Light emitting diode thermal foldback control device and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021068218-A1
Application number	US-202017096520-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 12, 2020
Priority date	Feb 20, 2015
Publication date	Mar 4, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A thermal foldback control system including a temperature sensitive circuit configured to output a reference voltage corresponding to a temperature of at least one selected from a group consisting of a light emitting diode (LED) driver, a LED engine, and a LED. Wherein a driver output of the LED driver is based on the reference voltage.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A thermal foldback control system comprising:
a temperature sensitive circuit configured to output a reference voltage corresponding to a temperature of at least one selected from a group consisting of a light emitting diode (LED) driver, a LED engine, and a LED; wherein a driver output of the LED driver is based on the reference voltage.

2 . The thermal foldback control circuit of claim 1 , wherein the driver output powers one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs).

3 . The thermal foldback control circuit of claim 1 , wherein the reference voltage is based on a first resistance from a first resistance component and a second resistance from a second resistance component.

4 . The thermal foldback control circuit of claim 3 , wherein the first resistance component is at least one selected from a group consisting of a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) type thermistor and a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) type thermistor.

5 . The thermal foldback control circuit of claim 3 , wherein the second resistance component is at least one selected from a group consisting of a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) type thermistor and a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) type thermistor.

6 . The thermal foldback control circuit of claim 1 , wherein a connection between the temperature sensor circuit and the at least one selected from the group consisting of the LED driver, the LED engine, and the LED is a mechanical and a thermal connection.

7 . The thermal foldback control circuit of claim 1 , further comprising a regulator.

8 . The thermal foldback control circuit of claim 7 , wherein the regulator is a shunt regulator.

9 . The thermal foldback control circuit of claim 7 , wherein the regulator includes at least one selected from a group consisting of a Zener diode, an avalanche breakdown diode, and a voltage regulator tube.

10 . The thermal foldback control circuit of claim 7 , wherein the regulator decreases a drive current in response to the reference voltage crossing a predetermined threshold.

11 . The thermal foldback control circuit of claim 10 , wherein the predetermined threshold is related to a predetermined temperature at the reference point.

12 . The thermal foldback control circuit of claim 1 , further comprising a capacitor in a parallel-type configuration with a second resistance component providing the second resistance.

13 . A method of controlling power to one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs), the method comprising:
outputting, via a temperature-sensitive circuit, a reference voltage corresponding to a temperature of at least one selected from a group consisting of a light emitting diode (LED) driver, a LED engine, and a LED; and controlling one or more LEDs based on the reference voltage.

14 . The method of claim 13 , the LEDs are controlled via the LED driver.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the reference voltage is based on a first resistance from a first resistance component and a second resistance from a second resistance component.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the first resistance component is at least one selected from a group consisting of a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) type thermistor and a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) type thermistor.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the second resistance component is at least one selected from a group consisting of a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) type thermistor and a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) type thermistor.

17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein a connection between the temperature sensor circuit and the at least one selected from the group consisting of the LED driver, the LED engine, and the LED is a mechanical and a thermal connection.

Assignees

• Hubbell Inc

Inventors

• Bandel Michael W
• Lazalier Ray M

Classifications

• H05B45/30

  Driver circuits · CPC title

• H05B45/56

  involving measures to prevent abnormal temperature of the LEDs · CPC title

• H05B45/10 Primary

  Controlling the intensity of the light · CPC title

• H05B45/18 Primary

  using temperature feedback · CPC title

• H05B45/37

  Converter circuits · CPC title