Apparatus, method and system for providing AC line power to lighting devices

US8410717B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Point Somee Limited Liability Company · US

Inventors

• Anatoly Shteynberg · San Jose, US
• Dongsheng Zhou · San Jose, US
• Harry Rodriguez · San Jose, US
• Mark Eason · Hollister, US
• Bradley M. Lehman · Belmont, US
• Stephen F. Dreyer · Palo Alto, US
• Thomas J. Riordan · Los Altos, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 22, 2010
• Grant date: Apr 2, 2013
• Expiry date: Oct 22, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02B20/30
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus, method, and system are disclosed for providing AC line power to lighting devices such as light emitting diodes (“LEDs”). A representative apparatus comprises: a plurality of LEDs coupled in series to form a first plurality of segments of LEDs; a plurality of switches coupled to the plurality of segments of LEDs to switch a selected segment into or out of a series LED current path in response to a control signal; a current sensor; and a controller which, in response to a first parameter and during a first part of an AC voltage interval, generates a first control signal to switch a corresponding segment of LEDs into the series LED current path; and during a second part of the AC voltage interval, generates a second control signal to switch the corresponding segment of LEDs out of the first series LED current path.