Method and device for driving a lamp

US9025966B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• KONINIKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V. · NL

Inventors

• Tim Schenk · Landshut, DE
• Sel B. Colak · Eindhoven, NL
• Johannes Petrus Wernars · Eindhoven, NL
• Johan P.M.G. Linnartz · 's-Hertogenbosch, NL
• Lorenzo Feri · Eindhoven, NL
• Paulus H.A. Damink · Son en Breugel, NL
• Hendricus T.G.M. Penning de Vries · Mierlo, NL

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 7, 2010
• Grant date: May 5, 2015
• Expiry date: Nov 10, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02B20/00
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method for driving a lamp (2) comprises the steps of: generating a lamp current (ICONST) having a constant magnitude; defining a commutation period having a duration TCOMM; defining a time base of original commutation moments, having fixed mutual intervals of 0.5*TCOMM; receiving data to be embedded in the light output; commutating the lamp current at commutation moments; wherein individual commutations are time-modulated in order to encode said received data. Preferably, a commutation moment is: either equal to an original commutation moment if there are no data to embed; or advanced over a modulation distance (Δ) with respect to the corresponding original commutation moment in order to encode data having a first value (“0”); or delayed over said modulation distance (Δ) with respect to the corresponding original commutation moment in order to encode data having a second value (“1”).