Industry Patents
Patent: 7538499
Method and Apparatus for Controlling Thermal Stress in Lighting Devices
(Click image for PDF of full patent)
| Patent Number: |
7538499 |
| Title: |
Method and Apparatus for Controlling Thermal Stress in Lighting Devices |
| Abstract: |
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling the
thermal stress in lighting devices, for example light-emitting elements,
that are exposed to large thermal gradients typically upon start-up, for
example light-emitting elements operating in relatively cold ambient
environments. The present invention provides an apparatus that can reduce
this thermal stress, wherein the apparatus comprises a temperature
determination mechanism for evaluating the temperature of the
light-emitting elements prior to activation, and a control system to
control the drive current such that it is gradually ramped up to the
desired steady state peak current value, wherein the ramping of the drive
current is dependent on the evaluated temperature of the light-emitting
element.
|
| Country of Issue: |
US |
| First Named Inventor: |
Ashdown |
| Assignee: |
TIR Technology |
| Continuation or Divisional of: |
|
| International Classification: |
H05B 37/02 |
| US Classification: |
315/309 |
| Issue Date: |
05-26-2009 |
| Filing Date: |
03-02-2006 |
| Application : |
11/366364 |
| Notes: |
|
| Link to Patent at freepatentsonline.com: |
7538499 at Freepatentsonline |
| Link to World Patent Family1: |
World Patent Family at European Patent Office |
| Link to Google Patents1: |
7538499 at Google Patents |
1. The Google Patents and World Patent Family links will likely not work until a few weeks
after the patent has issued - they take a while to get new patents in their systems.
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