APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MONITORING AND LIMITING POWER TO SSL DEVICES

摘要

The disclosure is directed at a system, method and apparatus for monitoring and limiting power supplied to a solid state lighting (SSL) device when an operational fault condition is sensed such as when the power level being supplied to the device is sensed to be meeting or higher than an expected or predetermined level. The system, method and apparatus provide a recovery aspect which means that the SSL device will not be automatically shut down (or power being supplied to the SSL device will not be immediately stopped) upon the discovery of the operational fault condition but will enter a recovery mode. The system may be used for white light general illumination applications as well as to color changing applications.

主权项

1. Apparatus for controlling power to a solid state lighting (SSL) device load comprising:
a power circuit for receiving power from an external source; at least one power limit connected to the power circuit; at least one output current driver for supplying a load power to the SSL device load, the at least one output current driver connected to the at least one power limit; and a power limit controller; wherein the power circuit transmits the power to the at least one power limit which, in turn, transmits a current to the at least one output current driver; wherein the power limit controller directly or indirectly monitors a level of the load power and controls the at least one power limit to reduce the level of the load power for a predetermined period of time when the load power exceeds a predetermined power limit.