Universal Lighting Technologies, Inc.

Palco Telecom Inc.

John Jay Dernovsek

Stephen D Mays, Ii

Wei Xiong

Donald Folker

Mike LeBlanc

Christopher Radzinski

Qinghong Yu

Scott Price

Candice Ungacta

Peter W Shackle

Danny Pugh

Dane Sutherland

Keith Davis

Matthew Gann

Reggie Anglin

Deepak Shet

Takeshi Goriki

Thomas M Poehlman

Mark Bauer

Brandon Dyer

James Koehler

Philip Walker

Steve Mays

Michael Diaz-Tello

Henry Jacobs

Bobby Srisan

Changsheng Li

Brett Bell

Barrie Drew

Christopher Radzinkski

Multi-driver configuration apparatuses, systems, and methods are provided. Apparatuses, systems, and methods are provided for multi-driver configuration of a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) drivers. The system includes a plurality of LED drivers having a transformer, an input interface coupleable to the configuration device via a common communication medium, a microcontroller, a direct current (DC) sensing section to detect at least a portion of a tuning signal received at the input interface and to transmit a driver control input signal corresponding to the at least a portion of the tuning signal to the microcontroller, and a transmit switch configured to receive a driver control output signal from the microcontroller and to cause at least one output signal to be output from the LED driver via the input interface. A configuration device transmits the tuning signal to at least one LED driver.

Method and circuitry to configure multiple drivers simultaneously

A low profile inductive apparatus is provided via one or more traces in a printed circuit board, the one or more traces defining inductive winding turns about an aperture, and a core comprising an elongate core member configured for positioning through the aperture of the circuit board. The core may be press fit with respect to the printed circuit board, or alternatively the elongate core member and the aperture may be reciprocally threaded. In an embodiment, core flanges may be provided on opposing sides of the printed circuit board, with the elongate core member connected between the core flanges and extending through the aperture. The number of inductive winding turns relates to a required inductance of the inductor when the elongate core member is positioned through the aperture, and a width and thickness of the windings corresponds to a required carrying capacity of the inductor.

Low profile inductor

A portable apparatus is provided for configuring and/or programming lighting drivers without mains power application. An apparatus housing comprises first and second connectors and an antenna. During a first mode wherein the first connector is coupled to an external computing device, a battery receives and stores power therefrom, and a first controller receives and stores at least driver configuration settings therefrom. When the external device is disconnected the battery powers the apparatus, which polls a transceiver circuit to detect a driver antenna proximate to the apparatus antenna. The apparatus housing is configured to mount to a luminaire comprising the detected driver, wherein the second connector is coupled to the driver and the battery provides power to a driver controller. The first controller also during this second mode transfers the stored at least driver configuration settings to the driver controller via the operably proximate antennae, for example via bidirectional negotiations therewith.

Device and method for programming or configuring of NFC equipped LED driver

A luminaire otherwise lacking connectivity is provided hereby with an isolated method for connecting to a lighting control system. The luminaire comprises an NFC-equipped LED driver having a first antenna. A digital control device with a second antenna is permanently or semi-permanently mounted in or on the luminaire wherein the second antenna is positioned in operable proximity with the first antenna. The digital control device includes a first transceiver in communication with the external device and a first controller to receive and store device configuration data from the external device in volatile memory associated with a second transceiver linked to the first antenna. A controller associated with the LED driver selectively obtains the device configuration data from the volatile memory via the NFC field, and generates output current reference signals for regulating the output current from the LED driver, said reference signals corresponding to the device configuration data.

Isolated digital control device for LED driver using NFC technology

A lighting device (e.g. LED driver) includes digital dimming, configuration and firmware updating via wireless communication circuitry and associated volatile memory (e.g., SRAM). A power stage converts AC mains input into a DC bus voltage, and further converts the DC bus voltage into output current for driving a load. A power distribution circuit generates a regulated DC voltage based on the DC bus voltage. A wireless interface circuit is linked to a wireless communications network (e.g., NFC), and configured to receive device configuration data during at least first operating conditions when the regulated DC voltage is unavailable, and further to receive dimming control data during second operating conditions when the regulated DC voltage is available. A controller generates gate driving signals for regulating the output current from the power stage, said gate driving signals generated based at least in part on the device configuration data and the dimming control data.

Electrically isolated system and method for digital regulation of a programmable lighting device

A lighting device is provided with input terminals that receive corresponding terminals from any one of an analog or digital dimming device or a driver configuration device. Depending on the type of connected device, different circuits are enabled by a controller to receive dimming control signals from an analog or digital dimming device, or to receive device configuration data from a multiple driver configuration device. A wireless interface circuit receives and stores configuration data via an antenna. The controller automatically detects whether one of the analog or digital dimming device or the driver configuration device is coupled to the input terminals, enables a corresponding one of the analog and digital interface circuit or the driver configuration interface circuit, and generates output current reference signals for regulating the output current from the driving circuit, said reference signals corresponding to the received dimming control signals via the analog and digital interface circuit.

Multiple interface LED driver with inherent overvoltage protection

A lighting system includes various ballasts or LED drivers having respective dimming interface circuits coupled in parallel to an external dimming device. Each device includes a controller regulating output to a lighting load based on desired dimming output. Dimming interface circuits coupled are between the controller and the external dimming device, each configured to dynamically adapt a level of constant current sourced from the dimming interface circuit to the external dimming device via first and second interface terminals, based on a determined analog mode or digital mode associated with the external device. The dimming interface circuit generates dimming control signals to the controller based on dimming input signals received via the first and second interface terminals, and in a digital mode, the interface circuit generates digital pulse signals to the external dimming device via the interface terminals for bidirectional communications therewith.

Lighting system and method for dynamically regulating driven current to an analog or digital dimming interface

A magnetic device for an electronic circuit includes a printed circuit board. A first and second magnetic component assembly can be electrically connected to the printed circuit. The second magnetic component assembly can be stacked on the first magnetic component assembly. The first magnetic component assembly can be positioned between the second magnetic component assembly and the printed circuit board. Each magnetic component assembly can include a bobbin, a winding disposed on the bobbin, and a core extending through the bobbin. A second bobbin on the second magnetic component can be positioned on either a first core or a first bobbin of the first magnetic component assembly. The stacked magnetic component configuration can help reduce the board space required to electrically connect both the first and second magnetic component assemblies to the printed circuit board, which can help increase the power density of the magnetic device.

Stacked magnetic assembly

A light fixture is provided or retrofitted with wireless LED lighting system requiring no additional wireless devices. An LED driver housing has power output terminals and control input terminals for an LED driver disposed therein. An LED lighting device includes driver input terminals to receive the output power from the LED driver, and to which an LED array and a wireless communication module are coupled to receive power therefrom. The wireless communication module comprises a transceiver configured to send and receive wireless communication signals with respect to an external device, and a controller linked to the transceiver and configured to generate lighting output control signals. Dimming control signals received via the transceiver may be processed by the controller and transmitted to the driver without requiring additional hardware or wiring within or attached to the driver. The lighting device also can wirelessly receive occupancy sensor data or LED configuration information.

Integrated LED driver for wireless communication

A control system for a light emitting diode (LED) driver is provided. The control system includes a control module, a command interface, and a combined signal interface. The control module includes a microcontroller configured to receive at least one signal and to determine an LED driver command signal and a command module connected to the microcontroller and capable of communicating with both the lighting dimmer and the wireless control module. The control system includes a command interface which communicatively couples the control module to the LED driver. A combined signal interface communicatively couples the command module and at least one of the lighting dimmer and the wireless control module. The combined signal interface conveys one or more signals between the control module and at least one of the lighting dimmer and the wireless control module. Associated methods and modules are also provided.

Combined wireless voltage controlled dimming interface for an LED driver

A header apparatus for providing electrical connection between a daughter card and a printed circuit board. The header apparatus may include a body having a base and a backing portion extending outwardly from the base portion. The header apparatus may include at least one pin extending through the base in a direction substantially parallel to the backing portion, and a gap formed between opposing surfaces of the backing portion and the at least one pin. The header apparatus may be configured to receive at least a portion of the daughter card at the gap to connect the header apparatus and the daughter card. The header apparatus may be connected to a daughter card and/or main printed circuit board, and may communicatively couple the daughter card and main printed circuit board.

Header apparatus for providing electrical connection to a printed circuit board, and daughter card and circuit assembly incorporating the header apparatus

An LED driver circuit is provided with a dynamic operating range. A controller for a power converter is configured to regulate the output voltage and the output current generated by the power converter based on a dimming control signal from a dimming control interface, a sensed output from the power converter, and programmed maximum output voltage and maximum output current values. The tuning interface may be coupled to the dimming control interface and provide a sequence of digital pulses corresponding to a desired maximum output voltage and/or maximum output current. The controller may modify the programmed maximum output voltage and the maximum output current values based on the predetermined sequence of digital pulses received via the tuning interface circuit.

LED driver circuit with dimming control and programming interfaces

An isolated buck converter protects inverter switches during non-zero voltage switching and reduces output ripple current by maintaining operation of an output inductor of the isolated buck converter in a continuous current mode. Continuous current mode operation is maintained by various combinations of: shifting the frequency of operation of the inverter switches of the isolated buck converter as a function of output current of the isolated buck converter; employing pulse density modulation to decrease the off time of the isolated buck converter which will decrease the magnitude of the current ripple; and use a step gap core (i.e., a swinging choke) for the output inductor that saturates to a lower value of inductance for high load current and a higher value of inductance at low load current.

Reducing output ripple current and protecting inverter switches during non-zero voltage switching for isolated buck converters

A horizontal printed circuit board (PCB) holder for connection to a first PCB and a second PCB may include a frame having one or more legs extending outwardly from the frame, each of the one or more legs having a passageway therein, and at least one conductive pin fixedly secured within the passageway of at least one of the one or more legs. The at least one conductive pin may convey electrical signals between the first PCB and the second PCB. A PCB holder assembly may include first and second PCBs connected to a PCB holder. A method of providing a PCB holder may include determining at least one characteristic of a first PCB and second PCB, configuring the PCB holder according to the determined characteristic(s), and connecting the first and second PCBs to the PCB holder.

Growing community of inventors

Madison, AL, United States of America

John Jay Dernovsek