Backlight System Voltage Adaptation Without Boost Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Backlight systems for USB Type-C devices require a boost circuit to handle input voltages ranging from 5 V to 20 V, increasing costs and substrate area due to the need for peripheral components like ICs, coils, and capacitors.
Innovation Solution
A backlight system with serial and parallel connection switches and a control unit that adjusts the connection of light emitting elements based on the input voltage, eliminating the need for a boost circuit by applying appropriate voltages directly from bus-supplied power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a boost circuit is used to handle input voltages from 5 V to 20 V, then the backlight can operate with varying bus-supplied voltages, but the costs and substrate area increase due to peripheral components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the backlight circuit into multiple series strings of light emitting elements, where each string can be independently controlled. By dividing the backlight into segments that can be configured in different series/parallel combinations, the system can adapt to various input voltages without requiring a complex boost circuit, thus resolving the contradiction between voltage adaptability and circuit complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic switching between series and parallel connections of light emitting element strings based on the detected bus-supplied voltage. The control unit dynamically reconfigures the circuit topology to match the input voltage level, enabling the system to adapt to voltage variations from 5 V to 20 V while maintaining simple circuit architecture without boost converters
2Reliability
If a boost circuit is used to maintain constant output voltage, then the backlight operates reliably across voltage ranges, but the substrate area increases due to peripheral components
Solution Approach 1:
The backlight is divided into multiple controllable strings of light emitting elements, allowing flexible configuration to match different input voltages. This segmentation enables the system to maintain reliable operation across 5 V to 20 V without requiring area-consuming boost circuit components
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the inherent voltage variations from USB power delivery to directly control the backlight configuration rather than requiring external voltage regulation. The control unit automatically detects the bus voltage and configures the appropriate string connections, making the system self-regulating without needing additional peripheral components that would increase substrate area
3Use of energy by moving object
If light emitting elements are connected in series, then the voltage requirement increases, but the current consumption decreases, improving efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically switches between series and parallel connections of light emitting element strings based on the detected bus-supplied voltage. At higher voltages (15 V, 20 V), more strings are connected in series to improve energy efficiency, while at lower voltages (5 V, 9 V), fewer strings are connected in series to reduce voltage stress, thus resolving the contradiction between efficiency and voltage stress
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the connection configuration parameter (series/parallel arrangement) of light emitting element strings according to the input voltage level. This parameter change allows the system to optimize the balance between energy efficiency and voltage stress for each operating condition, enabling efficient operation across the full voltage range
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables constant output voltage and efficient operation of light emitting elements without a boost circuit, reducing costs and substrate area while maintaining consistent luminance across varying input voltages.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of serial connection switches that connect the plurality of light emitting elements in series and disconnect connections among the plurality of light emitting elements; a plurality of parallel connection switches that connect the plurality of light emitting elements in parallel relative to the power source
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of light emitting elements that operate as a light source of a backlight using bus-supplied electric power
Data Source
AI summary
An example aspect of a backlight system of the present invention includes: a plurality of light emitting elements that operate as a light source of a backlight using bus-supplied electric power in which a voltage is changed to one of a plurality of predetermined values as a power source; a plurality of serial connection switches that connect the plurality of light emitting elements in series and disconnect connections among the plurality of light emitting elements; a plurality of parallel connection switches that connect the plurality of light emitting elements in parallel relative to the power source and disconnect the connections among the plurality of light emitting elements; and a control unit that turns on or turns off the plurality of serial connection switches and the plurality of parallel connection switches in accordance with the value of the voltage corresponding to the bus-supplied electric power.