IP Library Granted Patent US 9,392,668
Granted Patent B2
US 9,392,668 · App. 14/180,502 · Granted Jul 12, 2016

Lighting device and lighting fixture

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,392,668
App. No.
14/180,502
Granted
Jul 12, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

The lighting device according to the present invention includes a power supply circuit, a temperature detection circuit, and a temperature control circuit. The power supply circuit supplies operation power to a light source including a solid state light emitting device. The temperature detection circuit measures a surrounding temperature of the light source and outputs the measured surrounding temperature as a detection temperature. The temperature control circuit determines whether an increase rate of the surrounding temperature exceeds a predetermined criterion value. When determining that the increase rate exceeds the criterion value, the temperature control circuit performs a process of decreasing a temperature of the light source.

Claims (42)

1. A lighting device, comprising:

a power supply circuit configured to supply operation power to a light source including a solid state light emitting device;

a temperature detection circuit configured to measure a surrounding temperature of the light source and output the measured surrounding temperature as a detection temperature; and

a temperature control circuit configured to determine whether an increase rate of the surrounding temperature exceeds a predetermined criterion value, and, when determining that the increase rate exceeds the criterion value, perform a process of decreasing a temperature of the light source, wherein

the temperature control circuit is configured to:

calculate, as required time necessary for the detection temperature to reach a second threshold from a first threshold, a time difference between a first time point at which the detection temperature reaches to the first threshold and a second time point at which the detection temperature reaches to the second threshold, when supply of the operation power from the power supply circuit to the light source is started; and

determine that the increase rate exceeds the criterion value when the required time is not greater than predetermined criterion time.

2. The lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein:

the temperature control circuit is a control circuit configured to control the power supply circuit; and

the temperature control circuit is configured to, in the process, decrease the operation power.

3. The lighting device according to claim 2 , wherein

the temperature control circuit is configured to, in the process, determine the operation power according to a magnitude of the increase rate.

4. The lighting device according to claim 3 , wherein

the temperature control circuit is configured to, in the process, decrease the operation power as the increase rate increases.

5. The lighting device according to claim 1 , further comprising a cooler configured to cool the light source,

wherein:

the temperature control circuit is a drive circuit configured to control drive power supplied to the cooler;

the cooler has cooling capacity increasing with an increase in a magnitude of the drive power; and

the temperature control circuit is configured to, in the process, increase the drive power.

6. The lighting device according to claim 5 , wherein

the temperature control circuit is configured to, in the process, determine the drive power according to a magnitude of the increase rate.

7. The lighting device according to claim 6 , wherein

the temperature control circuit is configured to, in the process, increase the drive power as the increase rate increases.

8. The lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein:

the power supply circuit is configured to regulate a magnitude of the operation power to a desired value to turn on the light source; and

the temperature control circuit is configured to determine the criterion value according to the desired value.

9. The lighting device according to claim 8 , wherein

the temperature control circuit is configured to decrease the criterion value as the desired value decreases.

10. The lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein:

the power supply circuit is configured to regulate a magnitude of the operation power to a desired value to turn on the light source; and

the temperature control circuit is configured to increase the criterion time as the desired value decreases.

11. The lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein:

the power supply circuit is configured to regulate a magnitude of the operation power to a desired value to turn on the light source; and

the temperature control circuit is configured to decrease a difference between the first threshold and the second threshold as the desired value decreases.

12. The lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein

the light source includes a substrate on which the solid state light emitting device is mounted; and

the temperature detection circuit is mounted on the substrate.

13. The lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein

the temperature control circuit is configured to measure the surrounding temperature by use of a thermosensitive device having a characteristic value varying with a temperature thereof.

14. A lighting fixture, comprising:

a fixture body configured to hold a light source; and

a lighting device according to claim 1 , for operating the light source.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ERRONEOUSLY FILED APPLICATION NUMBERS 13/384239, 13/498734, 14/116681 AND 14/301144 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 034194 FRAME 0143. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Dec 24, 2020
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 056788/0362 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2014
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 034194/0143 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 20, 2014
From: KAMOI, TAKESHI; KIDO, HIROSHI; HIRAMATU, AKINORI; HASEGAWA, JUNICHI; IDO, SHIGERU; MATSUZAKI, NOBUTOSHI; YAMAHARA, DAISUKE
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 032927/0126 →