Low-cost low-power lighting system and lamp assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9867249-B2
Application number	US-201615375287-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 12, 2016
Priority date	Jan 28, 2014
Publication date	Jan 9, 2018
Grant date	Jan 9, 2018

Abstract

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a method and apparatus includes an input having a first input terminal and a second input terminal for receiving an input waveform. In one example, the apparatus includes a capacitor having a first capacitor terminal and a second capacitor terminal, wherein the first capacitor terminal is coupled to the first input terminal, and at least one light-emitting diode coupled in series with the capacitor between the second capacitor terminal and the second input terminal, such that the light-emitting diode generates light in conformity with at least one of an amplitude modulation and a frequency modulation of the input waveform.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
an input having a first input terminal and a second input terminal for receiving an input waveform;
a capacitor having a first capacitor terminal and a second capacitor terminal, wherein the first capacitor terminal is coupled to the first input terminal; and
at least one light-emitting diode coupled in series with the capacitor between the second capacitor terminal and the second input terminal, such that the light-emitting diode generates light in conformity with at least one of an amplitude modulation and a frequency modulation of the input waveform.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of a frequency and an amplitude of the input waveform is based on a control setting of a dimmer.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the input waveform has a frequency substantially greater than a frequency of a signal received by the dimmer.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a rectifier coupled between the capacitor and the at least one light-emitting diode, wherein the rectifier has a first rectifier terminal, a second rectifier terminal, a first output terminal, and a second output terminal, and further wherein:
the first rectifier terminal is coupled to the second capacitor terminal;
the second rectifier terminal is coupled to the second input terminal; and
the at least one light-emitting diode is coupled between the first output terminal and the second output terminal.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the rectifier comprises a full-bridge rectifier.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the rectifier comprises at least one rectifying diode coupled between the first output terminal and the second output terminal with an opposite polarity to the at least one light-emitting diode.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the at least one rectifying diode comprises a light-emitting diode.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a second capacitor coupled in parallel with the at least one light-emitting diode.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a lamp assembly for housing the at least one light-emitting diode.

10. A method comprising:
receiving an input waveform at an input having a first input terminal and a second input terminal; and
generating light from at least one light-emitting diode in conformity with at least one of an amplitude modulation and a frequency modulation of the input waveform, wherein the at least one light-emitting diode is coupled in series with a capacitor having a first capacitor terminal and a second capacitor terminal, such that the first capacitor terminal is coupled to the first input terminal and the at least one light-emitting diode is coupled between the second capacitor terminal and the second input terminal.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein at least one of a frequency and an amplitude of the input waveform is based on a control setting of a dimmer.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the input waveform has a frequency substantially greater than a frequency of a signal received by the dimmer.

Assignees

• Philips Lighting Holding Bv

Inventors

• Melanson John L
• King Eric J

Classifications

• H05B45/00

  Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• H05B47/10 Primary

  Controlling the light source · CPC title

• H05B45/37

  Converter circuits · CPC title

• H05B39/04 Primary

  Controlling · CPC title

• H05B33/0845 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic