Disclosed herein is a AC direct LED driving apparatus. The light emitting diode (LED) driving apparatus includes: a rectifier configured to receive and rectify an alternating current (AC) voltage; an LED configured to emit light based on a rectified voltage received from the rectifier; a capacitor connected to a first terminal of the LED, and configured to drive the LED while alternating between charging and discharging sections according to a preset cycle; a first current driver connected to a second terminal of the LED and configured to control a path of current flowing in the LED and the capacitor based on different input voltage levels; a second current driver configured to control charging and discharging of the capacitor; and a first diode connected onto a current path of the capacitor and the second current driver, and configured to form a discharging path for driving the LED based on a charged voltage of the capacitor.

An integrated circuit including a power supply including an AC input, an AC to DC rectifier, a DC output of the rectifier, a switch for shunting the AC input, and a controller including a first connection to the DC output, a second connection to the AC input, wherein the controller is configured to monitor the DC output, determine if the DC output is within a first threshold of a desired output, monitor instantaneous AC voltage across the AC input, determine if an absolute difference of the AC input from zero voltage is less than a second threshold, and if the DC output is within the first threshold and the absolute difference of the instantaneous AC input from zero voltage is less than the second threshold, then provide a command to the switch to shunt the AC input. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

The present disclosure uses a capacitive voltage divider to supply a voltage that can be more readily handled by main-stream semiconductor and magnetic components (generally less than 1000 volts). The divided system voltage, expected to be between 500 and 1000 volts, is then converted to a power supply voltage to be used by the measuring equipment. For safety reasons, this voltage is frequently required to be less than approximately 50 volts if it is delivered via a connectorized cable with exposed contacts.

A power adaptor is provided including a housing receiving a first power cord couplable to a power source through a and a second power cord couplable to a load through a second axial end, a protective capacitor mounted on a circuit board within the housing, a first set of terminals mounted on a first side of the circuit board adjacent the protective capacitor and configured to electrically couple line and neutral wires of the first power cord to the protective capacitor, and a second set of terminals mounted on a second side of the circuit board adjacent the protective capacitor and configured to electrically couple line and neutral wires of the second power cord to the protective capacitor. The protective capacitor is configured to discharge when current draw by the load exceeds a current threshold.

A control device includes a triac and a first diode that is series-connected between the triac and a first terminal of the device that is configured to be connected to a cathode gate of a thyristor. A second terminal of the control device is configured to be connected to an anode of the thyristor. The triac has a gate connected to a third terminal of the device that is configured to receive a control signal. The thyristor is a component part of one or more of a rectifying bridge circuit, an in-rush current limiting circuit or a solid-state relay circuit.

A rectifying bridge has a thyristor coupled in series with a rectifying element between a first rectified output terminal of a rectifying bridge circuit and a second rectified output terminal of the rectifying bridge circuit. A diode is coupled in series with a DC voltage source between a gate of the thyristor and the second rectified output terminal.

A power conversion apparatus includes: matrix converter circuitry to perform power conversion between a primary side electric power and a secondary side electric power; rectifier circuitry to convert the primary side electric power to charge a capacitor; and control circuitry to: set a changeover reference voltage at a first reference voltage when the primary side voltage magnitude is a first voltage magnitude and set the changeover reference voltage at a second reference voltage when the primary side voltage magnitude is a second voltage magnitude; and select, based on the changeover reference voltage and the terminal voltage, a connection state from: a first connection state in which the rectifier circuitry is connected to the capacitor by a first route including a current limit device; and a second connection state in which the rectifier circuitry is connected to the capacitor by a second route that bypasses the current limit device.

A SMPS circuit for three-phase AC input includes: a first input rectification circuit, a first capacitor, a feedback control and driving circuit, and multiple boost converter circuits. The first input rectification circuit rectifies input voltage and charges the first capacitor, forming a first loop. In each boost converter circuit, a second input rectification circuit rectifies input voltage and charges a second capacitor, forming a second loop; a first inductor, the second capacitor and a first switching component form a third loop in which rectified voltage on the second capacitor charges the first inductor. The first inductor, second capacitor, first capacitor and first output rectification circuit form a fourth loop in which induced voltage on first inductor and voltage on second capacitor are superimposed to charge first capacitor through the first output rectification circuit. The SMPS circuit provides high efficiency, high reliability, low EMI noise and good inrush inhibition capability.

The invention relates to photoluminescent signs, in particular to signs in which one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) emit light that excites one or more photoluminescent (PL) elements. In one aspect, a sign may include one or more photoluminescent elements; one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) arranged to excite the one or more photoluminescent elements; and circuitry arranged for connection to an AC power supply and supplying power to the LEDs.

In order to restrain damage of a component due to rush current, a main relay in a power source circuit is not turned on and does not conduct a power source line even when a heat source microcomputer is activated with a capacitor not sufficiently charged. This configuration avoids start of charging the capacitor without current limitation, to restrain damage of the component due to rush current.