111111
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`1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`US008841855B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Miskin
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,841,855 B2
`Sep.23,2014
`
`(54) LED CIRCUITS AND ASSEMBLIES
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor: Michael Miskin, Sleepy Hollow, IL
`(US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Lynk Labs, Inc., Elgin, IL (US)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 40 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 13/450,938
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Apr. 19, 2012
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2012/0262085 Al
`
`Oct. 18, 2012
`
`5,699,218 A
`5,790,013 A
`6,107,744 A
`6,614,103 B1
`6,781,570 B1
`7,489,086 B2
`7,859,196 B2
`8,148,905 B2
`8,179,055 B2
`2003/0043611 A1
`2003/0122502 A1
`2003/0169014 A1
`2003/0175004 A1
`2004/0080941 A1
`2004/0183380 A1
`2004/0189218 A1
`2004/0201988 A1
`2005/0110426 A1
`
`12/1997 Kadah
`8/1998 Hauck
`8/2000 Bavaro eta!.
`9/2003 Durocher eta!.
`8/2004 Arrigo eta!.
`212009 Miskin et a!.
`12/2010 Lee eta!.
`4/2012 Miskin et a!.
`5/2012 Miskin et a!.
`3/2003 Bockle et a!.
`7/2003 Clauberg et a!.
`9/2003 Kadah
`9/2003 Garito et al.
`4/2004 Jiang et a!.
`9/2004 Otake
`9/2004 Leong et al.
`10/2004 Allen
`5/2005 Shao
`(Continued)
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(62) Division of application No. 12/287,267, filed on Oct.
`6, 2008, now Pat. No. 8,179,055.
`
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/997,771, filed on Oct.
`6, 2007.
`
`EP
`JP
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`6/2002
`1 215 944 A1
`5/1996
`08-137429
`(Continued)
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`(51)
`
`(58)
`
`Int. Cl.
`HOSB 41116
`HOSB 41124
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`USPC ............ 315/250; 315/192; 315/246; 315/312
`Field of Classification Search
`None
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3,869,641 A
`4,218,627 A
`4,298,869 A
`
`3/197 5 Goldberg
`8/1980 Kiesel
`1111981 Okuno
`
`84
`
`International Search Report for International Application PCT I
`US2008/0 11536.
`
`Primary Examiner- Anh Tran
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm- Factor Intellectual Property
`Law Group, Ltd.
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`AnAC-driven LED assembly with discretely packaged LEDs
`being connected in an AC circuit and being sized preferably
`substantially 2.5 mm or less in length and width, and more
`preferably 2.0 mm or less; and being mounted to a substrate at
`a distance from the other of preferably approximately 3 mm
`or less, and more preferably 2.0 mm or less.
`
`5 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
`100
`
`m
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`d3
`
`-
`82
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`d4 E3
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`IPR PAGE 1
`
`Acuity v. Lynk
`Acuity Ex.
`
`1001
`
`

`
`US 8,841,855 B2
`Page 2
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2005/0173990 A1
`2006/0038542 A1
`2006/0103913 A1 *
`2006/0138971 A1
`2006/0158130 A1
`2007/0069663 A1 *
`2008/0083929 A1 *
`2008/0116816 A1
`2008/0136347 A1
`2008/0158915 A1
`2008/0203405 A1
`2008/0203936 A1
`2008/0211421 A1
`
`8/2005 Anderson eta!.
`2/2006 Park eta!.
`5/2006 Handschy et al ............. 359/290
`6/2006 Uang eta!.
`7/2006 Furukawa
`3/2007 Burdalski eta!. ............. 315/312
`4/2008 Fan eta!. ........................ 257/79
`5/2008 Neuman eta!.
`6/2008 Lin et a!.
`7/2008 Williams
`8/2008 Rooymans
`8/2008 Mariyarna eta!.
`9/2008 Lee et al.
`
`2008/0218098 A1
`2009/0021185 A1
`2009/0295300 A1
`2010/0039794 A1
`2012/0043897 A1
`2012/0069560 A1
`
`9/2008 Lee eta!.
`112009 Ng
`12/2009 King
`212010 Ghanem eta!.
`212012 Miskin et a!.
`3/2012 Miskin et a!.
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`11-016683
`JP
`11-330561 A1
`JP
`wo
`2008124701
`wo
`2011049613
`wo
`2011082168
`wo
`2011143510
`* cited by examiner
`
`111999
`1111999
`10/2008
`4/2011
`7/2011
`1112011
`
`IPR PAGE 2
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.23,2014
`
`Sheet 1 of 3
`
`US 8,841,855 B2
`
`FIG. 2 150
`
`FIG. 1 /o
`
`18
`
`24
`
`36
`
`14
`
`12
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`30
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`FIG. 4
`
`FIG. 3
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`24
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`28
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`26
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`~
`
`24
`
`~
`
`26
`
`~
`
`20
`
`IPR PAGE 3
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.23,2014
`
`Sheet 2 of 3
`
`US 8,841,855 B2
`
`FIG. 5
`
`24
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`44
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`46
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`80_/
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`FIG. 6
`
`FIG. 7
`
`100
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`FIG. 8
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`IPR PAGE 4
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.23,2014
`
`Sheet 3 of 3
`
`US 8,841,855 B2
`
`-- 30
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`IPR PAGE 5
`
`

`
`US 8,841,855 B2
`
`1
`LED CIRCUITS AND ASSEMBLIES
`
`RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is a divisional application of U.S. appli(cid:173)
`cation Ser. No. 12/287,267 filed Oct. 6, 2008 which claims the
`priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/997,771, filed
`Oct. 6, 2007-the contents of each of these applications are
`incorporated herein by reference.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates generally to light-emitting
`diode ("LED") circuits and assemblies; and more specifically
`to scalable alternating current ("AC") driven LED circuits and
`assemblies.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`2
`According to another embodiment of the invention, an
`AC-driven LED circuit may comprise one or more additional
`parallel circuits each being the same as the first parallel circuit
`identified above. Each additional circuit being conductively
`connected to the first parallel circuit and to one another at
`their common points for providing an input and an output for
`an AC driving current of the circuit. According to other
`embodiments, the additional parallel circuits may be con(cid:173)
`nected in series to the first parallel circuit and to one another
`10 or the additional parallel circuits may be connected in parallel
`to the first parallel circuit and to one another.
`According to another embodiment of the invention, n addi(cid:173)
`tiona! LEDs, in pairs, may be provided in the circuit wherein
`15 the pairs are configured among the first and second branch
`circuits of each of the respective parallel circuits, such that
`current flows through the respective fifth diode of each par(cid:173)
`allel circuit upon both a negative and positive phase of the AC
`driving source and so that the current draw through each of the
`20 respective parallel circuits during bothAC phases is substan(cid:173)
`tially the same.
`According to another embodiment the AC-driven LED
`circuit further comprises x cross-connecting circuit branches
`each having one or more LEDs and being configured such that
`25 current flows through each of the respective one or more
`LEDS upon both a negative and positive phase of the AC
`driving source and so that the current draw through each of the
`respective parallel circuits during bothAC phases is substan(cid:173)
`tially the same.
`According to another embodiment of the invention, an
`AC-driven LED assembly comprises at least a first and a
`second LED each discretely packaged, the LEDs being con(cid:173)
`nected in anAC circuit and each LED package being mounted
`35 to a substrate at a distance from the other of preferably
`approximately 3 mm or less, and more preferably 2.0 mm or
`less. In an embodiment the packaged LEDs also each have a
`length of preferably approximately 2.5 mm or less, and more
`preferably 2.0 mm or less. In an embodiment the packaged
`40 LEDs also each have a width of preferably approximately 2.5
`mm or less, and more preferably 2.0 mm or less. In an
`embodiment the LED packages are arranged with respect to
`each other in a linear spatial relationship while in another
`embodiment the LED packages are arranged with respect to
`45 each other in an XY rectilinear spatial relationship.
`
`30
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`While not intending to limit the scope of the claims or
`disclosure, in brief summary, the present disclosure and
`claims are directed to providing improved ease of designing
`and building lighting fixtures using AC-driven LEDs. Dis(cid:173)
`closed and claimed are LED circuits having scalable circuit
`configurations and LED package assembly configurations
`which can be used in an AC-drive platform to more easily
`match the voltage requirements of the lighting fixture(s) or
`systems in which the LED's are desired. Circuits and LED
`package assemblies are claimed and disclosed which reduce
`objectionable flicker produced from AC-driven LEDs and to
`produce more light per component. Packaged LED's are pro(cid:173)
`vided for lighting design according to the invention which
`address flicker at low frequencies (e.g. 50/60Hz) while being
`scalable as desired for a particular lighting goal without resort
`to designing individual assemblies at the semiconductor die
`level. Circuits are also disclosed and claimed which provide
`for some of the LEDs in a circuit to be on during both positive
`and negative phases of an AC source, to among other things,
`address flicker. Also, circuits are claimed and disclosed where
`a basic circuit design provides a voltage and current perfor(cid:173)
`mance whereby scalability or matching a particular voltage
`requirement is achieved by configuring LEDs in the basic
`design and/or by joining one or more of the basic circuits
`together in series or parallel to achieve the design require(cid:173)
`ment.
`invention an
`According to an embodiment of the
`AC-driven LED circuit is proposed having a first parallel
`circuit having LEDs. Each LED having an input and an out(cid:173)
`put, and the circuit having at least first and second branches
`FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an AC-driven LED circuit
`connecting at first and second common points, the common
`50 according to an embodiment of the invention;
`points providing input and output for an AC driving current
`FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an AC-driven LED circuit
`for the circuit. The first branch having a first and a second
`according to an embodiment of the invention;
`LED, and the second branch having a third and a fourth LED.
`FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an AC-driven LED circuit
`The first LED is connected to the second LED in opposing
`according to an embodiment of the invention;
`series relationship with the inputs of the first and second
`FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an AC-driven LED circuit
`LEDs defining a first branch junction. The third LED is con(cid:173)
`according to an embodiment of the invention;
`nected to the fourth LED in opposing series with the outputs
`FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an AC-driven LED circuit
`of the third and fourth LEDs defining a second branch junc(cid:173)
`according to an embodiment of the invention;
`tion. The first and second branches are connected to one
`FIG. 6 is a schematic top view of an AC-driven LED
`another such that the output of the first LED is connected to 60
`assembly according to an embodiment of the invention;
`the input of the third LED at the first common point and the
`FIG. 7 is a schematic top view of an AC-driven LED
`output of the second LED is connected to the input of the
`assembly according to an embodiment of the invention;
`fourth LED at the second common point. A first cross-con(cid:173)
`FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of an AC-driven LED
`necting circuit branch having at least a fifth LED, the first
`cross-connecting circuit being configured such that the input 65 assembly according to an embodiment of the invention;
`FIG. 9 is a schematic view of an AC-driven LED circuit
`of the fifth LED is connected to second branch junction and
`according to an embodiment of the invention; and,
`the output is connected to the first branch junction.
`
`55
`
`IPR PAGE 6
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`

`
`US 8,841,855 B2
`
`3
`FIG. 10 is a schematic view ofanAC-driven LED circuit
`according to an embodiment of the invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT
`INVENTION
`
`While this invention is susceptible to embodiments in
`many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and
`will herein be described in detail, preferred embodiments of
`the invention with the understanding that the present disclo(cid:173)
`sures are to be considered as exemplifications of the prin(cid:173)
`ciples of the invention and are not intended to limit the broad
`aspects of the invention to the embodiments illustrated. Like
`components in the various FIGURES will be given like ref(cid:173)
`erence numbers.
`FIG. 1 discloses anAC-driven LED circuit 10 including a
`first parallel circuit 12 having a first branch 14, and a second
`branch 16. Branches 14, 16 connect at first common point 18
`and second common point 20. The common points 18, 20
`provide input and output for an AC driving current from a 20
`driver 24 for the circuit.
`The first branch 14 has a first LED 26 and a second LED 28,
`and the second branch 16 having a third LED 3 0 and a fourth
`LED 32. The first LED 26 is connected to the second LED 28
`in opposing series relationship with the inputs of the first and
`second LEDs 26, 28 defining a first branch junction 34. The
`third LED 30 is connected to the fourth LED 32 in opposing
`series with the outputs of the third and fourth LEDs 30, 32
`defining a second branch junction 36.
`The first and second branches 34, 36 are connected to one
`another such that the output of the first LED 26 is connected
`to the input of the third LED 30 at the first common point 18
`and the output of the second LED 28 is connected to the input
`of the fourth LED 32 at the second common point 20. A first
`cross-connecting circuit branch 38 has a fifth LED 40. The
`first cross-connecting circuit branch 38 being configured such
`that the input of the fifth LED 40 is connected to second
`branch junction 36 and the output is connected to the first
`branch junction 34.
`As will be appreciated bythoseofskill in the art, the LED's 40
`26 and 3 2 will provide light only upon one half of anAC wave,
`pulse or phase, while LEDs 28 and 30 will provide light only
`upon the opposite wave, pulse or phase. At lower frequencies,
`e.g. mains frequencies, if the LEDs are spaced pursuant to
`another aspect of the invention (disclosed below) at prefer(cid:173)
`ably approximately 3.0 mm or less preferably approximately
`2.0 mm or less, then the amount of noticeable flicker may not
`be unacceptable. However, the cross connecting circuit 38
`and diode 40 will be on (produce light) in both phases of the
`AC drive and hence mitigate flicker which may be evidenced
`in its surrounding LEDs 26, 28, 30 and 32.
`FIG. 2 discloses an AC-driven LED circuit 50 which is a
`modification of AC-driven LED circuit 10. Circuit 50 further
`mitigates flicker. Circuit 50 provides an additional cross(cid:173)
`connecting circuit branch 42 having LED 44. The LEDS 40, 55
`44 are configured such that current flows through each upon
`both a negative and positive phase of the AC driving source
`24. It should be appreciated that according to the invention x
`number of such cross connecting circuit branches (such as 38,
`42) may be added as desired (see for e.g. FIG. 9), however,
`sincetheLEDs (such as LEDs 40, 44) are in parallel with each
`other, their voltage demand will be divided while their current
`draw will not. Hence a suitable driver need be provided for
`this circumstance.
`To increase the light output of the circuit of the invention, 65
`it should be noted as disclosed in FIGS. 3 and 10 that addi-
`tiona! or n LEDS may be provided in the branches 14 and 16.
`
`4
`Specifically FIG. 3 discloses anAC-driven circuit 60 which is
`a modification of circuit 50. Circuit 60 provides for additional
`LEDs 46 and 48. The pair of LEDs are configured among the
`first and second branch circuits 14, 16 of the parallel circuit 15
`5 such that current flows through the respective diodes 40, 44
`upon both a negative and positive phase of the AC driving
`source 24 and so that the current draw through parallel circuit
`15 during both AC phases is substantially the same.
`It should be noted that according to the invention, n pairs of
`10 LEDs can be configured among first and second branch cir(cid:173)
`cuits of a respective parallel circuit (see for e.g., FIG. 10),
`such that current flows through the respective cross connect(cid:173)
`ing circuit branch LEDs of a parallel circuit upon both a
`negative and positive phase of the AC driving source and so
`15 that the current draw through each of the respective parallel
`circuits during both AC phases is substantially the same.
`More LEDs in the branch circuits divide the current from the
`higher current LEDs in cross connecting circuits 38, 42.
`According to another aspect of the invention, to further
`mitigate the amount of flicker perceived, adding to the light
`provided and to scalability, additional parallel circuits, each
`being the same as the first parallel circuit, may be conduc(cid:173)
`tively connected to the first parallel circuit in series or parallel
`at the their common points 18, 20 for providing an input and
`25 an output for an AC driving current for the circuit.
`For instance, FIG. 4 discloses anAC-driven LED circuit 70
`which includes additional parallel circuits 15 connected in
`series at common points 18, 20. Additionally, as seen in FIG.
`5, an AC-driven LED circuit 80 includes additional parallel
`30 circuits 15 connected in parallel at common points 18, 20.
`This embodiment shows the utility of providing a scalable
`circuit that can be manufactured modularly and used to con(cid:173)
`nect to match higher voltage requirements e.g. circuit 15 may
`draw drawing 12 V AC while two such circuits 15 in series
`35 would meet 24V AC requirements.
`Preferably, the number and type ofLEDs in theAC-driven
`LED circuit draws a combined current and combined voltage
`which is substantially equal to the nominal voltage capacity
`oftheAC drive source.
`As shown in FIG. 6, anAC-driven LED assembly 90 has a
`first and a second LED 82 each discretely packaged, the LEDs
`being connected in an AC circuit and each LED package 82
`being mounted to a substrate 92 at a distance d1 from the other
`of preferably approximately 3 mm or less, and more prefer-
`45 ably 2.0 mm or less. The AC-driven LED assembly 90 also
`has packaged LEDs 84 each having a width d2 and a length d3
`of preferably approximately 2.5 mm or less, and more pref(cid:173)
`erably 2.0 mm or less.
`FIG. 6 discloses an AC-driven LED assembly 90 wherein
`50 the LED packages 84 are arranged with respect to each other
`in a linear spatial relationship, while FIG. 7 discloses an
`assembly 100 wherein the LED packages 84 are arranged
`with respect to each other in an XY rectilinear spatial rela-
`tionship.
`As can be seen in FIG. 8, when LED packages 84 are
`placed at 3 mm or less, the light produced there from inter(cid:173)
`sects, thereby reducing or eliminating the effects of flicker.
`As would be known to one skilled in the art, various
`embodiments of the LED packages, substrates, and assem-
`60 blies may be produced, such as creating anAC-driven circuit
`where all circuits and LEDs are formed on a semiconductor,
`where the LED are discretely packaged apart from the cir(cid:173)
`cuits, and where each parallel circuit is formed on a printed
`circuit board.
`While in the preceding there has been set forth a preferred
`embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the
`present invention may be embodied in other specific forms
`
`IPR PAGE 7
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`

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`10
`
`5
`without departing from the spirit or central characteristics
`thereof. The present embodiments, therefore, are to be con(cid:173)
`sidered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and
`the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein.
`While specific embodiments have been illustrated and 5
`described, numerous modifications come to mind without
`significantly departing from the characteristics of the inven(cid:173)
`tion and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of
`the accompanying Claims.
`I claim:
`1. An AC-driven LED assembly comprising:
`at least a first and a second LED each discretely packaged,
`the LEDs being connected in an AC circuit and each
`LED package being mounted to a substrate at a distance
`from the other of preferably approximately 3 mm or less, 15
`and more preferably 2.0 mm or less.
`2. The AC-driven LED assembly according to claim 1
`wherein the packaged LEDs each have a length of preferably
`approximately 2.5 mm or less, and more preferably 2.0 mm or
`less.
`3. The AC-driven LED assembly according to claim 1
`wherein the packaged LEDs each have a width of preferably
`approximately 2.5 mm or less, and more preferably 2.0 mm or
`less.
`4. The AC-driven LED assembly according to claim 1 25
`wherein the LED packages are arranged with respect to each
`other in a linear spatial relationship.
`5. The AC-driven LED assembly according to claim 1
`wherein the LED packages are arranged with respect to each
`other in an XY rectilinear spatial relationship.
`* * * * *
`
`20
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`US 8,841,855 B2
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`6
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`30
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`IPR PAGE 8