Lighting devices

Abstract

Lighting devices for a vehicle arc disclosed that can include a light emitting diode and control circuitry for the light emitting diode. Also disclosed are circuits for a light emitting diode. Additionally, a method of forming a lighting device is disclosed. The lighting device, circuits, and method can be used, for example, to illuminate the interior of a vehicle.

1 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A lighting device for a vehicle, comprising:
 a light emitting diode;   control circuitry for driving the light emitting diode; and   a mechanism for sensing temperature for protecting the light emitting diode and the control circuitry from an over-temperature condition.   
     
     
         29 . A lighting device, as claimed in  claim 28 , further comprising a control circuit for controlling one or more light emitting diodes, wherein the control circuit is configured to control a second lighting device. 
     
     
         30 . A lighting device, as claimed in  claim 28 , further comprising a wireless control system. 
     
     
         31 . A lighting device, as claimed in  claim 28 , further comprising a switch illumination control circuit. 
     
     
         32 . A lighting device, as claimed in  claim 28 , further comprising a switch mode power supply for driving the light emitting diodes. 
     
     
         33 . A lighting device, as claimed in  claim 28 , further comprising a linear amplifier power supply for driving the light emitting diodes. 
     
     
         34 . A lighting device, as claimed in  claim 28 , further comprising at least one of a switch mode power supply and a linear amplifier power supply for driving the light emitting diodes. 
     
     
         35 . A lighting device for a vehicle, comprising:
 a light emitting diode: and   control circuitry for driving the light emitting diode, wherein the control circuitry comprises:   a power source:   a switch, connected to the power source and connected in series with an inductor and the light emitting diode; and   a control circuit connected to the switch, the light emitting diode and a resistor, for ensuring constant current flows through the light emitting diode.   
     
     
         36 . A circuit for driving a light emitting diode, comprising:
 a power source;   a switch, connected to the power source and connected in series with an inductor and the light emitting diode; and   a control circuit connected to the switch, the light emitting diode and a resistor, for ensuring constant current flows through the light emitting diode.   
     
     
         37 . A lighting device for a vehicle, comprising:
 a light emitting diode; and   control circuitry for driving the light emitting diode, wherein the control circuitry comprises:   a power source;   a light emitting diode connected to the power source;   a transistor connected in series to the light emitting diode; and   an amplifier, having an output connected to a first resistor and the transistor in series, wherein the output is fed back to a negative terminal of the amplifier and connected to a second resistor, for sensing a current of the light emitting diode, connected to ground; and   a reference voltage connected to a positive terminal of the amplifier.   
     
     
         38 . A linear amplifier power supply for driving light emitting diodes, comprising:
 a power source;   a light emitting diode connected to the power source;   a transistor connected in series to the light emitting diode; and   an amplifier, having an output connected to a first resistor and the transistor in series, wherein the output is fed back to a negative terminal of the amplifier and connected to a second resistor, for sensing a current of the light emitting diode, connected to ground; and   a reference voltage connected to a positive terminal of the amplifier.   
     
     
         39 . A lighting device for a vehicle, comprising:
 a light emitting diode; and   control circuitry for driving the light emitting diode, wherein the control circuitry comprises:   a power source;   one or more light emitting diodes connected in series with the power source, wherein each light emitting diode has a switch connected in parallel with the light emitting diode; and   a light emitting diode driver connected in series with the light emitting diodes and the power source for driving the light emitting diodes.   
     
     
         40 . A single drive circuit for driving light emitting diodes, comprising:
 a power source;   one or more light emitting diodes connected in series with the power source, wherein each light emitting diode has a switch connected in parallel with the light emitting diode; and   a light emitting diode driver connected in series with the light emitting diodes and the power source for driving the light emitting diodes.   
     
     
         41 . A lighting device for a vehicle, comprising:
 a light emitting diode: and   control circuitry for driving the light emitting diode, wherein the control circuitry comprises:   an operational amplifier;   an electronic component, providing a voltage value to a Zener diode, connected to a positive input of the operational amplifier;   an adjustable linear voltage regulator receiving a power input and having an output connected to an anode of the light emitting diode; and   a transistor, connected to an output of the operational amplifier, wherein the output is fed back to a negative terminal of the operational amplifier and wherein the transistor shunts a portion of the adjustable linear voltage regulator bias current.   
     
     
         42 . The lighting device, as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein the electronic component includes a temperature sensor. 
     
     
         43 . A circuit for driving a light emitting diode, comprising:
 an operational amplifier;   an electronic component, providing a voltage value to a Zener diode, connected to a positive input of the operational amplifier;   an adjustable linear voltage regulator receiving a power input and having an output connected to an anode of the light emitting diode; and   a transistor, connected to an output of the operational amplifier, wherein the output is fed back to a negative terminal of the operational amplifier and wherein the transistor shunts a portion of the adjustable linear voltage regulator bias current.   
     
     
         44 . The circuit, as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein the electronic component includes a temperature sensor. 
     
     
         45 . A lighting device for a vehicle, comprising:
 a light emitting diode; and   control circuitry for driving the light emitting diode, wherein the control circuitry comprises:   a power source;   a first transistor, connected to a first resistor connected in series to a positive terminal of the power source, the first transistor connected to a reference voltage connected to a negative terminal of the power source;   a second transistor, connected to the first transistor at a node, the node having a second resistor connected in series to the positive terminal of the power source, the second transistor connected to a third resistor connected in series to the positive terminal of the power source, the second transistor connected to a fourth resistor connected in series to ground; and   a third transistor, connected to the second transistor, connected to the light emitting diode, wherein the light emitting diode is connected to the positive terminal of the power source, and the third transistor connected to the fourth resistor connected in series to ground.   
     
     
         46 . A circuit for driving a light emitting diode, comprising:
 a power source;   a first transistor, connected to a first resistor connected in series to a positive terminal of the power source, the first transistor connected to a reference voltage connected to a negative terminal of the power source;   a second transistor, connected to the first transistor at a node, the node having a second resistor connected in series to the positive terminal of the power source, the second transistor connected to a third resistor connected in series to the positive terminal of the power source, the second transistor connected to a fourth resistor connected in series to ground; and   a third transistor, connected to the second transistor, connected to the light emitting diode, wherein the light emitting diode is connected to the positive terminal of the power source, and the third transistor connected to the fourth resistor connected in series to ground.   
     
     
         47 . A light emitting diode lamp, comprising one or more light emitting diodes connected to a substrate, wherein the light emitting diodes arc independently controllable. 
     
     
         48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . A lighting device for a vehicle, comprising:
 a light emitting diode; and   control circuitry for driving the light emitting diode, wherein the control circuitry comprises:   an electronic control module, having a switch; and   a continuity signal and a wake-up signal as inputs to the electronic control module.   
     
     
         50 . A circuit for driving a light emitting diode, comprising:
 an electronic control module, having a switch; and   a continuity signal and a wake-up signal as inputs to the electronic control module.   
     
     
         51 . A lighting device for a vehicle, comprising:
 alight emitting diode; and   control circuitry for driving the light emitting diode, wherein the control circuitry comprises:   a power source;   a first transistor, connected to a first resistor connected in series to a positive terminal of the power source, the first transistor connected to a reference voltage connected to a negative terminal of the power source;   a second transistor, connected to the first transistor at a node, the node having a second resistor connected in series to the positive terminal of the power source, the second transistor connected to a third resistor connected in series to the positive terminal of the power source, the second transistor connected to a fourth resistor connected in series to ground; and   a third transistor, connected to the second transistor, connected to the light emitting diode, wherein the light emitting diode is connected to the positive terminal of the power source, and the third transistor connected to the fourth resistor connected in series to ground.   
     
     
         52 . A circuit for driving a light emitting diode, comprising:
 a power source;   a first transistor, connected to a first resistor connected in series to a positive terminal of the power source, the first transistor connected to a reference voltage connected to a negative terminal of the power source;   a second transistor, connected to the first transistor at a node, the node having a second resistor connected in series to the positive terminal of the power source, the second transistor connected to a third resistor connected in series to the positive terminal of the power source, the second transistor connected to a fourth resistor connected in series to ground; and   a third transistor, connected to the second transistor, connected to the light emitting diode, wherein the light emitting diode is connected to the positive terminal of the power source, and the third transistor connected to the fourth resistor connected in series to ground.   
     
     
         53 . A lighting device for a vehicle, comprising:
 a light emitting diode; and   control circuitry for driving the light emitting diode, wherein the control circuitry comprises:   an operational amplifier;   a voltage value connected to a positive input of the operational amplifier;   an adjustable linear voltage regulator receiving a power input and having an output connected to an anode of the light emitting diode; and   a transistor, connected to an output of the operational amplifier, wherein the output is fed back to a negative terminal of the operational amplifier and wherein the transistor shunts a portion of the adjustable linear voltage regulator bias current.   
     
     
         54 . A circuit for driving a light emitting diode, comprising:
 an operational amplifier;   a voltage value connected to a positive input of the operational amplifier;   an adjustable linear voltage regulator receiving a power input and having an output connected to an anode of the light emitting diode; and   a transistor, connected to an output of the operational amplifier, wherein the output is fed back to a negative terminal of the operational amplifier and wherein the transistor shunts a portion of the adjustable linear voltage regulator bias current.   
     
     
         55 . A lighting device for a vehicle, comprising:
 a light emitting diode; and   a processor configured to control the light emitting diode and at least one other electrical component of the vehicle.   
     
     
         56 . A method of forming a lighting device for a vehicle, comprising:
 obtaining data about a light emitting diode for the lighting device;   manipulating the data with software to create control information for the light emitting diode; and   loading the control information into a processor that will control the light emitting diode.