US 11751302

US Patent 11751302, titled "Controlling color temperature and luminance in linear LED fixtures", was issued to Ags Lighting Management LLC. The inventors are Peter Angelo DallePezze and Andrew Michael Svendsen. The patent was filed on December 21, 2020, and issued on September 5, 2023.

Abstract:
The patent describes a linear light-emitting diode (LED) lighting apparatus featuring an array of LEDs. This array includes a first set of LEDs producing light at a first color temperature and a second set of LEDs producing light at a different second color temperature, both arranged in linear shapes. The apparatus also comprises a driver circuit that can output various currents and a switch assembly connected to it. The switch assembly has a first switch to select one of the currents from the driver circuit, and a second switch to direct that selected current to either the first plurality of LEDs, the second plurality of LEDs, or both. This linear LED lighting apparatus is designed to electrically connect to another linear LED lighting apparatus of a different length, which can also produce light at the first or second color temperatures using its own sets of LEDs.

Plain-language overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1: This claim describes a linear LED lighting apparatus. It includes an LED array of a specific length, featuring two sets of LEDs: a first set for a first color temperature and a second set for a different second color temperature, both arranged linearly. The apparatus also has a driver circuit that outputs multiple current levels and a switch assembly. The switch assembly contains a first switch to select a current level from the driver and a second switch to direct this current to either the first set of LEDs, the second set, or both. A key aspect is that this apparatus can electrically connect to another linear LED lighting apparatus of a different length (scaled by a factor), where the additional apparatus can produce light at the first or second color temperatures using its own LEDs.

• Claim 10: This claim defines a linear LED lighting system. It comprises a first modular lighting apparatus with a first length and a first number of LEDs, all producing light at a first color temperature, arranged linearly. This first module also includes a first driver circuit to output currents, a first switch assembly to control the driver's output and direct current to its LEDs, and a first extender port. The system further includes a second modular lighting apparatus that is longer than the first, with a second, proportionally larger number of LEDs also at the first color temperature. This second module has a second driver circuit scaled to output a current proportionally greater than the first, a second switch assembly for control, and a second extender port. The second extender port connects to the first, combining the modules to cover the total linear distance.

• Claim 18: This claim details a linear LED system consisting of a first and a second modular lighting apparatus that electrically connect. The first modular apparatus has an LED array with a first set of LEDs for a first color temperature and a second set for a different second color temperature, both linear. It includes a first driver circuit for currents and a first switch assembly. This assembly has a first switch to select a current from the driver and a second switch capable of directing a portion of that current to only the first set of LEDs, only the second set of LEDs, or half the portion to both the first and second sets of LEDs. The second modular apparatus also has an LED array, with a third set of LEDs (longer than the first) for a third color temperature matching the first, and a fourth set of LEDs (longer than the second) for a fourth color temperature matching the second. It includes a second driver circuit and a second switch assembly with a third switch for current selection and a fourth switch with similar current distribution capabilities as the second switch, applied to its third and fourth LED sets.

Litigation Status:
US Patent 11751302 is currently active and is involved in litigation. A PTAB case, IPR2025-01328, has been filed and instituted. Additionally, a US case has been filed in the Delaware District Court (case 1:25-cv-00141). The first worldwide family litigation has also been filed. I do not have specific information about CAFC 2026 dockets for this patent beyond what is stated in the Google Patents legal status, which points to the PTAB and District Court cases.US Patent 11751302, titled "Controlling color temperature and luminance in linear LED fixtures", was issued to Ags Lighting Management LLC. The inventors are Peter Angelo DallePezze and Andrew Michael Svendsen. The patent was filed on December 21, 2020, and issued on September 5, 2023.

Abstract:
The patent describes a linear light-emitting diode (LED) lighting apparatus featuring an array of LEDs. This array includes a first set of LEDs producing light at a first color temperature and a second set of LEDs producing light at a different second color temperature, both arranged in linear shapes. The apparatus also comprises a driver circuit that can output various currents and a switch assembly connected to it. The switch assembly has a first switch to select one of the currents from the driver circuit, and a second switch to direct that selected current to either the first plurality of LEDs, the second plurality of LEDs, or both. This linear LED lighting apparatus is designed to electrically connect to another linear LED lighting apparatus of a different length, which can also produce light at the first or second color temperatures using its own sets of LEDs.

Plain-language overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1: This claim describes a linear LED lighting apparatus. It includes an LED array of a specific length, featuring two sets of LEDs: a first set for a first color temperature and a second set for a different second color temperature, both arranged linearly. The apparatus also has a driver circuit that outputs multiple current levels and a switch assembly. The switch assembly contains a first switch to select a current level from the driver and a second switch to direct this current to either the first set of LEDs, the second set, or both. A key aspect is that this apparatus can electrically connect to another linear LED lighting apparatus of a different length (scaled by a factor), where the additional apparatus can produce light at the first or second color temperatures using its own LEDs.

• Claim 10: This claim defines a linear LED lighting system. It comprises a first modular lighting apparatus with a first length and a first number of LEDs, all producing light at a first color temperature, arranged linearly. This first module also includes a first driver circuit to output currents, a first switch assembly to control the driver's output and direct current to its LEDs, and a first extender port. The system further includes a second modular lighting apparatus that is longer than the first, with a second, proportionally larger number of LEDs also at the first color temperature. This second module has a second driver circuit scaled to output a current proportionally greater than the first, a second switch assembly for control, and a second extender port. The second extender port connects to the first, combining the modules to cover the total linear distance.

• Claim 18: This claim details a linear LED system consisting of a first and a second modular lighting apparatus that electrically connect. The first modular apparatus has an LED array with a first set of LEDs for a first color temperature and a second set for a different second color temperature, both linear. It includes a first driver circuit for currents and a first switch assembly. This assembly has a first switch to select a current from the driver and a second switch capable of directing a portion of that current to only the first set of LEDs, only the second set of LEDs, or half the portion to both the first and second sets of LEDs. The second modular apparatus also has an LED array, with a third set of LEDs (longer than the first) for a third color temperature matching the first, and a fourth set of LEDs (longer than the second) for a fourth color temperature matching the second. It includes a second driver circuit and a second switch assembly with a third switch for current selection and a fourth switch with similar current distribution capabilities as the second switch, applied to its third and fourth LED sets.

Litigation Status:
US Patent 11751302 is currently active and is involved in litigation. A PTAB case, IPR2025-01328, has been filed and instituted. Additionally, a US case has been filed in the Delaware District Court (case 1:25-cv-00141). The first worldwide family litigation has also been filed. I do not have specific information about CAFC 2026 dockets for this patent beyond what is stated in the Google Patents legal status, which points to the PTAB and District Court cases.