Patent Description:
The lighting arrangement may be configured with a health indicator to automatically identify when any of the lights strings is not operating or is operating at an undesired level. As those skilled in the art will understand, when even one light in a single light string is not operating as intended, the entire design may not appear as desired. With light strings that are constantly illuminated, the health indicator may utilize a simple determination in which parameters associated with the light string being constantly illuminated are observed. When one of the parameters are not registering an expected value, the health indicator may generate an alert.

Many lighting systems pulse LEDs on and off, by applying power periodically or intermittently. So long as the flicker rate is greater than the human flicker fusion threshold, and the LED is stationary relative to the eye, the LED will appear to be continuously lit. Varying the on/off ratio of the pulses is known as pulse-width modulation.

Pulse-width modulation (PWM) has been adopted as the preferred dimming technique for high-quality LED lighting. PWM is the process of modulating the duty cycle of a signal, used to control the average power sent to each LED. During the ON cycle of the PWM train, the LED is powered at the recommended forward voltage/forward current operating point - ensuring that the correlated color temperature (CCT) is within the predetermined parameters. The duty cycle (ratio of the pulse duration to the signal period of the PWM train then determines the average current and therefore the perceived luminosity. For example, during a <NUM>% duty cycle, the signal is at the logic high level or "ON" state for only a brief time each cycle, but with <NUM>% duty cycle, most of the signal's period is spent at logic high level or "ON" state. If the frequency of the signal is fast enough, then there will be no visible flicker, and the LED's brightness will be proportional to the signal's duty cycle.

However, with dimmable light strings that employ pulsed LEDs having a dynamic current draw, the health indicator cannot utilize the simple determination operation as when the light string is constantly illuminated. In existing systems, sensing circuitry is very sensitive to spurious variations in design currents. Thus, the health indicator may output incorrect values for the health of a light string such as a false positive or a false negative.

<CIT> discloses a light-emitting-diode-driving device including a control circuit that is configured to perform constant current control with a DC-DC converter so that a value of a current detected by a current detection unit agrees with a prescribed reference current value to be supplied to a light source. The control circuit includes a reference-current-instruction unit, a threshold-voltage-setting unit, and a comparator circuit. The reference-current-instruction unit is configured to set the prescribed reference current value. The threshold-voltage-setting unit is configured to set a threshold voltage for determining a short circuit failure in the light source. The comparator circuit is configured to compare, with the threshold voltage, a value of a voltage that is detected by a voltage detection unit. The control circuit is configured to make the threshold-voltage-setting unit reduce the threshold voltage, when the reference-current-instruction unit reduces the prescribed reference current value.

The exemplary embodiments are directed to a system according to claim <NUM>.

The invention eliminates ambiguity in the health status or a binary health indicator and provides an accurate determination that the LED string or pulsed current driver has encountered some type of full or partial failure, and is no longer providing the illumination levels requested by the lighting controller. It does this by directly sensing the current through the LED drive circuit, but only after insuring that the LEDs in the string has been controlled by the system to be in the ON pulsed current state and should be conducting current at the time when the measurement is taken.

The exemplary embodiments are directed to a method according to independent claim <NUM>.

The exemplary embodiments may be further understood with reference to the following description and the related appended drawings, wherein like elements are provided with the same reference numerals. The exemplary embodiments are related to a device, a system, and a method for determining a health status of a dimmable LED light string (hereinafter, light string). The dimmable light string may be powered dynamically with different amounts of current for illumination at different times and/or at different intensities such that a current that is sensed by a monitoring or detecting device that is monitoring the light string may also be dynamic. The exemplary embodiments provide a mechanism that provides an accurate determination of a full or partial failure of the light string or pulsed driver of the light string is identified. As will be described in further detail below, the mechanism of the exemplary embodiments may sense a current through the light string but only after insuring that the light string is in a specific state (e.g., ON or OFF pulsed current state or illumination intensity).

In determining a health status of dimmable light strings, the timing of measuring factors such as a current is crucial to properly identify whether the light string and/or a driver controlling the light string is functioning at expected or predetermined levels. For example, when the current is measured at a time when the light string is dimmed but the reference current by which the health status is determined is based on the light string being in an ON pulsed current state or fully illuminated, such a scenario may cause the health indicator to return a poor health for the light string despite the light string functioning properly.

The exemplary embodiments provide a health indicator that accurately determines the health status of a light string and/or the pulsed driver of the light string. As will be described in further detail below, the health status may be a binary, where the output of the health indicator is either a good health indication (e.g., YES) or a poor health indication (e.g., NO). The exemplary embodiments may incorporate features associated with filtering the health indicator to make a highly accurate determination that a light string and/or associated pulsed driver is no longer functioning in accordance with design rules due to any possible number of failures. Specifically, the exemplary embodiments ensure that the light string is in an activated, illuminated state at an expected intensity and is conducting an expected current therethrough. When the light string is in any state, a current measurement may be taken. The current measurement may be compared to a reference current value for the selected state (but in particular, when current should be flowing in the LED light string e.g. in an ON state of an ON/OFF pulse controller of a pulsed current driver) and this may be used by the health indicator according to the exemplary embodiments to generate the appropriate output.

<FIG> shows a system <NUM> according to the exemplary embodiments. The system <NUM> relates to a lighting arrangement that is used to illuminate one or more designs using dimmable lights. Thus, the system <NUM> may include a power source <NUM>, a light string <NUM>, a pulsed current driver device <NUM>, and a controller device <NUM>. The system <NUM> is also capable of determining a health status of the lighting arrangement. Thus, the system <NUM> may also include a current sensor device <NUM> and a detecting device <NUM>.

Initially, it is noted that the connections between the components illustrated in the system <NUM> of <FIG> are only exemplary. The system <NUM> may include further connections between the components or may be arranged in a different manner such that a different set of connections between the components may be utilized. For example, the pulsed current driver device <NUM> may be positioned between the power source <NUM> and the light string <NUM>.

The power source <NUM> may be any source of power that provides the light string <NUM> with a current. For example, the light string <NUM> may include an adapter that connects to an outlet of the power source <NUM>. Once connected, the power source <NUM> may provide current to the light string <NUM>. Specifically, a steady or static rate of current may be provided from the power source <NUM> as long as the connection is established. In another example, the power source <NUM> may be a battery or series of batteries that provide the current.

The light string <NUM> may be any string including one or more lights. When the light string <NUM> includes more than one light, the lights may be arranged in series. Thus, the lights may be connected to one another such that current provided on a first end of the light string <NUM> is passed through the entire string to power each of the lights in the light string <NUM>. It should be noted that the arrangement of the lights in series is only exemplary. The exemplary embodiments may also be utilized for a light string <NUM> that is arranged in parallel. The one or more lights of the light string <NUM> may also be of any type. For example, the lights may be filament bulbs, light emitting diodes (LEDs), etc..

As noted above, the exemplary embodiments may relate to when the light string <NUM> is configured to be dimmable. Thus, each of the lights in the light string <NUM> and the connections between the lights (when more than one light is included in the light string <NUM>) may be configured such that the lights may be fully illuminated, partially illuminated, or unpowered while the light string <NUM> is connected to the power source <NUM>. Since the power source <NUM> provides a constant rate of current to the light string <NUM>, the system <NUM> may utilize components that control how much current is provided to the light string <NUM> to utilize the dimmable feature.

The pulsed current driver device <NUM> may be configured to control the current passing through the light string <NUM> from the power source <NUM>. Specifically, the pulsed current driver device <NUM> may receive an input indicating the amount of current to be supplied to the light string <NUM>. Based on this input, the pulsed current driver device <NUM> may utilize an operation or setting such that the indicated current is provided to the light string <NUM>. The pulsed current driver device <NUM> may continue to provide the indicated current until a further input is received that indicates a different current that is to be supplied to the light string <NUM>.

The controller device <NUM> may be configured to determine when the light string <NUM> is to be powered as well as determine the intensity with which the light string <NUM> is to be illuminated. Accordingly, the controller device <NUM> may be the component that provides the input signal to the pulsed current driver device <NUM> to control the amount of current that is to be provided to the light string <NUM> to achieve the desired intensity. The controller device <NUM> may be pre-programmed with a schedule of how the intensity of the light string <NUM> is to be controlled. For example, the schedule may indicate that the light string <NUM> is to be illuminated with a first intensity (e.g., fully illuminated) for a first time period, then illuminated with a second intensity (e.g., <NUM>% illuminated) for a second time period, unpowered for a third time period, and repeat. It should be noted that this schedule is only exemplary and the controller device <NUM> may include or receive any schedule. Thus, the controller device <NUM> may also be configured to receive a user input of a desired schedule.

The current sensor device <NUM> may be configured to measure the current flowing through the light string <NUM> and/or output by the pulsed current driver device <NUM> and/or generated by the power source <NUM>. It is noted that throughout the remainder of this description, the current sensor device <NUM> will be described as measuring the current of the light string <NUM>, but it should be understood that this measurement may encompass any of the above described measurements. Specifically, the current sensor device <NUM> may be a component that detects the electrical current (e.g., alternating current or direct current) passing through the light string <NUM>. Those skilled in the art will understand that any type of current sensor may be used such as an in-line current sensor, an inductive type current sensor, etc. The current measurement may relate to the light string <NUM> itself or to the individual lights of the light string <NUM>. The current sensor device <NUM> may output a signal corresponding to the measured current. The signal may be an analog voltage, a digital readout, etc. The current sensor device <NUM> may also be configured to generate a feedback for the controller device <NUM>. Specifically, the current measurement at a particular time may be forwarded to the controller device <NUM>.

The detecting device <NUM> may be configured to determine the health status of the light string <NUM> based on inputs received from the current sensor device <NUM> and the controller device <NUM>. Specifically, the detecting device <NUM> may receive the current measurement from the current sensor device <NUM> and the expected intensity of the light string <NUM> from the controller device <NUM>. It is noted that the expected intensity of the light string <NUM> received from the controller device <NUM> may be in any format that corresponds to the intensity. In one example, the format may be the expected current associated with the intensity that is forwarded from the controller device <NUM> to the detecting device <NUM>. In another example, the controller device <NUM> via a digital to analog (D/A) output may output an analog voltage that corresponds to the desired intensity. In a further example, the controller device <NUM> may output a digital output such as a number associated with the desired intensity (e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, etc.) and the detecting device <NUM> may have a table that corresponds the number to a current value. Based on these inputs, the detecting device <NUM> may determine the health status of the light string <NUM>, particularly from a disparity that may exist between the current measurement (based on the signal from the current sensor device <NUM>) and the expected current (based on the signal from the controller device <NUM>).

<FIG> shows an implementation <NUM> of the system <NUM> of <FIG> according to the exemplary embodiments. The implementation <NUM> relates to an exemplary embodiment in which the system <NUM> comprises circuitry components. For example, the pulsed current driver device <NUM>, the current sensor device <NUM>, the controller device <NUM>, and the detecting device <NUM> may each be a circuitry component. Therefore, the implementation <NUM> of <FIG> may represent a schematic of a circuit diagram. The implementation <NUM> may utilize a selected expected state of the intensity of the light string <NUM> and an associated expected current that is compared to an actual current measurement to determine the health status of the light string <NUM> and the pulsed current driver device <NUM>.

The implementation <NUM> may be any circuitry implementation in which the components are interconnected with one another for signals to be exchanged. These components may be included on one or more integrated circuits, on one or more printed circuit boards, or implemented individually as needed. In this exemplary implementation <NUM>, the controller device <NUM> may be configured to generate and transmit a signal to the pulsed current driver device <NUM> based on the schedule (as an output <NUM>), to a filter <NUM>, and as a threshold signal <NUM>. This signal output by the controller device <NUM> may indicate a current associated with a desired light string <NUM> intensity and/or the duration for using the intensity. The current sensor device <NUM> may be configured to measure the current in the light string <NUM> and generate the current measurement signal (e.g., analog current value). The detecting device <NUM> may be configured as including a comparator <NUM> to determine the health status as a binary output and generate a signal corresponding to the binary output. The binary output may be received by a further component such as a further electronic device that interprets the output signal and generates a corresponding display. Thus, in <FIG>, the detecting device <NUM> is shown as including the comparator <NUM> and the latch <NUM>. However, the detecting device <NUM> may also include additional components that are not illustrated in <FIG> or even components that are illustrated in <FIG> (e.g., the filter <NUM>). In addition, the latch <NUM> may be considered a separate component that is not part of the detecting device <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the current measurement <NUM> is a first signal received from the current sensor device <NUM> that is a measurement of the current that is being drawn by the light string <NUM>. As described above, the current measurement <NUM> may be input to the comparator <NUM> as a voltage. The threshold signal <NUM> may be a second signal received from the controller device <NUM> that is the expected current for an expected state of the circuit. For illustrative purposes, the threshold signal <NUM> corresponds to an expected current and thus a predetermined value. As described above, the threshold signal <NUM> may be controlled by an adjustable voltage circuit such as a digital to analog (D/A) converter output of the controller device <NUM> or other microcontroller to allow the threshold signal <NUM> to be adjustable and be output as a voltage signal. The comparator <NUM> may then compare the voltage signals corresponding to the current measurement <NUM> and the threshold signal <NUM>.

The comparator <NUM> may continuously receive the current measurement <NUM> from the current sensor device <NUM>. However, it is noted that continuous monitoring of the current through the light string <NUM> is not a requirement. The controller device <NUM> may transmit the signal that controls the current through the light string <NUM> to the pulsed current driver device <NUM>. The signal from the controller device <NUM> may also be passed through the filter <NUM> to provide a delay (e.g., low pass filter) to ensure that the remaining operations are performed at the correct time. Specifically, the filter <NUM> may be disposed on the pathway of the control signal between the controller device <NUM> and the latch <NUM> to ensure that the output from the comparator <NUM> is sampled only when the current measurement <NUM> corresponds to the threshold signal <NUM> (for example, when current should be flowing via the pulsed current driver device <NUM>).

The output from the comparator <NUM> may be fed to the latch <NUM> only when the control signal through the filter <NUM> is valid. For example, a clock signal may be utilized which is derived from the control signal through the filter <NUM>. As described above, the comparator <NUM> may compare the current measurement <NUM> against the threshold signal <NUM>. In one example, the threshold signal <NUM> may provide a range that may be satisfied by the current measurement <NUM>. In another example, the threshold signal <NUM> may be a minimum current that is required to pass through the light string <NUM> for the desired intensity. Thus, from the signals received by the latch <NUM>, when the current measurement <NUM> for the current flowing through the light string <NUM> is less than (or outside the desired range of) the threshold signal <NUM>, the output <NUM> of the latch <NUM> may change state to indicate that a full or partial failure has occurred and the current through the light string <NUM> does not correspond to the desired current as indicated by the threshold signal <NUM>. However, when the current measurement <NUM> is above the threshold or within the range of the threshold signal <NUM>, the output <NUM> of the latch <NUM> may be maintained to indicate that the light string <NUM> is operating within acceptable parameters.

The output <NUM> from the latch <NUM> may be a binary output. Specifically, when the signals to the latch <NUM> do not cause a change in state of the latch <NUM>, the output <NUM> may be a first value. The first value may be indicative of a good health indicator (e.g. "<NUM>" or "YES"). Accordingly, when a further electronic component receives the first value, a graphical representation may be generated to indicate that the light string <NUM> and the pulsed current driver device <NUM> are operating properly. However, when the signals to the latch <NUM> cause a change in state of the latch <NUM>, the output <NUM> may be a second value. The second value may be indicative of a poor health indicator (e.g., "<NUM>"). Accordingly, when a further electronic component receives the second value, a graphical representation or alert may be generated to indicate that the light string <NUM> and the pulsed current driver device <NUM> are not operating properly. In fact, when multiple light strings are present, the further electronic component may receive outputs <NUM> from a plurality of implementations <NUM>. The further electronic component may determine an identity for each light string and report on the health status of each.

In a more detailed description of the signals and outputs of the implementation <NUM>, the system <NUM> may utilize a first signal from the current sensor device <NUM> and a second signal from the controller device <NUM>. As noted above, the first signal may be from the current sensor device <NUM> which is a current measurement of a current passing through the light string <NUM>. The second signal may be from the controller device <NUM> which is an indication of a setting for the pulsed current driver device <NUM> to control the amount of current to pass through the light string <NUM> to achieve a desired intensity. In generating the respective signals, the configuration of the system <NUM> may enable the signals from the current sensor device <NUM> and the controller device <NUM> to be forwarded to the necessary components. Specifically, the first signal may be passed to the comparator <NUM> as the current measurement <NUM>. The second signal may be passed to the filter <NUM> and to the comparator <NUM> as the threshold signal <NUM>.

The current sensor device <NUM> may be connected to a circuit including the power source <NUM>, the light string <NUM>, and the pulsed current driver device <NUM>. Thus, the connection to the circuit may provide an input path for the current sensor device <NUM> such that, as described above, the current sensor device <NUM> may take current measurements of the circuit. The frequency with which the current sensor device <NUM> takes the measurements may vary based on the configuration of the current sensor device <NUM>. The current sensor device <NUM> may continuously take current measurements of the circuit. Thus, in a first example, the current sensor device <NUM> may continuously generate the first signal indicating the current measurement <NUM>. In a second example, the current sensor device <NUM> may generate the first signal indicating the current measurement <NUM> whenever a change in the current is detected. In a third example, the current sensor device <NUM> may generate the first signal at predetermined time intervals (e.g., constant time intervals, dynamic time intervals, cyclic time intervals, etc.).

It is noted that the use of a single current sensor device <NUM> at a terminus of the light string <NUM> to measure the overall current value passing through the entire light string <NUM> is only exemplary. For illustrative purposes, the current sensor device <NUM> is described in this manner. However, the exemplary embodiments may be modified to be used with a plurality of current sensor devices <NUM> or with one or more current sensor device <NUM> disposed at various other locations (e.g., output of the pulsed current driver device <NUM>, output of the power source <NUM>, etc.).

Once the first signal is generated, the current sensor device <NUM> may transmit the first signal based on the configuration of the system <NUM>. As illustrated, the current sensor device <NUM> is also connected to both the controller device <NUM> and the detecting device <NUM> (e.g., the comparator <NUM>). Thus, the connection to the controller device <NUM> and the detecting device <NUM> may provide output paths for the current sensor device <NUM> such that the first signal is transmitted to both of these components. Constructively, based on the implementation <NUM>, the first signal may be passed to the comparator <NUM> and does not necessarily have to be passed to the controller device <NUM>.

As described above, the controller device <NUM> may be configured to determine when the light string <NUM> is to be powered as well as determine the intensity with which the light string <NUM> is to be illuminated utilizing, for example, a schedule. Thus, the connection to the pulsed current driver device <NUM> may provide a first output path for the second signal indicating the intensity or the current that is to be passing through the circuit. In a substantially similar manner as the current sensor device <NUM>, the controller device <NUM> may generate the second signal at a variety of different times. Initially, the controller device <NUM> may continuously monitor the schedule to determine the intensity of the light string <NUM>. Thus, in a first example, the controller device <NUM> may continuously generate the second signal indicating the intensity to be used for the light string <NUM>. In a second example, the controller device <NUM> may generate the second signal indicating the intensity to be used whenever a change to the intensity is indicated in the schedule. Specifically, the schedule may define time durations and respective intensities for each time duration. By tracking the passage of time, the controller device <NUM> may determine the point in the schedule for the light string <NUM> and identify the corresponding intensity. If a change to the intensity is to occur from an immediately previous intensity setting, the controller device <NUM> may generate the second signal. In a third example, the controller device <NUM> may generate the second signal at predetermined time intervals in addition to or including at times when a change in the intensity is to occur (e.g., constant time intervals, dynamic time intervals, cyclic time intervals, etc.).

Once the second signal is generated, the controller device <NUM> may transmit the second signal based on the configuration of the system <NUM>. As already noted above, the controller device <NUM> is connected to the pulsed current driver device <NUM>. Thus, the second signal may be transmitted to the pulsed current driver device <NUM> so that the pulsed current driver device <NUM> may set the current for the light string <NUM>. The controller device <NUM> is also connected to the detecting device <NUM>. Thus, the second signal may also be provided to the detecting device <NUM> (e.g., the comparator <NUM> and the filter <NUM>).

As described above, the connection between the current sensor device <NUM> and the controller device <NUM> may provide an input path for the first signal to be received by the controller device <NUM>. The first signal may be a feedback signal. Specifically, the controller device <NUM> may receive the current measurement to determine the current that is being passed through the circuit. Using the information of the first signal, the controller device <NUM> may determine whether the second signal is to be generated and transmitted if a change in the intensity of the illumination having a higher or lower current is to be used (e.g., based on the schedule).

As described above, the detecting device <NUM> may utilize an expected state of the light string <NUM> from the input of the threshold signal <NUM> from the controller device <NUM>. Specifically, the expected state of the light string <NUM> may relate to the desired intensity of illumination to be used by the light string <NUM> or the current intended to be passed through the light string <NUM>. Since the light string <NUM> is dimmable and may utilize any number of intensities, the second signal may be received to determine the intended current that is to be passed through the light string <NUM>. In this manner, the expected state may be used as a first consideration to determine the health status of the light string <NUM>. The detecting device may also determine the health status of the light string <NUM>. By receiving the expected state as the threshold signal <NUM> for a first consideration, an expected current that should pass through the light string <NUM> may be determined. Specifically, the comparator <NUM> may perform a comparison operation in which two inputs (the current measurement <NUM> and the threshold signal <NUM>) are compared to determine a discrepancy to generate one output (that is passed to the latch <NUM>).

According to a first exemplary embodiment, the implementation <NUM> may utilize any threshold signal <NUM> as an input for the comparator <NUM>. For example, the threshold signal <NUM> from the controller device <NUM> may correspond the current that should be passing through the light string <NUM>. Thus, any expected state and any intended intensity (or current) may be used by the comparator <NUM>. As the implementation <NUM> provides the appropriate timing mechanism for the comparator <NUM> to receive the inputs of the current measurement <NUM> and the threshold signal <NUM> for purposes of the comparison functionality, the comparator <NUM> may be ensured to compare the current <NUM> only with the correct corresponding threshold <NUM>.

According to a second exemplary embodiment, the implementation <NUM> may utilize only a specific expected state. With the light string <NUM> being dimmable and utilizing various intensity settings, the implementation <NUM> may utilize only an expected state with a highest current or maximum intensity with the light string <NUM> being fully illuminated. Accordingly, the implementation <NUM> may determine whether the expected state based on the second signal from the controller device <NUM> is the selected expected state. In this manner, a single expected current may be used by the comparator <NUM>. It should be noted that the selected expected state being associated with the highest current is only exemplary. That is, the comparator <NUM> may utilize a different selected expected state having a lower current or intensity. However, the selected expected state being associated with the highest current may provide a determination of a health status that has a highest likelihood of being correct or minimizing a probably of generating a false positive.

It should be noted that the threshold signal <NUM> may be set with a buffer or the comparator <NUM> may utilize a buffer for the comparison functionality between the expected current and the current measurement. For example, the expected current may be calculated as a single value but may be utilized as a range. As the light string <NUM> and the pulsed current driver device <NUM> are utilized in a real-world application, there may be external factors that create a less optimal condition. Accordingly, the implementation <NUM> may incorporate such conditions and extend the expected current into a predetermined range (e.g., +/- a set amount of current from the expected current). Thus, if the implementation <NUM> determines that the current measurement falls within the range associated with the expected current, the implementation <NUM> may determine that the light string <NUM> and the pulsed current driver device <NUM> has a good health status. However, if the implementation <NUM> determines that the current measurement falls outside the range associated with the expected current, the implementation <NUM> may determine that at least one of the light string <NUM> and the pulsed current driver <NUM> has a poor health status.

As noted above, the expected state may be a selected expected state, in particular, where a maximum current/intensity is used. In view of the manner in which the implementation <NUM> performs its functionality, the selected expected state being associated with a maximum current may indeed provide a highest likelihood of properly determining the health status of the light string <NUM> and the pulsed current driver device <NUM>. Specifically, the light string <NUM> and/or the pulsed current driver device <NUM> may be operating sub-optimally such that the amount of current that may potentially pass through the circuit is only a percentage (e.g., <NUM>%) of the maximum current. If the implementation <NUM> were to use an expected state or the comparison functionality were performed when the expected current is <NUM>% or less than the maximum current, the implementation <NUM> may determine that the light string <NUM> and the pulsed current driver device <NUM> have a good health status. That is, a false positive result may be determined. If the selected expected state or the comparison were only to be performed when the state is the selected expected state associated with the maximum current, the likelihood of generating a false positive result is minimized or substantially eliminated. However, it is again noted that the use of the maximum current is only exemplary. Specifically, with the implementation <NUM> utilizing a timing mechanism to ensure that the comparison functionality is performed for the pair of inputs at the comparator <NUM>, any threshold signal <NUM> with the corresponding incoming current <NUM> may be used by the comparator <NUM>.

The implementation <NUM> described above relates to the system <NUM> being a set of circuitry components. However, the system <NUM> may also be implemented in a variety of other ways. For example, the system <NUM> may include more complex components, particularly if the determined health status may be used to further identify a malfunction between the light string <NUM> or the current device <NUM>, identify a light in the light string <NUM>, or identify a section of the light string <NUM> that is not operating properly. In another exemplary embodiment of the system <NUM>, the detecting device <NUM> may be a computing component to which the other components of the system <NUM> are connected. For example, the detecting device <NUM> may be an electronic device connected to the current sensor device <NUM> and the controller device <NUM>. The detecting device <NUM> may generate the output indicating whether the light string <NUM> is operating properly or at least one component along the path of illuminating the light string <NUM> is not operating properly. In such an embodiment, the detecting device <NUM> may include a processor, a memory arrangement, transceiver, and other components.

In performing the comparison functionality, the processor may be configured to utilize a setting application that determines the expected state of the light string <NUM>. The processor may also utilize a comparison application that determines the health status of the light string <NUM>. Accordingly, the functionalities of the setting application and the comparison application may correspond to the functionalities descried above for the implementation <NUM>. However, since the detecting device <NUM> may utilize more complex operations, this exemplary embodiment may incorporate enhanced features. For example, when more than one current sensor device <NUM> is utilized with the light string <NUM>, the output from any comparison may be used to identify the health status for the components. In a specific example, if there is a first current sensor device <NUM> at a midpoint of the light string <NUM> and a second current sensor <NUM> at an end of the light string <NUM>, a comparison from the current measured at the first current sensor device <NUM> may indicate a health status for the first half of the light string <NUM> whereas the current measured at the second current sensor device <NUM> may indicate a health status for the second half of the light string <NUM>. The detecting device <NUM> may utilize intricate timing mechanisms to ensure that the current being used for the comparison corresponds to the correct threshold. The detecting device <NUM> may also accurately utilize any threshold by tracking the schedule as well as combining other operations that may not be capable through circuitry components.

It should be noted that the setting application and the comparison application being described as an application (e.g., a program) executed by the processor is only exemplary. The functionality associated with the applications may also be represented as components of one or more multifunctional programs, a separate incorporated component of the detecting device, or may be a modular component coupled to the detecting device, e.g., an integrated circuit with or without firmware.

<FIG> shows a method <NUM> for determining a health status of the light string <NUM> according to the exemplary embodiments. Specifically, the method <NUM> may relate to the mechanism of the exemplary embodiments in which the state of the light string <NUM> is first determined to then utilize a corresponding current measurement at the proper time which is used in determining the health status of the light string <NUM>. The method <NUM> will be described from the perspective of the implementation <NUM> in which the components of the system <NUM> are circuitry units. The method <NUM> will also be described with regard to the system <NUM> of <FIG>.

In step <NUM>, the controller device <NUM> determines a state of the light string <NUM>. Specifically, the controller device <NUM> may determine the state of the light string <NUM> based on the schedule on which the light string <NUM> is illuminated. Thus, the state of the light string <NUM> may be determined based on the instruction from the controller device <NUM>. Specifically, the instruction may correspond to the threshold measurement <NUM> which may be a minimum current value or range of current values that are expected to be passing through the light string <NUM> since the second signal instructs the pulsed current driver device <NUM> to allow the current corresponding to the second signal to pass through the light string <NUM> to achieve an intensity for the light string <NUM> to be illuminated. The controller device <NUM> may instruct the pulsed current driver device <NUM> to illuminate the light string <NUM> in a variety of different intensities. For example, the light string <NUM> may be unpowered (e.g., no current passing through the light string <NUM>), fully illuminated (e.g., a maximum current passing through the light string <NUM>), or partially illuminated (e.g., a non-zero portion of the maximum current passing through the light string <NUM>). The state of the light string may therefore correspond to the expected state or current that is passing through the light string <NUM>. That is, the state may correspond to the threshold <NUM> which is an input for the comparator <NUM>.

In step <NUM>, the comparator <NUM> may receive a current measurement. Specifically, the first signal from the current sensor device <NUM> may be received. In a particular embodiment, the current measurement <NUM> may continuously be monitored until the selected expected state is determined (e.g., the clock signal is valid). When the selected expected state is determined, the current measurement <NUM> corresponding to when this determination is made may be used.

In step <NUM>, the comparator <NUM> compares the current measurement <NUM> to the threshold measurement <NUM>. As described above, the threshold measurement <NUM> may be a minimum current or range of currents that indicates when the light string <NUM> is expected to be in the selected expected state. Since the timing of when the current measurement <NUM> is received corresponds to when the light string <NUM> is expected to be in the selected expected state, the comparison functionality may be performed in an accurate manner.

In step <NUM>, the comparator <NUM> determines whether there is a disparity between the current measurement <NUM> and the threshold measurement <NUM>. As noted above, the threshold measurement <NUM> may not be a singular value but may encompass one or more values as a minimum or a range. Thus, the detecting device <NUM> may determine when a disparity is present when the current measurement <NUM> is outside the allowed values associated with the threshold measurement <NUM>.

When there is no disparity, the implementation <NUM> may continue the method <NUM> to step <NUM> in which a good health indicator is generated. Specifically, the output <NUM> may be a binary health indicator in which the circuit including the light string <NUM> and the pulsed current driver device <NUM> is determined to be operating as expected or not. In a particular embodiment, the implementation <NUM> may utilize the latch <NUM> which remains in an existing state to indicate the good health indicator by using the same output <NUM>. However, when there is a disparity, the implementation <NUM> may continue the method <NUM> to step <NUM> in which a poor health indicator is generated. In the particular embodiment, the latch <NUM> may change state to indicate the poor health indicator by updating the output <NUM>.

The method <NUM> described above may relate to when any threshold <NUM> is utilized to compare to the correctly timed current measurement <NUM>. However, if the method <NUM> were to only use a selected threshold <NUM> (e.g., a maximum current/intensity), the method <NUM> may include a further step. For example, after step <NUM>, the method <NUM> may determine whether the light string <NUM> is in the selected expected state. As described above, the implementation <NUM> may utilize a selected expected state. For example, the selected expected state may be when the pulsed current driver device <NUM> is instructed by the second signal from the controller device <NUM> to illuminate the light string <NUM> with the maximum current or maximum intensity. The selected expected state may have an expected current associated therewith. If the state of the light string <NUM> does not correspond to the selected expected state, the implementation <NUM> may continue to monitor the state of the light string <NUM>. However, if the state of the light string <NUM> corresponds to the selected expected state, the implementation <NUM> may continue the method <NUM> such that the comparison functionality of the detecting device <NUM> may be performed. For example, the second signal from the controller device <NUM> (after being filtered by the filter <NUM>) may be a clock signal that is only valid when the state is the selected expected state.

The exemplary embodiments provide a device, system, and method of generating a health indicator for a circuit including a light string and a pulsed current driver device. The health indicator may be a binary health indicator indicating whether the circuit is operating as expected or if at least one component in the circuit is partially or fully failing. The health indicator may be generated by determining an expected state of the circuit, identifying an expected current for the expected state, measuring a current through the circuit, and comparing the current measurement to the expected current. By ensuring the timing that the current measurement is taken at the correct time, a disparity in the comparison may be indicative of a partial or total failure of the circuit.

Claim 1:
A system (<NUM>), comprising:
a circuit including a controller device (<NUM>), an LED light string (<NUM>) and a pulsed current driver (<NUM>) of the LED light string (<NUM>), the circuit connected to a power source (<NUM>);
a current sensor (<NUM>) measuring a current through the circuit; and
a detecting device (<NUM>) determining an ON or OFF pulsed current state of the circuit, the detecting device receiving, from the controller device (<NUM>) an expected current expected to be passing through the circuit based on an intensity of the LED light string, the expected current associated with the ON pulsed current state, the detecting device receiving a current measurement from the current sensor (<NUM>) during a time when the circuit is in the ON pulsed current state, the detecting device determining a comparison between the current measurement and the expected current when the circuit is in an ON pulsed current state, the detecting device (<NUM>) generating an output indicative of a health status of the circuit based on the comparison.