Adapter for the parallel connection of at least two LED drivers, system consisting of it and corresponding use

Abstract

An adapter (10, 30) for the parallel connection of at least two LED drivers (11a, 11b, 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31f), wherein the adapter (10, 30) is configured to contact and / or intervene in at least two corresponding input terminals of each of the at least two LED drivers (11a, 11b, 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31f), which can be supplied with an AC voltage, in order to connect the at least two LED drivers (11a, 11b, 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31f) in parallel on the input side, and / or wherein the adapter (10, 30) is designed to contact and / or intervene in at least two corresponding output terminals of the respective of the at least two LED drivers (11a, 11b, 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31f) that provide a DC voltage, in order to connect the at least two LED drivers (11a, 11b, 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31f) in parallel on the output side.

Description

AREA OF INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to an adapter for the parallel connection of at least two LED drivers, a system with such an adapter and at least two LED drivers, and the use of an adapter, in particular such an adapter, for the input-side and / or output-side parallel connection of at least two LED drivers. BACKGROUND

[0002] If a suitable LED driver is not available or is not to be provided for an LED-based load with increased power requirements, at least two LED drivers can be connected in parallel to cover the corresponding power requirements.

[0003] Unfortunately, such a parallel circuit leads to a considerable amount of wiring effort. TASK AND SOLUTION

[0004] Accordingly, the object of the invention is to provide an adapter for the parallel connection of at least two LED drivers, a system with such an adapter and at least two LED drivers, and the use of an adapter, in particular such an adapter, for the input-side and / or output-side parallel connection of at least two LED drivers, wherein the aforementioned wiring effort is significantly reduced in order to save, for example, time and costs.

[0005] The problem with respect to the adapter for the parallel connection of at least two LED drivers is solved by the features of the first independent claim. The problem with respect to the system is solved by the features of the corresponding dependent claim. The problem with respect to the use is solved by the features of the second independent claim. The dependent claims contain advantageous embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0006] According to a first aspect of the invention, an adapter for the parallel connection of at least two LED drivers is provided. The adapter is configured to contact and / or engage at least two corresponding input terminals of each of the at least two LED drivers, which can be supplied with an AC voltage, in order to connect the at least two LED drivers in parallel on the input side. Additionally or alternatively, the adapter is configured to contact and / or engage at least two corresponding output terminals of each of the at least two LED drivers, which provide a DC voltage, in order to connect the at least two LED drivers in parallel on the output side. Advantageously, this significantly reduces the wiring effort required for the parallel connection of the at least two LED drivers, thereby saving time and costs.

[0007] According to one embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, at least one, preferably each, input-side contact between the adapter and the at least two LED drivers has a plug connection and / or a needle connection and / or a pin connection. Advantageously, this allows, for example, efficient and reliable contacting.

[0008] According to a further embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, at least one, preferably each, output-side contact between the adapter and the at least two LED drivers has a plug connection and / or a needle connection and / or a pin connection. Advantageously, this allows, for example, efficient and reliable contacting.

[0009] According to a further embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the adapter has at least two, preferably two or three, adapter input terminals configured to be supplied with an alternating voltage, in particular mains voltage. Advantageously, the adapter can efficiently distribute the adapter input terminals to the corresponding input terminals of the at least two LED drivers in a parallel connection.

[0010] According to a further embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the adapter has at least two, preferably two, adapter output terminals configured to provide a DC voltage. Advantageously, the adapter can efficiently combine the corresponding output terminals of the at least two LED drivers into the adapter output terminals in a parallel circuit.

[0011] According to a further embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the adapter is designed such that contacting and / or engaging with the at least two corresponding input terminals of each of the at least two LED drivers is only possible in a predefined position of the at least two LED drivers relative to the adapter. Advantageously, this reliably prevents, for example, reverse polarity on the input side.

[0012] According to a further embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the adapter is designed such that contacting and / or engaging with the at least two corresponding output terminals of each of the at least two LED drivers is only possible in a predefined position of the at least two LED drivers relative to the adapter. Advantageously, this reliably prevents, for example, reverse polarity on the output side.

[0013] According to a further embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the adapter has a housing, preferably wherein the housing is configured to partially or completely enclose the at least two LED drivers. Advantageously, the adapter can be configured as a rack. Such a rack enables the particularly simple and quick replacement of a defective LED driver.

[0014] According to a further embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the adapter includes a monitoring unit, preferably configured to monitor the respective function of the at least two LED drivers. Advantageously, the monitoring unit can be a microcontroller or an ASIC. Furthermore, the monitoring unit can advantageously signal when and which LED driver is defective.

[0015] According to a further embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the adapter is designed as a strain relief. Additionally or alternatively, the adapter is designed as a single piece or in multiple parts, preferably two parts. Advantageously, this allows, for example, corresponding supply lines to be protected against mechanical stress without additional effort.

[0016] According to a second aspect of the invention, a system is created. This system comprises an adapter according to the first aspect of the invention or one of its embodiments, and at least two LED drivers, wherein the at least two LED drivers are connected in parallel on the input and / or output side by means of the adapter. Advantageously, this significantly reduces the wiring effort required for the parallel connection of the at least two LED drivers, thereby saving time and costs, for example.

[0017] According to a third aspect of the invention, the use of an adapter, in particular an adapter according to the first aspect of the invention or one of its embodiments, or a strain relief, is provided for the input-side and / or output-side parallel connection of at least two LED drivers. Advantageously, this significantly reduces the wiring effort required for the parallel connection of the at least two LED drivers, thereby saving time and costs, for example. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED FORMS

[0018] The following is a detailed exemplary description of some embodiments of the invention with reference to the figures in the drawing. This shows: Fig. 1. A first exemplary embodiment of an adapter for the parallel connection of two LED drivers in combination with a system consisting of the drivers and the adapter; and Fig. 2 a second exemplary embodiment of an adapter for the parallel connection of six LED drivers in combination with a system of the drivers and the adapter.

[0019] Fig. Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment 10 of an adapter for the parallel connection of LED drivers. In principle, such an adapter for the parallel connection of at least two LED drivers is designed to contact and / or engage at least two corresponding input terminals of each of the at least two LED drivers, which can be supplied with an AC voltage, in order to connect the at least two LED drivers in parallel on the input side. Additionally or alternatively, the adapter is designed to contact and / or engage at least two corresponding output terminals of each of the at least two LED drivers, which provide a DC voltage, in order to connect the at least two LED drivers in parallel on the output side.

[0020] According to Fig. 1 The adapter 10 for the parallel connection of the two LED drivers 11a, 11b is designed, for example, to contact and / or intervene in two corresponding input terminals of the respective two LED drivers 11a, 11b, supplied, for example, with a mains voltage of 230V / 50Hz, in order to connect the two LED drivers 11a, 11b in parallel on the input side.

[0021] In other words, adapter 10 connects the respective phase terminals of LED driver 11a and LED driver 11b, or rather, combines these two phase terminals. This applies analogously to the respective neutral terminals. If a protective earth terminal is present, this can also apply analogously to the respective protective earth terminals.

[0022] Furthermore, the adapter 10 is designed to contact and / or intervene in two corresponding output terminals of the respective two LED drivers 11a, 11b, for example, providing a DC voltage for the supply of an LED-based load, in order to connect the two LED drivers 11a, 11b in parallel on the output side.

[0023] In other words, adapter 10 connects the respective output voltage terminals of LED driver 11a and LED driver 11b to each other, or rather, combines these two output voltage terminals. The same applies analogously to the respective output ground terminals.

[0024] It can also be seen that, for example, each input-side contact between the adapter 10 and the two LED drivers 11a, 11b has a needle connection.

[0025] In other words, each phase connection and each neutral connection is contacted using a needle connection.

[0026] In addition to or as an alternative to the needle connection, a plug connection and / or a connection having a pin can be used.

[0027] Furthermore, it can be seen that, for example, each output-side contact between the adapter 10 and the two LED drivers 11a, 11b has a needle connection.

[0028] In other words, each output voltage terminal and each output ground terminal is contacted using a needle connection.

[0029] In addition to or as an alternative to the needle connection, a plug connection and / or a connection having a pin can be used.

[0030] Furthermore, the adapter 10 has two adapter input terminals designed to be supplied with mains voltage.

[0031] In other words, adapter 10 has a phase connection, which is connected to the phase connections of the two LED drivers 11a and 11b. Adapter 10 also has a neutral connection, which is connected to the neutral connections of the two LED drivers 11a and 11b.

[0032] Furthermore, the adapter 10 has two adapter output terminals designed to provide the DC voltage used to supply the LED-based load.

[0033] In other words, adapter 10 has an adapter output voltage terminal, which is connected to the output voltage terminals of the two LED drivers 11a and 11b. Adapter 10 also has an adapter output ground terminal, which is connected to the output ground terminals of the two LED drivers 11a and 11b.

[0034] It should also be noted that it can be particularly advantageous if the adapter 10 is designed in such a way that the respective contacting of the two corresponding input terminals of the respective of the two LED drivers 11a, 11b and / or the manipulation of the same is only possible in a predefined position of the two LED drivers 11a, 11b to the adapter 10.

[0035] Furthermore, it can be particularly advantageous if the adapter 10 is designed in such a way that the respective contacting of the two corresponding output terminals of the respective of the two LED drivers 11a, 11b and / or the intervention in the same is only possible in a predefined position of the two LED drivers 11a, 11b to the adapter 10.

[0036] In other words, the adapter 10 can advantageously be designed such that the two LED drivers 11a, 11b can only be inserted into the adapter in a specific way.

[0037] Fig. Figure 1 further shows that the LED drivers 11a and 11b are physically stacked on top of each other, for example. It should be noted that the adapter 10 can be configured not only so that the LED drivers 11a and 11b form a stacked arrangement, but also so that they form an arrangement side by side or one behind the other. Furthermore, any combination of these arrangement options is also possible.

[0038] It can also be particularly advantageous if the adapter 10 has a housing, preferably wherein the housing is designed to partially or completely enclose the two LED drivers 11a, 11b.

[0039] Furthermore, it can be particularly advantageous if the adapter 10 has a monitoring unit, preferably wherein the monitoring unit is configured to monitor the respective function of the two LED drivers 11a, 11b. If, for example, a defect or failure occurs in at least one of the LED drivers 11a, 11b, the monitoring unit can signal this accordingly.

[0040] For the sake of completeness, it should be noted that Fig. Figure 1 also shows a system 20, which includes the adapter 10 and the two LED drivers 11a, 11b. For example, the two LED drivers 11a, 11b are connected in parallel on the input and output sides using the adapter 10, in order to supply, in particular together, an LED-based load.

[0041] It should be noted that the monitoring unit can also be part of system 20. Accordingly, it can be particularly advantageous if system 20 includes such a monitoring unit, preferably wherein the monitoring unit is configured to monitor the respective function of the two LED drivers 11a, 11b.

[0042] Furthermore, the adapter 10 is according to Fig. 1 is designed as a strain relief. Furthermore, adapter 10 is, for example, designed in two parts. Alternatively, a one-piece or multi-part design is also possible.

[0043] Fig. Figure 2 shows a further embodiment 30 of an adapter for the exemplary parallel connection of six LED drivers 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31f, which, in particular together, supply an LED-based load 41.

[0044] For the sake of completeness, it should also be mentioned regarding the Fig. Figure 2 mentions that this also illustrates a System 40, which includes the adapter 30 and the LED drivers 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31f. Furthermore, the System 40 can include the LED-based load 41.

[0045] Besides the number of LED drivers connected in parallel, the adapter 30 differs according to Fig. 2 of the adapter 10 according to Fig. 1 essentially in that the adapter 30 is designed as a rack.

[0046] Advantageously, the corresponding LED drivers 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31f can be easily inserted into such a rack. A potential failure of at least one of these LED drivers 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31f can be monitored by the rack, for example, using the monitoring unit described above, and signaled if necessary. The defective LED driver can also be replaced while the rack is in operation.

[0047] Finally, a method, in particular using an adapter according to the first aspect of the invention or one of its embodiments, for example using adapter 10 according to Fig. 1 or of adapter 30 according to Fig. 2, for the input-side and / or output-side contacting of at least two LED drivers for parallel connection of the same.

[0048] The method involves contacting and / or intervening in the at least two corresponding input terminals of each of the at least two LED drivers, which can be supplied with an alternating voltage, in order to connect the at least two LED drivers in parallel on the input side.

[0049] Additionally or alternatively, the method involves contacting and / or intervening in the at least two corresponding output terminals of each of the at least two LED drivers, which provide a DC voltage, in order to connect the at least two LED drivers in parallel on the output side.

[0050] The invention is not limited to the embodiments discussed above. All features described in the description, claimed in the claims, or shown in the drawing can be combined with one another in any way within the scope of this invention.

Claims

[1] An adapter (10, 30) for the parallel connection of at least two LED drivers (11a, 11b, 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31f), wherein the adapter (10, 30) is configured to contact and / or intervene in at least two corresponding input terminals of each of the at least two LED drivers (11a, 11b, 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31f), which can be supplied with an AC voltage, in order to connect the at least two LED drivers (11a, 11b, 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31f) in parallel on the input side, and / or wherein the adapter (10, 30) is designed to contact and / or intervene in at least two corresponding output terminals of the respective of the at least two LED drivers (11a, 11b, 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31f) that provide a DC voltage, in order to connect the at least two LED drivers (11a, 11b, 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31f) in parallel on the output side. [2] The adapter (10, 30) according to claim 1, wherein at least one, preferably each, input-side contact between the adapter (10, 30) and the at least two LED drivers (11a, 11b, 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31f) has a plug connection and / or a needle connection and / or a pin connection. [3] The adapter (10, 30) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one, preferably each, output-side contact between the adapter (10, 30) and the at least two LED drivers (11a, 11b, 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31f) has a plug connection and / or a needle connection and / or a pin connection. [4] The adapter (10, 30) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the adapter (10, 30) has at least two, preferably two or three, adapter input terminals configured to be supplied with an alternating voltage, in particular mains voltage. [5] The adapter (10, 30) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the adapter (10, 30) has at least two, preferably two, adapter output terminals configured to provide a DC voltage. [6] The adapter (10, 30) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the adapter (10, 30) is designed such that the respective contacting of the at least two corresponding input terminals of the respective of the at least two LED drivers (11a, 11b, 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31f) and / or the engagement with the same is possible exclusively in a predefined position of the at least two LED drivers (11a, 11b, 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31f) to the adapter (10, 30). [7] The adapter (10, 30) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the adapter (10, 30) is designed such that the respective contacting of the at least two corresponding output terminals of the respective of the at least two LED drivers (11a, 11b, 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31f) and / or the engagement with the same is possible exclusively in a predefined position of the at least two LED drivers (11a, 11b, 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31f) to the adapter (10, 30). [8] The adapter (10, 30) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the adapter (10, 30) has a housing, preferably wherein the housing is designed to partially or completely enclose the at least two LED drivers (11a, 11b, 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31f). [9] The adapter (10, 30) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the adapter (10, 30) has a monitoring unit, preferably wherein the monitoring unit is configured to monitor the respective function of the at least two LED drivers (11a, 11b, 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31f). [10] The adapter (10, 30) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the adapter (10, 30) is designed as a strain relief, and / or wherein the adapter (10, 30) is designed in one piece or in multiple parts, preferably in two parts. [11] A system (20, 40), comprising: an adapter (10, 30) according to one of claims 1 to 10, and at least two LED drivers (11a, 11b, 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31f), wherein the at least two LED drivers (11a, 11b, 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31f) are connected in parallel on the input and / or output side using the adapter (10, 30). [12] Use of an adapter, in particular an adapter (10, 30) according to one of claims 1 to 10, or a strain relief for connecting at least two LED drivers (11a, 11b, 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31f) in parallel on the input and / or output side.

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