Positive and negative electrode switchable light modulation module

Abstract

The application discloses a positive and negative switchable dimming module, which realizes different interconnection modes between output positive signals, output negative signals, MOS tube drain, MOS tube source, input power positive pole and input power ground through a dimming signal switching unit, so as to realize positive dimming and negative dimming respectively. On one hand, the application realizes safe and reliable positive dimming, and on the other hand, the application integrates positive dimming and traditional negative dimming in the same module, and shares the same voltage conversion unit, dimming control unit and pulse generation unit, so that the application can adapt to the demand of different output pin characteristics (PNP type or NPN type) of a light control module on the dimming module, has strong adaptability, is not limited in application scenarios, has no limitation on selection of output devices of a control module based on PLC, and can meet the demand of reliable, long service life and automatic dimming integrated design of a navigation light.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of lamp source dimming technology, specifically relating to a dimming module with switchable positive and negative poles. Background Technology

[0002] Traditional light source dimming uses a sliding potentiometer for manual adjustment. Large equipment navigation lights, such as ship navigation lights, generally use LED light sources and pulse width modulation (PWM) technology with adjustable duty cycles to achieve automatic dimming (also known as pulse dimming), considering reliability and automation requirements. In navigation light control design, in addition to the navigation light source installed outside the cabin, a light source control module and a dimming module are typically installed inside the cabin via a plug-in connection. The dimming module outputs a dimming signal to the control module, which then controls the brightness of the light.

[0003] Traditional pulse dimming modules typically use a MOSFET to control the output signal to the control module, connecting it to the negative terminal of the LED light source for dimming control. This is suitable for control modules with traditional switch output connections, such as relay connections. However, current control modules generally use PLC control technology, and their final output connection is usually a transistor, such as a bipolar junction transistor (BJT). For PNP transistor connections, negative dimming still works; but for NPN transistor output connections, negative dimming will not work, and this connection needs to be connected to the positive terminal of the LED light source for proper dimming. However, the gate (G) and source (S) of a typical dimming MOSFET need to operate at 3-5V. This is easily achieved for negative dimming circuits, but for positive dimming, the light source voltage generally exceeds 5V, such as a traditional 24V light source setting. In this case, it is difficult to guarantee the operating voltage of the MOSFET for positive dimming.

[0004] In fact, due to the specialization of modern industries, navigation light control modules and dimming modules may be produced by different manufacturers. Control module manufacturers generally only focus on the functions and performance of integrated circuits during the production process, and do not pay much attention to the characteristics of their output pins. This can easily lead to NPN type output connections, causing traditional negative dimming modules to fail to work. Furthermore, the lack of effective positive dimming significantly limits the selection of output devices for PLC-based control modules. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the above issues, this invention designs a switching dimming module with switchable positive and negative poles. By simply switching the dimming module via jumpers or switches, it can adapt to different output pin characteristics (PNP type or NPN type) of the control module, thus eliminating restrictions on the selection of output devices for PLC-based control modules.

[0006] This invention discloses a switchable positive and negative dimming module, comprising a voltage conversion unit, a dimming control unit, a pulse generation unit, and a dimming signal switching unit. The voltage conversion unit includes a DC-DC voltage conversion circuit, which comprises an input power supply circuit and an output power supply circuit, providing operating power to the pulse generation unit and the dimming control unit. The pulse generation unit includes a microcontroller-based pulse generation circuit, outputting a pulse signal to the dimming control unit. The dimming control unit includes a MOSFET, whose gate is connected to a current-limiting resistor, and its input signal originates from the microcontroller of the pulse generation unit. The dimming signal switching unit includes jumper connections or switch connections, with the switch being a triple-pole double-throw switch. The invention is characterized by achieving different interconnection methods between the output positive signal, output negative signal, MOSFET drain, MOSFET source, input power positive terminal, and input power ground through the dimming signal switching unit, thereby realizing positive dimming and / or negative dimming respectively.

[0007] The basic circuit principles of the voltage conversion unit, dimming control unit, and pulse generation unit are all mature technologies. One of the innovations of this invention lies in the fact that the connection method between the voltage conversion unit, dimming control unit, and dimming signal switching unit is different from the traditional method, and different connection methods can be switched through jumpers or switches. On the one hand, it achieves safe and reliable positive electrode dimming; on the other hand, it integrates positive electrode dimming and traditional negative electrode dimming into the same module, and shares the same voltage conversion unit, dimming control unit, and pulse generation unit.

[0008] Furthermore, the dimming module also includes an interface unit, which includes a power input interface, a dimming output interface, and a microcontroller input interface.

[0009] Furthermore, the jumper connection includes a first jumper connection, a second jumper connection, and a third jumper connection.

[0010] Furthermore, the dimming signal switching unit enables the output positive signal to be connected to the positive terminal of the input power supply, the output negative signal to be connected to the drain of the MOSFET, and the source of the MOSFET to be connected to the ground of the input power supply, thereby achieving negative dimming.

[0011] Furthermore, a dimming signal switching unit connects the positive output signal to the source of the MOSFET, the negative output signal to the input power ground, and the drain of the MOSFET to the positive input power supply, thus achieving positive dimming. This connection method is crucial for achieving positive dimming.

[0012] Furthermore, the positive dimming output power ground is isolated from the input power ground, and the source B of the MOSFET is connected to the output power ground. This clamps the source voltage of the MOSFET to the output power ground, ensuring that the gate and source of the MOSFET operate at approximately 3-5V, which is the output power voltage, without affecting the lamp source voltage when the MOSFET is conducting. This connection method is crucial for ensuring the normal operation of the positive dimming MOSFET and is another innovation of this invention. The negative dimming input power ground and output power ground can be interconnected.

[0013] The advantages and beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: The positive and negative switchable dimming module designed in this invention can adapt to the dimming module requirements of different output pin characteristics (PNP type or NPN type) of the lighting control module. Different output connection methods can be achieved by switching via jumpers or switches, realizing both negative and positive dimming. On the one hand, it achieves safe and reliable positive dimming; on the other hand, it integrates positive dimming and traditional negative dimming into the same module, sharing the same voltage conversion unit, dimming control unit, and pulse generation unit. This dimming module has strong adaptability, is not limited by application scenarios, and no longer restricts the selection of output devices for PLC-based control modules, thus meeting the requirements of reliable, long-life, and automatic dimming integrated design for navigation lights. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the circuit connection of a dimming module unit with switchable positive and negative poles;

[0015] Figure 2 This is the schematic diagram of the three-pole double-throw switch switching circuit for the dimming signal switching unit;

[0016] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the dimming principle of the negative electrode of the dimming module;

[0017] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the positive electrode dimming principle of the dimming module.

[0018] The markings in the image are as follows:

[0019] Voltage conversion unit M1, pulse generation unit M3, dimming control unit M2, dimming signal switching unit M4, lamp source and control unit M5;

[0020] Output positive signal C, output negative signal D, MOSFET drain A, MOSFET source B, input power supply positive V+, input power supply ground GND;

[0021] Power input interface J1, dimming output interface J2, microcontroller U2 and its input interface J3, power conversion chip U1;

[0022] The numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 in the diagram are the pin numbers of each component (such as transistors, integrated chips, or connectors). Detailed Implementation

[0023] The specific embodiments of the present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. The following examples are only used to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0024] like Figure 1 As shown in Embodiment 1, a switchable dimming module includes a voltage conversion unit M1, a dimming control unit M2, a pulse generation unit M3, and a dimming signal switching unit M4. The voltage conversion unit M1 includes a DC-DC voltage conversion circuit, which comprises an input power supply circuit and an output power supply circuit, providing operating power to the pulse generation unit M3 and the dimming control unit M2. In this embodiment, a 24V / 5V DC-DC voltage conversion circuit is selected, meaning the input power supply is 24V (positive V+, negative GND) and the output power supply is 5V (positive VCC, negative GND). The voltage conversion unit (also known as signal ground) is mainly implemented through the power conversion chip U1, which is a mature technology. The pulse generation unit M3 includes a pulse generation circuit based on the microcontroller U2, which outputs a pulse signal DIM to the dimming control unit M2. In this embodiment, the low-power 8-bit CMOS microcontroller ATTINY 13 based on the enhanced AVR RISC structure is used as the main control chip. The duty cycle is adjusted and the output pulse is controlled by the program setting, thereby realizing the dimming function of the lamp source, which is a mature technology. The dimming control unit M2 includes a MOS transistor Q1, whose gate is connected to the current limiting resistor R4. The input signal DIM comes from the microcontroller U2 of the pulse generation unit M3, which is pin 5 of U2 in this embodiment. The dimming signal switching unit M4 includes a jumper connection or a three-pole double-throw switch connection, such as Figure 1 As shown, this embodiment uses jumper connections; different interconnection methods are achieved between the output positive signal C, the output negative signal D, the drain A of the MOSFET, the source B of the MOSFET, the positive input power supply V+, and the ground input power supply GND through the dimming signal switching unit M4, thereby realizing positive dimming and / or negative dimming respectively.

[0025] Preferably, the dimming module further includes an interface unit, which includes a power input interface J1, a dimming output interface J2, and a microcontroller U2 input interface J3. In this embodiment, a plug-in interface is used, and the input power is a 24V power supply.

[0026] Preferably, the jumper connection includes a first jumper connection J4, a second jumper connection J5, and a third jumper connection J6. In this embodiment, the jumper connection uses a 3-pin jumper socket and a 2-pin jumper connector.

[0027] Preferably, the dimming signal switching unit connects the positive output signal C to the positive input power supply V+, the negative output signal D to the drain A of the MOSFET, and the source B of the MOSFET to the input power supply ground GND, thus achieving negative dimming. That is... Figure 1 As shown, by connecting pins 2 and 3 of J4, J5, and J6 with jumpers, negative dimming can be achieved.

[0028] To more clearly illustrate the integrated dimming principle, we consider simplifying the traditional independent control module and lamp source into a lamp source and control unit M5. This simplification does not change the final circuit connection principle of the output positive signal C and negative signal D, nor does it affect the principle of this invention.

[0029] like Figure 3 , Figure 4 As shown, Figure 3 The diagram shows the connection principle of the negative electrode dimming circuit. Figure 4 The diagram illustrates the connection principle of the positive dimming circuit. The lamp source and control unit M5 are simulated using a light-emitting diode (LED) and a current-limiting resistor. The positive terminal of the LED is connected to output a positive signal C, and the negative terminal is connected through the current-limiting resistor to output a negative signal D. It should be noted that the lamp source and control unit M5 are not part of the dimming module of this invention; they are only shown to more clearly illustrate the circuit connection principle.

[0030] Another embodiment, 2, differs from embodiment 1 in that, through a dimming signal switching unit, the output positive signal C is connected to the source B of the MOSFET, the output negative signal D is connected to the input power ground GND, and the drain A of the MOSFET is connected to the positive input power V+. In this embodiment, the drain pin 2 of the MOSFET is connected to the 24V power supply V+, thus achieving positive dimming. Figure 1 As shown, by connecting pins 1 and 2 of J4, J5, and J6 with jumpers, positive dimming can be achieved.

[0031] Preferably, the positive dimming output power ground (also referred to as signal ground in this embodiment, denoted by symbol) The positive dimming MOSFET is isolated from the input power ground, and its source (B) is connected to the output power ground. This clamps the MOSFET's source voltage to the output power ground, ensuring that the MOSFET's gate (G) and source (S) operate at approximately 3-5V, which is the output power voltage, without affecting the lamp voltage when the MOSFET is on. This connection method is crucial for ensuring the normal operation of the positive dimming MOSFET. The negative dimming input power ground and output power ground can be interconnected.

[0032] Another embodiment, 3, differs from embodiment 1 in that the dimming signal switching unit uses a three-pole double-throw switch, such as... Figure 2 As shown, closing the three-pole double-throw switch to the left will achieve negative dimming;

[0033] Another embodiment, 4, differs from embodiment 2 in that the dimming signal switching unit uses a three-pole double-throw switch, such as... Figure 2 As shown, closing the three-pole double-throw switch to the right enables positive dimming.

[0034] The basic principle of this invention is as follows: by clamping the source voltage of the MOSFET to the output power supply ground and directly connecting it to the positive terminal of the power supply, it can be ensured that the gate (G) and source (S) of the MOSFET operate at around 3-5V, which is the output power supply voltage, without affecting the lamp source voltage when the MOSFET is in the conducting state, thus realizing positive dimming; by sharing the same voltage conversion unit, dimming control unit, and pulse generation unit, and switching different output connection methods through jumpers or switches, the same dimming module can complete both negative dimming and positive dimming.

[0035] The above description is only a typical embodiment of the present invention. The connection switching between positive and negative dimming can be achieved by means of jumpers and other connection methods besides triple-pole double-throw switches, such as three independent single-pole double-throw switches, or by making positive dimming and negative dimming into separate independent modules, that is, no longer sharing the voltage conversion unit, dimming control unit, and pulse generation unit, but simply mechanically installing them together, which can also achieve the purpose of the present invention of combining the two into one. However, as long as the principle connection of positive dimming is consistent with the present invention, these combinations should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention, and will not be listed one by one here.

Claims

1. A positive and negative switchable dimming module, comprising a voltage conversion unit (M1), a dimming control unit (M2), a pulse generation unit (M3), and a dimming signal switching unit (M4), wherein the voltage conversion unit (M1) includes a DC voltage conversion circuit, the DC voltage conversion circuit including an input power supply circuit and an output power supply circuit, providing operating power to the pulse generation unit (M3) and the dimming control unit (M2); the pulse generation unit (M3) includes a pulse generation circuit based on a microcontroller (U2), outputting a pulse signal (DIM) to the dimming control unit (M2); the dimming control unit (M2) includes a MOSFET (Q1), the gate of which is connected to a current-limiting resistor (R4); the dimming signal switching unit (M4) includes a jumper connection or a switch connection, the switch including a three-pole double-throw switch; characterized in that, The dimming signal switching unit (M4) enables different interconnection methods between the output positive signal (C), output negative signal (D), MOSFET drain (A), MOSFET source (B), input power positive (V+), and input power ground (GND), thereby realizing positive dimming and / or negative dimming respectively. The dimming signal switching unit connects the positive output signal (C) to the positive input power supply (V+), the negative output signal (D) to the drain (A) of the MOSFET, and the source (B) of the MOSFET to the ground of the input power supply (GND), thus achieving negative dimming. The dimming signal switching unit connects the positive output signal (C) to the source (B) of the MOSFET, the negative output signal (D) to the input power ground (GND), and the drain (A) of the MOSFET to the positive input power (V+), thus achieving positive dimming.

2. The positive and negative electrode switchable dimming module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The dimming module also includes an interface unit, which includes a power input interface (J1), a dimming output interface (J2), and a microcontroller (U2) input interface (J3).

3. The positive and negative electrode switchable dimming module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The jumper connection includes a first jumper connection (J4), a second jumper connection (J5), and a third jumper connection (J6); the first jumper connection (J4) includes at least the drain (A) of the MOSFET, the positive power supply (V+), and the positive output signal (C); the second jumper connection (J5) includes at least the input power ground (GND), the output negative signal (D), and the drain (A) of the MOSFET; and the third jumper connection (J6) includes at least the output positive signal (C), the source (B) of the MOSFET, and the input power ground (GND).

4. The positive and negative electrode switchable dimming module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The positive dimming output power ground is isolated from the input power ground, and the source (B) of the MOS transistor is connected to the output power ground.

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