Led lamp with variable input power supply

Abstract

There is provided a light emitting diode apparatus for operation with varying input electrical sources. The apparatus comprises an array of light emitting diodes to produce light, and a variable input power supply adapted to provide an electrical supply of predetermined value to the light emitting diodes from a varying electric signal provided by varying input electrical sources. In one embodiment, the light emitting diode apparatus is for use as a replacement of a fluorescent tube in an existing fluorescent fixture. In another embodiment, the light emitting diode apparatus is for use with connection to conventional AC voltage sources used throughout the world.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A light emitting diode apparatus for operation with a range of variable input electrical sources producing an input electrical signal, the apparatus comprising:
 electrical connectors adapted to be connected to any one of the variable input electrical sources and receive the input electrical signal therefrom;   an array of light emitting diodes to produce light; and   a variable input power supply adapted to provide an electrical supply of suitable conditions to said array of light emitting diodes by conditioning the electrical signal of a connected one of said variable input electrical sources.   
     
     
         2 . The light emitting diode apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said variable input power supply comprises a high speed rectifier for rectifying a frequency of said electrical signal to said suitable conditions. 
     
     
         3 . The light emitting diode apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said variable input power supply comprises a smoothing filter for smoothing pulses of the rectified electrical signal. 
     
     
         4 . The light emitting diode apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , a switch mode boost circuit for increasing a voltage of said electrical supply to said suitable conditions from the rectified electrical signal. 
     
     
         5 . The light emitting diode apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 wherein said light emitting diode apparatus is for use as a replacement of an elongated tubular fluorescent lamp in an existing fluorescent fixture;   wherein said apparatus further comprises a tubular body having a shape and dimensions at least similar to that of said fluorescent lamp with said electrical connectors being pins; and   wherein said variable input power supply is embedded in said tubular body and adapted to power said array of at least one light emitting diode from a varying input electrical source provided by said existing fluorescent fixture.   
     
     
         6 . The light emitting diode apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said variable input power supply comprises a power factor correction circuit. 
     
     
         7 . The light emitting diode apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said array of light emitting diodes is a single series array of light emitting diodes. 
     
     
         8 . The light emitting diode apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said variable input power supply is adapted to operate from low-frequency or high-frequency sources. 
     
     
         9 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The light emitting diode apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said LED array is in a series configuration. 
     
     
         12 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The light emitting diode apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a capacitor shunt circuit operable to attenuate voltage above a given frequency of the electrical signal. 
     
     
         15 . The light emitting diode apparatus as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the capacitor shunt circuit operates at frequencies above 25 kHz. 
     
     
         16 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The light emitting diode apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said LED array has a plurality of LEDs in a series configuration. 
     
     
         23 - 24 . (canceled)