HEMTs high electron mobility transistors
  • MODFETs modulation doped field effect transistors
  • ballast conditioning circuit 300 is depicted with fixed capacitor 304 and inductor 306 and with a capacitor 308 connected by switch 310, all connected to ballast output 302 in parallel with output 312 to a rectifier, FLR, power supply or other load.
  • any suitable switch can be used, whether operating in digital (on/off) or analog fashion (continuous conduction level range), and controlled using any suitable control mechanism, such as, but not limited to, by comparing an isolated load current feedback signal with a setpoint signal or threshold.
  • PWM pulses or any other methods to switch including but not limited to those discussed herein.
  • ballast conditioning circuit 314 is depicted with fixed capacitor 318 and with a capacitor 320 connected by switch 322, all connected to ballast output 316 in parallel with output 324.
  • ballast conditioning circuit 326 is depicted with fixed capacitor 330 and with an inductor 332 connected by switch 334, all connected to ballast output 328 in parallel with output 336.
  • an example ballast conditioning circuit 340 is depicted with fixed capacitor 344, with an inductor 346 connected by switch 348, and with a capacitor 350 connected by a switch 352, all connected to ballast output 342 in parallel with output 354.
  • ballast conditioning circuit 356 is depicted with fixed capacitor 360, with an inductor 362 connected by switch 364, and with capacitors 366, 370 connected by switches 368, 372, all connected to ballast output 358 in parallel with output 374.
  • ballast conditioning circuit 376 is depicted with fixed capacitor 380 and fixed inductor 382, with a capacitor 388 connected by switch 390, and with inductors 384, 392 connected by switches 386, 394 all connected to ballast output 378 in parallel with output 396.
  • FIG. 26 an example ballast conditioning circuit 400 is depicted with fixed capacitor 404 and fixed inductor 406, with a capacitor 412 connected by switch 414, and with inductors 408, 416 connected by switches 410, 418, and with an LC network including capacitor 420 and inductor 422 in parallel connected by switch 424, all connected to ballast output 402 in parallel with output 426.
  • an example ballast conditioning circuit 428 is depicted with fixed capacitor 432 and fixed inductor 434, with an inductor 436 connected by switch 438, and with capacitors 440, 444 connected by switches 442, 446 all connected to ballast output 430 in parallel with output 448.
  • an example ballast conditioning circuit 476 is depicted with fixed capacitor 454 and fixed inductor 456, and with a bank of switched capacitors including, but not limited to, capacitors 458, 462, 466, 470 connected by switches 460, 464, 468, 472 all connected to ballast output 452 in parallel with output 474.
  • ballast conditioning circuit should not be viewed as limiting, and any configuration of passive and/or active devices can be used to apply the desired impedance level(s) across the ballast output, and can be controlled based on any control scheme, such as, but not limited to, those based on load current and/or voltage, ballast output voltage, frequency, temperature, or any other feedbacks or other conditions.
  • Switches can be controlled by static signals, digital signals, analog signals, pulse width modulated signals, or any others. Switches can also be feedback controlled and can also be used for dimming purposes.
  • ballast conditioning circuit 476 is depicted with fixed capacitor 480 and inductor 482 and with a capacitor 488 connected by an AC switch comprising back to back MOSFETs 490, 492 and resistor 494, controlled by, for example, but not limited to pulse width modulation (PWM) circuit 484 and pulldown resistor 486, all connected to ballast output 478 in parallel with output 496.
  • PWM pulse width modulation
  • PWM circuit 484 can comprise any suitable circuit for generating an output waveform or pulse pattern for controlling the switch, such as, but not limited to, semiconductors and ICs including but not limited to op amps, comparators, timers, counters, microcontroller(s), microprocessors, DSPs, FPGAs, ASICs, CLDs, AND, NOR, Inverters and other types of Boolean logic digital components, combinations of the above, etc.
  • pull down resistor 486 is optional.
  • ballast conditioning circuit 500 is depicted with fixed resistor 504, capacitor 506 and inductor 508 and with a capacitor 514 connected by an AC switch comprising back to back MOSFETs 516, 518 and resistor 520 or other switch, controlled by pulse generation circuit 510 and optional pulldown resistor 512 or other control circuits, all connected to ballast output 502 in parallel with output 522.
  • ballast conditioning circuit 524 is depicted with fixed resistor 528 and capacitor 530 and with a capacitor 536 connected by an AC switch comprising back to back MOSFETs 538, 540 and resistor 542 or other switch, controlled by pulse generation circuit 532 and pulldown resistor 534 or other control circuit, all connected to ballast output 526 in parallel with output 544.
  • Resistor 542 may be used for voltage or current purposes including but not limited to feedback uses and purposes as well as protection including but not limited to overvoltage and/or overcurrent protection, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • ballast conditioning circuit 548 is depicted with fixed resistor 552 and capacitor 554 and with an inductor 560 connected by an AC switch comprising back to back MOSFETs 562, 564 and resistor 566 or other switch, controlled by pulse generation circuit 556 and pulldown resistor 558 or other control circuit, all connected to ballast output 550 in parallel with output 568.
  • ballast conditioning circuit 570 is depicted with fixed capacitor 574 and with an inductor 580 connected by an AC switch comprising back to back MOSFETs 582, 584 and resistor 586 or other switch, controlled by pulse generation circuit 576 and pulldown resistor 578 or other control circuit, all connected to ballast output 572 in parallel with output 588.
  • FIG. 34 an example ballast conditioning circuit 590 is depicted with fixed capacitor 594 and with an inductor 596 connected by a rectified switch rather than an AC switch.
  • the example rectified switch comprises a transistor 606 and resistor 608 inside rectifier 598, 600, 602, 604, controlled by pulse generation circuit 610 and pulldown resistor 612 or other control circuit.
  • inductor 596 is switchably connected to ballast output 592 at any phase of the AC signal from ballast output 592.
  • the ballast conditioning circuit 590 is connected across ballast output 592 in parallel with any other load in some embodiments.
  • ballast conditioning circuit is not limited to this configuration, nor is the switching circuit limited to the AC or rectified non-limiting examples shown in the figures.
  • the rectification diodes shown in Fig. 34 and other such figures contained herein may typically be ultrafast diodes when associated with/connected to a ballast.
  • Resistor 608 can be used for voltage or current measurements, feedback control, protection, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • ballast conditioning circuit 620 is depicted with fixed resistor 624 and fixed capacitor 626 and with an inductor 628 connected by a rectified switch comprising a transistor 638 and resistor 640 inside rectifier 630, 632, 634, 636, controlled by pulse generation circuit 642 and optional pulldown resistor 644 or other control circuits.
  • inductor 560 is switchably connected to ballast output 622 at any phase of the AC signal from ballast output 622.
  • Resistor 640 can be used for voltage or current measurements, feedback control, protection, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • ballast conditioning circuit 650 is depicted with fixed resistor 654, capacitor 656 and inductor 658 and with an inductor 660 connected by a rectified switch comprising a transistor 674 and resistor 676 inside rectifier 662, 664, 670, 672, controlled by pulse generation circuit 678 and optional pulldown resistor 680 or other control circuits.
  • inductor 660 is switchably connected to ballast output 652 at any phase of the AC signal from ballast output 652.
  • Resistor 676 can be used for voltage or current measurements, feedback control, protection, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • ballast conditioning circuit 690 is depicted with fixed resistor 694, capacitor 696 and inductor 698 and with a capacitor 700 connected by a rectified switch comprising a transistor 710 and resistor 712 inside rectifier 702, 704, 706, 708, controlled by pulse generation circuit 714 and optional pulldown resistor 716 or other control circuits.
  • capacitor 700 is switchably connected to ballast output 692 at any phase of the AC signal from ballast output 692.
  • Resistor 712 can be used for voltage or current measurements, feedback control, protection, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • Fig. 38 an example embodiment of a solid state lighting system is depicted with a variable ballast conditioning circuit 734 connected to a ballast output 730 with a rectification circuit 736, inrush limiting circuit 738 and solid state lighting 740 in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • the inrush limiting circuit 738 reduces the inrush current through the ballast output 730 when power is first applied.
  • the inrush limiting circuit 738 can comprise a resistive element connected to the ballast output to limit inrush current when power is first applied, with a switch to bypass or disable the resistive element after power is first applied and after an expected inrush period has passed, thereby effectively removing the resistive element during normal operation.
  • An optional heater emulation circuit 732 can also be connected to the ballast output 730 to emulate a fluorescent or HID tube for instant/rapid/prestart ballasts to enable or assist the ballast to operate normally when the fluorescent or HID tube has been replaced.
  • the load current to the solid state lighting 740 can be controlled at least in part by the variable ballast conditioning circuit 734, for example increasing the impedance presented by the variable ballast conditioning circuit 734 to the ballast output 730 to reduce the voltage across the ballast output 730.
  • embodiments and implementations of the present invention for fluorescent lamp replacements can be adapted for HID and other types of drivers, ballasts, power supplies, etc. for gaseous and gas state lighting and related applications.
  • FIG. 39 an example embodiment of a solid state lighting system is depicted with a variable ballast conditioning circuit 746 connected to a ballast output 742 in parallel with a rectification circuit 748, inrush limiting circuit 750 and solid state lighting 752 in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • An optional heater emulation circuit 744 can also be connected to the ballast output 742 to emulate a fluorescent or HID tube for instant/rapid/prestart ballasts to enable or assist the ballast to operate normally when the fluorescent or HID tube has been replaced.
  • Power at a load output 756 is also derived from the ballast output 742 using power supply 754 to power loads which can be, but which are not limited to, internal circuits in the solid state lighting system, sensors, etc.
  • the load current to the solid state lighting 752 and the voltage to the power supply 754 can be controlled at least in part by the variable ballast conditioning circuit 746, for example increasing the impedance presented by the variable ballast conditioning circuit 746 to the ballast output 742 to reduce the voltage across the ballast output 742.
  • Such a load can consist partly or as a whole from the non-limiting examples discussed and shown herein including but not limited to internal or external or both sensors, devices, controls, detectors, IOT, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • a solid state fluorescent lamp replacement input stage with variable ballast conditioning circuit is depicted in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • a variable ballast conditioning circuit can connect an impedance such as, but not limited to, the LC network of inductor 794 and capacitor 796 to control or influence the voltage from the ballast output connected to inputs 760, 766, 776, 782.
  • an AC switch e.g., transistors 798, 800
  • the ballast conditioning circuit is not limited to any particular types or arrangement of components to provide the desired impedance level(s).
  • the ballast conditioning circuit can be controlled by a control signal 802 generated in any suitable manner, such as based on feedback representing the load current.
  • a common node between the sources of transistors 798, 800 is connected to the rectified low voltage node LV. In some other embodiments, the common node between the sources of transistors 798, 800 is floating. Embodiments of the present invention may have different arrangements of the transistors and diodes including but not limited to the number of each in parallel, series, etc., combinations of these, etc., the respective locations, etc.
  • Power is received at inputs 760, 766, 776, 782 which can comprise the terminals in tombstone sockets in a fluorescent lamp fixture, or AC mains or line, or any other suitable power source.
  • a diode bridge 808 or other rectifier can be used to rectify the input power, and can include any type or number of diodes, including multiple diodes in each leg of the bridge to provide the desired power handling capacity and may consist of, for example but not limited to discrete or integrated diodes including high frequency and ultra-high frequency diodes, etc.
  • Example heater emulation, signal conditioning components and/or EMI components can be included as desired, such as, but not limited to, AC coupling capacitors 764, 770, 780, 784, capacitor 792, optional heater emulation resistors 762, 770, 778, 786, fuses 772, 788, resistors 804, 806, etc. can be included as desired as well as other passive and active components and circuits.
  • an inrush limiting circuit can be included downstream from the rectifier 808.
  • the example inrush limiting circuit includes a series resistor 840 which limits current from the rectifier 808, for example but not limited to at node 810 HV during startup, and which is then bypassed by transistors 842, 844 after the startup period.
  • Bypass transistors 842, 844 are controlled by transistor 834, resistors 846, 848 and capacitor 850.
  • transistor 828 is turned on which turns off transistor 834, disabling the bypass of inrush limiting resistor 840.
  • transistor 828 is turned off which allows transistor 834 to be turned on by resistor 832, 836, diode 830. Time constants (e.g., resistor 836, capacitor 838) can be included as desired.
  • Startup can be distinguished from normal operation, for example, but not limited to, by transistor 824 and associated resistors 816, 818, 820, 822 and capacitors 814, 826.
  • the RC time constant components may be replaced by other types of analog and digital circuitry including but not limited to one shots, multivibrators, analog and/or digital delays, microcontrollers, microprocessors, DSP, FPGAs, CLD. etc., flip flops, counters, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • output capacitors 852, 856, diode 852, and current sensing resistors 858, 860 are included as desired, such as but not limited to, output capacitors 852, 856, diode 852, and current sensing resistors 858, 860.
  • Output capacitors 852, 856 are charged through rectifier 808 when the voltage at node 810 HV is higher than that across output capacitors 852, 856.
  • Diode 854 prevents output capacitor 856 from discharging back to rectifier 808 when the voltage at node 810 HV is lower, so that solid state lighting connected across output nodes LEDP 862, LEDN 864 are continuously powered.
  • Multiple components e.g., resistors 858, 860
  • a particular function e.g., load current sensing
  • a solid state lighting ballast output power stage is depicted that can draw power from a fluorescent lamp fixture in accordance with some embodiments of the invention, wherein ballasted power can be drawn from bi-pins 870, 876, 888, 894 at both ends of the lamp fixture when a fluorescent ballast is installed in the fixture.
  • the solid state lighting power supply can be used with all types of ballasts including electronic rapid start, instant start, programmed start, preheat, magnetic, etc. that can be remote controlled and monitored and also have remote control/dimming.
  • ballast-powered operation power is drawn through AC coupling capacitors 874, 878, 892, 896 and fuse resistors 882, 900, which can be included along with, if desired, any other heater emulation or other input conditioning elements in any configuration to enable the ballast to function normally. Some or all of these capacitors may be optional in some embodiments of the present invention.
  • one or more heater emulation resistors 872, 880, 890, 898 can each be connected in parallel or series or both with one of the input coupling capacitors 874, 878, 892, 896.
  • One or more rectifiers 906 can be included, which can include multiple diodes in each leg for power handling and fault tolerance. Additional optional AC coupling capacitors 886, 906 can be included as desired upstream from the rectifier 906.
  • the output nodes LEDP 916, LEDN 918 are connected across the rectified nodes Pre-LEDP 908 and UV_LV 910. Diodes 912, 914 can be included to prevent output capacitor 920 from discharging when the rectified voltage from rectifier 906 is in a lower voltage phase.
  • Load current sense resistors 922, 924 can be included, enabling an op-amp or comparator or other circuit element to measure a voltage drop representing the load current level.
  • Fig. 42 an example embodiment of a voltage regulator, current control circuit for ballast mode operation, with over temperature protection circuit, over voltage protection circuit, and undervoltage protection circuit is depicted that can be used in a fluorescent lamp replacement in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • the voltage regulator receives current, for example but not limited to, from the output nodes (e.g., LEDP 916 corresponding to LEDP 926, LEDN 918) of a ballast output power stage such as that in Fig. 40.
  • the voltage regulator provides a power signal Bal_VDD 976 and includes, for example, a transistor 946, resistors 930, 938, 940, 942, 944, 948, 950, capacitors 936, 952, 954, and Zener diodes 932, 934, with redundant components being used as desired for fault tolerance and power handling.
  • a transistor 946 resistors 930, 938, 940, 942, 944, 948, 950
  • capacitors 936, 952, 954, and Zener diodes 932, 934 with redundant components being used as desired for fault tolerance and power handling.
  • One shot and/or oscillating and/or hiccup mode or other types of non- constant control can be implemented in example embodiments of the present invention including but not limited to Fig. 42.
  • a voltage setpoint signal Set_Pt 956 is optionally divided in voltage divider 958, 960, 970 and optionally filtered with, for example, but not limited to, a time constant, for example established in part by capacitors 962, 972, 974 and buffered by transistor 964 and is compared against the load return LEDN 978 or another reference through optional time constant 980, 982 in op-amp 984.
  • a time constant for example established in part by capacitors 962, 972, 974 and buffered by transistor 964 and is compared against the load return LEDN 978 or another reference through optional time constant 980, 982 in op-amp 984.
  • An optional time constant can be applied to the output of the op-amp 984, for example by resistor 986, capacitor 988.
  • the output of the op-amp 984 is buffered by transistor 990, resistor 992 before controlling a shunt switch which in one example embodiment includes BJT transistors 994, 996 and MOSFET 998.
  • Comparator or op- amp 984, resistors 986, 992, and transistor 998 comprise and form a one shot that feeds switch 994, 996, 998.
  • Comparator or op-amp 984 compares a scaled version of the set point value 956 against a representative voltage of the current through the solid state light.
  • ballast itself to set the frequencies and time periods rather than using internally generated frequencies or periods.
  • Some embodiments and implementations of the present invention use both the ballast generated signals and frequencies (and periods) and internally generated frequencies and periods as well as combinations of these, etc.
  • Other embodiments and implementations may use internal signals, frequencies, periods, etc.
  • Embodiments of the present invention can use, but are not limited to, fixed frequency, fixed pulse on time, fixed off time, fixed pulse width, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • An overvoltage and/or overtemperature and undervoltage control circuit can include a comparator 1040 that compares the output voltage LEDP 926 (divided and filtered as desired by resistors 1028, 1030, 1034 and capacitor 1032) against a reference voltage established by resistors 1004, 1006, 1008, 1014, 1016, capacitors 1002, 1018, transistor 1010 and Zener diode 1020. When the output voltage LEDP 926 rises above a threshold, switch 1044 is closed to shunt current from Pre-LEDP 1000 (908 in Fig. 41) to UF_LV 910 to provide
  • transistor 1010 which has a temperature dependent base to emitter voltage that decreases by, for example but not limited to, 2 mV per degree °C
  • the reference voltage is temperature sensitive and switch 10144 is closed to shunt current from Pre-LEDP 908 to UF_LV 910 in Fig. 41 when the temperature of the transistor (e.g., 1010) rises above a threshold.
  • Such a circuit can also oscillate between powering the SSL and shunting the SSL including with intentional oscillators or oscillating circuits such as but not limited to one shots, other digital and analog circuits, microprocessors, microcontrollers, FPGAs, ASICs, etc., other circuits, implementations, etc. including but not limited to those discussed herein, etc.
  • An undervoltage protection circuit includes op-amp or comparator 1052 which compares a version of the BAL_VDD 976 voltage that has been divided and optionally filtered by resistors 1046, 1048, capacitor 1050 against the LEDP_Ref signal which is the voltage divided version of LEDP 926.
  • Transistor 1056 and resistor 1054 disable switch 994, 996, 998 during undervoltage conditions, thereby turning off current limiting during the undervoltage condition.
  • FIG. 43 an example ballast output flyback power supply with PWM circuit is depicted in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Power is drawn from ballast outputs, yielding fused AC signals 1060, 1062 which are AC coupled through capacitors 1060, 1062 to diode bridge 1068.
  • the rectified output of diode bridge 1068 is optionally filtered in capacitor 1070 and is converted to a desired DC voltage Float_VDD in the regulator including, for example but not limited to, transistor 1084, Zener diodes 1076, 1078, resistors 1072, 1074, 1080, 1082 and capacitor 1086.
  • a voltage ramp circuit in the PWM circuit including comparator 1100, diodes 1094, 1098, and associated resistors 1088, 1090, 1092, 1096, 1102, 1106 and capacitor 1104 generates a ramp signal at the non-inverting input of comparator 1114.
  • Comparator 1114 compares the ramp signal against a reference voltage, which can be generated from Float_VDD by resistors 1108, 1112 and capacitor 1110, yielding a pulse width modulated signal RAMP 1120.
  • a time constant can be applied by resistor 1116, capacitor 1118.
  • the pulse width modulated signal RAMP 1120 can be buffered by transistor 1124 and resistor 1122 to yield a pulse width modulated control signal to control an input control switch consisting of, for example but not limited to, transistors 1136, 1138, 1140.
  • Undervoltage protection can be provided by, as a non- limiting example, Zener diode 1126, resistor 1128, transistors 1130 and 1134, and resistor 1132.
  • the pulse width modulation circuit forms part of a power conversion stage circuit that provides part of the power conversion between the DC voltage, such as, but not limited to, an example 15VDC across DC rail Float_VDD 120 and ultimately an isolated low voltage
  • the power conversion stage circuit comprises a flyback switching circuit, although other types of power conversion circuit such as, but not limited to, a buck, buck-boost, boost, boost-buck, flyback, forward converters of any type including but not limited to resonant, push pull, half bridge, full bridge, current-mode, voltage-mode, current-fed, voltage-fed, etc. or any other type of switching circuit, converter, etc. discussed herein, etc. may be used in place of the flyback circuit.
  • a switching circuit may be used in place of the linear voltage regulators.
  • the pulse width modulated control signal from transistor 1124 and resistor 1122 of the power conversion stage circuit drives a switch 1136, 1138, 1140 that couples the load output voltage LEDP through a transformer 1150 to an output Out-i- 1170/UF_LV 1172, charging output capacitor 1166, referenced to Float_LV through flyback diode 1174.
  • the output Out-i- 1170 can be used to power various devices or circuits in the lighting system or for other purposes, powering any desired application from the ballast power from the fluorescent lighting fixture.
  • An isolated voltage regulator is inductively coupled to the switched load output voltage LEDP through an auxiliary winding of the transformer 1150, which can be a tagalong winding, and diode 1152.
  • a voltage regulator 1158 and associated capacitors 1154, 1156, 1160, 1162 and any other suitable or desired components yields a regulated voltage Iso_VDD 1164 and isolated ground Iso_LV, which are isolated from the load output LEDP and which can be used for any purpose.
  • Any linear regulator or other voltage regulator circuit can be used to generate the regulated voltage Iso_VDD.
  • the voltage regulator can be over current protected, short current protected, over voltage protected, under voltage protected, over power protected.
  • the pulse width modulated signal RAMP 1120 can be pulled up through resistor 1142 to disable it based on the input voltage to the regulator 1158 through resistor 1146, Zener diode 1148 and opto-isolator 1144.
  • FIG. 44 an example set point generation circuit is depicted in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • the example set point generation circuit includes a voltage to pulse width converter circuit in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • the voltage to pulse width converter circuit is not limited to this example embodiment, and one of skill in the art will recognize a variety of voltage to pulse width converter circuits that can be used in connection with various embodiments of the invention.
  • the voltage to pulse width converter circuit receives a voltage-based dimming control signal Dim_Ctrl 1218, which represents the desired output dimming level for the solid state lights by the voltage level between a maximum and minimum level, for example the level of the voltage between a maximum of 3VDC and a minimum of 0VDC (referred to as a 0-3V dimming control signal) or between a maximum of lOVDC and a minimum of 0VDC (referred to as a 0-lOV dimming control signal), etc.
  • Dim_Ctrl 1218 represents the desired output dimming level for the solid state lights by the voltage level between a maximum and minimum level, for example the level of the voltage between a maximum of 3VDC and a minimum of 0VDC (referred to as a 0-3V dimming control signal) or between a maximum of lOVDC and a minimum of 0VDC (referred to as a 0-lOV dimming control signal), etc.
  • the voltage to pulse width converter circuit converts the voltage-based dimming control signal Dim_Ctrl 1218 to a pulse width-based dimming control signal PWM_OUT 1220, which can be further isolated for example using opto-isolator 1222 to yield an isolated pulse width- based voltage setpoint signal Set_Pt 1228 based on Bal_VDD 1226 and that is used to dim the output to the solid state lights.
  • a voltage ramp circuit which can be powered by the isolated voltage Iso_VDD 1164, including op-amp 1194, diodes 1186, 1190, transistors 1200, 1204 and associated resistors 1180, 1182, 1184, 1188, 1198, 1192, 1202, 1206, 1208 and capacitor 1196 generates a ramp signal at the non- inverting input of op-amp or comparator or similar function 1214.
  • Iso_VDD 1164 including op-amp 1194, diodes 1186, 1190, transistors 1200, 1204 and associated resistors 1180, 1182, 1184, 1188, 1198, 1192, 1202, 1206, 1208 and capacitor 1196 generates a ramp signal at the non- inverting input of op-amp or comparator or similar function 1214.
  • the voltage ramp circuit is powered by the isolated voltage Iso_VDD 1164.
  • Iso_VDD 1164 When there is no input on voltage-based dimming control signal Dim_Ctrl 1218 pulling the inverting input of op-amp or comparator, etc. 1214 down below Iso-VDD 1164, resistor 1212 pulls the inverting input of op-amp or comparator 1214 up to Iso-VDD 1164 which results in the maximum, un-dimmed output to the solid state lights at LEDP.
  • the ramp signal will always be higher than the voltage at the inverting input of op-amp 1214, causing the op-amp or comparator 1214 to remain on which turns off the opto-isolator 1222, disabling the voltage setpoint signal Set_Pt 1228.
  • the voltage-based dimming control signal Dim_Ctrl 1218 is set at a voltage somewhere between the ground reference Iso_LV and the isolated voltage Iso_VDD 1164, the output of the op-amp or comparator 1214 will oscillate with the pulse width set by the level of the dimming control signal Dim_Ctrl 1218.
  • a dual power source circuit is depicted which can be used in various solid state lighting systems for any purpose in accordance with some embodiments of the invention, for example to draw power from a ballast output or an AC input.
  • a control circuit 1300 generates a PWM signal to control a transistor 1301, with a diode 1302 and inductor 1305 forming a buck converter along with the transistor 1301 to power a load 1307 and output capacitor 1306.
  • Current limiting or sense resistors e.g., 1308) can also be included as desired.
  • the drain of a transistor 1309 can be connected to a connection to either an AC input or ballast output, if a ballast is installed.
  • a diode 1310 enables the buck converter to be turned off to control the output using transistor 1309.
  • a buck converter is depicted and discussed with respect to Fig. 45, in general, any type of switching/storage circuit, including non-isolated and/or isolated circuits such as but not limited to boost, buck-boost, boost-buck, flyback, forward converters, Cuk, SEPIC, etc. can be used for the present invention.
  • a dual power source circuit with a tagalong inductor 1330 to power internal circuits is depicted which can be used in various solid state lighting systems for any purpose in accordance with some embodiments of the invention, for example to draw power from a ballast output or an AC input.
  • a control circuit 1320 generates a PWM signal to control a transistor 1326, with a diode 1329, capacitor 1327 and tagalong inductor 1330 forming a buck converter along with the transistor 1326 to power a load 1332 and output capacitor 1331.
  • the control circuit 1320 is powered through diode 1325 and resistor 1324 from tagalong inductor 1330.
  • the drain of a transistor 1333 can be connected to a connection to either an AC input or ballast output, if a ballast is installed.
  • a diode 1321 enables the buck converter to be turned off to control the output using transistor 1333.
  • various embodiments of the solid state lighting systems disclosed herein can include/use/incorporate power converters of any type or topology.
  • the schematics shown for, for example but not limited to, the buck, buck-boost, boost-buck, boost, Flyback, forward converters, etc. are intended to be representative only and in no way or form limiting and are merely intended as simple example references for some of the approaches, topologies, circuits, drivers, power supplies, etc. discussed herein and previously incorporated in patents and patent applications.
  • the switching/storage inductor or inductors in the buck circuit may be placed in a different position relative to other components.
  • a boost power supply circuit that can be used in some embodiments of a solid state fluorescent replacement lighting system for either or both lighting or secondary power supply is depicted in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • the boost power supply circuit can provide a higher voltage to the load than received at the input.
  • Power is received from an AC input 1334, which could be, for example, but not limited to the output of a ballast, across capacitor 1335 and is rectified in diode bridge 1336.
  • the capacitor 1335 can be for example, one or more fixed or variable capacitors, and when receiving power from a ballast output, can be used to lower the output voltage of the ballast and can be used for dimming purposes.
  • a PWM generator 1337 drives a transistor 1340 to allow current from the diode bridge 1336 to flow through inductor 1338 and storing energy in a magnetic field around inductor 1338 (referred to herein as storing energy in the inductor) when transistor 1340 is closed.
  • the inductor 1338 releases current (or resists the change to the current) through diode 1342, charging capacitor 1344 and powering LEDs 1346, 1348, 1350, 1352, with diode 1342 preventing capacitor 1344 from discharging through transistor 1340 when it is closed.
  • a buck-boost power supply circuit is depicted that can be used in some embodiments of a solid state fluorescent replacement lighting system for either or both lighting or secondary power supply in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • the buck-boost converter can be configured to increase or decrease the output voltage with respect to the input voltage.
  • Power is received from an AC input 1360, which could be, for example, but not limited to the output of a ballast, across capacitor 1361 and is rectified in diode bridge 1362.
  • a PWM generator 1363 drives a transistor 1365 to allow current from the diode bridge 1362 to flow through inductor 1364 as transistor 1365 is closed.
  • a flyback converter power supply circuit is depicted that can be used in some embodiments of a solid state fluorescent replacement lighting system for either or both lighting or secondary power supply in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Power is received from an AC input 1380, which could be, for example, but not limited to the output of a ballast, across capacitor 1381 and is rectified in diode bridge 1382.
  • a PWM generator 1383 drives a transistor 1386 to allow current from the diode bridge 1382 to flow through the primary winding of transformer 1384 as transistor 1386 is closed. As transistor 1365 is opened/turned on, the transformer 1384 releases current through diode 1387, which also charges capacitor 1388 and powers LEDs 1389, 1390, 1391, 1392.
  • optional capacitor 1385 may also be used which could also consist of one or more capacitors in series, parallel or both.
  • a flyback converter power supply circuit with half bridge is depicted that can be used in some embodiments of a solid state fluorescent replacement lighting system for either or both lighting or secondary power supply in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Power is received from an AC input 1410, which could be, for example, but not limited to the output of a ballast, across capacitor 1412 and is rectified in diode bridge 1414.
  • a PWM generator 1416 drives transistors 1418, 1422 to allow current from the diode bridge 1414 to flow through one side or the other of the primary winding of center-tapped transformer 1424 as the transistors are opened and closed.
  • any suitable circuit or algorithm can be used to drive the transistors 1418, 1422. Based upon the disclosure herein, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize a variety of ways in which transistors 1418, 1422 can be driven in a mutually exclusive fashion. As each transistor 1418, 1422 is opened, the transformer 1424 releases current either through diode 1426 or diode 1428, thus charging capacitor 1430 and powering LEDs 1432, 1434, 1436, 1438.
  • a buck-boost power supply circuit is depicted with inverted output that can be used in some embodiments of a solid state fluorescent replacement lighting system for either or both lighting or secondary power supply in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • the buck-boost converter can be configured to increase or decrease the output voltage with respect to the input voltage.
  • Power is received from an AC input 1440, which could be, for example, but not limited to the output of a ballast, across capacitor 1442 and is rectified in diode bridge 1444.
  • a PWM generator 1446 drives a transistor 1448 to allow current from the diode bridge 1446 to flow through inductor 1450 as transistor 1448 is closed. As transistor 1448 is opened/turned on, the inductor 1450 releases current, which charges capacitor 1454 and powering LEDs 1456, 1458, 1460, 1462 through diode 1452.
  • a buck power supply circuit is depicted that can be used in some embodiments of a solid state fluorescent replacement lighting system for either or both lighting or secondary power supply in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Power is received from an AC input 1470, which could be, for example, but not limited to the output of a ballast, across capacitor 1472 and is rectified in diode bridge 1474.
  • a PWM generator 1476 drives a transistor 1478 to allow current from the diode bridge 1476 to flow through inductor 1482 as transistor 1478 is closed, charging capacitor 1484 and powering LEDs 1486, 1488, 1490, 1492. As transistor 1478 is opened/turned on, the inductor 1482 releases current through diode 1480.
  • a forward converter power supply circuit with full bridge is depicted that can be used in some embodiments of a solid state fluorescent replacement lighting system for either or both lighting or secondary power supply in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Power is received from an AC input 1500, which could be, for example, but not limited to the output of a ballast, across capacitor 1502 and is rectified in diode bridge 1504.
  • a PWM generator 1506 drives transistors 1508, 1502 to allow current from the diode bridge 1504 to flow through one side or the other of the primary winding of center-tapped transformer 1514 as the transistors are opened and closed.
  • any suitable circuit or algorithm can be used to drive the transistors 1508, 1502.
  • any suitable circuit or algorithm can be used to drive the transistors 1508, 1502.
  • the transformer 1514 releases current through diode bridge 1516, charging capacitor 1518 and powering LEDs 1520, 1522, 1524, 1526.
  • LEDs 1520, 1522, 1524, 1526 Although only four LEDs are depicted in, for example, Figs. 47 through 55, in general any number of LEDs in parallel, series, etc., combinations of these can be used in embodiments and implementations of the present invention.
  • a power supply circuit with feedback control is depicted that can be used in some embodiments of a solid state fluorescent replacement lighting system in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Power is received from an AC input 1530, which could be, for example, but not limited to the output of a ballast, across capacitor 1532 and is rectified in diode bridge 1534.
  • An output capacitor 1536 is connected across the output of the diode bridge 1534.
  • a control switch 1546 is closed, current from the diode bridge 1534 can flow, powering LEDs 1538, 1540, 1542, 1544 and charging output capacitor 1536.
  • a feedback signal 1549 can be used to measure the load current across sense resistor 1548, and any suitable circuit such as, but not limited to, the feedback and control circuits disclosed herein can be used to generate the control signal 1547 for switch 1546 based on the feedback signal 1549.
  • a signal could be analog or digital in nature, for example but not limited to a linear regulation or a switching (e.g., PWM) regulation.
  • a power supply circuit with feedback control and variable input capacitor is depicted that can be used in some embodiments of a solid state fluorescent replacement lighting system in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Power is received from an AC input 1530, which could be, for example, but not limited to the output of a ballast, across variable input capacitor 1552 and is rectified in diode bridge 1554.
  • An output capacitor 1556 is connected across the output of the diode bridge 1554. When a control switch 1566 is closed, current from the diode bridge 1554 can flow, powering LEDs 1558, 1560, 1562, 1564 and charging output capacitor 1556.
  • a feedback signal 1569 can be used to measure the load current across sense resistor 1568, and any suitable circuit such as, but not limited to, the feedback and control circuits disclosed herein can be used to generate the control signal 1567 for switch 1566 based on the feedback signal 1569. Furthermore, the capacitance of variable input capacitor 1552 based upon the feedback signal 1569 or any other measured signal or control signal, providing further control of the load current.
  • a solid state fluorescent lamp replacement input stage which can receive power from a ballast output in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Power from ballast outputs is AC coupled through capacitors 1582, 1584 to a rectifier 1580 to yield rectified power across nodes HV, LV.
  • One or more capacitors 1586 can be connected across the ballast outputs which provide the input power to the input stage.
  • the one or more capacitors 1586 or other elements can be used to lower the output voltage of the ballast and can be used for dimming purposes.
  • the input capacitor 1586 can comprise a variable capacitor such as that depicted in Fig.
  • a solid state fluorescent lamp replacement input stage with heater emulation circuits is depicted which can receive power from a ballast output in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. Power is received from a ballast output, for example through bi-pins at each end of a linear FLR connected to tombstones in a fluorescent lamp fixture.
  • Heater emulation circuits such as the parallel combinations of resistors 1588, 1592, 1596, 1600 and capacitors 1590, 1594, 1598, 1602 or other configurations and combinations of elements are included in various embodiments to enable the ballast to operate properly.
  • Power from ballast outputs through the heater emulation circuits is AC coupled through capacitors 1582, 1584 to a rectifier 1580 to yield rectified power across nodes HV, LV.
  • An input capacitor 1586 can be connected across the ballast outputs which provide the input power to the input stage.
  • the input capacitor 1586 can comprise a variable capacitor such as that depicted in Fig. 60 and discussed above which could comprise any number of fixed/constant and variable capacitors.
  • Other elements can be included as desired, such as, but not limited to, inductors, chokes, fuses, EMI filters, other passive or active components, circuits, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • Fig. 58 a solid state fluorescent lamp replacement input stage with EMI filtering is depicted which can receive power from a ballast output or AC input in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • EMI filtering and output power control can be provided by capacitors 1614, 1620 and inductors 1616, 1618.
  • the inductors are shown as being in series, the inductors including in the form of a choke can be also put in parallel depending on the implementation and especially so if the case where the AC input is from an electronic ballast output.
  • the AC signal is rectified in diode bridge 1622, with output filtering provided by capacitor 1624 and inductor 1626.
  • a power supply circuit with output control is depicted that can be used in some embodiments of a solid state fluorescent replacement lighting system in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • a reference voltage as well as a voltage supply is generated by Zener diode 1632 and resistor 1630 from a rectified power signal HV, controlling switch 1636 to apply power to, for example, power the pulse generator 1640.
  • the output of pulse generator 1640 is conditioned by an optional gate EMI circuit including, for example, resistors 1642, 1646 and diode 1644.
  • resistor 1634 may consist or more than one resistor in series, parallel, combinations of series and parallel, etc.
  • resistor 1630 may consist or more than one resistor in series, parallel, combinations of series and parallel, etc.
  • resistor 1634 and transistor 1636 may be optional; in such embodiments, Zener diode 1632 may be connected to capacitor 1636.
  • the switch 1636 can be operated to control a power converter such as, but not limited to, a buck converter comprising diode 1648, inductor 1652 and output capacitor 1654 to power a load in parallel with output capacitor 1654.
  • the AC lines can be tied to one set (side) of bi-pins for a linear fluorescent tube replacement (i.e., a FLR for T8s or T12s, T4s, PLCs, other florescent and HID lamps and types, etc.) which would be in parallel with, for example, one side for an instant start ballast and one set of heater emulation for a rapid start, programmed start, dimmable, and or prestart or, for example, magnetic ballast, respectively.
  • a linear fluorescent tube replacement i.e., a FLR for T8s or T12s, T4s, PLCs, other florescent and HID lamps and types, etc.
  • the AC line can be connected so that one leg of the AC line is across each side of the linear tube replacement.
  • a solid state fluorescent lamp replacement input stage with variable capacitance circuit is depicted in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Such a variable capacitance circuit can connect capacitors (e.g., 1733, 1734) with, for example but not limited to, varying on time duty cycles to control and dim using conventional electronic ballasts.
  • an AC switch e.g., transistors 1735, 1736
  • capacitors 1733, 1734 are connected to adjust the on and off times of capacitors 1733, 1734. Note although two capacitors are shown, any number of capacitors from 1 to a practically large number can be used.
  • one or more non-switched (i.e., static/fixed) capacitors in either series or parallel or combinations of these, etc. can be used with the variable capacitor or capacitors in some embodiments of the present invention.
  • other components such as inductors and resistors can be used including in any configuration including but not limited to series, parallel, and/or other configurations, etc. can be used.
  • one or more inductors maybe used in place of the one or more capacitors or both capacitors and inductors may be used.
  • Power is received at AC input from a ballast output, AC mains or line, or any other suitable power source.
  • a diode bridge 1732 or other rectifier can be used to rectify the input power, and can include any type or number of diodes, including multiple diodes in each leg of the bridge to provide the desired power handling capacity.
  • Floating transistors 1735, 1736 surround a floating ground or common that can be used as a reference at various points of the system.
  • Example signal conditioning components and/or EMI components can be included as desired, such as, but not limited to, capacitors 1738, 1740, 1742 and resistor 1739, as well as sensing components such as current sensing resistor(s) (e.g., 1741) that can be used, for example, to sense the current through output nodes 1743, 1744.
  • Fuses e.g., 1730, 1731
  • Implementations of the present invention can also use combinations of example embodiments of the present invention - for example, a buck (or buck-boost, boost-buck, boost, fly back, forward converter, push-pull, etc.) can be combined with a the ballast current control and other example embodiments shown herein to achieve implementations that can be used with universal AC line voltage up from below 80 VAC to greater than 305 VAC and even 347 VAC and 480 VAC 50/60 Hz (and also 400 Hz) as well as magnetic ballasts and electronic ballasts, including but not limited to, instant start, rapid start, programmed start, programmable start, dimming ballasts, pre-start, etc.
  • Fig. 55 shows an example of such a combined circuit that, in certain implementations, can also be locally or remotely controlled and dimmable.
  • a buck circuit is used for low frequency operation (i.e., 50/60 or 400 Hz) and magnetic ballasts and the current control is used for electronic ballasts although the buck circuit could also be used for electronic ballasts.
  • the buck (or related switching circuit) can be used to control the current and/or voltage to the LED, OLED or QD load and by adjusting , for example, but not limited to the duty cycle of the buck or related switching circuit/topology (i.e., for example, the switching element, the output to the load could be dimmed or increased.
  • a switching element consisting of a switching element and associated sense and measure circuitry to shunt current as needed or desired including for dimming while switching element could be either fully turned on or, depending on the implementation, fully turned off.
  • the drain of the transistor or transistors can be attached to a point in front of a diode that can be used to block the shunting from directly affecting and shorting/shunting the output capacitor and load as discussed elsewhere in this document.
  • a buck or buck-boost, boost-buck, boost, fly back, forward converter, push-pull, etc.
  • AC line voltage ranging from less than 80 VAC to greater than 480 VAC if desired.
  • EMI filters consisting of, for example but not limited to, chokes, inductors, toroid inductors and chokes, two and four legged inductors, transformers, capacitors, diodes, resistors, other elements, etc.
  • OVP OTP
  • SCP SCP
  • OCP shock hazard/pin safety
  • dimming dimming
  • remote control and monitoring color changing, color switching, etc.
  • Embodiments of present invention are not restricted to the buck and can also be buck-boost, boost-buck, boost, fly back, forward converter, push-pull, etc. and include a shunt combination.
  • the control circuit can use information, for example, including but not limited to about frequency and voltages to determine whether a low frequency ballast or AC line voltage or a high frequency ballast to determine the appropriate signals to apply to switches.
  • a tagalong inductor (for which there could be one or more) such as those disclosed in US Patent Application 17/674,072, filed November 11, 2012 by Sadwick et al. for a "Dimmable LED Driver with Multiple Power Sources" can be used with embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood that one or more tagalong inductors could be incorporated into the example embodiment discussed and shown herein can contain tagalong inductors. It should be also understood that there many numerous variations of the example embodiments shown and discussed herein and nothing should not be construed or taken as limiting in any way or form.
  • a PWM or one-shot controller is depicted that can be used to control the AC switch 1735, 1736 of Fig. 60 to regulate or turn off the output current and/or power.
  • Optional capacitors 1752, 1753 can be used to couple to the AC input 1750, 1751, for example for use with instant start and also rapid start ballasts.
  • capacitors 1752, 1753 can be omitted or shorted out, for example with instant start/rapid start/programmed start/etc. electronic ballasts and magnetic ballasts.
  • resistors and/or inductors can be put in series or parallel or both or combinations of series and parallel, etc.
  • a rectifier 1754 and regulator 1755 provide regulated power to PWM controller 1756, which provides a pulse or ramp signal based on or controlled in part by a feedback voltage VFB.
  • the rectifier 1754 as with other rectifiers disclosed herein, can include one or more diodes per leg in series or parallel or both, etc.
  • the regulator 1755 can comprise a linear regulator, switching or combo regulator, etc.
  • resistor capacitor (RC), one or more resistor inductor (RL), resistor inductor capacitor (RLC), inductor capacitor (LC), etc. networks can be attached in series, parallel, combinations, etc.
  • Fig. 62 an example embodiment of a control circuit is depicted that can be used with a solid state fluorescent lamp replacement in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • a regulator circuit e.g., 1800, 1801, 1802, 1803, 1804, 1805, 1806, 1807, 1808, 1809, 1810, 1811, 1812, 1813, 1814
  • Such techniques can be applied in any of the circuits disclosed herein as desired, or may be omitted.
  • Resistors 1816, 1817 and Zener diode 1818 along with optional capacitor 1815 form an example voltage reference (although other types of voltage references can be used to achieve a stable voltage reference including, but not limited to, bandgap references, precision voltage references, etc.).
  • Resistors 1819, 1820 form a voltage divider that acts as a reference set point which could also be filtered by, for example, a capacitor (not shown) that is fed to the non- inverting terminal of a comparator 1822 (or similar function such as an op amp).
  • the voltage from a sense resistor 1820 e.g., the voltage across sense resistors 858,860 of Fig.
  • the negative going pulse from comparator 1822 is fed to an inverter made up of MOSFET 1826 and resistors 1823, 1824.
  • a time constant can be included to control the rise and/or fall time at the gate of the MOSFET 1826.
  • the circuit shunts the current of the rectified ballast output through the Darlington pair.
  • other types of transistors including but not limited to, MOSFETs, IGBTs, GaNFETs, SiCFETs, BJTs, etc. can be used in place of the Darlington transistor. Again, this shorts out the ballast and prevents current from reaching the load or capacitor (e.g., 856, Fig. 40), while diode 854 prevents capacitor 856 from being discharged and turning off the load.
  • FIG. 63 an example of a feedback control circuit to provide a constant output current or for other purposes using a setpoint reference signal is depicted in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • a linear regulator including Zener diode 302, BJT 1904 and resistors 1900, 1906 and capacitor 1908 can be used, or in other embodiments, switching or other regulators.
  • a voltage divider 1910, 1912 provides a reference voltage to op- amps 1920, 1932 for feedback control, modified by sensors, external control inputs, variable resistors, etc. as desired (e.g., 1914).
  • the feedback can have reversed or inverted polarities if desired.
  • Time constants such as, but not limited to, that provided by resistor 1916, capacitor 1918 can be applied to the inputs and/or outputs of the op-amps 1920, 1932 or at any other points in the circuit.
  • An opto-isolator 1960 can be used as an isolation or level-shifting circuit between the feedback control circuit and the output voltage feedback signal VFB.
  • BJTs are depicted in the Fig. 57, virtually any type of transistor or switch with suitable properties including but not limited to MOSFETs, FETs, JFETs, GaNFETs, SiCFETs, HBTs, etc. may be used in place of, instead of, with, etc.
  • FIG. 64 a circuit schematic of an example embodiment of a solid state fluorescent lamp replacement is depicted where, among other things, shunting is used to set the solid state light output that can be remote controlled and monitored in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Inputs 2050, 2052, 2054, 2056 represent the two (one on each side for a linear FL and both on the same side for, for example, a four pin PLC lamp and similar for HID lamps) sets of bi-pins for, for example, a ballast and tombstone fluorescent lamp connection system/network.
  • Input coupling components such as resistors 2058, 2060, 2064, 2066, 2070, 2072, 2076, 2078 and capacitors 2062, 2068, 2074, 2080 can be included as desired or needed to ensure proper operation of ballasts, for example to provide heater emulation.
  • Fuses e.g., 2082, 2084 can be included.
  • One or more rectifiers 2086, 2088 can be included, as well as signal conditioning components and/or EMI components can be included as desired, such as, but not limited to, diodes 2090, 2092, capacitors 2098, 2100, as well as sensing components such as current sensing resistor(s) (e.g., 2094, 2096) that can be used, for example, to sense the current through output nodes 2102, 2104.
  • signal conditioning components and/or EMI components can be included as desired, such as, but not limited to, diodes 2090, 2092, capacitors 2098, 2100, as well as sensing components such as current sensing resistor(s) (e.g., 2094, 2096) that can be used, for example, to sense the current through output nodes 2102, 2104.
  • sensing components such as current sensing resistor(s) (e.g., 2094, 2096) that can be used, for example, to sense the current through output nodes 2102, 2104.
  • Other components discussed herein may also
  • An over- voltage protection and/or over- temperature protection circuit is depicted that can be used with a solid state fluorescent lamp replacement in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • An op-amp 2124 compares a reference voltage with a feedback voltage, with any suitable temperature-dependent voltage signals and over- voltage signals used to control a shunt switch 2128.
  • the reference voltage can be generated, for example, by a linear regulator (which, in other embodiments could be a switching regulator) comprising BJT transistor 2113, voltage divider 2110, 2111, 2112, voltage divider 2114, 2115, 2116, Zener diode 2117 and capacitor 2123.
  • the feedback voltage is generated, for example, from the SSL output voltage by voltage divider 2118, 2119, 2120, 2121.
  • the amplification of op-amp 2124 can be controlled in any suitable manner, such as using resistors 2122, 2125.
  • Resistors 2126, 2127 and any other desired components can be included to provide time constants, filtering, buffering, amplification etc. in the over-voltage protection and/or over- temperature protection circuit.
  • the over- voltage protection and/or over-temperature protection circuit can be used, for example, to shunt the load current through a switch 2128 such as, but not limited to, a Darlington pair or any other suitable switch including but not limited to MOSFETs. Such switches could also be made to turn on and off in an oscillatory or other manners.
  • a ballast sequencing circuit with variable impedance circuit is depicted in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Power is received from a ballast outputs 2140, 2141, 2142, 2143, for example through bi-pins at each end of a linear FLR connected to tombstones in a fluorescent lamp fixture.
  • Heater emulation circuits such as the parallel combinations of resistors 2144, 2146, 2149, 2151 and capacitors 2145, 2147, 2150, 2152 or other configurations and combinations of elements are included in various embodiments to enable the ballast to operate properly.
  • Optional fuses 2148, 2153 can be included to provide protection.
  • Power from ballast outputs through the heater emulation circuits is AC coupled through capacitors 2158, 2159 to a rectifier 2160 to yield rectified power across nodes HV, LV.
  • AC switch 2156, 2157 can be momentarily closed, connecting resistors 2154, 2155 to the ballast, providing a DC path between the ballast legs and enabling certain ballasts to operate properly.
  • Power can be drawn from the fused AC nodes ACF1, ACF2 through AC coupling capacitors 2158, 2159 through diode bridge 2160.
  • the rectified voltage can be further conditioned by resistors 2161, 2162, capacitor 2163, Zener diode 2164 and resistor 2165 to control the AC switch 2156, 2157 to momentarily close it at startup or at other times.
  • Other elements can be included as desired, such as, but not limited to, inductors, fuses, EMI filters, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • a solid state lighting power supply is depicted that can draw power from a fluorescent lamp fixture to power a lighting system and to provide power for internal circuits, sensors or other applications in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • the power supply includes inputs 2170, 2171, 2172, 2173 for, for example, two pairs of bi-pin connections to a ballast via tombstones in a fluorescent lamp fixture.
  • the power supply can include, for example, but not limited to one or more linear circuits, zero linear circuits, zero, one or more switching circuits of virtually any topology including but not limited to non-isolated or isolated, combinations of these, etc. For example, but not limited to a non-isolated
  • switching/storage circuit/power supply would be a buck (or boost, or boost-buck or buck-boost or others discussed herein) switching circuit that can be used with both a ballast or AC line which can also be optionally remote controlled and have features including OTP, OVP, SCP, dither, etc. and can be used with all types of ballasts including electronic rapid start, instant start, programmed start, preheat, magnetic, etc. that can be remote controlled and monitored and also has remote control/dimming.
  • isolated circuits include but are not limited to one or more of galvanic isolated circuits, flyback isolated circuits, forward converter isolated circuits, push-pull circuits, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • Input coupling capacitors 2174, 2175, 2176, 2177 and resistors/fuses 2178, 2179 as well as any other heating emulation approaches can be included along with, if desired, any other heater emulation or other input conditioning elements in any configuration.
  • one or more resistors can be connected in parallel with each of the input coupling capacitors 2174, 2175, 2176, 2177.
  • One or more rectifiers 2186 can be included, as well as signal conditioning components and/or EMI components which can be included as desired, such as, but not limited to, output capacitor 2191, as well as sensing components such as current sensing resistor(s) (e.g., 2194) which can be used, for example, to sense the current through the output nodes LEDP 2192, LEDN 2193 which supply current to a solid state lighting load.
  • An internal power supply 2190 of any topology can be used to draw power either from the ballast (if installed) or AC line to power internal circuits, sensors, etc. In some embodiments, the internal power supply 2190 can be used to generate power for internal circuits, sensors, etc.
  • the current/power to the lamp may not be controlled and will depend on the ballast and the applications and uses of the present invention.
  • the light output may not be directly controlled or regulated however the one or power supply 2190 with one or more isolated or non-isolated outputs may be used to provide internal and/or external power to sensors, IOT, controls, communications, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • a fluorescent lamp ballast including but not limited to those discussed herein using/with one or more of a fluorescent lamp ballast, a HID ballast of any type or lamp type, etc. including but not limited to electronic and magnetic ballasts for use with any type of gas discharge device including but not limited to any type of fluorescent, HID, Neon, etc. lamp ballast.
  • FIGs. 68-70 block diagrams of identification circuits are depicted that can be used to identify solid state fluorescent lamp replacements in a solid state lighting system, powered by one or more of multiple sources in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Some embodiments of the invention include Identification Switches 2200, 2210, 2220 with, for example but not limited to, RFID and/or NFC.
  • Various embodiments can have mechanical to electrical switching and/or gesture detection, etc., for example, but not limited to ZigBee to RFID, BTLE to RFID, etc.
  • Control circuits 2202, 2212, 2222 interface with the FLRs, powered by any source, including but not limited to, power from the AC line 2206, 2216, 2226, power from one or more batteries, one or more solar cells of any type or form including to, but not limited to, inorganic, semiconductor, organic, quantum dot, etc., battery charger, vibration energy converter, RF converter, energy harvester of any type and source, etc., Power over Ethernet (POE), DC power sources, AC to DC conversion, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • the switch or actuator can be of any type including toggle, momentary, mechanical to electrical switch and/or gesturing, touch, capacitive sensing, etc.
  • Embodiments of the present invention can also be powered by low voltage output power sources (e.g., 2208, 2218) including with power over Ethernet (POE) (e.g., 1758).
  • low voltage output power sources e.g., 2208, 2218
  • POE power over Ethernet
  • Power switching and/or dimming 2204, 2214, 2224 can be of any known type including but not limited to electro-mechanical, reed, latching, other electrical and/or mechanical, solid state, etc., relay(s), triac, silicon controlled rectifier (SCR), transistor, etc., more than one of one, more than one of each, combinations of one, combinations of each, other combinations, etc.
  • Some embodiments of the invention include circuits to link to watches and in particular smart watches, wearable watches, health monitoring watches, FitBit, Apple, Nike, Android based smart watches and wearables, etc.
  • Some embodiments of the invention include circuits to link to watches and/or other types of wearables to interact with, control, dim, monitor, light and other systems.
  • Some embodiments of the invention include motion detectors for outdoor outside that can have motion sensor, ultrasonics, noise, etc. separate from the light source and connected via Bluetooth Smart, BLE, USB, use WEB and other info including but not limited to weather, wind, wind speed, could coordinate with other sensors, lights, etc. feedback information, etc.
  • Some embodiments of the invention includes lamps that can be all or partially screen printed, 3D printed, etc. including custom designs, customized designs, etc. using, for example, UL or CE approved, recognized, listed, etc. materials.
  • Some embodiments of the invention use proximity sensors and/or beacons, identifiers, etc. to identify who is near including by cellular/smart phone, smart watch, other Bluetooth devices, RFID, others, etc. and take appropriate actions including settings selection based on profile information stored, learned, taught, trained, memorized, etc, combinations of these, etc.
  • Some embodiments of the invention advertise and obtain Bluetooth and other ID, etc.
  • Some embodiments of the invention use display panels including but not limited to OLED panels, tablets, etc. as lighting panels.
  • Some embodiments of the invention use a synchronous bridge for the dimmer. Some embodiments of the invention can also have a TRIAC that is, for example, but not limited to being in parallel with the diodes and transistors of embodiments of the present invention.
  • Some embodiments of the invention include motion sensing for either outdoor or indoor that can wirelessly, wired and/or powerline communications set, program, control, monitor, log, respond, alert, alarm, etc. including being able to be part of a cluster, group, community of lights, etc., that provides, for example, but not limited to, protection and security, etc., can, for example, but not limited to, detect a defective light, light (burned) out, can provide dimming, can use one or more colors of white, RGB, etc., can dim up and dim down, etc., Can control, set, program, sequence, synchronize, etc.
  • all parameters including but not limited to distance, length of time on, sensitivity, ambient light level, response, synchronizing with outdoor and indoor motion sensors, response including but not limited to white color temperature and/or color choice(s), flashing or solid on, flashing, sequences of flashing, sequences of flashing and solid on, etc. of one or more colors including but not limited to one or more white colors, one or more white colors with one or more other colors, one or more colors,
  • Some embodiments of the invention include sensors in the light(s), sensors attached to and/or near the light(s), sensors remote from the lights including battery powered, AC powered, solar powered, energy harvested, battery charged, etc., combinations of these, etc., including, for example, but not limited to, solar power battery charging.
  • Some embodiments of the invention are adapted for use in stairwells, etc. especially ones that have doors to entry, use a device that makes a sound when the door is opened so that the light source 'hears' the sound and turns on.
  • a device that makes a sound when the door is opened so that the light source 'hears' the sound and turns on.
  • Some embodiments of the invention can use active or passive or both high pass, low pass, bandpass, notch, other filters, combinations, etc. including with the voice, sound, noise detection.
  • Some embodiments of the invention can use isolated digital PWM that can be converted to analog near the control reference point. [0205] Some embodiments of the invention can use proximity and/or signal strength to decide, for example, but not limited to turn on or off lights, etc.
  • Some embodiments of the invention can flash at the end of an allotted time to indicate that the next group is ready to use, for example, a conference room.
  • Some embodiments of the invention can listen for and respond to emergency sounds such as smoke, fire, carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (for, for example but not limited to, both health and occupancy information), etc. detectors, sensors, etc. by flashing, turning on, forwarding the information, alert, alarm, etc.
  • emergency sounds such as smoke, fire, carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (for, for example but not limited to, both health and occupancy information), etc. detectors, sensors, etc.
  • Some embodiments of the invention can be powered over Ethernet (POE), dimmed, controlled, monitored, logged, two way communicated with, data mined, analytics, etc. Can be powered, controlled, monitored, managed, etc. via wired or wireless or powerline control (PLC) including but not limited to serial communications, parallel communications, RS232, RS485, RS422, RS423, SPI, I2C, UART, Ethernet, ZigBee, Zwave, Bluetooth, BTLE, WiFi, cellular, mobile, ISM, Wink, powerline, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • PLC powerline control
  • a wired and/or wireless controller/dimmer/monitor 2230 is depicted for use in a solid state lighting system in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Solid state lights 2244, 2246, 2248, 2250 of any color or of variable color, or of any color temperature, such as, but not limited to, red, green, blue, amber, white, etc. and of any type can be provided.
  • an on/off switch 2232 is provided.
  • a button/switch/etc. 2242 is provided for turning on/off one or more ballast(s) or AC -powered lights, outlet receptacles, other lights, fans, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • ballast(s) or AC -powered lights outlet receptacles, other lights, fans, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • a control interface 2234 is provided, which can be wired (i.e., analog and/or digital, serial, parallel, UART, SPI, I2C, RS232, RS485, RS422, other RS standards and serial standards, interfaces, protocols, etc. powerline communications, interfaces, protocols, etc.
  • a powerline interface 2236 is included to control lights or other devices.
  • an encoder or potentiometer 2238 is included for manual control.
  • a button/switch 2240 is included for enabling/disabling/controlling dimming of the FLR.
  • a wired and/or wireless controller/dimmer/monitor 2230 is a non-limiting example of a control interface for a solid state lighting system.
  • a solid state lighting system is depicted with color controllable multiple light sources in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • a solid state lighting system may include a solid state light fixture 2260 with multiple flat lighting panels 2262, 2264 (e.g., OLED panels) and multiple solid state point light sources 2266, such as LED 2268.
  • the shape, layout, form factor, and types and numbers of light sources are merely examples and should not be viewed as limiting in any manner.
  • Embodiments of the present invention can also have lighting on the outside of, for example, the light bar, panel, etc. including direct lit, edge lit, back lit, etc.
  • Some example embodiments are shown below which can also include one or multiple LEDs, OLEDs, QDs that can consist of one or more of white, red, green, blue, amber, yellow, orange, etc.
  • lighting can be used to convey information about the status of a situation including flashing lights which may convey emergency situations, etc.
  • the SSL can provide evening/night light using for example amber- orange-yellow SSLs including but not limited to LEDs and/or OLEDs that can be dimmed, flashed, color-changing, sound alarms, sequence, provide time of day and circadian rhythm and/or other health therapy or ailment alignment, information, etc.
  • Some embodiments of the present invention can have light, motion, proximity, noise, sound RFID, NFC, etc. sensors that are either internal or external and connected by one or more of wired, wireless, powerline communications (PLC), etc.
  • PLC powerline communications
  • Some embodiments of the present invention such as that in Fig. 72 can include LEDs. OLEDs, QDs, other SSLs, other types of lights, etc. combinations of these, etc. and can include combinations of flashing, sequencing, dimming, changing colors, individually and/or collectively, etc., sirens, alarms, alerts, web connectivity, wired, wireless and/or PLC, etc.
  • Figs. 73-75 block diagrams of example embodiments of solid state lighting systems with isolated control inputs are depicted in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • the SSL systems can be powered by any suitable source(s), such as, but not limited to, a ballast output via heater emulation and rectification circuits(s) 2270, 2290 and/or AC inputs via EMI filter and rectification circuits(s) 2280, 2298.
  • Power supply circuits 2272, 2282, 2292 can pass power through to solid state lights 2274, 2284, 2294 and can provide one or more of the functions disclosed herein, such as, but not limited to, current control, undervoltage protection (UVP), overvoltage protection (OVP), short circuit protection (SCP), over-temperature protection (OTP), etc.
  • Dimming control signals can be used to control the power supply circuits, including, for example, using isolated dimming inputs (e.g., 0 to 10 V, 1 to 10 V, 0 to 3 V, digital, including wired and wireless including but not limited to those mentioned, discussed, listed, etc. herein, combinations of these, etc.)
  • Other embodiments of the present invention can also monitor, log, store, access the web, the cloud, communicate with the Ethernet, mobile cellular carriers, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • Various embodiments of the present invention are backward (and forward) compatible and can be completely interoperable with existing energy management systems and can be used with different brands of equipment already installed.
  • Some embodiments include one or more dimmers that can remotely set the minimum and maximum dimming and trimming levels, set local control, both remote and local control or local lockout, track the manual settings and changes, control, dim and monitor using one or more, for example, but not limited to phase cut dimming (forward, reverse and/or both, etc.), wired dimming including analog (i.e., 0 to 3 V, 0 to 10 V), digital (i.e., DALI, DMX, SPI, I2C, WiFi, BTLE, etc., combinations of these, etc.) and/or combinations of these, etc., wireless including, for example, but not limited to, RF and/or Optical/IR, etc. (i.e., ZigBee, LiFi, WiFi, Bluetooth, BTLE, etc., combinations of these, etc.), PLC, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • phase cut dimming forward, reverse and/or both, etc.
  • wired dimming including analog (i.e., 0 to
  • Embodiments of the present invention can monitor the power consumption/energy usage including by direct AC or DC line power, power to and through the ballast(s) to lamps that are powered by the ballast(s), FLRs that can, for example, wired or wirelessly provide power, current, voltage, power factor, usage, energy consumed (i.e., kWH, etc.), etc.
  • FLRs can, for example, wired or wirelessly provide power, current, voltage, power factor, usage, energy consumed (i.e., kWH, etc.), etc.
  • implementations of the present invention can also incorporate and use internal and/or external sensors including but not limited to light, motion, proximity, sonar, ultrasonic, sound, voice, mechanical, daylight harvesting, combinations of these, etc.
  • embodiments and implementations of the present invention can use one or both (e.g., combinations) of analog and/or digital dimming including hybrids or switching between, back and forth, from one to the other, etc. of analog and digital dimming and control.
  • Embodiments of the present invention including FLRs, HID replacements, dimmers, AC drivers, AC + ballast drivers, etc. can all be dimmed/controlled in the same or similar manner as well as all can be monitored for input and output power, current, voltage, power factor, harmonics, total harmonic distortion, etc.
  • buttons or other similar methods including but not limited to buttons, indents, etc. that allow other types of lighting such as but not limited to dimmable or on/off FLRs that are powered by ballasts and other things including fans, heaters, furnaces, air conditions, humidifiers, etc.
  • buttons, controls, etc. can also utilize light indicators including LED, OLED, QDs, etc. to show what is being controlled, acted on, etc.
  • a solid state lighting system is depicted with a dimmer 2300 implementing control and monitoring, communications with other devices, settings for lighting, sensors, etc., limits such as, but not limited to, dimming limits, storage, logging, tracking, lockout adjustment(s), etc.
  • the dimmer can receive control signals, whether wired or wireless, from sources or systems such as, but not limited to, phase cut dimmers (forward and/or reverse) 2302, wired analog and/or digital controllers/monitors, any wireless sources 2306, powerline communications (PLC) networks 2308, etc.
  • sources or systems such as, but not limited to, phase cut dimmers (forward and/or reverse) 2302, wired analog and/or digital controllers/monitors, any wireless sources 2306, powerline communications (PLC) networks 2308, etc.
  • PLC powerline communications
  • the solid state lighting system can also include one or more of any or all of light sensors 2310, motion sensors 2312, sound sensors 2314, ultrasonic sensors 2316, or other sensors 2318.
  • the system can include one or more FLR(s) with wired and/or wireless control/dimming and/or monitoring 2320, one or more AC phase controlled light(s) with control/dimming and/or monitoring 2322, and one or more AC powered light(s) with wired and/or wireless and/or PLC control/dimming and/or monitoring 2324.
  • the dimmer can also have dedicated remote control in addition to smart phone, tablet, computer, server, smart watch, smart wearable, etc. control. Such a dimmer can have one or more additional switches and associated controls to provide on/off of input to ballasts etc. either locally or remotely.
  • Power can be drawn from a ballast output in a fluorescent or HID lamp fixture or from an AC line, received at line 2350 and neutral 2354 nodes of Fig. 77.
  • Optional fuses 2352, 2356 can be used to protect the solid state lighting dimmer.
  • the AC ballasted or line voltage is rectified and optionally filtered in an EMI filter/rectifier circuit 2358, yielding a rectified voltage across ground LV 2362 and power line HV 2360, which is at or near the line voltage and is therefore referred to herein as a high voltage signal in comparison with lower DC voltages (e.g., 15VDC, 5VDC, 3VDC, etc.) that can be generated in the solid state lighting power supply to power circuits in the solid state lighting power supply or any other desired load including but not limited to sensors, IOT, controls, communications, etc. including but not limited to those discussed herein, combinations of these, etc.
  • Optional variable capacitors and ballast conditioning circuits can also be included as desired.
  • a voltage regulator 2364 regulates the rectified voltage HV 2360 to yield a lower voltage DC signal VDDl 2366, used to power at least a pulse width modulation control circuit 2368.
  • the voltage regulator 2364 can be a linear regulator or can comprise a buck converter circuit or, in other embodiments, as an example, most any other type of switching circuit such as, but not limited to, a buck-boost, boost, boost-buck, flyback, forward converter of any type including but not limited to resonant, push pull, half bridge, full bridge, current-mode, voltage- mode, current-fed, voltage-fed, etc. or any other type of switching circuit, converter, etc.
  • an over-current protection circuit 2396 can be used with the PWM control or other type of pulse control, including but not limited to over-temperature protection, over-voltage protection, etc.
  • the pulse width modulation control circuit 2368 generates a pulse width modulated control signal PWM_CTL 2374 to control the current drawn from the rectified voltage HV 2360.
  • the pulse width modulated control signal PWM_CTL 2374 controls a switch 2372 which passes or blocks current between the rectified voltage HV 2360 (or, in some cases, the regulated voltage VDDl 2366) and return signal LV 2362 through the switch 2372, a current sensing resistor 2376 and an inductor 2374 or transformer.
  • Switch 2372 together with transformer 2374, forms a flyback isolated power converter that is used to provide galvanic isolated output power to, for example, in this non-limiting case, power, for example, but not limited to, the lighting, sensors and IOT, etc.
  • the winding attached to diode 2380 and capacitor 2382 can be used, for example, as a bias signal to control a bias applied at any suitable location in the system.
  • One or more windings can be used to provide power to, for example, but not limited to, microcontroller(s) (etc.), communications radios (i.e., WiFi, ZigBee, Bluetooth, BLE, Zwave, Thread, 6L0WPAN, sub-Ghz, LoRa, ISM, etc.
  • communications radios i.e., WiFi, ZigBee, Bluetooth, BLE, Zwave, Thread, 6L0WPAN, sub-Ghz, LoRa, ISM, etc.
  • the solid state lighting dimmer can include an AC zero crossing circuit comprising voltage regulator 2400 and capacitors 2402, 2404, resistor 2406, AC opto-isolator 2412 and resistors 2408, 2410.
  • the AC opto-isolator 2412 is driven, for example by the AC input signal, so that the AC opto-isolator 2412 is turned off at zero crossings and otherwise is on.
  • the solid state lighting dimmer can also include a dimmer switch with back to back transistors 2420, 2422, driven by a PWM output signal PWM_Out through transistor 2416, resistors 2414, 2418 to yield a dimming signal DimLV.
  • FIG. 78 an example ballast output flyback power supply with PWM circuit and set point signal is depicted in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • Power is drawn from ballast outputs, yielding fused AC signals 1060, 1062 which are AC coupled through capacitors 1060, 1062 to diode bridge 1068.
  • the rectified output of diode bridge 1068 is optionally filtered in capacitor 1070 and is converted to a desired DC voltage Float_VDD in the regulator including, for example but not limited to, transistor 1084, Zener diodes 1076, 1078, resistors 1072, 1074, 1080, 1082 and capacitor 1086.
  • Capacitors 1064, 1066 are optional and optional heater emulation circuits and/or variable impedance circuits may be included in certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • a voltage ramp circuit in the PWM circuit including comparator 1100, diodes 1094, 1098, and associated resistors 1088, 1090, 1092, 1096, 1102, 1106 and capacitor 1104 generates a ramp signal at the non-inverting input of comparator 1114.
  • Comparator 1114 compares the ramp signal against a reference voltage, which can be generated from Float_VDD by resistors 1108, 1112 and capacitor 1110, yielding a pulse width modulated signal RAMP 1120.
  • a time constant can be applied by resistor 1116, capacitor 1118.
  • the pulse width modulated signal RAMP 1120 can be buffered by transistor 1124 and resistor 1122 to yield a pulse width modulated control signal to control an input control switch consisting of, for example but not limited to, transistors 1136, 1138, 1140.
  • Undervoltage protection can be provided by Zener diode 1126, resistor 1128, transistors 1130 and 1134, and resistor 1132.
  • the pulse width modulation circuit forms part of a power conversion stage circuit that provides part of the power conversion between the DC voltage, such as, but not limited to, an example 15VDC across DC rail Float_VDD 120 and ultimately an isolated low voltage
  • the power conversion stage circuit comprises a flyback switching circuit, although other types of power conversion circuit such as, but not limited to, a buck, buck-boost, boost, boost-buck, flyback, forward converters of any type including but not limited to resonant, push pull, half bridge, full bridge, current-mode, voltage-mode, current-fed, voltage-fed, etc. or any other type of switching circuit, converter, etc. discussed herein, etc. may be used in place of the flyback circuit.
  • a switching circuit may be used in place of the linear voltage regulators.
  • the pulse width modulated control signal from transistor 1124 and resistor 1122 of the power conversion stage circuit drives a switch 1136, 1138, 1140 that couples the load output voltage LEDP through a transformer 1150 to an output Out-i- 1170/UF_LV 1172, charging output capacitor 1166, referenced to Float_LV through flyback diode 1174.
  • the output Out-i- 1170 can be used to power various devices or circuits in the lighting system or for other purposes, powering any desired application from the ballast power from the fluorescent lighting fixture.
  • An isolated voltage regulator is inductively coupled to the switched load output voltage LEDP through an auxiliary winding of the transformer 1150, which can be a tagalong winding, and diode 1152. Other windings can be included in the transformer 1150 for other purposes.
  • a voltage regulator 1158 and associated capacitors 1154, 1156, 1160, 1162 and any other suitable or desired components yields a regulated voltage Iso_VDD 1164 and isolated ground Iso_LV, which are isolated from the load output LEDP and which can be used for any purpose. Any linear regulator or other voltage regulator circuit can be used to generate the regulated voltage Iso_VDD.
  • the voltage regulator can be over current protected, short current protected, over voltage protected, under voltage protected, over power protected.
  • the pulse width modulated signal RAMP 1120 can be pulled up through resistor 1142 to disable it based on an external DC control signal 5VControl through opto-isolator 2424.
  • FIG. 79 an example set point generation circuit is depicted in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • the example set point generation circuit includes a voltage to pulse width converter circuit in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • the voltage to pulse width converter circuit is not limited to this example embodiment, and one of skill in the art will recognize a variety of voltage to pulse width converter circuits that can be used in connection with various embodiments of the invention.
  • the voltage to pulse width converter circuit receives a voltage-based dimming control signal Dim_Ctrl 2518, which represents the desired output dimming level for the solid state lights by the voltage level between a maximum and minimum level, for example the level of the voltage between a maximum of 3VDC and a minimum of 0VDC (referred to as a 0-3V dimming control signal) or between a maximum of lOVDC and a minimum of 0VDC or a minimum of 1 volt (referred to as a 0-lOV dimming control signal), etc.
  • Dim_Ctrl 2518 represents the desired output dimming level for the solid state lights by the voltage level between a maximum and minimum level, for example the level of the voltage between a maximum of 3VDC and a minimum of 0VDC (referred to as a 0-3V dimming control signal) or between a maximum of lOVDC and a minimum of 0VDC or a minimum of 1 volt (referred to as a 0-lOV dimming
  • the voltage to pulse width converter circuit converts the voltage- based dimming control signal Dim_Ctrl 2518 to a pulse width-based dimming control signal PWM_OUT 2520, which can be further isolated for example using opto-isolator 2522 to yield an isolated pulse width-based voltage setpoint signal Set_Pt 2528 based on Bal_VDD 2526 and that is used to dim the output to the solid state lights.
  • a voltage ramp circuit which can be powered by the isolated voltage Iso_VDD 2464, including op-amp 2494, diodes 2486, 2490, transistors 2500, 2504 and associated resistors 2484, 2485, 2487, 2488, 2498, 2492, 2502, 2506, 2508 and capacitor 2496 generates a ramp signal at the non-inverting input of op-amp or comparator or similar function 2514.
  • a reference voltage for the voltage ramp circuit is generated based on the setpoint signal 2528, isolated or level shifted by opto-isolator 2430 and resistor 2428, and divided and filtered by resistors 2432, 2436, 2438, 2440, 2442 and capacitor 2434.
  • the voltage ramp circuit is powered by the isolated voltage Iso_VDD 2464.
  • Dim_Ctrl 2518 pulling the inverting input of op-amp or comparator, etc. 2514 down below Iso-VDD 2464
  • resistor 2512 pulls the inverting input of op-amp or comparator 2514 up to Iso-VDD 2464 which results in the maximum, un-dimmed output to the solid state lights at LEDP.
  • Fig. 80 an example two stage linear switching regulator is depicted that can be used with a solid state lighting system in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • the linear switching regulator can be used, for example, to regulate rectified high voltage drawn from an AC line in a fluorescent lamp fixture from which a ballast has been removed or omitted.
  • the linear switching regulator can be disabled or turned off by a control signal AC_Off_C when a ballast is in place and active in the fluorescent lamp or HID lamp fixture and power for the solid state lighting system is being drawn from the ballast output.
  • a first stage of the regulator includes a transistor 2550, resistors 2544, 2546, 2548, 2552, 2554, diode 2556 and Zener diodes 2540, 2542 and capacitor 2558 which generates a first DC voltage VDD1.
  • the control signal AC_Off_C When the control signal AC_Off_C is active, the transistor 2550 is turned off and the regulator is disabled.
  • a second stage of the regulator includes transistor 2566, resistors 2560, 2564, Zener diode 2562 and capacitor 2568 which generates a second DC voltage VDD2.
  • the voltage regulator depicted in Fig. 80 is a non- limiting example embodiment used to illustrate an example application of disabling one power source when another is active in a multi-source power supply of a solid state lighting system.
  • FIG. 81 an example embodiment of a regulator and current control circuit is depicted for detecting when a ballast is active in accordance with some embodiments of the invention to generate, for example, the control signal AC_Off_C used in Fig. 80.
  • a ballast output voltage BAL_LEDP 2610 is regulated in a voltage regulator including, for example but not limited to, transistor 2616, resistors 2600, 2612, 2614, capacitors 2602, 2618 and Zener diodes 2604, 2606, yielding regulated voltage BAL_VDD 2620 (referenced to UF_LV 2628) when the ballast is active and power is being drawn from it.
  • a ballast control circuit is powered by regulated voltage BAL_VDD 2620 to control load current from the ballast output and to generate the isolated control signal AC_Off_C 2668 that indicates when the ballast is active.
  • a reference voltage for op-amp 2644 is generated based on the regulated voltage BAL_VDD 2620 and a voltage setpoint signal Set_Pt 2622 using voltage divider 2624, 2630, 2632 and capacitors 2626, 2640.
  • Op-amp 2644 compares this reference voltage against the LEDN signal 2634, optionally filtered by resistor 2636 and capacitor 2642.
  • An optional time constant can be applied to the output of the op-amp 2644, for example by resistor 2646, capacitor 2648.
  • the output of the op-amp 2644 is buffered by transistor 2652, resistor 2650 before controlling a shunt switch which in one example embodiment includes BJT transistors 2654, 2656 and MOSFET 2658.
  • Comparator or op-amp 2644 thus compares a scaled version of the set point value 2622 against a representative voltage of the current through the solid state light.
  • the output of op-amp 2644 goes low and discharges capacitor 2648 which, in turn, turns off transistor 2652 which then switches on the switch 2654, 2656, 2658 which then shunts current from Pre-LEDP 2660 to UF_LV 2628 to control the current from the ballast output to the load.
  • capacitor 2648 charges to a voltage sufficient to turn on transistor 2652, switch 2654, 2656, 2658 is switched off and no longer shunts current.
  • Diodes 912, 914, for example, in Fig. 41 prevent the voltage across the capacitor 920 and the voltage at outputs 916, 918 across the LEDs, OLEDs, and/or other SSLs from also being shorted out during the time duration that switch 2654, 2656, 2658 is on.
  • the ballast control circuit also generates the isolated control signal AC_Off_C 2668 that indicates when the ballast is active.
  • Opto-isolator 2664 draws power from regulated voltage BAL_VDD 2620 through resistor 2662 when the ballast is active, turning on the AC_Off_C 2668 when the ballast is active.
  • the AC_Off_C 2668 signal can be used to disable other circuits or portions of circuits, such as, but not limited to, a voltage regulator that is adapted to regulate AC line voltage when the ballast is not present or active.
  • the FLRs (and/or HID replacements) and/or sensors in the solid state lighting system have auxiliary ports that allow both control signals and other types of sensors, detectors, features, functions, etc. including, for example, but not limited to, motion, sound, video, vision recognition, pattern recognition, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • the indoor and outdoor embodiments can be very similar except for being weather-proof for outdoor uses.
  • Embodiments of the present invention can use existing lighting fixtures, including those with or without motion sensing and make them motion sensing capable including having the motion sensing inside the light source or as an extension to the light source that can be plugged into the light source and control the turning on/off and dimming up/down of the light source(s), etc., other sensors, alarms, alerts, communications, etc.
  • Embodiments of the present invention can also completely set all parameters of the present invention including but not limited to, the light level, detection threshold, detection level, distance, proximity, etc., notify under what conditions, notify neighbors, etc., light level to turn on at, whether to flash or not, etc., detection, sniffing, identification, etc. of smart devices including but not limited to smart phones, cellular phones, tablets, smart watches, wrist watches, fitness, well-being watches, PDAs, mobile devices, RFID, wearables, sounds, noise, voice(s), one or more certain frequencies, other types of technologies that can be used in tandem, conjunction with the present invention, other signatures, signs, identification, etc., combinations of these.
  • Embodiments of the present invention can use such information to decide or aid in deciding whether the detection is due to, for example, but not limited to, a friend or foe and an unidentified source or object, person, animal, wind, etc.
  • Embodiments of the present invention can record, store, analyze, keep track of, for example, the frequency of such occurrences and incidents, including any new digital, electronic, or other information including unique information about the device or person, etc. such as cellular phone identifiers, RF/wireless IDs, names, user names, etc.
  • embodiments and implementations of the present invention can use optical or other methods to act as an intruder alert system such that, for example, but not limited to, an optical beam that connects two or more of the present invention including, examples where the two or more embodiments of the present invention have direct line of sight to each other and effectively have a beam of light in between that is broken or disrupted, etc.
  • a beam of light can be modulated with the user able to select one or more from a variety of modulations so as to make it more difficult to emulate the beam, etc.
  • Such beam modulations and detection can be two or more way so as to add to the reliability and security, etc.
  • Embodiments of the present invention can also use daylight harvesting, light sensing etc.
  • solid state lighting system can be configured, controlled, monitored, etc., from/to smart devices using for example, but not limited to, Apps, laptops, desktops, servers, mobile and/or PDA devices of any type or form, combinations of these, etc.
  • Some embodiments include motion sensors performing multiple duties, such as, but not limited to, turning on/off lights, alerting that there are people there, heating or cooling spaces, burglar alarm, camera, image recognition, noise, voice, recognition, sound recognition, etc. accessories, thermal imagers, night vision, infrared cameras, infrared lit cameras, etc.
  • a small PWM pulse width can be the default pulse width such that the amount of power/current at the highest input voltage will limit the power applied without a signal to increase the pulse. This will allow a current/power limit in the event of, for example, a short circuit on the output since a small pulse to big pulse is needed for higher power in AC line voltage mode.
  • the pulse width can be made larger by a circuit that measures the pulse width and allows the pulse width to increase until the desired current level is attained.
  • Some embodiments include motion sensors that can track, log, measure, determine, predict, guess, etc., the motion, the path, the direction, the way a person or persons or traffic, etc.
  • controllers with smart additional components, accessories, etc.
  • Such controllers can use weather information, including from any source such as a local weather station, personal weather station, web-based weather report, etc.
  • weather is monitored locally, regionally, wind factor, have a wind indicator, etc., wind vane, wind generator, etc.
  • controllers can also dim, flash, change intensities, white colors, be color-changing, etc., communicate two or more way, etc.
  • Some embodiments can use barcodes, QR codes or scancodes, etc. for digital devices to read including app based codes that can be scan and read, for example, but not limited to, by a cell phone or a tablet, for example when provisioning a system with multiple FLRs.
  • All of the above can be seamlessly connected together and share, enjoy, use connectivity to communicate to one another. Any and all of the above can have two way communications including providing information on use, power use, current and voltage use, dimming, health, lighting health, sensor(s) settings and health, and readings, etc., power factor, efficiency, energy harvesting, harmonic distortion, total harmonic distortion, temperature, humidity, light, ambient conditions including both indoors and outdoors, other electrical, optical, mechanical, weather, etc. conditions, information, etc. Any and all of the embodiments of the present invention can be made weather-proof. [0249] Some embodiments of the present invention can be used to treat, support, enhance, etc. health, to aid in treatment and recovery of ill, sick, injured individuals and groups including individuals and groups recovering or experiencing various physical and mental diseases and health issues.
  • embodiments of the present invention are designed to be a cost-effective and complete solution that provides both forward and backward compatibility which is also ideal for retrofits and can use either wireless or wire (or both) communications.
  • Implementations of the present invention can be Web-based and/or WiFi-based (or other) and interface with smart phones, tablets, other mobile devices, laptops, computers, dedicated remote units, etc. and can support a number of wireless communications including, but not limited to, IEEE 802, ZigBee, Bluetooth, BLE, Zwave, 6L0WPAN, Thread, sub-GHz, ISM, WiFi, cellular carrier networks and modems, etc., proprietary radio, other radio frequencies, other frequencies in the electromagnetic spectrum, other protocols, standards, interfaces, etc., others discussed herein, combinations of these, etc.
  • Some embodiments of the present invention can include, but not limited to, dimmers, drivers, power supplies of all types, switches, motion sensors, light sensors, temperature sensors, daylight harvesting, other sensors, thermostats and more and can include monitoring, logging, analytics, etc.
  • Some embodiments of the present invention support and can include color changing, color tuning, etc. lights with numerous ways to interact with the lights.
  • Some embodiments of the present invention can be integrated with video, burglar, fire alarm, etc. components, systems.
  • Other features and functions include but are not limited to detecting the frequency using a microprocessor, microcontroller, FPGA, DSP, a transistor such as a field effect transistor (FET) such as a MOSFET or JFET to, for example, either turn on or turn off a circuit that operates in either ballast mode or AC line mode depending on the amplitude of the signal or with the inclusion of a time constant, the average, RMS, etc. voltage level.
  • FET field effect transistor
  • JFET field effect transistor
  • Some embodiments of the present invention can also have sirens, microphones, speakers, earphones, headphones, emergency lights, flashing lights, fans, heaters, sensors including, but not limited to, temperature sensors, humidity sensors, moisture sensors, noise sensors, light sensors, spectra sensors, infrared sensors, ultraviolet sensors, speech sensors, voice sensors, motion sensors, acoustic sensors, ultrasound sensors, RF sensors, proximity sensors, sonar sensors, radar sensors, time of flight (ToF) sensors etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • sensors including, but not limited to, temperature sensors, humidity sensors, moisture sensors, noise sensors, light sensors, spectra sensors, infrared sensors, ultraviolet sensors, speech sensors, voice sensors, motion sensors, acoustic sensors, ultrasound sensors, RF sensors, proximity sensors, sonar sensors, radar sensors, time of flight (ToF) sensors etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • Some embodiments of the present invention provide two or more side (multi-side) lighting for example, for a FLR where one side contains SSL that, for example, consists of white color or white colors of one or more color temperatures and another side contains SSL or other lighting of one or more wavelengths such as red, green, blue, amber, white, yellow, etc., combinations of these, subsets of these, etc.
  • the two or more sided lighting can perform different functions - for example, the side that is primarily white or all white light of one or more color temperatures can provide primary lighting whereas the side that has one or more
  • color/wavelengths of light can provide indication of location, status, code level in, for example, a hospital (i.e., code red, code blue, code yellow, etc.), accent lighting, mood lighting, location indication, emergency information and direction, full spectrum lighting, etc.
  • a hospital i.e., code red, code blue, code yellow, etc.
  • accent lighting i.e., mood lighting, location indication, emergency information and direction, full spectrum lighting, etc.
  • the present invention can work with all types of communications devices including portable communications devices worn by individuals, walkie-talkie types of devices, etc.
  • Some embodiments use combinations of wireless and wired interfaces to control and monitor; for example for a linear or other fluorescent replacement for, for example, but not limited to, T4, T5, T8, T9, T10, T12, PL, PLC, HID of any type, form, power level, etc., other lamp types, etc. discussed herein, etc.
  • one (or more) of the replacement lamps can be wireless with wired connections from the one (or more) replacement lamp(s) to the other replacement lamps such that the one or more wireless replacement lamps acts as a master receiving and/or transmitting information, data, commands, etc. wirelessly and passing along or receiving information, data, commands, etc. from the other remaining wired slaved units.
  • one or more wired masters/leaders may transfer, transmit, or receive, etc.
  • thermometers include one or more thermometers, thermostats, temperature controllers, temperature monitors, etc., combinations of these, etc. that can be wirelessly or wired interfaced controlled, monitored, etc.
  • thermometers Such one or more thermometers, thermostats, temperature controllers, temperature monitors, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • Bluetooth can be connected/interfaced, for example, but not limited to, by Bluetooth, Bluetooth low energy, WiFi, IEEE 801, IEEE 802, ZigBee, Zwave, Thread, 6L0WPAN, other 2.4 GHz and related/associated standards, protocols, interfaces, sub-GHz, LoRa, ISM, other frequencies including but not limited to, radio frequencies (RF), microwave frequencies, millimeter-wave frequencies, sub millimeter-wave frequencies, terahertz (THz), mobile cellular network connections, combinations of these.
  • Wired connections, interfaces, protocols, etc. include but are not limited to, serial, parallel, UART, SPI, I2C, RS232, RS485, RS422, other RS standards and serial standards, interfaces, protocols, etc.
  • powerline communications, interfaces, protocols, etc. including both ones that work on DC and/or AC, DMX, DALI, 0 to 10 Volt, other voltage ranges including but not limited to 0 to 3 Volt, 0 to 5 Volt, 1 to 8 Volt, 1 to 8 V, etc.
  • thermometer(s) and/or thermostats may be remotely located.
  • a temperature sensor or sensors or thermostat or thermostats can use wireless or wired units, interfaces, protocols, device, circuits, systems, etc.
  • the thermometer(s) and/or thermostat(s) can communicate with each other and relay, share, augment, modify, interpret, add to, subtract from, and pass commands as well as provide information and data to one another.
  • some embodiments of the present invention can use switches that are remotely controlled and monitored to detect the use of power or the absence of power usage, to open or close garage or other doors by locally and/or remotely sending signals to garage door openers including acting as a switch to complete detection circuits, remembering the status of garage door opening or closing, working with other motion sensors, photosensors, etc.
  • Embodiments of the present invention can both control and monitor the status of the garage or other door and sound alarms, send alerts, flash lights including flashing white lights and/or one or more
  • Such embodiments and implementations can use for example, but not limited to, Bluetooth, Bluetooth low energy, WiFi, IEEE 801, IEEE 802, ZigBee, Zwave, Thread
  • 6L0WPAN other 2.4 GHz and related/associated standards, protocols, interfaces, sub-GHz, LoRa, ISM, other frequencies including but not limited to, radio frequencies (RF), microwave frequencies, millimeter-wave frequencies, sub millimeter-wave frequencies, terahertz (THz), mobile cellular network connections, others discussed herein, etc., combinations of these.
  • Wired connections, interfaces, protocols, etc. include but are not limited to, serial, parallel, SPI, I2C, RS232, RS485, RS422, other RS standards and serial standards, interfaces, protocols, etc.
  • powerline communications, interfaces, protocols, etc. including both ones that work on DC and/or AC, DMX, DALI, 0 to 10 Volt, other voltage ranges including but not limited to 0 to 3 Volt, 0 to 5 Volt, 1 to 8 Volt, etc., relays, switches, transistors of any type and number, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • Some embodiments support various types of radio frequency (RF) devices such as, but not limited to, window shades, drapes, diffusers, garage door openers, cable boxes, satellite boxes, etc. to be controlled and monitored by replacing and integrating these functions into implementations of the present invention including being able to synthesize and reproduce the RF signals which are typically in the range of less than 1 kHz to greater than 5 GHz using one or more RF synthesizers including ones based on phase lock loops and other such frequency tunable and adjustable circuits with may also employ frequency multiplication, amplification, modulation, etc., combinations of these, etc., amplitude modulation, phase modulation, pulses, pulse trains, combinations of these, etc.
  • RF radio frequency
  • Some embodiments include a global positioning system (GPS) to track the location and, for example, to also make decisions as to where and when the present invention should do certain things including but not limited to turning on or off, dimming, turn on heat or cooling, control and monitor the lighting, etc., control, water, monitor the lawn and other plants, trees etc.
  • GPS global positioning system
  • thermal imagers including but not limited to IR imagers, IR imaging arrays, non-contact temperature measurements including point temperature and array temperature measurements including in lighting such as T8 and HID replacements where the imagers are powered by, for example, but not limited to the ballast.
  • ballasts of any type including but not limited to electronic and magnetic ballasts and AC line voltage.
  • Some embodiments can be used, for example, but not limited to, for daylight harvesting/vacancy and/or occupancy uses and applications.
  • Some embodiments use wireless signals to both control (i.e., dim) the LED fluorescent lamp replacements (FLRs) and monitor the LED current, voltage and power.
  • the present invention includes but is not limited to fluorescent lamp replacements that work directly with existing electronic ballasts and requires no re-wiring and can be installed in the same amount of time or less than changing a regular fluorescent lamp tube or a HID lamp.
  • These smart/intelligent LED FLRs and HID replacements are compatible with most daylight harvesting controls and protocols.
  • Optional sensors allow for relative light output to be measured and wirelessly reported, monitored, and logged permitting analytics to be performed.
  • Embodiments of the present invention come in a diversity of lengths including but are not limited to two foot and four foot T8 standard/nominal linear lengths as well as T12 as well as any other type of fluorescent and/or HID lamp including but not limited to those discussed herein. Additional optional input power measurements allow total power usage, power factor, input current, input voltage, input real and apparent power to also be measured thus allowing efficiency to be measured.
  • the wireless signals can be radio signals in the industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) for lower cost and simplicity or ZigBee, ZWave, Thread, 6L0WPAN, IEEE 801, IEEE 802, or WiFi or Bluetooth or any type of form as well as others discussed herein and one or more combinations, etc.
  • ISM industrial, scientific and medical
  • the wireless SSL/LED FLRs and HID lamp replacements can be switched on and off millions of times without damage as well as be dimmed up and down without damage.
  • the wireless communications can be encrypted and secure.
  • Such embodiments of the present invention FLRs do not require or need a dimmable ballast and work with virtually any electronic ballast including but not limited to T8 electronic ballast as well as with most T12 electronic ballasts .
  • Some embodiments have integrated motion sensor(s) as part of the housing and can also use auxiliary motion sensors and can also have integrated light/photocell sensor as well as auxiliary.
  • Such embodiments of the present invention can have the sensors discussed herein incorporated into the housing body or can have a cable or wireless connection to the sensors including having the one or more sensors mounted on the outside of the fixture, near the fixture or further away and more remote, etc. combinations of these, etc.
  • Some embodiments respond to proximity sensors including passive or active or both, as well as voice commands and can be used to turn on, turn off, dim, flash or change colors including doing so in response to an emergency situation.
  • the present invention can use wireless, wired, powerline, combinations of these, etc., Bluetooth, BLE, Thread, 6L0WPAN, RFID, WiFi, ZigBee, ZWave, IEEE 801, IEEE 802, LoRa, ISM, any other type of sensor, detector, identifier, analog and/or digital ID, combinations of these including but not limited to those discussed herein, etc.
  • the present invention can be connected to fire alarms, fire alarm monitoring equipment, burglar and security/protection company and services, health services, etc.
  • Some embodiments permit enhanced circadian rhythm alignment and maintenance using sources of light.
  • sources of light include, but are not limited to, computer screens, monitors, panels, etc., tablet screens, smart phone screens, etc., televisions (TVs), LCD and CRT displays of any type or form, DVD and other entertainment lighting and displays containing LEDs, OLEDs, CCFLs, FLs, CRTs, etc., displays, monitors, TVs, OLED, LED, CCFL, FL, incandescent lighting, etc.
  • Some embodiments use smart phones, tablets, computers, smart watches and wearables, dedicated remote controls, to provide lighting appropriate for circadian rhythm alignment, correction, support, maintenance, etc.
  • Some embodiments use external and internal information gathered from a number of sources including clocks, internal and external lighting, time of the year, individual, specific input, physiological signals, movements, monitoring of physiological signals, stimuli, including but not limited to, EEG, melatonin levels, urine, wearable device information, sleep information, temperature, body temperature, weather conditions, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • TVs essentially of any type or form, including, but not limited to smart TVs, and related and similar items, products and technologies including, but not limited to, computer and other monitors and displays that can either be remotely or manually controlled and, in some embodiments, monitored.
  • the present invention can use smart phones, tablets, PCs, remote controls including programmable remote controls, consoles, etc., combinations of these etc., to control and set the content of the lighting (e.g., white or blue-enriched, etc. combinations of these, etc. for wake-up; yellow, amber, orange, red, etc., combinations of these, etc. for sleep- time, etc.) automatically to assist in circadian rhythm, sleep, SAD mitigation, reduction, elimination, etc.
  • the lighting e.g., white or blue-enriched, etc. combinations of these, etc. for wake-up; yellow, amber, orange, red, etc., combinations of these, etc. for sleep- time, etc.
  • Embodiments of the present invention can provide multiple wake-ups to the same location and/or different locations including other locations in homes, houses, hotels, hospitals, dormitories including school and military and other types of barracks, dormitories, etc., assisted living homes and facilities, chronic care facilities, rehabilitation facilities, etc., children's hospitals and care facilities, etc. group living, elder living, etc., children's rooms and other family members whether in the same physical location or in different physical locations, friends and family, clients, guests, travelers, jet lagged and sleep deprived people and personnel, etc.
  • Some embodiments respond to proximity sensors including passive or active or both, as well as voice commands and can be used to turn on, turn off, dim, flash or change colors including doing so in response to an emergency situation.
  • the present invention can use wireless, wired, powerline, combinations of these, etc., Bluetooth, RFID, WiFi, ZigBee, ZWave, IEEE 801, IEEE 802, ISM, etc.
  • the present invention can be connected to fire alarms, fire alarm monitoring equipment, home and/or business monitoring, protection services and companies, etc.
  • Some embodiments use a BACNET to wireless converter box or BACNET to
  • Bluetooth including but not limited to Bluetooth low energy (BLE) converter or BACNET to PLC, BACNET to 6L0WPAN, to Zwave, to Zigbee, to 0 to 10 V, to Thread, to LoRa, to ISM, to sub-GHz, etc.
  • BLE Bluetooth low energy
  • the present invention can also use infrared signals to control and dim the lighting and other systems as well as other types of devices including but not limited to heating and cooling, thermostats, on/off switches, other types of switches, etc.
  • Some embodiments include a motion proximity sensor that sends signals back to the controller/monitor or other devices including but not limited to cell phones, smart phones, tablets, computers, laptops, servers, remote controls, etc. when motion or proximity is detected etc.
  • Embodiments of the present invention can have on/off switches for the ballasts where the ballasts connect to the AC lines and/or also where the ballasts connect to the present invention, etc.
  • Embodiments and implementations of the present invention allow for optional add-ons including but not limited to field installable add-ons and/or upgrades including but not limited to hardware, firmware, software, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • sensors including but not limited to wired, wireless or powerline control to be added later and interfaced to the present invention as well as allowing sensors such as daylight harvesting/photo/light/solar/etc. sensors as well as motion/PIR/proximity/other types of motion, distance, proximity, location, etc., sensors, detectors, technologies, etc., combinations of these, etc. to be used with the present invention.
  • the present invention provides a means to improve circadian rhythm by providing the appropriate wavelength and/or wavelengths of light at appropriate times.
  • Some embodiments include internal and external photosensors including wavelength specific or the ability to gather entire or partial spectrum, etc. and can use atomic clock(s) signals, other broadcast time signals, cellular phone, time, smart phone, tablet, computers, personal digital assistants, etc., remote control via dedicated units, smart phones, computers, laptops, tablets, smart watches and wearables, etc.
  • Some embodiments include some or all of sirens, microphones, speakers, earphones, headphones, emergency lights, flashing lights, fans, heaters, sensors including, but not limited to, temperature sensors, humidity sensors, moisture sensors, noise sensors, light sensors, spectra sensors, infrared sensors, ultraviolet sensors, speech sensors, voice sensors, motion sensors, acoustic sensors, ultrasound sensors, RF sensors, proximity sensors, sonar sensors, radar sensors, etc., cameras of any type and form including but not limited to one or more and more than one each of security cameras, infrared cameras, web cam (cameras), closed circuit cameras, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • the sound and/or noise sensors as well as other sensors, etc.
  • Embodiments of the present invention can have more than one wavelength or color of LEDs and/or SSLs and can include more than one array of LEDs, OLEDs, QDs, etc.
  • Embodiments of the present invention can include multiple arrays that can be switched on or off or in or out and/or dimmed with either power being supplied by a ballast or the AC line that can be remotely selected, controlled and monitored. Examples of the present invention include different wavelengths, combinations of colors and phosphors, etc. are used to obtain desired performance, effects, operation, use, etc.
  • Embodiments can include one, two, three or more arrays of SSLs, including, but not limited to, side-by-side, 180 degrees from each other, on opposite sides, on multiple sides for example hexagon or octagon, etc.
  • the SSLs including but not limited to LEDs, OLEDs, QDs, etc.
  • phosphors, quantum dots, and other types of light absorbing/changing materials may be put in series, parallel or combinations of series and parallel, parallel and series, etc.
  • phosphors, quantum dots, and other types of light absorbing/changing materials that for example can effectively change wavelengths, colors, etc. for example by applying a voltage bias or electric field.
  • the present invention can also take the form of linear fluorescent lamps from less than 1 foot to more than 8 feet in length and may typically be T4, T5, T8, T9, T10, T12, PL, PL-C, any and all other types of fluorescent and any and all types of HID lamps, etc., A-lamps, PAR 30, PAR 38, R20, R30, R40, BR30, other types of PAR, R, BR, halogen, low voltage, magnetic low voltage, transformer, etc., any known lamp, lamp type, lamp structure, including but not limited to those discussed, included, etc. herein, combinations of these, etc.
  • Such embodiments of the present invention may use an insulating housing made from, for example but not limited to, glass or an appropriate type of plastic, which may or may not have a diffuser or be a diffuser in terms of the plastic.
  • plastic housings may be used that can include diffusers on the entire surface, diffusers on half the surface, diffusers on less than half the surface, diffusers on more than half of the surface, with the rest of the surface either being clear plastic, opaque plastic or a metal such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy.
  • Photon/wavelength conversion including down conversion can be used with the present invention including being able to adjust the photon/wavelength conversion electrically.
  • Spectral/spectrum sensors can be used to detect the light spectral content and adjust the light spectrum by turning on or off certain wavelengths/colors of SSL.
  • the spectral sensors could consist of color/wavelength sensitive detectors covering a range of colors/wavelengths of filters that only each only permit a certain, typically relatively narrow, range of wavelengths to be detected.
  • red, orange, amber, yellow, green, blue, etc. color detectors could be included as part of the spectral/spectrum sensor or sensors.
  • quantum dots can be used as part of and to implement the spectral/spectrum sensors.
  • SSL including but not limited to the LED, OLED, and/or QD lighting may use phosphor converted (PC) technologies, techniques, etc. and may be QC-based products, etc.
  • microLEDs and related devices, technologies, techniques, approaches, etc. including PC- microLEDs may be used with and incorporated into embodiments and implementations of the present invention, etc.
  • Some embodiments and implementations of the present invention can set user requirements, password priorities, permission levels, etc. for all or parts of the system including down to the individual lamp/bulb level which can/may be controlled, managed at a central or distributed level and can use mesh techniques to propagate information, commands, passwords, authentications, etc.
  • Some embodiments include and consist of any number and arrangement of smart dimmers (by wired, wireless, powerline communications, etc. combinations of these, etc.) including ones that connect directly to the AC power lines that can control, but are not limited to, one or more of, for example, but not limited to, as an example, FLRs, A-lamps, PAR 30, PAR
  • CCT color temperature
  • Non-dimmable lamps and appliances and entertainment device can also be included in such implementations of the present invention and may be turned on and off by one or more of the smart on/off switches or a dimmer that is, for example, but not limited to, programmed to full on and full off only, etc.
  • Such implementations of the present invention can also use one or more or all of the sensors, detectors, processes, approaches, etc. discussed herein and well as any other type or types of sensors, detectors, controls, etc.
  • the smart lighting, dimmers, power supplies, sensors, controls, etc. can use any type or types of wired, wireless, and/or powerline
  • projectors including projectors for display video information, data, movies, word processing, presentations, including but not limited to power point presentations and PDF files, etc., other audio-visual equipment, accessories, components, including but not limited to screens, screens that can be lowered, raised, rolled up, etc. using electromechanical ways, methods, techniques, technologies, etc.
  • solar devices including but not limited to solar panels, inverters and converters for solar power generation, microgrids, minigrids, off-grid, grid power, back-up power, solar blankets, solar curtains, solar windows including but not limited to smart solar windows, solar drapes, solar blinds, etc. including but not limited to smart and intelligent solar systems, devices, components, etc.
  • the present invention provides for lighting that is highly configurable, controllable, customizable, sensor-rich, energy communication devices and can include, among other things, but not limited to, voice command, improved security and energy savings of up to 90% for starters.
  • Some embodiments can make buildings or all types, forms, uses, including but not limited to residential and commercial, smarter, more energy efficient with the sensors, SSL/LED lights, and controllers and other embodiments of the present invention that allow, for example, but are not limited to integrating the present invention into existing building energy management systems.
  • Some embodiments of the present invention enable different kinds/types of smart, intelligent lighting to be incorporated including but not limited to: daylight harvesting to prevent needless use of over lighting of sunlit and other externally artificially lit rooms and extend bulb life coupled with simple, easy installation through, for example, but not limited to, plug-and- play, constant-lumens technology.
  • the present invention will prevent needless over-lighting of these by using one or more of occupancy, vacancy, ultrasonic, sonar, radar, noise, vision recognition, camera analysis, data mining, pattern recognition, etc., web cams, security cameras, inspection cameras, etc., motion sensors, etc.
  • Embodiments of the present invention will also help to create controllable lighting environments with adaptive and color- changing, color tuning lights that help students from elementary through professional/graduate school learn, focus, stay attentive and awake or rest when and where needed.
  • Other embodiments of the present invention include controllable lighting for hospitals, laboratories and emergency applications and situations including but not limited to high quality health care, light therapy, light centric medical and health and healing applications, patient ability to adjust, control and be better with proper lighting, etc.
  • Some embodiments of the present invention can improve security and performance while saving energy and money as well as the lighting having a dramatic positive effect in improving the appearance including but not limited to lights that can change color to suit mood, dim when no one is around and turn on when motion or noise is detected.
  • Some embodiments include but are not limited to intelligent lighting solutions related to the control, communication, analytics, sensing and monitoring technologies that can fundamentally change the power consumption and utility of lighting systems
  • Embodiments of the present invention can use the lights to collect a wide variety of sensor information that can be used for, for example, but are not limited to, enhancing energy savings to improving security and efficiency.
  • Some embodiments of the present invention allow for automatic and/or manual dimming coupled with monitoring ambient light and intelligently auto-dims in response. Dim level can also be adjusted manually or automatically including but not limited to timing, sequencing, synchronizing, etc.
  • Some embodiments of the present invention allow for Plug-and-Play by for example but not limited to replacing fluorescent lamps (compact, PLC, and/or linear, etc.) and/or HID replacements with SSL/LED technology is as easy as plug-and-play - no re-wiring or ballast change required making your retrofit easy and cost effective with embodiments of the present invention that can also be directly powered by AC or DC.
  • Embodiments of the present invention allow for the lighting to be accessed on the individual lamp level through, for example, but not limited to, Bluetooth and WiFi communication pathways
  • Some embodiments of the present invention allow for the SSL/LED power supply and driver to produce constant lumen SSL/LED output regardless and independent of type of ballast or lack of presence of ballast (i.e., can be wired directly to AC or DC power).
  • Embodiments of the present invention allow for two way communication with the lighting using, for example, but not limited to, computer software, servers, tablets, smartphones, or local manual controls.
  • Some embodiments of the present invention can include and/or work with cybersecure interfaces and protocol.
  • the operational lifetime of the SSL/LED lighting can be significantly extended with auto dimming. Unlike incandescent or fluorescent lighting, the lifetime of LEDs is not shortened by frequent switching or thermal cycles.
  • Some embodiments of the present invention can be configured to have autonomous control with each sensor or group of sensors interacting with the lighting autonomously, or other implementations of the present invention can be integrated into energy management systems to maximize energy savings and enhance the work environment, while providing detailed analytics and monitoring, including for marine and shipboard applications.
  • Some embodiments of the present invention can be tuned to wavelengths that are important to the health of employees, patients or customers. Specific wavelengths can aid in Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and help regulate circadian rhythms for better sleeping.
  • SAD Seasonal Affective Disorder
  • Some embodiments of the present invention can be solar friendly and used with low- voltage DC, line-voltage AC or DC sockets, and ballasts without requiring power converters.
  • some embodiments provide motion sensors and/or other sensors in FLRs or as external sensors which can be used to detect, track, predict etc. motion through public and/or private spaces, both indoors and out.
  • a solid state lighting system can be used to detect unauthorized access in private areas of buildings or after-hours unauthorized access.
  • Such a system can be used in any setting such as, but not limited to, a public and/or private building, residential home, apartment building, hotel, commercial building, shopping center, industrial building, educational building, school, entertainment center, theater, concert hall, community center, government building, park, campus, neighborhood, street, etc.
  • FIG. 82 an example floorplan of a building with public and private areas is shown as a non-limiting example of an application of such a solid state lighting and sensor system with motion tracking.
  • a northwest wing includes classrooms or meeting rooms with fluorescent lamp replacements with integrated or externally connected motion sensors 2700, 2702, 2704, 2706, 2708, 2716, 2718, 2722, 2722, accessed by a hallway with similar or identical FLRs 2724, 2728.
  • a southwest wing includes classrooms with FLRs 2730, 2732, 2734, 2742, 2744, 2746 accessed by a hallway with FLRs 2736, 2738.
  • a northeast wing includes classrooms with FLRs 2780, 2786, 2788, 2794, 2796, 2798, 2804, 2806, 2808 accessed by hallways with FLRs 2782, 2800, 2802.
  • a southeast wing includes classrooms with FLRs 2816, 2818, 2820, 2830, 2832, 2834 accessed by hallways with FLRs 2826, 2828.
  • a central area includes classrooms with FLRs 2724, 2728, 2812, 2814, a storage room or recreational hall with FLRs 2754, 2756, 2758, 2760, a lunchroom or cafeteria that can include FLRs (not shown), an auditorium or theater with FLRs 2764, 2766, 2768, 2770, 2772, and open spaces with FLRs 2714, 2726, 2740, 2748, 2750, 2752, 2774, 2792, 2810, 2824, 2822, 2776.
  • FLRs such as a floorplan and the layout and number of FLRs is merely a non- limiting example. More FLRs and/or HID replacements and/or motion sensors can be included for more precise motion detection and better coverage, including in restrooms, closets, etc.
  • Some areas of a solid state lighting system may be designated as authorized only at particular times, such as during business hours, during a range of time around an event, during daytime, on particular days of the week, etc. For example, access to the theater may be authorized only immediately before, during and after a public performance. When motion is detected in the theater during these authorized times, the system can be configured to ignore, or to log motion but not generate alerts or messages or other responses.
  • system can be configured to track the motion and to generate an alert or message to an administrator, security personnel, law enforcement agency, etc., and/or to perform other responses, such as triggering a siren, flashing lights, strobing lights, changing color of lights, turning lights off, turning lights off except in a particular location, etc.
  • triggering a siren flashing lights
  • strobing lights changing color of lights
  • turning lights off turning lights off except in a particular location, etc.
  • Some embodiments of such a solid state lighting system can also identify authorized persons based on a registry and identifications made using cellphones, Bluetooth signals, RFID tags NFC tags on security passes, or in any other suitable manner.
  • any suitable response can be performed by the system, for example track the motion and to generate an alert or message to an administrator, security personnel, law enforcement agency, etc., and/or to perform other responses, such as triggering a siren, flashing lights, changing color of lights, turning lights off, turning lights off except in a particular location, etc.
  • the system can predict motion based on the detected motion path, and can warn a person against the predicted entry into unauthorized spaces, for example using lights, lighted signs, audio warnings, etc., and/or can alert security personnel, lock doors along the predicted motion path, turn off lights or change lighting levels or colors along the predicted motion path, etc.
  • the system can filtering out isolated false motion detections when motion cannot be tracked along a path including multiple FLR's/sensors.
  • the system can also be used to track motion and to turn on and off lights or change lighting colors or diming levels to guide a person or persons along a path including in case of emergency including but not limited to fire, explosion, earthquake, flood, assault, attack, lockdown, other threats, etc. All of the above applies equally to HID replacement lamps and associated hardware, fixtures, etc.
  • Some embodiments of the invention also include detection of opening doors or of passage through doors, which can be used for security, safety, convenience, ambiance, welcoming, alerting others within the building, etc.
  • Lights can be turned on or brightened in the immediate vicinity of the door for the person entering, and/or in other locations to alert others to the door opening or someone passing through the door. Where entry in a door is unauthorized, alerts can be generated in response to the door opening or someone passing through the door and can be transmitted to security personnel, first responders, etc.
  • the present invention can be tied directly to entry and exit doors and share, convey, compare, act on, alert, alarm, open, shut, lock, deactivate, not respond, make decisions, lock or unlock doors, lock intruders or bad actors into a space during a breach or threat of harm while also protecting other permitted occupants to be safely protected and locked in their respective areas as well as unlocking and allowing first responders including police to enter and apprehend the bad actor(s).
  • Such support could include directing the first responders, especially police and peace officers and other law enforcement to the area/location/etc. of the bad actors while also knowing where the permitted occupants and other visitors, good citizens, etc. are located and whether they are safely in a secure area or not, etc.
  • Fig. 83 a solid state lighting system is depicted which includes multiple fluorescent lamp fixtures, including multiple smart capable fluorescent lamp
  • Multiple smart capable fluorescent lamp replacements 2931, 2932 draw power from a ballast output from the ballast 2930 or AC line in a first fluorescent lamp fixture or be selectable including automatically selectable from a ballast to AC lines should the ballast fail or cease to operate properly.
  • One or more of the smart capable fluorescent lamp replacements (e.g., 2931) provides an isolated power output to components including but not limited to a control system 2933 with a peripheral interface.
  • the peripheral interface can communicate with remote sensors (e.g., 2934, 2935, 2936, 2937) including but not limited to motion, sound, light, temperature, daylight, PIR, ultrasonic, sonar, radar, voice, gesture, IOT, etc., and other devices such as, but not limited to, speakers, sirens, alarms, alerts, cameras, etc., and can power the peripherals from the isolated power output from the fluorescent lamp replacement 2931.
  • the sensors can be connected using wired or wireless communication.
  • the control system with peripheral interface 2933 can communicate with other control systems or devices via one or more communications busses of any type.
  • multiple smart capable fluorescent lamp replacements (and/or HID replacements) 2941, 2942 draw power from a ballast output from the ballast 2940 or AC line in another fluorescent lamp fixture.
  • One or more of the smart capable fluorescent lamp replacements e.g., 2941
  • provides an isolated power output to other smart capable fluorescent lamp replacements e.g., 2942
  • the peripheral interface can communicate with remote sensors (e.g., 2944, 2945, 2946, 2947) including but not limited to motion, sound, light, temperature, daylight, PIR, ultrasonic, sonar, radar, voice, gesture, IOT, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • Embodiments of the present invention can control one or more fluorescent lamp and/or HID replacements, groups of fluorescent lamp and/or HID replacements, other types and form factors of lights, lamps, luminaires, etc., combinations of these, etc. including ones that just have a dimming input and no other intelligence in the lamp itself.
  • the control systems 2933, 2943 can also communicate with one or more gateways (e.g., 2950), or aggregators, accumulators, servers, loggers, etc. that can communicate among the fluorescent lamp replacements (e.g., 2931, 2932, 2941, 2942), the sensors (434, 2935, 2936, 2937, 2944, 2945, 2946, 2947), themselves, to other servers including but not limited to a central server 2954, a laptop, a desktop, other devices including but not limited to smart phones 2953, tablets 2955, personal digital assistants, mobile carriers 2952, cloud-based systems 2956, WiFi networks 2951, etc.
  • gateways e.g., 2950
  • any number or combination of smart fluorescent lamp replacements in any variation can be networked or connected with control systems, gateways, remote sensors, peripherals, networks, etc. in an endless variety of configurations based upon the application and requirements. This includes having more than one smart lamp, one of more follower lamps that accept a dimming signal (which could be analog, digital or both or of any other type) and respond accordingly.
  • a solid state lighting system which comprises multiple control panels, power sockets and relays, FLRs, HID replacements, etc., combinations of these, etc. and control interfaces in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • a controller 3000 receives power from an AC line and/or ballast output at line/neutral inputs.
  • the controller 3000 performs voltage regulation and provides a low voltage output that can be used by external components, devices, sensors etc. such as, but not limited to, wall switches or wall plates (which can also be referred to as switch plates or dimmer plates) 3008,3010, 3012, 3014 and relays 3002, 3004, 3006, etc.
  • Power sockets 3018, 3022 provide AC line power, switched under by relays (e.g., 3002) under control of the controller 3000.
  • controller 3000 can use a digital buss or any other wired or wireless network or system to send and/or receive commands or information to relays or other devices, such as receiving on/off, dimming, motion sensing, or other information from wall plates 3008,3010, 3012, 3014.
  • Power sockets 3018, 3022 can provide any desired output voltage or current, such as, but not limited to 120VAC in some sockets (e.g., 3018), 277V AC or higher for lights, etc.
  • the controller 3000 can be implemented using any form factor, such as, for example, in a small housing adapted to be mounted in an electrical junction box, power gang box, switch box, etc., or on a wall or in any other desired location.
  • the relays 3002, 3004, 3006 are low voltage latching relays, each addressable on the digital buss to receive commands from the controller 3000, powered by the low voltage output from the controller 3000 to perform any desired switching, such as but not limited to switching an AC line running to sockets (e.g., 3018). Relays can also be used to directly power a solid state or other type of light 3024 under commands from the controller 3000, or can be used to control or power ballasts 3026, 3030, 3036, 3040 with associated FLRs and or HID replacements with internal and/or external wired and/or wired interfaces 3028, 3032, 3034, 3038.
  • elements of the system such as, but not limited to, relays (e.g., 3002, 3004, 3006), wall plates (e.g., 3008,3010, 3012, 3014) etc. are or can be connected, for example, but not limited to, in a daisy chain, star configuration, any type of series or parallel configuration, combinations of these, etc.
  • the system and embodiments of the present invention can include other elements such as, but not limited to, fuses, circuit breakers, thermal fuses, resettable fuses, switches, relays, etc.
  • Such protection at the system, subsystem, device, sensor, power supply/supplies, dimmer(s), control(s), driver(s), etc., server, controller(s), wall plate(s), relay(s), communications, converters, component, etc. levels, combinations of these, etc. can include but is not limited to one or more fuses including both one-time and resettable fuses, thermal and/or thermal-magnetic, circuit breaker, transient voltage suppressors (TVS) such as varistors and metal oxide varistors (MOVs), surge protectors.
  • TVS transient voltage suppressors
  • MOVs metal oxide varistors
  • the converters, inverters, power supplies, drivers, etc. that constitute the power train for the present invention can have additional protection including but not limited to redundant protection including but not limited to Over current Protection: (OCP); Over voltage Protection: (OVP); Over temperature Protection (OTP); Short Circuit Protection (SCP); Arc Detection/ Protection (ADP); Transient Surge Protection (TSP); Circuit Breaker Protection (CBP); Electronic Circuit Breaker Protection (ECBP); Fuse Protection (FP); Relays and/or Transistor Switches. Extensive current, voltage and temperature monitoring can also be implemented.
  • OCP Over current Protection
  • OVP Over voltage Protection
  • OTP Over temperature Protection
  • SCP Short Circuit Protection
  • ADP Arc Detection/ Protection
  • TSP Transient Surge Protection
  • CBP Circuit Breaker Protection
  • ECBP Electronic Circuit Breaker Protection
  • Fuse Protection FP
  • Relays and/or Transistor Switches Relays and/or Transistor Switches. Extensive current, voltage and temperature monitoring can also be implemented
  • An interface to the controller 3000 can be provided in any suitable manner, such as but not limited to using a server 3050 with one or more communications interfaces.
  • the server could also be incorporated into other elements of Fig. 84.
  • Non-limiting examples of such interfaces to server 3050 include smart phones or tablets 3052, wireless motion detectors 3054, wired motion detectors 3056, wireless daylight harvester (DLH) 3058, wired DLH 3064, wireless IOT devices 306, wired IOT 3062, etc.
  • the functions performed by the server are not required in all embodiments, and can be incorporated into, lumped into, integrated into, as well as distributed and performed in other components of the system rather than including a separate server element.
  • Non limiting examples include but are not limited to having the server in the controller 3000, in one (or more) of the wired DLH 3058, wired DLH 3064, wireless IOT devices 306, wired IOT 3062, wireless motion detectors/sensors 3054, wired motion detectors 3056, etc., combinations of these including but not limited to motion + DLH, motion + DLH + IOT, DLH + IOT, motion + DLH + server, DLH + server, IOT + DLH + server, controller + server, wallplate + motion + server, wallplate + motion + DLH + server, etc., other
  • Fig. 84 also illustrates the one or more analog and/or digital wired and/or one or more wireless and/or powerline, etc. hybrid nature of the present invention.
  • Some embodiments of the invention can also work and interact with door and key lock systems including but not limited to (door) key fob, (door) key entry, badge ID door entry, automated door entry, smart phone, tablet, etc. APP, NFC, etc. entry.
  • Door position detectors can be adapted for use with any type of door, including single doors, double doors sliding doors, etc. Detection of door opening or of passage through a door can be used for security, safety, convenience, ambiance, welcoming, alerting others within the building, etc. Lights can be turned on or brightened in the immediate vicinity of the door for the person entering, and/or in other locations to alert others to the door opening or someone passing through the door.
  • alerts can be generated in response to the door opening or someone passing through the door and can be transmitted to security personnel, first responders, etc.
  • Control of lights and sockets via relay control can also be performed based on information from intelligent door locks, key fobs, security badges, door position detectors, door entry detection, etc.
  • Some embodiments are configured to detect a key in a lock, for example to generate alerts of pending entry or if a key has been neglected or forgotten in a lock, using any suitable detector, such as a position switch, an inductive sensor, an electrical current-based sensor, a capacitive sensor, etc.
  • Lights can be controlled based on sensing of motion, human and/or animal sound, voice command, voice recognition, gesture, positional, human or animal body position, pose, etc., speed, acceleration, pattern driven, can obtain sensor data including GPS and other positional data including but not limited to triangulation data for the animal/pet to determine when and how intense/bright to turn the lights on, can use animal/pet walking, running, vital signs including but not limited to heart rate, blood pressure, pulse, whether walking in straight lines or making circles, etc., going to bathroom, ambient light levels, time of day, geographic location, weather conditions, battery health and expected duration, etc., combinations of these, etc. to decide whether to turn on lights, flash lights, etc., how often and a what dimming level, etc.
  • Some embodiments include RFID or other identification of authorized persons, such as, but not limited to, nurses, doctors, emergency personnel, etc.
  • Embodiments of the present invention can use, for example, but not limited to, RFID worn by individuals to identify and select settings including but not limited to, lighting settings and priorities, hierarchies, etc., combinations of these, etc. based on the individual/ personal/etc. RFIDs to, for example, respectively set, turn on, dim, turn off, etc. certain lighting (levels), etc.
  • Some embodiments of the present invention can include, incorporate , have, etc.
  • Some embodiments include a dimmer that also can turn off ballasts for example, but not limited to, for example, turning off/switching off/disconnecting the power to a ballast when, for example, a low dimming/fully off, etc. point/signal is reached.
  • Some embodiments support calibration, including self-calibration including but not limited to, calibration of light intensity, daylight harvesting, parameters, parametric performance and calibration including but not limited to agency, certifications, etc. [0329] Some embodiments advertise and obtain Bluetooth and other ID information including WiFi, IPv6, IPv4, others discussed herein, etc.
  • Some embodiments use display panels including but not limited to OLED panels, tablets, etc. as lighting panels.
  • Some embodiments a synchronous bridge for dimmers, and can have a Triac that is, for example, but not limited to being in parallel with the diodes and transistors of embodiments of the present invention.
  • Some embodiments provide motion sensing for either outdoor or indoor that can wirelessly, wired and/or powerline communications set, program, control, monitor, log, respond, alert, alarm, etc.
  • Some embodiments includes sensors in the light(s), sensors attached to and/or near the light(s), sensors remote from the lights including battery powered, AC powered, solar powered, energy harvested, battery charged, etc., combinations of these, etc., including, for example, but not limited to, solar power battery charging.
  • High efficiency power supplies including but not limited to AC to DC, DC to DC, etc. to power the sensors, etc. can be used as part of the present invention.
  • Some embodiments include sound making devices at, for example, but not limited to doors, such as external entry doors, stairwells, etc. enabling audio detectors in or associated with FLRs to hear the sound and turn on lights.
  • Various embodiments can use any device, approach, method, etc. that can convey that the door is opened or that someone has passed through the door including, for example, but not limited to, photoelectric beam and photoelectric eye, radar, magnetic proximity switch, other types of detection of open door, etc., can use two tone or more tone frequency, etc.
  • Embodiments of the present invention can also work and interact with door and key lock systems including but not limited to (door) key fob, (door) key entry, badge ID door entry, automated door entry, smart phone, tablet, etc.
  • Door position detectors can be adapted for use with any type of door, including single doors, double doors sliding doors, etc. Detection of door opening or of passage through a door can be used for security, safety, convenience, ambiance, welcoming, alerting others within the building, etc. Lights can be turned on or brightened in the immediate vicinity of the door for the person entering, and/or in other locations to alert others to the door opening or someone passing through the door. Where entry in a door is unauthorized, alerts can be generated in response to the door opening or someone passing through the door and can be transmitted to security personnel, first responders, including but not limited to fire, medical assistance, law enforcement, etc.
  • Some embodiments use active or passive or both high pass, low pass, bandpass, notch, other filters, combinations, etc. including with the voice, sound, noise detection.
  • Some embodiments use isolated digital PWM that can be converted to analog near, for example, but not limited to, the control reference point.
  • Some embodiments use proximity and/or signal strength of, for example but not limited to the wireless communication(s), to decide, for example, but not limited to turn on or off lights, etc. In some implementations, triangulation and related approaches may be used. [0338] Some embodiments flash lights or provide other types of audio or visual signals and/or indicators at the end of an allotted time, for example to indicate that the next group is ready to use, for example, a conference room.
  • Some embodiments of the present invention listen for and respond to emergency sounds such as smoke, fire, CO, etc. detectors, sensors, etc. by flashing, turning on, forwarding the information, alert, alarm, etc.
  • the present invention may also be used as an emergency beacon where lights and sounds may sound when disasters or emergencies occur such as fires, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, and any other event when an alarm is needed.
  • the present invention also may receive signals from the emergency broadcast systems and radio weather stations and other sources to further display information about current emergency conditions. Units may communicate to other units in the nearby geographical area to alert of any current danger or emergency situation.
  • the present invention may also include sensors such as those used to detect temperature, smoke, carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), propane, natural gas, and other airborne particles/chemicals to further provide safe environment monitoring in any situation.
  • sensors such as those used to detect temperature, smoke, carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), propane, natural gas, and other airborne particles/chemicals to further provide safe environment monitoring in any situation.
  • the present invention can use or make use of marker(s) that can be placed on or near, driven in to the ground, be portable or fixed that can use wireless
  • wireless RF signals including but not limited to the types, topologies, interfaces, frequencies, protocols, etc. discussed herein including but not limited to Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE or BLE), WiFi, LiFi, IR, IrAD, 6LowPAN, Thread, Zwave, Zigbee, IPv4, IPv6, LoRa, ISM, sub-GHz, 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and above, satellite, cellular mobile carriers, etc., combinations of these, etc. and typically for fixed marker locations, wired and PLC including but not limited to those discussed, mentioned and listed herein.
  • Bluetooth Bluetooth Low Energy
  • WiFi LiFi
  • IR IR
  • IrAD 6LowPAN
  • Thread Thread
  • Zwave Zigbee
  • IPv4 IPv6 LoRa ISM
  • sub-GHz sub-GHz
  • 2.4 GHz 2.4 GHz
  • 5 GHz and above satellite
  • satellite cellular mobile carriers, etc., combinations of these, etc. and typically for fixed marker locations
  • wired and PLC including but not
  • Embodiments of the present invention can use energy harvesting from animal/pet motion including kinetic energy harvesting to power and charge various elements of the present invention including but not limited to batteries, super capacitors, other capacitors, other types of energy storage devices, systems, components, etc.
  • Embodiments of the present invention can accomplish this by many methods including but not limited to receiving signals from one or more sensors and detectors including, but not limited to wired and wireless signals, feedback, information, etc.
  • CCD imaging including visible and/or infrared imaging, sensing and detection, infrared detection and sensing, ultraviolet detection and sensing, spectrum analysis, detecting and sensing, optical and electromagnetic spectrum detection and sensing, temperature sensors and detectors, humidity sensors and detectors, barometric sensors and detectors, rain and/or snow sensors and detectors, moisture sensors and detectors, wind sensors and detectors, other location and proximity sensors and detectors, motion sensors and detectors, carbon monoxide sensors and detectors, carbon dioxide sensors and detectors, hydrogen sensors and detectors, other gas sensors and detectors, environmental sensors and detectors, etc.
  • GPS global positioning system
  • sensors and detectors may also be combined and/or connected with wearable devices and other sensors that can detect, for example, but not limited to, heart rate, blood pressure, phase of the circadian rhythm cycle, other information about circadian rhythm, ambient light, pressure, movement,
  • EEG electroencephalogram/electroencephalography
  • EKG or ECG electrocardiography/ electrocardiogram
  • PSG polysomnography
  • Embodiments of the present invention can include but not limited to heart rate sensor(s) including but not limited to one or more radio frequency (RF)/microwave and/or optical heart rate sensor(s), 3-axis accelerometer/gyro(s), gyrometer(s), GPS, ambient light sensor, skin temperature sensor(s), ultraviolet (UV) sensor(s), capacitive sensor(s), galvanic skin response, microphone, one or more speaker(s), one or more cameras, barometer, humidity, air quality, gas sensor(s), communications including but not limited to WiFi, Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy, international science and medical (ISM) frequency bands, sub-GHz, 2.4 to 2.5 GHz, 5 to 6 GHz including 5.6 GHz, communication frequencies below 1 kilohertz (kHz) to greater than 1 Terahertz (THz), other communications topologies, architectures, protocols, interfaces, indicator lighting, primary lighting, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • RF radio frequency
  • gyrometer 3-axis accelerometer/gyro(s
  • Implementations of the present invention can use sensors, detectors, etc. to measure environment including, for example, but not limited to pressure, tactile, gas sensors, IOT sensors and detectors, ad can have all types or sensors and arrays of sensors to for example but not limited to detect local weather, rain, moisture, humidity, temperature, gas, environmental, pressure, light, other things and conditions described herein, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • the present invention can also receive load shedding, demand load reduction, load reduction information and reduce/trim/dim /decrease /etc. the lighting load in response to the load demand response signal, information, request, etc. which could be in wireless, wired, powerline, combinations of these, etc. form and format.
  • Some embodiments are powered over Ethernet (POE), dimmed, controlled, monitored, logged, two way communicated with, data mined, analytics, etc. Can be powered, controlled, monitored, managed, etc. via wired or wireless or powerline control (PLC) including but not limited to serial communications, parallel communications, RS232, RS485, RS422, RS423, SPI, I2C, UART, Ethernet, ZigBee, Zwave, Bluetooth, BTLE, WiFi, cellular, mobile, ISM, Wink, Link, powerline, etc., others discussed herein, combinations of these, etc.
  • PLC powerline control
  • Some embodiments of the present invention can interact, support, control, be controlled by social media including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, Snapshot, Yelp, Next Door, Angle's List, You Tube, Linkedln, Flickr, Tumblr, e-mail, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • Embodiments of the present invention can also recognize the siren/alarm of a smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • Some embodiments of the present invention can use weight sensors for example, put below a chair, on the seat of a chair, on one or more of the arms of a chair, etc., combinations of these to sense the presence of one or more people in a room to keep the lights on.
  • Implementations of such a sensor can also be used to differentiate between a dead load of, for example, but not limited to books, weights, boxes, etc. by detecting minute movements, etc. associated with persons as well as other methods, techniques, etc. as well as being coupled with other sensor and detector technologies, etc.
  • a signal could be sent out when a person sits in a seat of a chair and another when the person leaves the seat.
  • signals could be sent out if a person rotates the seat of a chair, tilts the chair, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • Some embodiments of the present invention can use face and/or gesture recognition to turn on the lights, dim the lights, etc.
  • Some embodiments of the present invention can use a T8 body that is necked down/reduced at either end to fit into a T5 socket and provide equivalent light as, for example, but not limited to, a F28 or F54 HO T5 fluorescent lamp.
  • Some embodiments of the present invention can use a current limiter that can be put inline with the AC power connections should the ballast fixture be converted from ballast power to AC power so as to limit, switch off, regulate, etc.
  • the current to the fluorescent tube would be limited/set to a safe maximum level that would not result in danger or harm to the fluorescent lamp, personnel, other equipment and fixtures, etc.
  • Some embodiments of the present invention include LEDs, OLEDs, QDs, other SSL lighting sources, other light sources, etc. can also be powered by generators consisting of coils of wires and for example, but not limited to, magnetics, electromagnetics that could, for example, but not limited to, be powered/turned/ rotated, translated, moved, etc., combinations of these, etc. by air flow that is channeled through the implementations of the present invention, etc.
  • the SSL or other lighting can be white light, one or more of white color temperature light(s), one or more color light(s), etc., combinations of these, and can either be fixed or selectable including locally, remotely, wirelessly, set at time of manufacture, fabrication, etc. Any and all types of energy harvesting, including combinations of energy harvesting such as mechanical, vibrational, motion, translation, etc. may be used with the present invention.
  • the light sources may emit in the visible, infrared, ultraviolet, or combinations of these, etc. Electrical, mechanical,
  • electromechanical including but not limited to micro electromechanical systems (MEMS), micro-machining, micro-fabrication, hybrid manufacture and fabrication, 3 D printing, additive printing, additive manufacturing, subtractive manufacturing, combinations of these, etc. may be used in embodiments of the present invention.
  • MEMS micro electromechanical systems
  • the present invention can also use heat to electrical conversion, thermoelectric, thermal converters, thermionic converters including but not limited to micro thermionic converters, energy harvesting, thermionic energy harvesting, thermoelectric energy harvesting, etc., vibration to electrical conversion, mechanical to electrical conversion, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • the present invention can also use incandescent lighting, etc. Some embodiments of the present invention can, for example, but not limited to, use thermal to electrical conversion combined with incandescent lighting.
  • Some embodiments of the invention can include indoor and/or outdoor motion sensors.
  • the lights and, for example, sensors can have auxiliary ports that allow both control signals and other types of sensors, detectors, features, functions, etc. including, for example, but not limited to, motion, sound, video, vision recognition, pattern recognition, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • the indoor and outdoor embodiments can be very similar except for weather-proof for outdoor uses.
  • Embodiments of the present invention can use existing lighting fixtures, including those with or without motion sensing and make them motion sensing capable including having the motion sensing inside the light source or as an extension to the light source that can be plugged into the light source and control the turning on/off and dimming up/down of the light source(s), etc., other sensors, alarms, alerts, communications, etc.
  • Embodiments of the present invention can be added to embodiments of the present invention as well as being capable of being compatible with existing/legacy lighting including, for example, but not limited to motion detection, security, photoelectric cell/dusk to dawn lighting, etc., combinations of these, etc., including for example but not limited to, detecting when a conventional, non-communicating motion detector light fixture turns on and wirelessly or wire (or, in some cases, PLC) reporting, communicating, logging, tracking, etc. such information, etc.
  • Embodiments of the present invention can also completely set all parameters of the present invention including but not limited to, the light level, detection threshold, detection level, distance, proximity, etc., notify under what conditions, notify neighbors, etc., light level to turn on at, whether to flash or not, etc., detection, sniffing, identification, etc.
  • Embodiments of the present invention can use such information to decide or aid in deciding whether the detection is due to, for example, but not limited to, a friend or foe and an unidentified source or object, person, animal, wind, etc.
  • Embodiments of the present invention can record, store, analyze, keep track of, for example, the frequency of such occurrences and incidents, including any new digital, electronic, or other information including unique information about the device or person, etc. such as cellular phone identifiers, RF/wireless IDs, names, user names, etc.
  • embodiments and implementations of the present invention can use optical or other methods to act as an intruder alert system such that, for example, but not limited to, an optical beam that connects two or more of the present invention including, examples where the two or more embodiments of the present invention have direct line of sight to each other and effectively have a beam of light in between that is broken or disrupted, etc.
  • Such a beam of light can be modulated with the user able to select one or more from a variety of modulations so as to make it more difficult to emulate the beam, etc.
  • Such beam modulations and detection can be two or more way so as to add to the reliability and security, etc.
  • Some embodiments of the invention can be configured, controlled, monitored, etc., from/to smart devices using for example, but not limited to, Apps, laptops, desktops, servers, mobile and/or PDA devices of any type or form, combinations of these, etc.
  • Some embodiments of the invention can include motion sensors performing multiple duties - turning on/off lights, alerting that there are people there, heating or cooling spaces, burglar alarm, camera, image recognition, noise, voice, recognition, sound recognition, etc. accessories, thermal imagers, night vision, infrared cameras, infrared lit cameras, etc.
  • a small PWM pulse width can be the default pulse width such that the amount of power/current at the highest input voltage will limit the power applied without a signal to increase the pulse. This will allow a current/power limit in the event of, for example, a short circuit on the output since a small pulse to big pulse is needed for higher power in AC line voltage mode.
  • the pulse width can be made larger by a circuit that measures the pulse width and allows the pulse width to increase until the desired current level is attained.
  • Some embodiments of the invention can include outdoor motion sensing with smart additional components, accessories, etc.
  • Sense includes weather, including from any source such as a local weather station, personal weather station, web-based weather report, etc. Smart Motion sense can also dim, flash, change intensities, white colors, be color-changing, etc., communicate two or more way, etc., monitor weather locally, regionally, wind factor, have a wind indicator, etc., wind vane, wind generator, etc.
  • Implementations of the present invention are designed to be a cost-effective and complete solution that provides both forward and backward compatibility which is also ideal for retrofits and can use either wireless or wire (or both) communications.
  • Implementations of the present invention include comprehensive sensing and monitoring.
  • Implementations of the present invention can be Web-based and/or WiFi-based (or other) and interface with smart phones, tablets, other mobile devices, laptops, computers, dedicated remote units, etc. and can support a number of wireless communications including, but not limited to, IEEE 802, ZigBee, Bluetooth, ISM, other wireless and wired communications discussed herein,etc.
  • Implementations of the present invention can include, but not limited to, dimmers, drivers, power supplies of all types, switches, motion sensors, light sensors, temperature sensors, daylight harvesting, other sensors, thermostats and more and can include monitoring, logging, analytics, etc.
  • Embodiments of the present invention support and can include color changing, color tuning, etc. lights with numerous ways to interact with the lights. [0356] Embodiments of the present invention can be integrated with video, burglar, fire alarm, etc. components, systems.
  • Other features and functions include but are not limited to detecting the frequency using a microprocessor, microcontroller, FPGA, DSP, etc.
  • a switch including, for example, a transistor such as a field effect transistor (FET) such as a MOSFET or JFET to, for example, either turn on or turn off a circuit that operates in either ballast mode or AC line mode depending on the amplitude of the signal or with the inclusion of a time constant, the average, RMS, etc. voltage level.
  • FET field effect transistor
  • JFET field effect transistor
  • Embodiments of the present invention removes the requirement that a reference level and a comparison to the reference level is required to detect the amplitude of the waveform
  • the present invention can also have sirens, microphones, speakers, earphones, headphones, emergency lights, flashing lights, fans, heaters, sensors including, but not limited to, temperature sensors, humidity sensors, moisture sensors, noise sensors, light sensors, spectra sensors, infrared sensors, ultraviolet sensors, speech sensors, voice sensors, motion sensors, acoustic sensors, ultrasound sensors, RF sensors, proximity sensors, sonar sensors, radar sensors, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • the present invention can also provide two or more side (multi-side) lighting for example, for a FLR where one side contains SSL that, for example, consists of white color or white colors of one or more color temperatures and another side contains SSL or other lighting of one or more wavelengths such as red, green, blue, amber, white, yellow, etc., combinations of these, subsets of these, etc.
  • one side contains SSL that, for example, consists of white color or white colors of one or more color temperatures and another side contains SSL or other lighting of one or more wavelengths such as red, green, blue, amber, white, yellow, etc., combinations of these, subsets of these, etc.
  • the two or more sided lighting can perform different functions - for example, the side that is primarily white or all white light of one or more color temperatures can provide primary lighting whereas the side that has one or more color/wavelengths of light can provide indication of location, status, code level in, for example, a hospital (i.e., code red, code blue, code yellow, etc.), accent lighting, mood lighting, location indication, emergency information and direction, full spectrum lighting, etc.
  • a hospital i.e., code red, code blue, code yellow, etc.
  • accent lighting i.e., mood lighting, location indication, emergency information and direction, full spectrum lighting, etc.
  • the present invention can work with all types of communications devices including portable communications devices worn by individuals, walkie-talkie types of devices, etc.
  • the present device can use combinations of wireless and wired interfaces to control and monitor; for example for a linear or other fluorescent replacement for, for example, but not limited to, T4, T5, T8, T9, T10, T12, PLC, HIDs of all types, etc.
  • one (or more) of the replacement lamps can be wireless with wired connections from the one (or more) replacement lamp(s) to the other replacement lamps such that the one or more wireless replacement lamps acts as a master receiving and/or transmitting information, data, commands, etc. wirelessly and passing along or receiving information, data, commands, etc. from the other remaining wired slaved units.
  • one or more wired masters/leaders may transfer, transmit, or receive, etc. information, data, commands from other wireless and/or wired equipped fluorescent lamp replacements, etc. of combinations of these.
  • the present invention can also have one or more thermometers, thermostats, temperature controllers, temperature monitors, etc., combinations of these, etc. that can be wirelessly or wired interfaced controlled, monitored, etc.
  • Such one or more thermometers, thermostats, temperature controllers, temperature monitors, etc., combinations of these, etc. can be connected/interfaced, for example, but not limited to, by Bluetooth, Bluetooth low energy, WiFi, IEEE 801, IEEE 802, ZigBee, Zwave, Thread, 6L0WPAN, other 2.4 GHz and
  • Wired connections, interfaces, protocols, etc. include but are not limited to, serial, parallel, UART, SPI, I2C, RS232, RS485, RS422, other RS standards and serial standards, interfaces, protocols, etc. powerline communications, interfaces, protocols, etc.
  • thermometer(s) and/or thermostats may be remotely located.
  • a temperature sensor or sensors or thermostat or thermostats can use wireless or wired units, interfaces, protocols, device, circuits, systems, etc.
  • the thermometer(s) and/or thermostat(s) can communicate with each other and relay, share, and pass commands as well as provide information and data to one another.
  • embodiments of the present invention can use switches that are remotely controlled and monitored to detect the use of power or the absence of power usage, to open or close garage or other doors by locally and/or remotely sending signals to garage door openers including acting as a switch to complete detection circuits, remembering the status of garage door opening or closing, working with other motion sensors, photosensors, etc. horizontal/vertical detectors, inclinometers, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • embodiments of the present invention can both control and monitor the status of the garage or other door and sound alarms, send alerts, flash lights including flashing white lights and/or one or more
  • Such embodiments and implementations can use Bluetooth, Bluetooth low energy, WiFi, IEEE 801, IEEE 802, ZigBee, Zwave, Thread, 6L0WPAN, LoRa, other 2.4 GHz and related/associated standards, protocols, interfaces, ISM, sub-GHz, other frequencies including but not limited to, radio frequencies (RF), microwave frequencies, millimeter-wave frequencies, sub millimeter-wave frequencies, terahertz (THz), mobile cellular network connections, modems, combinations of these.
  • RF radio frequencies
  • microwave frequencies millimeter-wave frequencies
  • sub millimeter-wave frequencies terahertz (THz)
  • THz terahertz
  • Wired connections, interfaces, protocols, etc. include but are not limited to, serial, parallel, SPI, I2C, RS232, RS485, RS422, other RS standards and serial standards, interfaces, protocols, etc. powerline communications, interfaces, protocols, etc.
  • the present invention also allows various types of radio frequency (RF) devices such as, but not limited to, window shades, drapes, diffusers, garage door openers, cable boxes, satellite boxes, etc. to be controlled and monitored by replacing and integrating these functions into implementations of the present invention including being able to synthesize and reproduce the RF signals which are typically in the range of less than 1 kHz to greater than 5 GHz using one or more RF synthesizers including ones based on phase lock loops and other such frequency tunable and adjustable circuits with may also employ frequency multiplication, amplification, modulation, etc., combinations of these, etc., amplitude modulation, phase modulation, pulses, pulse trains, combinations of these, etc.
  • RF radio frequency
  • a global positioning system can be included in the present invention to track the location and, for example, to also make decisions as to where and when the present invention should do certain things including but not limited to turning on or off, dimming, turn on heat or cooling, control and monitor the lighting, etc., control, water, monitor the lawn and other plants, trees etc.
  • Embodiments of the present invention can use/incorporate/include/etc. thermal imagers including but not limited to IR imagers, IR imaging arrays, non-contact temperature measurements including point temperature and array temperature measurements including in lighting such as T8 replacements where the imagers are powered, for example, but not limited to the ballast.
  • thermal imagers including but not limited to IR imagers, IR imaging arrays, non-contact temperature measurements including point temperature and array temperature measurements including in lighting such as T8 replacements where the imagers are powered, for example, but not limited to the ballast.
  • Embodiments of the present invention allow for dimming with both ballasts and AC line voltage.
  • Implementations of the present invention can use, but are not limited to, Bluetooth, Bluetooth low energy, WiFi, IEEE 801, IEEE 802, ZigBee, Zwave, Thread, 6L0WPAN, other 2.4 GHz and related/associated standards, protocols, interfaces, sub-GHz, LoRa, ISM, other frequencies including but not limited to, radio frequencies (RF), microwave frequencies, millimeter-wave frequencies, sub millimeter-wave frequencies, terahertz (THz), mobile cellular network connections, combinations of these. Wired connections, interfaces, protocols, etc.
  • RF radio frequencies
  • THz terahertz
  • Embodiments of the present invention include SSL/LED Direct Fluorescent Tube Lamp Replacements that can be used, for example, but not limited to, for daylight
  • Embodiments of the present invention uses wireless signals to both control (i.e., dim) the LED fluorescent lamp replacements (FLRs) and/or the SSL/LED HID replacements and monitor the SSL/LED current, voltage and power.
  • the present invention includes but is not limited to fluorescent lamp replacements that work directly with existing electronic ballasts and requires no re-wiring and can be installed in the same amount of time or less than changing a regular fluorescent lamp tube.
  • These smart/intelligent LED FLRs and HID replacements are compatible with most daylight harvesting controls and protocols.
  • Optional sensors allow for relative light output to be measured and wirelessly reported, monitored, and logged permitting analytics to be performed.
  • Embodiments of the present invention come in a diversity of lengths including but are not limited to two foot and four foot T8 standard/nominal linear lengths as well as T12. Additional optional input power measurements allow total power usage, power factor, input current, input voltage, input real and apparent power to also be measured thus allowing efficiency to be measured.
  • the wireless signals can be radio signals in the industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) for lower cost and simplicity or ZigBee, ZWave, Thread, 6L0WPAN, IEEE 801, IEEE 802, or WiFi or Bluetooth of any type of form and others discussed herein, Cellular carrier networks, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • ISM industrial, scientific and medical
  • the wireless SSL/LED FLRs and/or HID replacements can be switched on and off millions of times without damage as well as be dimmed up and down without damage.
  • the wireless communications can be encrypted and secure.
  • Such embodiments of the present invention FLRs do not require or need a dimmable ballast and work with anyvirtually any electronic or magnetic ballast including florescent lamp and HID ballasts including but not limited to T8 electronic ballasts and T12 electronic ballasts .
  • the present invention can have integrated motion sensor as part of the housing and can also use auxiliary motion sensors and can also have integrated light/photocell sensor as well as auxiliary.
  • the present invention can also respond to proximity sensors including passive or active or both, as well as voice commands and can be used to turn on, turn off, dim, flash or change colors including doing so in response to an emergency situation.
  • the present invention can use wireless, wired, powerline, combinations of these, etc., Bluetooth, RFID, WiFi, ZigBee, ZWave, Thread, 6L0WPAN, IEEE 801, IEEE 802, ISM, others discussed herein, sub-GHz, LoRa, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • the present invention can be connected to fire alarms, fire alarm monitoring equipment, etc.
  • Embodiments of the present invention permits enhanced circadian rhythm alignment and maintenance using sources of light.
  • sources of light include, but are not limited to, computer screens, monitors, panels, etc., tablet screens, smart phone screens, etc., televisions (TVs), LCD and CRT displays of any type or form, DVD and other entertainment lighting and displays containing LEDs, OLEDs, CCFLs, FLs, CRTs, etc., displays, monitors, TVs, OLED, LED, CCFL, FL, incandescent lighting, etc.
  • the present invention can use smart phones, tablets, computers, smart watches and other wearables, dedicated remote controls, to provide lighting appropriate for circadian rhythm alignment, correction, support, maintenance, etc. that can be, for example, coordinated wake-up and sleep times whether on a 'natural' or shifted (i.e., night workers, shift workers, etc.) to set and align their sleep patterns and circadian rhythm to appropriates phases including time shifts and time zone shifts due to work and other related matters.
  • a 'natural' or shifted i.e., night workers, shift workers, etc.
  • the present invention can use external and internal information gathered from a number of sources including clocks, internal and external lighting, time of the year, individual, specific input, physiological signals, movements, monitoring of physiological signals, stimuli, including but not limited to, EEG, melatonin levels, urine, wearable device information, sleep information, temperature, body temperature, weather conditions, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • the present invention can use TVs essentially of any type or form, including, but not limited to smart TVs, and related and similar items, products and technologies including, but not limited to, computer and other monitors and displays that can either be remotely or manually controlled and, in some embodiments, monitored.
  • the present invention can use smart phones, tablets, PCs, remote controls including programmable remote controls, consoles, etc., combinations of these etc., to control and set the content of the lighting (e.g., white or blue- enriched, etc. combinations of these, etc. for wake-up; yellow, amber, orange, red, etc., combinations of these, etc. for sleep-time, etc.) automatically to assist in circadian rhythm, sleep, SAD mitigation, reduction, elimination, etc.
  • the lighting e.g., white or blue- enriched, etc. combinations of these, etc. for wake-up; yellow, amber, orange, red, etc., combinations of these, etc. for sleep-time, etc.
  • Embodiments of the present invention can provide multiple wake- ups to the same location and/or different locations including other locations in homes, houses, hotels, hospitals, dormitories including school and military and other types of barracks, dormitories, etc., assisted living homes and facilities, chronic care facilities, rehabilitation facilities, etc., children's hospitals and care facilities, etc. group living, elder living, etc., children's rooms and other family members whether in the same physical location or in different physical locations, friends and family, clients, guests, travelers, jet lagged and sleep deprived people and personnel, etc.
  • the present invention can have integrated motion sensor as part of the housing and can also use auxiliary motion sensors and can also have integrated light/photocell sensor as well as auxiliary. In some embodiments of the present invention, these can be stand-alone units that replace conventional fluorescent lamps including, but not limited to, T8, T12, T5, T10, T9, U- shaped, CFLs, etc. of any length, size and power as well as high intensity discharge lamps of any size, type, power, etc. [0379] The present invention can also respond to proximity sensors including passive or active or both, as well as voice commands and can be used to turn on, turn off, dim, flash or change colors including doing so in response to an emergency situation.
  • proximity sensors including passive or active or both, as well as voice commands and can be used to turn on, turn off, dim, flash or change colors including doing so in response to an emergency situation.
  • the present invention can use wireless, wired, powerline, combinations of these, etc., Bluetooth, RFID, WiFi, ZigBee, ZWave, IEEE 801, IEEE 802, ISM, etc., others discussed herein, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • the present invention can be connected to fire alarms, fire alarm monitoring equipment, etc.
  • the present invention can use a BACNET to wireless converter box or BACNET to Bluetooth including Bluetooth low energy (BLE) converter.
  • the present invention can also use infrared signals to control and dim the lighting and other systems as well as other types of devices including but not limited to heating and cooling, thermostats, on/off switches, other types of switches, etc.
  • the present invention can have the motion proximity sensor send signals back to the controller/monitor or other devices including but not limited to cell phones, smart phones, tablets, computers, laptops, servers, remote controls, other smart devices such as watches, wearables, etc., combinations of these, etc. when motion or proximity is detected etc.
  • Embodiments of the present invention can have on/off switches for the ballasts where the ballasts connect to the AC lines and/or also where the ballasts connect to the present invention, etc.
  • Embodiments and implementations of the present invention allow for optional add-ons including but not limited to wired, wireless or powerline control which, for example, could be installed or added later and interfaced to the present invention as well as allowing sensors such as daylight harvesting/photo/light/solar/etc. sensors as well as motion/PIR/proximity/other types of motion, distance, proximity, location, etc., sensors, detectors, technologies, etc., combinations of these, etc. to be used with the present invention.
  • the present invention provides a means to improve circadian rhythm by providing the appropriate wavelengths of light at appropriate times.
  • Internal and external photosensors, optical sensors, electromagnetic wave sensors, and/or light sensors including wavelength specific or the ability to gather entire or partial spectrum, etc. and can use atomic clock(s) signals, other broadcast time signals, cellular phone, time, smart phone, tablet, computers, personal digital assistants, etc., remote control via dedicated units, smart phones, computers, laptops, tablets, etc.
  • the present invention can also have sirens, microphones, speakers, earphones, headphones, emergency lights, flashing lights, strobing lights, fans, heaters, sensors including, but not limited to, temperature sensors, humidity sensors, moisture sensors, noise sensors, light sensors, spectra sensors, infrared sensors, ultraviolet sensors, speech sensors, voice sensors, motion sensors, acoustic sensors, ultrasound sensors, RF sensors, proximity sensors, sonar sensors, radar sensors, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • the sound and/or noise sensors as well as other sensors, etc. can use one or more filters including one or more low pass, high pass, notch, bandpass including narrow bandpass filters, etc.
  • Such filters can be realized by either or both analog and digital means, approaches, ways, functions, circuits, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • Such filter functions can be active or passive or both, can be manually and/or automatically set and adjustable, can be set, adjusted, programmed, etc. by an app, by other types and forms of software and hardware, by smart phone(s), tablet(s), laptops, servers, computers, other types of personal digital assistant(s), smart watches, wearables, etc., combinations of these, etc.
  • Embodiments of the present invention can have more than one wavelength or color of LEDs and/or SSLs and can include more than one array of LEDs, OLEDs, QDs, etc. that permit color selection, color blending, color tuning, color adjustment, etc.
  • Embodiments of the present invention can include multiple arrays that can be switched on or off or in or out and/or dimmed with either power being supplied by a ballast or the AC line that can be remotely selected, controlled and monitored. Examples of the present invention include different wavelengths, combinations of colors and phosphors, etc. are used to obtain desired performance, effects, operation, use, etc.
  • Embodiments can include one, two, three or more arrays of SSLs, including, but not limited to, side-by-side, 180 degrees from each other, other angles from each other, on opposite sides, on multiple sides for example hexagon or octagon, etc.
  • the SSLs including but not limited to LEDs, OLEDs, QDs, etc. may be put in series, parallel or combinations of series and parallel, parallel and series, etc.
  • phosphors, quantum dots, and other types of light absorbing/changing materials that for example can effectively change wavelengths, colors, etc. for example by applying a voltage bias or electric field.
  • the present invention can also take the form of linear fluorescent lamps from less than 1 foot to more than 8 feet in length and may typically be T4, T5, T8, T9, T10, T12, etc., as well as HID replacements,
  • Such embodiments of the present invention may use an insulating housing made from, for example but not limited to, glass or an appropriate type of plastic, which may or may not have a diffuser or be a diffuser in terms of the plastic.
  • plastic housings may be used that can include diffusers on the entire surface, diffusers on half the surface, diffusers on less than half the surface, diffusers on more than half of the surface, with the rest of the surface either being clear plastic, opaque plastic or a metal such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy.
  • Photon/wavelength conversion including down conversion can be used with the present invention including being able to adjust the photon/wavelength conversion electrically.
  • Spectral/spectrum sensors can be used to detect the light spectral content and adjust the light spectrum by turning on or off certain wavelengths/colors of SSL.
  • the spectral sensors could consist of color/wavelength sensitive detectors covering a range of colors/wavelengths of filters that only each only permit a certain, typically relatively narrow, range of wavelengths to be detected.
  • red, orange, amber, yellow, green, blue, etc. color detectors could be included as part of the spectral/spectrum sensor or sensors.
  • quantum dots can be used as part of and to implement the spectral/spectrum sensors.
  • Implementations of the present invention can include and consist of any number and arrangement of smart dimmers (by wired, wireless, powerline communications, etc.
  • AC power lines including ones that connect directly to the AC power lines that can control, but are not limited to, one or more of, for example, but not limited to, as an example, FLRs, A-lamps, PAR 30, PAR 38, PLC lamps, R20, R30, dimmable compact florescent lamps, incandescent bulbs, halogen bulbs, etc. as well as smart dimmable (i.e., by wired, wireless, powerline communications, etc., combinations of these, etc.), infrared controlled devices including heaters of any type or form, air conditioners of any type or form, color-changing, color-tunable, white color-changing, lighting of any type including but not limited to those discussed herein.
  • FLRs FLRs, A-lamps, PAR 30, PAR 38, PLC lamps, R20, R30, dimmable compact florescent lamps, incandescent bulbs, halogen bulbs, etc.
  • smart dimmable i.e., by wired, wireless, powerline communications, etc., combinations of these, etc
  • Non-dimmable lamps and appliances and entertainment device can also be included in such implementations of the present invention and may be turned on and off by one or more of the smart on/off switches or a dimmer that is, for example, but not limited to, programmed to full on and full off only, etc.
  • Such implementations of the present invention can also use one or more or all of the sensors, detectors, processes, approaches, etc. discussed herein and well as any other type or types of sensors, detectors, controls, etc.
  • the smart lighting, dimmers, power supplies, sensors, controls, etc. can you any type or types of wired, wireless, and/or powerline communications.
  • the present invention may use any type of circuit, integrated circuit (IC), microchip(s), microcontroller, microprocessor, digital signal processor (DSP), application specific IC (ASIC), field gate programmable array (FPGA), complex logic device (CLD), analog and/or digital circuit, system, component(s), filters, etc. including, but not limited to, any method to provide a switched signal such as a PWM drive signal to the switching devices.
  • IC integrated circuit
  • DSP digital signal processor
  • ASIC application specific IC
  • FPGA field gate programmable array
  • CLD complex logic device
  • analog and/or digital circuit system, component(s), filters, etc.
  • additional voltage and/or current detect circuits may be used in place of or to augment the control and feedback circuits.
  • Some embodiments of the present invention can accept the output of a fluorescent ballast replacement or HID replacement that is designed and intended for a LED Fluorescent Lamp Replacement or HID replacement that is remote dimmable and can also be Triac, Triac- based, forward and reverse dimmer dimmable and incorporates all of the discussion above for the example embodiments.
  • the remote fluorescent lamp replacement ballast can use or receive control signals/commands from, for example, but not limited to any or all of wired, wireless, optical, acoustic, voice, voice recognition, motion, light, sonar, gesturing, sound, ultrasound, ultrasonic, mechanical, vibrational, and/or PLC, etc., combinations of these, etc. remote control, monitoring and dimming, motion detection/proximity detection/gesture detection, etc.
  • dimming or/other control can be performed using
  • methods/techniques/approaches/algorithms/etc. that implement one or more of the following: motion detection, recognizing motion or proximity to a detector or sensor and setting a dimming level or control response/level in response to the detected motion or proximity, or with audio detection, for example detecting sounds or verbal commands to set the dimming level in response to detected sounds, volumes, or by interpreting the sounds, including voice recognition or, for example, by gesturing including hand or arm gesturing, etc. sonar, light, mechanical, vibration, detection and sensing, etc.
  • Some embodiments may be dual or multiple dimming and/or control, supporting the use of multiple sources, methods, algorithms, interfaces, sensors, detectors, protocols, etc. to control and/or monitor including data logging, data mining and analytics.
  • Some embodiments of the present invention may be multiple dimming or control (i.e., accept dimming information, input(s), control from two or more sources).
  • Remote interfaces include, but are not limited to, 0 to 10 V, 0 to 2 V, 0 to 1 V, 0 to 3 V, etc., RS 232, RS485, DMX, WiFi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, Thread, 6L0WPAN, IEEE 801, IEEE 802, ISM, sub-GHz, LoRa, cellular carrier frequencies, modems, networks, etc., others discussed herein, etc., combinations of these, etc., two wire, three wire, SPI, I2C, PLC, and others discussed in this document, etc.
  • the control signals can be received and used by the remote fluorescent lamp replacement ballast or by the LED, OLED and/or QD fluorescent lamp replacement or both.
  • Such a Remote Controlled Florescent Ballast can be received and used by the remote fluorescent lamp replacement ballast or by the LED, OLED and/or QD fluorescent lamp replacement or both.
  • Color-changing/tuning can include more than one color including RGB, WRGB, RGBW, WRGBA where A stands for amber, etc. 5 color, 6 color, N color, etc.
  • Color-changing/tuning can include, but is not limited to, white color-tuning including the color temperature
  • color correction temperature CCT
  • color rendering index CRI
  • Color rendering, color monitoring, color feedback and control can be implemented using wired or wireless circuits, systems, interfaces, etc. that can be interactive using for example, but not limited to, smart phones, tablets, computers, laptops, servers, remote controls, etc.
  • the present invention can use or, for example, make, create, produces, etc. any color of white including but not limited to soft, warm, bright, daylight, cool, etc. Color temperature monitoring, feedback, and adjustment can be performed in such embodiments of the present invention.
  • Embodiments of the present invention has the ability to store color choices, selections, etc. and retrieve, restore, display, update, etc. these color choices and selections when using non-fluorescent light sources that can support color changing.
  • Embodiments of the present invention also have the ability to change between various color choices, selections, and associated inputs to do as well as the ability to modulate the color choices and selections.
  • a further feature and capability of embodiments of present invention is use of passive or active color filters and diffusers to produce enhanced lighting effects.
  • protection can be enabled (or disabled) by microcontroller(s),
  • microprocessor(s), FPGAs, CLDs, PLDs, digital logic, etc. including remotely via wireless or wired connections, based on but not limited to, for example, a sequence of events and/or fault or no-fault conditions, sensor, monitoring, detection, safe operation, etc.
  • An example of protection detection sensing can include measuring/detecting/sensing lower current than expected due to, for example, a human person being in series with (e.g., in between) one leg of the LED, OLED and/or QD replacement fluorescent lamp and one side of the power being provided by the energized ballast.
  • the present invention can use microcontroller(s), microprocessor(s),
  • FPGA FPGA(s), other firmware and/or software means, digital state functions, etc. to accomplish protection, control, monitoring, operation, etc.
  • a linear regulation regulator instead of switching regulation/regulator can be used or both linear and switching regulation or
  • Rapid start ballasts with heater connections can use implementations of the present invention with heater emulation using resistors and/or capacitors. Certain implementations require less power and also evenly divide and resistance or reactive (e.g., capacitive and/or inductive) impedances so as to reduce or minimize power losses for the current supplied to the fluorescent lamp replacement(s).
  • Such heater circuits can contain resistors, capacitors, inductors, transformers, transistors, switches, diodes, silicon controlled rectifiers (SCR), triacs, other types of semiconductors and ICs including but not limited to op amps, comparators, timers, counters, microcontroller(s), microprocessors, DSPs, FPGAs, ASICs, CLDs, AND, NOR, Inverters and other types of Boolean logic digital components, combinations of the above, etc.
  • SCR silicon controlled rectifiers
  • a switch may be put (at an appropriate location) in between the ballast output and the fluorescent lamp/fluorescent lamp replacement such that there is no completion of current flow in the fluorescent lamp replacement to act as a protection including shock hazard protection for humans and other living creatures in the event of an improper installation or attempt at or during installation.
  • the detection of a such a fault or improper installation can be done by any method including analog and/or digital circuits including, but not limited to, op amps, comparators, voltage reference, current references, current sensing, voltage sensing, mechanical sensing, etc., microcontrollers, microprocessors, FPGAs, CLDs, wireless transmission, wireless sensing, optical sensing, motion sensing,
  • a microprocessor or other alternative including, but not limited to, those discussed herein may be used to enable or disable protection and may be combined with other functions, features, controls, monitoring, etc. to improve the safety and performance of the present invention including before, during, after dimming, etc.
  • one or more tagalong inductors such as those disclosed in US Patent Application 13/674,072, filed November 11, 2012 by Sadwick et al. for a "Dimmable LED Driver with Multiple Power Sources", which is incorporated herein for all purposes, may be used and incorporated into embodiments of the present invention.
  • tagalong inductors can be used, among other things and for example, to provide power and increase and enhance the efficiency of certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • the present invention can work with programmable soft start ballasts including being able to also have a soft short at turn-on which then allows the input voltage to rise to its running and operational level can also be included in various implementations and embodiments of the present invention.
  • Some embodiments of the present invention utilize high frequency diodes including high frequency diode bridges and current to voltage conversion to transform the ballast output into a suitable form so as to be able to work with existing AC line input PFC-LED circuits and drivers. Some other embodiments of the present invention utilize high-frequency diodes to transform the AC output of the electronic ballast (or the low frequency AC output of a magnetic ballast into a direct current (DC) format that can be used directly or with further current or voltage regulation to power and driver LEDs for a fluorescent lamp replacement. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to convert the low frequency (i.e., typically 50 or 60 Hz) magnetic ballast AC output to an appropriate current or voltage to drive and power LEDs using either or both shunt or series regulation. Some other embodiments of the present invention combine one or more of these. In some embodiments of the present invention, one or more switches can be used to clamp the output compliance current and/or voltage of the ballast.
  • Various implementations of the present invention can involve voltage or current forward converters and/or inverters, square-wave, sine-wave, resonant-wave, etc. that include, but are not limited to, push pull, half-bridge, full-bridge, square wave, sine wave, fly-back, resonant, synchronous, etc.
  • any type of transistor or vacuum tube or other similarly functioning device can be used including, but not limited to, MOSFETs, JFETs, GANFETs, depletion or enhancement FETs, N and/or P FETs, CMOS, PNP BJTs, triodes, etc. which can be made of any suitable material and configured to function and operate to provide the performance, for example, described above.
  • transformers transformers of any suitable type and form, coils, level shifters, digital logic, analog circuits, analog and digital, mixed signals, microprocessors, microcontrollers, FPGAs, CLDs, PLDs, comparators, op amps, instrumentation amplifiers, and other analog and digital components, circuits, electronics, systems etc.
  • FPGAs field-programmable gate arrays
  • CLDs CLDs
  • PLDs PLDs
  • comparators op amps
  • instrumentation amplifiers and other analog and digital components, circuits, electronics, systems etc.
  • analog and/or digital components, circuits, electronics, systems etc. are, in general, applicable and usable in and for the present invention.
  • a potentiometer or similar device such as a variable resistor may be used to control the dimming level.
  • a potentiometer may be connected across a voltage such that the wiper of the potentiometer can swing from minimum voltage (i.e., full dimming) to maximum voltage(i.e., full light).
  • minimum voltage i.e., full dimming
  • maximum voltage i.e., full light
  • the minimum voltage will be zero volts which may correspond to full off and, for the example embodiments shown here, the maximum will be equal to or approximately equal to the voltage on the negative input of, for example, a comparator.
  • the present invention can also support all standards, ways, methods, approaches, techniques, etc. for interfacing, interacting with and supporting, for example, 0 to 10 V dimming with a suitable reference voltage that can be remotely set or set via an analog or digital input such as illustrated in patent application 61/652,033 filed on May 25, 2012, for a "Dimmable LED Driver", which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
  • the present invention supports all standards and conventions for 0 to 10 V dimming or other dimming techniques.
  • the present invention can support, for example, overcurrent, overvoltage, short circuit, and over-temperature protection.
  • the present invention can also measure and monitor electrical parameters including, but not limited to, input current, input voltage, power factor, apparent power, real power, inrush current, harmonic distortion, total harmonic distortion, power consumed, watthours (WH) or kilowatt hours (kWH), etc. of the load or loads connected to the present invention.
  • some or all of the output electrical parameters may also be monitored and/or controlled directly for, for example, LED drivers and FL ballasts.
  • Such output parameters can include, but are not limited to, output current, output voltage, output power, duty cycle, PWM, dimming level(s), provide data monitoring, data logging, analytics, analysis, etc.
  • an encoder or decoder can be used.
  • the use of such also permits digital signals to be used and allows digital signals to either or both locally or remotely control the dimming level and state.
  • a potentiometer with an analog to digital converter (ADC) or converters (ADCs) could also be used in many of such implementations of the present invention.
  • the present invention can have multiple dimming levels set by the dimmer in conjunction with the motion sensor and photosensor/photodetector and/or other control and monitoring inputs including, but not limited to, analog (e.g., 0 to 10 V, 0 to 3 V, etc.), digital (RS232, RS485, USB, DMX, SPI, SPC, UART, DALI, other serial interfaces, etc.), a combination of analog and digital, analog-to-digital converters and interfaces, digital-to-analog converters and interfaces, wired, wireless (i.e., RF, WiFi, ZigBee, Zwave, ISM bands, 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth, etc.), powerline (PLC) including X-10, Insteon, HomePlug, etc.), etc
  • analog e.g., 0 to 10 V, 0 to 3 V, etc.
  • digital RS232, RS485, USB, DMX, SPI, SPC, UART, DALI, other serial interfaces,
  • the present invention is highly configurable and words such as current, set, specified, etc. when referring to, for example, the dimming level or levels, may have similar meanings and intent or may refer to different conditions, situations, etc.
  • the current dimming level may refer to the dimming level set by, for example, a control voltage from a digital or analog source including, but not limited to digital signals, digital to analog converters (DACs), potentiometer(s), encoders, etc.
  • the present invention can have embodiments and implementations that include manual, automatic, monitored, controlled operations and combinations of these operations.
  • the present invention can have switches, knobs, variable resistors, encoders, decoders, push buttons, scrolling displays, cursors, etc.
  • the present invention can use analog and digital circuits, a combination of analog and digital circuits, microcontrollers and/or microprocessors including, for example, DSP versions, FPGAs, CLDs, ASICs, etc. and associated components including, but not limited to, static, dynamic and/or non- volatile memory, a combination and any combinations of analog and digital, microcontrollers, microprocessors, FPGAs, CLDs, etc. Items such as the motion sensor(s), photodetector(s)/photosensor(s), microcontrollers, microprocessors, controls, displays, knobs, etc. may be internally located and
  • the switches/switching elements can consist of any type of semiconductor and/or vacuum technology including but not limited to triacs, transistors, vacuum tubes, triodes, diodes or any type and configuration, pentodes, tetrodes, thyristors, silicon controlled rectifiers, diodes, etc.
  • the transistors can be of any type(s) and any material(s) - examples of which are listed below and elsewhere in this document.
  • the dimming level(s) can be set by any method and combinations of methods including, but not limited to, motion, photodetection/light, sound, vibration, selector/push buttons, rotary switches, potentiometers, resistors, capacitive sensors, touch screens, wired, wireless, PLC interfaces, etc.
  • both control and monitoring of some or all aspects of the dimming, motion sensing, ight detection level, sound, etc. can be performed for and with the present invention.
  • comparators and comparator configurations can use other types of comparators and comparator configurations, other op amp configurations and circuits, including but not limited to error amplifiers, summing amplifiers, log amplifiers, integrating amplifiers, averaging amplifiers, differentiators and differentiating amplifiers, etc. and/or other digital and analog circuits, microcontrollers, microprocessors, complex logic devices (CLDs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), etc.
  • CLDs complex logic devices
  • FPGAs field programmable gate arrays
  • the dimmer for dimmable drivers may use and be configured in continuous conduction mode (CCM), critical conduction mode (CRM), discontinuous conduction mode (DCM), resonant conduction modes, etc., with any type of circuit topology including but not limited to buck, boost, buck-boost, boost-buck, cuk, SEPIC, flyback, forward-converters, etc.
  • CCM continuous conduction mode
  • CCM critical conduction mode
  • DCM discontinuous conduction mode
  • resonant conduction modes etc.
  • the present invention works with both isolated and non-isolated designs including, but not limited to, buck, boost-buck, buck-boost, boost, cuk, SEPIC, flyback and forward-converters including but not limited to push-pull, single and double forward converters, current mode, voltage mode, current fed, voltage fed, etc.
  • the present invention itself may also be non-isolated or isolated, for example using a tagalong inductor or transformer winding or other isolating techniques, including, but not limited to, transformers including signal, gate, isolation, etc. transformers, optoisolators, optocouplers, etc.
  • transformers including signal, gate, isolation, etc. transformers, optoisolators, optocouplers, etc.
  • the present invention may include other implementations that contain various other control circuits including, but not limited to, linear, square, square-root, power-law, sine, cosine, other trigonometric functions, logarithmic, exponential, cubic, cube root, hyperbolic, etc. in addition to error, difference, summing, integrating, differentiators, etc. type of op amps.
  • logic including digital and Boolean logic such as AND, NOT (inverter), OR, Exclusive OR gates, etc.
  • CLDs complex logic devices
  • FPGAs field programmable gate arrays
  • microcontrollers microprocessors
  • ASICs application specific integrated circuits
  • the present invention can be incorporated into an integrated circuit, be an integrated circuit, etc.
  • the various blocks shown in the drawings and discussed herein may be implemented in integrated circuits along with other functionality. Such integrated circuits may include all of the functions of a given block, system or circuit, or a subset of the block, system or circuit. Further, elements of the blocks, systems or circuits may be
  • Such integrated circuits may be any type of integrated circuit known in the art including, but are not limited to, a monolithic integrated circuit, a flip chip integrated circuit, a multichip module integrated circuit, and/or a mixed signal integrated circuit. It should also be noted that various functions of the blocks, systems or circuits discussed herein may be implemented in either software or firmware. In some such cases, the entire system, block or circuit may be implemented using its software or firmware equivalent. In other cases, the one part of a given system, block or circuit may be implemented in software or firmware, while other parts are implemented in hardware.
  • Embodiments of the present invention may also include short circuit protection (SCP) and other forms of protection including protection against damage due to other sources of power including but not limited to AC mains power lines and/or other types of devices, circuits, etc.
  • SCP short circuit protection
  • Some embodiments of the present invention may use, for example, but are not limited to capacitors to limit the low frequency (examples include, but are not limited to, AC line mains at 50 Hz, 60 Hz, 400 Hz) voltage and/or current that can be applied to the load.
  • capacitors inductors and resistors may also be used in some embodiments of the present invention.
  • the present invention can also incorporate at an appropriate location or locations one or more thermistors (i.e., either of a negative temperature coefficient [NTC] or a positive temperature coefficient [PTC]) to provide temperature-based load current limiting.
  • NTC negative temperature coefficient
  • PTC positive temperature coefficient
  • the phase dimming of the present invention can be designed and implemented to drop, for example, by a factor of, for example, two.
  • the output power no matter where the circuit was originally in the dimming cycle, will also drop/decrease by some factor.
  • Values other than a factor of two i.e., 50%
  • a resistor change would allow and result in a different phase/power decrease than a factor of two.
  • the present invention can be made to have a rather instant more digital-like decrease in output power or a more gradual analog-like decrease, including, for example, a linear decrease in output phase or power once, for example, the temperature or other stimulus/signal(s) trigger/activate this thermal or other signal control.
  • other temperature sensors may be used or connected to the circuit in other locations.
  • the present invention also supports external dimming by, for example, an external analog and/or digital signal input.
  • One or more of the embodiments discussed above may be used in practice either combined or separately including having and supporting both 0 to 10 V and digital dimming.
  • the present invention can also have very high power factor.
  • the present invention can also be used to support dimming of a number of circuits, drivers, etc.
  • the present invention allows easy selection between forward and reverse dimming that can be performed manually, automatically, dynamically, algorithmically, can employ smart and intelligent dimming decisions, artificial intelligence, remote control, remote dimming, etc.
  • the present invention may be used in conjunction with dimming to provide thermal control or other types of control to, for example, a dimming LED driver.
  • embodiments of the present invention or variations thereof may also be adapted to provide overvoltage or overcurrent protection, short circuit protection for, for example, a dimming LED or OLED driver, etc., or to override and cut the phase and power to the dimming LED driver(s) based on any arbitrary external signal(s) and/or stimulus.
  • the present invention can also be used for purposes and applications other than lighting - as an example, electrical heating where a heating element or elements are electrically controlled to, for example, maintain the temperature at a location at a certain value.
  • the present invention can also include circuit breakers including solid state circuit breakers and other devices, circuits, systems, etc. that limit or trip in the event of an overload condition/situation.
  • the present invention can also include, for example analog or digital controls including but not limited to wired (i.e., 0 to 10 V, RS 232, RS485, IEEE standards, SPI, I2C, other serial and parallel standards and interfaces, etc.), wireless including as discussed above, powerline, etc. and can be implemented in any part of the circuit for the present invention.
  • the present invention can be used with a buck, a buck-boost, a boost-buck and/or a boost, flyback, or forward-converter design, topology, implementation, others discussed herein, etc.
  • VDIM dimming voltage signal
  • VDIM dimming voltage signal
  • a dimming voltage signal which represents a voltage from, for example but not limited to, a 0-10 V Dimmer can be used with the present invention; when such a VDIM signal is connected, the output as a function time or phase angle (or phase cut) will correspond to the inputted VDIM.
  • comparators can use comparators, other op amp configurations and circuits, including but not limited to error amplifiers, summing amplifiers, log amplifiers, integrating amplifiers, averaging amplifiers, differentiators and differentiating amplifiers, etc. and/or other digital and analog circuits, microcontrollers, microprocessors, complex logic devices, field programmable gate arrays, etc.
  • Some embodiments include a circuit that dynamically adjusts such that the output current to a load such as a LED and/or OLED array is essentially kept constant by, for example, in some embodiments of the present invention shorting or shunting current from the ballast as needed to maintain the output current to a load such as a LED array essentially constant. Some embodiments of the present invention may use time constants to as part of the circuit.
  • Some embodiments include a circuit to power a protection device/switch such that the switch is on unless commanded or controlled to be set off in the event/situation/condition of a fault hazard.
  • a control can be implemented in various and diverse forms and types including, but not limited to, latching, hiccup mode, etc.
  • such a circuit may have a separate rectification stage.
  • the device/switch may be of any type or form or function and includes but is not limited to, semiconductor switches, vacuum tube switches, mechanical switches, relays, etc.
  • Some embodiments include an over-voltage protection (OVP) circuit that shunts/shorts or limits the ballast output and/or the output to the load such as a LED array in the event that the output voltage exceeds a set value.
  • OTP over temperature protection
  • Some embodiments include an over temperature protection (OTP) circuit that shunts/shorts or limits the ballast output and/or the output to the load such as a LED array in the event that the temperature at one or more locations exceeds a set value or set values.
  • Embodiments of the present invention may also include short circuit protection (SCP) and other forms of protection including protection against damage due to other sources of power including but not limited to AC mains power lines and/or other types of devices, circuits, etc.
  • SCP short circuit protection
  • Some embodiments of the present invention may use, for example, but are not limited to capacitors to limit the low frequency (examples include, but are not limited to, AC line mains at 50 Hz, 60 Hz, 400 Hz) voltage and/or current that can be applied to the load.
  • Embodiments of the present invention include, but are not limited to, having a rectification stage (such as, but not limited to) consisting of a single full wave rectification stage to provide power/current to the output load such as an LED output load and a rectification stage (such as, but not limited to) consisting of a single full wave rectification stage to provide power to, for example, the hazard protection circuit.
  • a rectification stage such as, but not limited to
  • a single full wave rectification stage to provide power/current to the output load
  • a rectification stage such as, but not limited to consisting of a single full wave rectification stage to provide power to, for example, the hazard protection circuit.
  • Remote dimming can be performed using a controller implementing motion detection, recognizing motion or proximity to a detector or sensor and setting a dimming level in response to the detected motion or proximity, or with audio detection, for example detecting sounds or verbal commands to set the dimming level in response to detected sounds, volumes, or by interpreting the sounds, including voice recognition or, for example, by gesturing including hand or arm gesturing, etc.
  • Some embodiments may be dual dimming, supporting the use of a 0-10 V dimming signal in addition to a Triac-based or other phase-cut or phase angle dimmer.
  • Some embodiments of the present invention may multiple dimming (i.e., accept dimming information, input(s), control from two or more sources).
  • the resulting dimming can be either PWM (digital) or analog dimming or both or selectable either manually, automatically, or by other methods and ways including software, remote control of any type including, but not limited to, wired, wireless, voice, voice recognition, gesturing including hand and/or arm gesturing, pattern and motion recognition, PLC, RS232, RS422, RS485, SPI, I2C, universal serial bus (USB), Firewire 1394, DALI, DMX, etc.
  • Voice, voice recognition, gesturing, motion, motion recognition, etc. can also be transmitted via wireless, wired and/or powerline communications or other methods, etc.
  • the present invention includes implementations that contain various other control circuits including, but not limited to, linear, square, square-root, power-law, sine, cosine, other trigonometric functions, logarithmic, exponential, cubic, cube root, hyperbolic, etc. in addition to error, difference, summing, integrating, differentiators, etc. type of op amps.
  • logic including digital and Boolean logic such as AND, NOT (inverter), OR, Exclusive OR gates, etc.
  • CLDs complex logic devices
  • FPGAs field programmable gate arrays
  • microcontrollers microprocessors
  • ASICs application specific integrated circuits
  • the present invention can be incorporated into an integrated circuit, be an integrated circuit, etc. [0431] The present invention, although described primarily for motion and
  • light/photodetection control can and may also use other types of stimuli, input, detection, feedback, response, etc. including but not limited to sound, vibration, frequencies above and below the typical human hearing range, temperature, humidity, pressure, light including below the visible (i.e., infrared, IR) and above the visible (i.e., ultraviolet, UV), radio frequency signals, combinations of these, etc.
  • the motion sensor may be replaced or augmented with a sound sensor (including broad, narrow, notch, tuned, tank, etc. frequency response sound sensors) and the light sensor could consist of one or more of the following: visible, IR, UV, etc. sensors.
  • the light sensor(s)/detector(s) can also be replaced or augmented by thermal detector(s)/sensor(s), etc.
  • the example embodiments disclosed herein illustrate certain features of the present invention and not limiting in any way, form or function of present invention.
  • the present invention is, likewise, not limited in materials choices including semiconductor materials such as, but not limited to, silicon (Si), silicon carbide (SiC), silicon on insulator (SOI), other silicon combination and alloys such as silicon germanium (SiGe), etc., diamond, graphene, gallium nitride (GaN) and GaN-based materials, gallium arsenide (GaAs) and GaAs-based materials, etc.
  • the present invention can include any type of switching elements including, but not limited to, field effect transistors (FETs) of any type such as metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) including either p-channel or n-channel MOSFETs of any type, junction field effect transistors (JFETs) of any type, metal emitter semiconductor field effect transistors, etc.
  • FETs field effect transistors
  • MOSFETs metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors
  • JFETs junction field effect transistors
  • metal emitter semiconductor field effect transistors etc.
  • bipolar junction transistors BJTs
  • BJTs bipolar junction transistors
  • HBTs heterojunction bipolar transistors
  • HEMTs high electron mobility transistors
  • MODFETs modulation doped field effect transistors
  • Such integrated circuits may include all of the functions of a given block, system or circuit, or a subset of the block, system or circuit. Further, elements of the blocks, systems or circuits may be implemented across multiple integrated circuits. Such integrated circuits may be any type of integrated circuit known in the art including, but are not limited to, a monolithic integrated circuit, a flip chip integrated circuit, a multichip module integrated circuit, and/or a mixed signal integrated circuit. It should also be noted that various functions of the blocks, systems or circuits discussed herein may be implemented in either software or firmware. In some cases, parts of a given system, block or circuit may be implemented in software or firmware, while other parts are implemented in hardware.
  • any two components so associated can also be viewed as being “connected”, or “coupled”, to each other to achieve the desired functionality, and any two components capable of being so associated can also be viewed as being “couplable”, to each other to achieve the desired functionality.
  • Specific examples of couplable include but are not limited to physically mateable and/or physically interacting components and/or wirelessly interactable and/or wirelessly interacting components and/or logically interacting and/or logically interactable components.
  • op amp and comparator in most cases may be used in place of one another in this document.

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  • Circuit Arrangement For Electric Light Sources In General (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un système d'éclairage comprenant au moins une lumière à semi-conducteur, conçue pour remplacer une lampe dans un appareil à lampe fluorescente ou à lampe à décharge à haute intensité, et une alimentation électrique conçue pour convertir l'énergie extraite de l'appareil à lampe fluorescente pour alimenter ladite ou lesdites lumières à semi-conducteur. L'alimentation électrique comprend un redresseur, un régulateur de tension, une sortie d'énergie pour ladite ou lesdites lumières à semi-conducteur et une sortie auxiliaire en courant continu. L'alimentation électrique est conçue pour générer une tension et/ou un courant continu(e) régulé(e) au niveau de la sortie auxiliaire en courant continu sur la base de l'énergie extraite de l'appareil à lampe fluorescente.
PCT/US2016/056924 2015-10-13 2016-10-13 Éclairage à semi-conducteur et systèmes de capteur WO2017066496A1 (fr)

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Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2021063120A1 (fr) * 2019-10-04 2021-04-08 The University Of Hong Kong Circuit d'attaque limiteur de courant et procédé
CN113180347A (zh) * 2021-05-06 2021-07-30 湖北爱微迈智能科技有限责任公司 一种炫彩宝石系统
CN113259888A (zh) * 2021-04-25 2021-08-13 黑芝麻智能科技(上海)有限公司 传感器配置方法、装置、计算机设备和存储介质
US20220086984A1 (en) * 2020-09-14 2022-03-17 ERP Power, LLC Negative injection for power factor correction circuit performance enhancements
RU211361U1 (ru) * 2021-10-08 2022-06-01 Общество с ограниченной ответственностью "Газпром трансгаз Ухта" Устройство для диагностики электрических цепей измерительных каналов и каналов управления исполнительными механизмами
CN116380238A (zh) * 2023-06-01 2023-07-04 广州市合熠智能科技股份有限公司 一体式长距离高精度白光数字传感器系统
US20240032173A1 (en) * 2022-07-19 2024-01-25 Semiconductor Components Industries, Llc Led driver suitable for low-voltage operation and method therefor
US20240035886A1 (en) * 2021-12-12 2024-02-01 Wuhan China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd. Display panel
US12035436B2 (en) 2019-01-18 2024-07-09 Trojan Technologies Group Ulc Lamp sensor modulation of a power supply
CN118647103A (zh) * 2024-08-14 2024-09-13 深圳市晟大光电有限公司 一种光源智能触摸控制电路及方法

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US12035436B2 (en) 2019-01-18 2024-07-09 Trojan Technologies Group Ulc Lamp sensor modulation of a power supply
WO2021063120A1 (fr) * 2019-10-04 2021-04-08 The University Of Hong Kong Circuit d'attaque limiteur de courant et procédé
US20220086984A1 (en) * 2020-09-14 2022-03-17 ERP Power, LLC Negative injection for power factor correction circuit performance enhancements
US11528789B2 (en) * 2020-09-14 2022-12-13 ERP Power, LLC Negative injection for power factor correction circuit performance enhancements
CN113259888B (zh) * 2021-04-25 2024-04-30 黑芝麻智能科技(上海)有限公司 传感器配置方法、装置、计算机设备和存储介质
CN113259888A (zh) * 2021-04-25 2021-08-13 黑芝麻智能科技(上海)有限公司 传感器配置方法、装置、计算机设备和存储介质
CN113180347A (zh) * 2021-05-06 2021-07-30 湖北爱微迈智能科技有限责任公司 一种炫彩宝石系统
CN113180347B (zh) * 2021-05-06 2024-01-26 湖北爱微迈智能科技有限责任公司 一种炫彩宝石系统
RU211361U1 (ru) * 2021-10-08 2022-06-01 Общество с ограниченной ответственностью "Газпром трансгаз Ухта" Устройство для диагностики электрических цепей измерительных каналов и каналов управления исполнительными механизмами
US12025492B2 (en) * 2021-12-12 2024-07-02 Wuhan China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd. Display panel
US20240035886A1 (en) * 2021-12-12 2024-02-01 Wuhan China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd. Display panel
US20240032173A1 (en) * 2022-07-19 2024-01-25 Semiconductor Components Industries, Llc Led driver suitable for low-voltage operation and method therefor
US11985744B2 (en) * 2022-07-19 2024-05-14 Semiconductor Components Industries, Llc LED driver suitable for low-voltage operation and method therefor
CN116380238B (zh) * 2023-06-01 2023-08-18 广州市合熠智能科技股份有限公司 一体式长距离高精度白光数字传感器系统
CN116380238A (zh) * 2023-06-01 2023-07-04 广州市合熠智能科技股份有限公司 一体式长距离高精度白光数字传感器系统
CN118647103A (zh) * 2024-08-14 2024-09-13 深圳市晟大光电有限公司 一种光源智能触摸控制电路及方法

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