Signal distribution method of LED driver, LED driver and decorative lighting fixture

Abstract

This invention proposes a signal distribution method for an LED driver, an LED driver, and a decorative lighting fixture. The LED driver has several drive pins for connecting to an LED load, two signal pins for controlling signal input or output, a signal input / output judgment module, a serial decoding module, a data shaping module, a PWM control module, and an output drive module. The signal distribution method includes the following configuration: when one signal pin detects data input, that signal pin is configured as an input pin, and the other signal pin is configured as an output pin; when there is data input on the input pin, if the output pin detects external data input, the signal output of the output pin is turned off; the lamp tube includes an LED load and an LED driver, the drive pins of the LED driver are connected to the LED load, and the signal pins of the LED driver are connected to terminals located at both ends of the lamp tube.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of light source driving technology, specifically relating to a signal distribution method for an LED driver, an LED driver, and a decorative lighting fixture. Background Technology

[0002] Existing LED driver ICs generally have Din signal pins and Dout signal pins. The Din signal pin is used to receive control signals from the upper-level circuit, while the Dout signal pin is used to transmit control signals to the lower-level circuit. This requires that the subsequent circuit design cannot be reversed, which is commonly referred to as the "DIN in, DOUT out" mode. Otherwise, signal reception and transmission cannot be achieved. Therefore, existing LED driver ICs do not have wiring error tolerance and are not conducive to improving the splicing and debugging efficiency of light source devices using LED driver ICs. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This invention proposes a signal distribution method for an LED driver, an LED driver, and a decorative lighting fixture, aiming to achieve bidirectional distribution of lighting control signals. The specific technical details are as follows: The present invention discloses a signal distribution method for an LED driver. The LED driver has a plurality of driving pins for connecting a load and two signal pins for controlling signal input or output. The signal distribution method includes the following configuration: when one signal pin detects data input, the signal pin is configured as an input pin, and the other signal pin is configured as an output pin.

[0004] Furthermore, when a signal pin continuously detects multiple bits of valid data input, that signal pin is locked as an input pin, while the other signal pin is locked as an output pin.

[0005] Furthermore, if both signal pins have data input, the signal pin that detects the data input earlier will be configured as an input pin, while the other signal pin will be configured as an output pin.

[0006] Furthermore, when there is data input on the input pin, if the output pin detects external data input, the signal output of the output pin is turned off.

[0007] Furthermore, if the output pin continuously detects multiple valid data inputs, the output pin's output off state is locked.

[0008] The present invention provides an LED driver comprising a plurality of driving pins for connecting an LED load, two signal pins for controlling signal input or output, a signal input / output judgment module, a serial decoding module, a data shaping module, a PWM control module, and an output driving module; The signal input / output judgment module is connected to two signal pins respectively, and is used to receive and send control signals, as well as to configure the input / output status of the signal pins in the signal distribution method of the LED driver. The serial decoding module is used to perform the decoding operation of the control signal. Its input terminal is connected to the signal input / output judgment module, and its output terminal is connected to the PWM control module and the data shaping module respectively. The data shaping module is used to package the decoded control signal and send it to the signal input / output judgment module, and then output it through the output pin; The PWM control module is used to generate a PWM signal that acts on the output drive module based on the decoded control signal; the output drive module is connected to several switching transistors and controls their on / off states, and the switching transistors are connected to the drive pins one by one.

[0009] A shaped lamp fixture of the present invention includes several lamp tubes and several adapters for splicing these lamp tubes. Each adapter has two or more slots. Each lamp tube includes an LED load and the aforementioned LED driver. The drive pins of the LED driver are connected to the LED load, and the signal pins of the LED driver are connected to the terminals located at both ends of the lamp tube. After the lamp tubes are spliced ​​by the adapters, at least one adapter is connected to the lamp fixture controller through its slot.

[0010] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the present invention are reflected in: 1) The LED driver (driver IC) achieves bidirectional data transmission compatible configuration on two signal pins. When data input is present on one signal pin, the other signal pin is immediately configured as an output pin. This overcomes the inherent "DIN in, DOUT out" mode in existing driver ICs, greatly simplifies wiring operations in circuit design, and has excellent wiring fault tolerance performance.

[0011] 2) The LED driver also has an output shutdown function configured for the signal pins. Specifically, when there is data flow on the input pin, if the output pin also detects data flow, the output of the output pin will be shut down immediately. This can ensure the uniqueness of the data flow direction, avoid data interference and conflict, or suppress the formation of data storms in the splicing light source circuit.

[0012] 3) After the lamp tubes are assembled into a shape, control data can be connected through any adapter. Each LED driver can automatically distribute data in multiple directions based on its bidirectional data transmission and output shutdown functions. At the data intersection point, the output of a certain path can be shut down to ensure the uniqueness of the data flow direction. This eliminates tedious debugging operations and ensures that the data flow can reach all LED drivers smoothly to execute lighting control. This has excellent implementation prospects for shaped lighting fixtures such as honeycomb lights with multiple data intersection points and multiple data loops. Attached Figure Description

[0013] Figure 1 This is a block diagram of an LED driver.

[0014] Figure 2 This is the wiring topology diagram for output shutdown test.

[0015] Figure 3 This is a flowchart for determining the signal input and output of a signal pin.

[0016] Figure 4 Flowchart for determining whether to turn off the output of an output pin.

[0017] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the lamp tube.

[0018] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the splicing design for ambient light sources. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The following description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, further illustrates the proposed solution: See appendix Figure 1 An LED driver 1 has several driving pins 11 for connecting an LED load 2, two signal pins 12 for controlling signal input or output, a signal input / output judgment module 13, a serial decoding module 14, a data shaping module 15, a PWM control module 16, and an output driving module 17. The signal input / output judgment module 13 is connected to two signal pins 12 respectively, and is used to receive and send control signals, as well as to configure the input / output status of the signal pins 12. The serial decoding module 14 is used to perform the decoding operation of the control signal. Its input terminal is connected to the signal input / output judgment module 13, and its output terminal is connected to the PWM control module 16 and the data shaping module 15 respectively. The data shaping module 15 is used to package the decoded control signal and send it to the signal input / output judgment module 13, and then output it through the output pin to realize the relay transmission of the control signal; The PWM control module 16 is used to generate a PWM signal that acts on the output drive module 17 according to the decoded control signal; the output drive module 17 is connected to the switching transistors Q1-Q4 respectively and controls their on / off state, and the switching transistors Q1-Q4 are connected to the drive pins (OUTR pin, OUTG pin, OUTB pin and OUTW pin) one by one.

[0020] The signal distribution method of the LED driver is executed in the signal input / output judgment module 13, which specifically includes the following configuration: See appendix Figure 3 When a signal pin detects data input, it is configured as an input pin, while the other signal pin is configured as an output pin. For example, if the two signal pins are named D1 and D2, when D1 receives data input, D2 is immediately configured as an output pin, and vice versa. This enables bidirectional data transmission compatibility on the signal pins, eliminating the distinction between forward and reverse directions. It overcomes the inherent "DIN in, DOUT out" pattern in existing driver ICs, greatly simplifies wiring operations in circuit design, and provides excellent wiring fault tolerance.

[0021] Of course, the direction of data flow needs to be guaranteed in the circuit design. Therefore, after the light source is fully connected, the output and output status of the signal pin can be locked. In this method, the format of valid data can be set (such as "0101"). When a signal pin continuously detects multiple bits (e.g., 16 bits) of valid data input, the signal pin is locked as an input pin, while the other signal pin is locked as an output pin.

[0022] To avoid conflicting decisions, this method employs a priority triggering mechanism when both signal pins have data input. The signal pin that detects data input earlier is designated as the input pin, while the other signal pin is designated as the output pin. For example, if both D1 and D2 have data input, but D1's data input occurred earlier, D1 is designated as the input pin, and D2 as the output pin. Furthermore, once the output and output states of a signal pin are locked, even if D1's data input is interrupted, D2 will still have data input; D1 remains the input pin, and D2 remains the output pin.

[0023] Furthermore, this method also configures an output shutdown function for the signal pins: See appendix Figure 4 When data is input to an input pin, if an external data input is detected on the output pin, the signal output of the output pin is turned off. This ensures the uniqueness of the data flow direction, avoids data interference and conflicts, or suppresses data storms in the splicing light source circuit.

[0024] For example, LED drivers A and B are pressed... Figure 2When wiring, both LED drivers A and B receive data on their input pins. If Dout01 outputs data first, it means that the data stream from Dout01 reaches Dout02 first, and the output of Dout02 will be turned off. Conversely, if Dout02 outputs data first, the output of Dout01 will be turned off.

[0025] Meanwhile, this method also includes a locking mechanism for output shutdown. If the output pin continuously detects multiple (e.g., 4-bit) valid data inputs, the output shutdown state of the output pin is locked. This further avoids data interference, conflicts, or suppresses data storms in the splicing light source circuit.

[0026] The output shutdown judgment is activated only when there is data input on the input pin, and is deactivated when data is output on the output pin.

[0027] Verification operation for output shutdown: After power-on, Data01 continuously inputs signals, and Data02 also continuously inputs signals. However, Data02 needs to be delayed by 3 to 4 bits longer than Data01 (assuming one bit is 1500ns, then the delay can be set to 6µs). Test the signals on the Dout01 trace. At this time, it can be detected that Dout01 is continuously transmitting data.

[0028] Then disconnect the attachment Figure 2 By testing the signal on the Dout02 trace circled in the middle, we can see that Dout02 is currently at 0, while Data02 is still continuously sending signals, indicating that Dout02 has a shutdown function.

[0029] See appendix Figure 5 In this embodiment, a lamp tube 5 is proposed, including an LED load 2 and an LED driver 1. The driving pin 11 of the LED driver 2 is connected to the LED load 2, and the signal pin 12 of the LED driver 1 is connected to the terminal blocks 3 located at both ends of the lamp tube.

[0030] See appendix Figure 6This embodiment proposes a decorative lighting fixture, including several lamp tubes 5 and several adapters 4 for splicing these lamp tubes 5. These adapters 4 include a first adapter 41 with two slots and a second type of adapter 42 with three slots. The slots on the same adapter 4 are at a 120-degree angle to each other. These lamp tubes 5 are spliced ​​into a honeycomb shape by the first adapter 41 and the second type of adapter 42, and are connected to the lighting fixture controller through their slots by an adapter located on the periphery of the lighting fixture (marked with "D" in the figure). The lamp tubes 5 include LED loads 2 and the aforementioned LED driver 1. The drive pins 11 of the LED driver 1 are connected to the LED loads 2, and the signal pins 12 of the LED driver 1 are connected to the terminals 3 located at both ends of the lamp tubes 5.

[0031] During splicing and debugging, there is no need to consider the forward and reverse wiring issues; simply activating the lighting controller will automatically perform multi-directional data distribution (e.g., ...). Figure 6 As shown in the middle shot), at the data intersection points P1, P2 and P3, the output of a certain street light tube is turned off according to the shutdown mechanism to ensure the uniqueness of the data flow direction. This not only eliminates the tedious debugging operation, but also ensures that the data flow can smoothly reach all LED drivers to execute lighting control, thereby satisfying lighting, atmosphere rendering and other effects.

[0032] The above preferred embodiments should be regarded as illustrative examples of the embodiments of the present application. Any technical deductions, substitutions, improvements, etc. that are similar to or based on the present application should be considered within the scope of protection of this patent.

Claims

1. A signal distribution method for an LED driver, the LED driver having a plurality of driving pins for connecting a load, and two signal pins for controlling signal input or output, characterized in that, The signal distribution method includes the following configurations: When a signal pin detects data input, that signal pin is configured as an input pin, while the other signal pin is configured as an output pin.

2. The signal distribution method for an LED driver according to claim 1, characterized in that, When a signal pin continuously detects multiple valid data inputs, that signal pin is locked as an input pin, while the other signal pin is locked as an output pin.

3. The signal distribution method for an LED driver according to claim 1, characterized in that, If both signal pins have data input, the signal pin that detects the data input earlier will be configured as the input pin, while the other signal pin will be configured as the output pin.

4. The signal distribution method for an LED driver according to claim 1, characterized in that, When data is input to the input pin, if the output pin detects external data input, the signal output of the output pin is turned off.

5. The signal distribution method for the LED driver according to claim 4, characterized in that, If the output pin continuously detects multiple valid data inputs, the output pin's output off state is locked.

6. The signal distribution method for an LED driver according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, The output shutdown decision is activated only when there is data input on the input pin, and deactivated when data is output on the output pin.

7. An LED driver, comprising a plurality of driving pins for connecting an LED load, and two signal pins for controlling signal input or output, characterized in that, Also includes Signal input / output judgment module, serial decoding module, data shaping module, PWM control module, and output drive module; The signal input / output judgment module is connected to two signal pins respectively, and is used to receive and send control signals, as well as to configure the input / output state of the signal pins in the signal distribution method of the LED driver as described in any one of claims 1 to 6. The serial decoding module is used to perform the decoding operation of the control signal. Its input terminal is connected to the signal input / output judgment module, and its output terminal is connected to the PWM control module and the data shaping module respectively. The data shaping module is used to package the decoded control signal and send it to the signal input / output judgment module, and then output it through the output pin; The PWM control module is used to generate a PWM signal that acts on the output drive module based on the decoded control signal; the output drive module is connected to several switching transistors and controls their on / off states, and the switching transistors are connected to the drive pins one by one.

8. A decorative lighting fixture, comprising a plurality of light tubes and a plurality of adapters for connecting the light tubes, each adapter having two or more slots, characterized in that, The lamp tube includes an LED load and an LED driver as described in claim 7. The drive pins of the LED driver are connected to the LED load, and the signal pins of the LED driver are connected to the terminals located at both ends of the lamp tube. After the lamp tube is spliced ​​by an adapter, at least one adapter is connected to the lamp controller through its slot.

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