TIR Systems has been granted its first patent by the UK Patent Office. Patent no. GB2,398,116 recognizes the same technology as US patent no. 6,871,983, covering the use of TIR’s proprietary LED-based lighting technology for grid ceilings used in general illumination (see TIR receives patent for LED-based clean-room illumination). This is the fifth patent received out of the company’s most recent total of 49 patents applied for worldwide.
1. Topology for increasing LED driver efficiency
US patent application no. 20050128168
Assignee: Advanced Analogic Technologies
A method for driving a series of LEDs includes the steps of monitoring the forward voltage of at least one of the LEDs and configuring the LED to be powered by a combination of a current source and a battery if the voltage of the battery exceeds the forward voltage of the LED combined with an offset voltage required to operate the current source. In the alternative (i.e., where the voltage of the battery fails to exceed the forward voltage of the LED combined with the offset voltage required to operate the current source) the LED is configured to be powered by a combination of a current source and a boost converter. In this way, each LED in a series is powered by the most efficient choice between battery and boost converter.
Filed: March 5, 2004
2. Active matrix electroluminescent display devices, and their manufacture
US patent application no. 20050127376
Assignee: Philips
Physical barriers are present between neighbouring pixels on a circuit substrate of an active-matrix electroluminescent display device, particularly with LEDs of organic semiconductor materials. The invention forms these barriers with metal or other electrically-conductive material that serves as an interconnection between a first circuit element of the circuit substrate and a second circuit element, for example, a sensor (of a sensor array supported over the pixel array. The conductive barrier material is insulated at the sides of the barriers adjacent to the LEDs and has an un-insulated top connection area at which the second circuit element is connected to the conductive barrier material.
Filed: September 15, 2004
3. Pulsed LED scan-ring array for boosting display system lumens
US patent application no. 20050128441
Assignee: Texas Instruments
A display apparatus includes a substrate and a number of light emitting diodes (LEDs) coupled to the substrate. An optical element such as a shroud or an integrator rod is located adjacent to at least one of the LEDs. In operation, the optical element and the LEDs are movable relative to one another so that the optical element is adjacent to different ones of the LEDs at different times.
Filed: December 10, 2003
4. LED symbol signal
US patent application no. 20050128768
Assignee: Patrick Martineau
A LED symbol signal with LEDs arrayed to correspond to a desired symbol. A mask defines the desired symbol. A diffusion surface on the cover diffuses the display aspect, obscuring the individual LEDs. The mask is spaced a distance from the diffusing surface. The more aggressive the diffusion pattern the closer the mask is spaced to the diffusion pattern. Preferably, the ratio of the pitch of the optical elements to the width of the symbol at the diffusion surface is less than 1:2, preferably less than 1:4, more preferably less than 1:6 and most preferably approximately 1:10.
Filed: January 26, 2005
5. White position taillight for aircraft
US patent application no. 20050128759
An aircraft position light employs selected colored LEDs to produce a white appearing warning light with a reduced light component in the amplification spectrum of night vision imaging equipment. A combination of amber and cyan LEDs are selected to produce approximately three amber flux units for every cyan flux unit resulting in a white composite light. Both of the selected LEDs have dominant wavelengths of less than 600 nm.
Filed: November 21, 2003
6. Light apparatus and method for controlling the intensity of a light emitting diode
US patent application no. 20050128743
Assignee: HoMedics Inc.
A light apparatus is provided having a housing and an array of light emitting units integrally formed within the housing, each light emitting unit containing at least one light emitting diode (LED). The apparatus further includes a processor in communication with the LEDs in each light emitting unit, and user input controls in communication with the processor for controlling the light emitting units, such that a light color displayed by each light emitting unit can vary with time. Methods for controlling the intensity of an LED are also provided.
Filed: September 30, 2004
