Auto-transition power boost mode light
Apparatus and associated methods relate to a dual mode power regulation system (DMPRS) having an energy storage device configured to store energy from a power supply. In an illustrative example, a DMPRS may include a passive mode switching circuit (PMSC). The PMSC, for example, may regulate a current output from the energy storage device to a passive electric load (PEL). For example, in a high power mode, the PMSC regulates the current output to be greater than a power rating of the power supply. When the energy stored in the energy storage device is dissipated, for example, the PMSC may passively and automatically transition to a steady-state mode. For example, in the steady-state mode, the output power may be maintained above a minimum operating current such that the PEL may operate normally. Various embodiments may advantageously provide an energy pulse higher than the power rating to the PEL.
1 . A dual stage power regulation circuit comprising:
a current regulation circuit ( 205 ) connected to a power supply comprising a predetermined input power threshold;
an energy storage device ( 210 ) serially connected to the current regulation circuit, wherein the energy storage device is configured to store energy received from the current regulation circuit;
a switch circuit ( 215 ) configured to selectively connect a passive electric load ( 220 ) to the energy storage device, wherein the switch circuit is configured to receive an activation signal to cause the passive electric load to serially connect to the energy storage device; and,
an output regulation circuit ( 230 ) serially connected to the passive electric load, wherein the output regulation circuit comprises a first transistor ( 362 ) and a second transistor ( 364 ), wherein:
a collector terminal of the first transistor is coupled to the passive electric load,
a base terminal of the first transistor is coupled to (1) the energy storage device via the switch circuit and (2) a collector terminal of the second transistor, and,
an emitter terminal of the first transistor is coupled to a base terminal of the second transistor, such that the output regulation circuit is configured to regulate a current output of the energy storage device flowing through the passive electric load, wherein, in response to receiving the activation signal, the passive electric load receives the output power from the energy storage device in two stages, wherein:
in a first stage, the output power is greater than the predetermined input power threshold, and,
when the energy stored in the energy storage device is less than a predetermined energy threshold, the output regulation circuit is configured to passively and automatically transition the first stage to a second stage, wherein, in the second stage, the energy storage device supplies the output power less than or equal to the predetermined input power threshold while the output regulation circuit regulates a current of the output power above a predetermined minimum operating current ( 240 ) of the passive electric load.
2 . The dual stage power regulation circuit of claim 1 , wherein the passive electric load comprises a light emitting diode (LED) module comprising a plurality of serially connected LEDs, wherein the predetermined minimum operating current comprises a minimum operating current of the plurality of serially connected LEDs, wherein:
in the first stage, the LED module is configured to emit a pulse light, and,
in the second stage, the LED module is configured to emit a steady light dimmer than the pulse light emitted in the first stage.
3 . The dual stage power regulation circuit of claim 1 , wherein the current regulation circuit connected is further configured to regulate an output current of the power supply to be less than a predetermined input current threshold.
4 . The dual stage power regulation circuit of claim 1 , wherein the energy storage device comprises a plurality of capacitors connected in parallel.
5 . The dual stage power regulation circuit of claim 4 , wherein a maximum duration and frequency of the first stage is determined as a function of an effective capacitance of the energy storage device.
6 . The dual stage power regulation circuit of claim 1 , wherein the output regulation circuit is further configured to regulate the output power to be less than a predetermined output power threshold determined based on a power rating of the passive electric load, wherein the predetermined output power threshold is greater than the predetermined input power threshold.
7 . The dual stage power regulation circuit of claim 6 , wherein the predetermined output power output threshold is a predetermined multiple of the predetermined input power threshold.
8 . The dual stage power regulation circuit of claim 7 , wherein, in the first stage, the output regulation circuit is configured to maintain a steady current of the output power at the predetermined multiple of the current of the output power in the second stage.
9 . An electric driver circuit comprising:
an energy storage device ( 210 ) operably coupled to a power supply ( 135 ) comprising a predetermined input power threshold, the energy storage device being configured to store energy received from the power supply; and,
an output regulation circuit ( 230 ) configured to regulate a current output of the energy storage device, wherein the energy storage device is configured to connect and supply an output power to a passive electric load ( 220 ) comprising a predetermined minimum operating current ( 240 ) and, wherein, in operation, the passive electric load receives the output power from the energy storage device in two stages, wherein:
in a first stage, the output power is greater than the predetermined input power threshold, and,
when the energy stored in the energy storage device is less than a predetermined energy threshold, the output regulation circuit is configured to passively and automatically transition the first stage to a second stage, wherein, in the second stage, the energy storage device supplies the output power less than or equal to the predetermined input power threshold while the output regulation circuit regulates a current of the output power above the predetermined minimum operating current of the passive electric load.
10 . The electric driver circuit of claim 9 , wherein the passive electric load comprises a light emitting diode (LED) module comprising a plurality of serially connected LEDs, wherein the predetermined minimum operating current comprises a minimum operating current of the plurality of serially connected LEDs, wherein:
in the first stage, the LED module is configured to emit a pulse light, and,
in the second stage, the LED module is configured to emit a steady light dimmer than the pulse light emitted in the first stage.
11 . The electric driver circuit of claim 9 , further comprising an energy storage charge circuit (ESCC), wherein the energy storage device is connected to the power supply through the ESCC, wherein the ESCC is configured to regulate an output current of the power supply to be less than a predetermined input current threshold.
12 . The electric driver circuit of claim 9 , wherein the energy storage device comprises a plurality of capacitors connected in parallel.
13 . The electric driver circuit of claim 12 , wherein a maximum duration and frequency of the first stage is determined as a function of an effective capacitance of the energy storage device.
14 . The electric driver circuit of claim 9 , wherein the output regulation circuit is configured to regulate the output power to be less than a predetermined output power threshold determined based on a power rating of the passive electric load, wherein the predetermined output power threshold is greater than the predetermined input power threshold of the power supply.
15 . The electric driver circuit of claim 14 , wherein the predetermined output power threshold is a predetermined multiple of the predetermined input power threshold.
16 . The electric driver circuit of claim 15 , wherein, in the first stage, the output regulation circuit is configured to maintain a steady current of the output power at the predetermined multiple of the current of the output power in the second stage.
17 . The electric driver circuit of claim 9 , further comprising a switch circuit configured to activate and deactivate the passive electric load independent of the operating stage of the passive electric load.
18 . A method for supplying a pulse light, comprising:
charge an energy storage device with an input current, wherein the input current is regulated to be less than a predetermined safety threshold ( 705 );
receive a signal to activate a LED module comprising a predetermined minimum operating current ( 710 );
generate, in a first mode, a first output current to the LED module, to generate a pulse light, wherein the first output current substantially greater than the input current ( 715 ); and,
switch, passively and automatically, to operate in a second mode when an output voltage of the energy storage device is below a predetermined threshold ( 735 ), such that, in the second mode, the LED module is supplied with a second output current lower than the first output current, but higher than the predetermined minimum operating current, such that the LED module emits a light with a reduced intensity.
19 . The method for supplying a pulse light of claim 18 , wherein the first output current comprises a current of a predetermined multiple of the predetermined safety threshold.
20 . The method for supplying a pulse light of claim 18 , wherein the first output current is maintained at a steady state in the first mode.