IP Library Granted Patent US 11,310,894
Granted Patent B2
US 11,310,894 · App. 16/970,661 · Granted Apr 19, 2022

LED driver, LED system and signal transmitting method for LED

Inventors: Hongbin Wei (ShangHai, CN); Longyu Chen (ShangHai, CN); Timothy Alan Taubert (East Cleveland, OH)
Assignee: CURRENT LIGHTING SOLUTIONS, LLC
H05B47/18H04B10/116H05B45/14H05B45/30H05B45/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,310,894
App. No.
16/970,661
Granted
Apr 19, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A driver comprises a controller coupled with a LED, and an interface circuit configured to be coupled between the controller and an external device. The interface circuit comprises an interface port configured to be coupled to the external device, an analog interface module, a digital interface module and a power supply module. The analog interface module is coupled between the interface port and the controller and configured to transmit an analog signal therebetween the external device and the controller in a first mode. The digital interface module is coupled between the interface port and the controller and configured to transmit a digital signal between the external device and the controller in a second mode and a third mode. The power supply module is coupled to the interface port and configured to provide energy to the external device in the first mode and the third mode.

Claims (42)

1. A driver for a light-emitting diode (LED), configured to be coupled between the LED and an external device, the driver comprising:

controller circuitry, coupled with the LED; and

an interface circuit, configured to be coupled between the controller and the external device, the interface circuit comprising:

an interface port configured to be coupled to the external device,

analog interface circuitry, coupled between the interface port and the controller circuitry and configured to receive an analog signal from the external device via the interface port in a first mode and transmit the analog signal to the controller circuitry in the first mode,

digital interface circuitry, coupled between the interface port and the controller circuitry and configured to receive a digital signal from the external device via the interface port in a second mode and transmit the digital signal to the controller circuitry in the second mode and a third mode, and

a power supply comprising at least one voltage source, the power source being coupled to the interface port and configured to provide energy to the external device via the interface port in the first mode and the third mode.

2. The driver according to claim 1 , wherein the controller circuitry is configured to:

enable the analog interface circuitry the power supply circuitry in the first mode;

enable the digital interface circuitry, and disable the analog interface circuitry in the second mode; and

enable the digital interface circuitry and the power supply circuitry module, and disable the analog interface circuitry in the third mode.

3. The driver according to claim 1 , wherein the power supply has a first output current limit in the first mode and a second output current limit different than the first output current limit in the third mode.

4. The driver according to claim 3 , wherein the power supply comprises a first voltage source having the first output current limit and a second voltage source having the second output current limit; and

the controller circuitry is configured to enable the first voltage source and disable the second voltage source in the first mode, disable the first and second voltage sources in the second mode, and enable the second voltage source and disable the first voltage source in the third mode.

5. The driver according to claim 3 , wherein the power supply comprises a first voltage source having the first output current limit and a second voltage source having the second output current limit; and

the controller circuitry is configured to disable the second voltage source in the first mode and second mode, and enable the second voltage source in the third mode.

6. The driver according to claim 1 , wherein the analog interface circuitry comprises a dimming interface configured to transmit a dimming signal from the external device to the controller circuitry, and the controller circuitry is configured to control the LED according to the dimming signal.

7. The driver according to claim 1 , wherein the digital interface circuitry comprises a digital addressable lighting interface (DALI) circuitry configured to transmit a DALI signal from the external device to the controller circuitry, and the controller circuitry is configured to control the LED according to the DALI signal.

8. The driver according to claim 1 , wherein the digital interface circuitry comprises a digital addressable lighting interface (DALI) circuitry configured to transmit parameter data of the LED from the controller to the external device.

9. The driver according to claim 1 , wherein the interface port comprises two terminals, and each terminal is configured to be coupled to the external device via a wire.

10. An LED system configured to communicate with an external device, the LED system comprising:

a LED;

controller circuitry, coupled with the LED; and

an interface circuit, configured to be coupled between the controller and the external device, the interface circuit comprising:

an interface port configured to be coupled to the external device,

analog interface circuitry, coupled between the interface port and the controller circuitry and configured to receive an analog signal from the external device via the interface port in a first mode and transmit the analog signal to the controller circuitry in the first mode,

digital interface circuitry, coupled between the interface port and the controller circuitry and configured to receive a digital signal from the external device via the interface port in a second mode and transmit the digital signal to the controller circuitry in the second mode and a third mode, and

a power supply comprising at least one voltage source, the power source being coupled to the interface port and configured to provide energy to the external device via the interface port in the first mode and the third mode.

11. The LED system according to claim 10 , wherein the power supply has a first output current limit in the first mode and a second output current limit different than the first output current limit in the third mode.

12. The LED system according to claim 11 , wherein the power supply comprises a first voltage source having the first output current limit and a second voltage source having the second output current limit; and

the controller circuitry is configured to enable the first voltage source and disable the second voltage source in the first mode, disable the first and second voltage source in the second mode, and enable the second voltage source and disable the first voltage source in the third mode.

13. The LED system according to claim 11 , wherein the power supply comprises a first voltage source having the first output current limit and a second voltage source having the second output current limit; and

the controller circuitry is configured to disable the second voltage source in the first mode and second mode, and enable the second voltage source in the third mode.

14. A method for transmitting a signal between an LED and an external device, the method comprising:

transmitting the signal by an interface circuit coupled between the external device and controller circuitry, wherein the controller is coupled with the LED and the interface circuit is coupled with the external device via an interface port, wherein the transmitting of the signal comprises:

receiving an analog signal from the external device and transmitting the analog signal to the controller circuitry via the interface port by analog interface circuitry in a first mode,

receiving a digital signal from the external device and transmitting the digital signal to the controller circuitry via the interface port by digital interface circuitry in a second mode and a third mode, and

providing energy to the external device via the interface port by a power supply in the first mode and the third mode, the power supply comprising at least one voltage source.

15. The method according to claim 14 , further comprising:

enabling the analog interface circuitry and the power supply in the first mode;

enabling the digital interface circuitry, and disabling the analog interface circuitry in the second mode; and

enabling the digital interface circuitry and the power supply circuitry, and disabling the analog interface circuitry in the third mode.

Assignments (6)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NUMBER PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 059034 FRAME: 0469. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Jan 25, 2024
From: HUBBELL LIGHTING, INC.; LITECONTROL CORPORATION; CURRENT LIGHTING SOLUTIONS, LLC; DAINTREE NETWORKS INC.; FORUM, INC.
To: ATLANTIC PARK STRATEGIC CAPITAL FUND, L.P., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066372/0590 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NUMBER 10841994 TO PATENT NUMBER 11570872 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 058982 FRAME 0844. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Jan 19, 2024
From: HUBBELL LIGHTING, INC.; LITECONTROL CORPORATION; CURRENT LIGHTING SOLUTIONS, LLC; DAINTREE NETWORKS INC.; FORUM, INC.
To: ALLY BANK, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066355/0455 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 11, 2022
From: HUBBELL LIGHTING, INC.; LITECONTROL CORPORATION; CURRENT LIGHTING SOLUTIONS, LLC; DAINTREE NETWORKS INC.; FORUM, INC.
To: ATLANTIC PARK STRATEGIC CAPITAL FUND, L.P., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 059034/0469 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 2, 2022
From: HUBBELL LIGHTING, INC.; LITECONTROL CORPORATION; CURRENT LIGHTING SOLUTIONS, LLC; DAINTREE NEETWORKS INC.; FORUM, INC.
To: ALLY BANK, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058982/0844 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 18, 2020
From: WEI, HONGBIN; CHEN, LONGYU; TAUBERT, TIMOTHY ALAN
To: GE LIGHTING SOLUTIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 053520/0813 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 18, 2020
From: GE LIGHTING SOLUTIONS, LLC
To: CURRENT LIGHTING SOLUTIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 053523/0019 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 201810178552.X · Mar 5, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200396809A1 · Dec 17, 2020