Bidirectional Chopper Power Module for Light Source Current Peaks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices with high-current components, such as laser diodes, generate substantial power consumption peaks that cause electromagnetic interference and require oversized electronic control units, leading to inefficiency and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A power supply system with a bidirectional chopper switching module that couples a storage battery to the light source during high-current demand, using a series chopper configuration when inactive and a parallel chopper configuration when active, to manage power from the storage battery directly, reducing current peaks and interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a power supply module directly supplies power to a high-current light source (e.g., laser diode), then the light source can operate reliably, but the power supply module must be oversized and expensive to handle current peaks
Solution Approach 1:
The storage battery is charged in advance during periods when the light source is inactive, accumulating energy that can be rapidly discharged when the light source requires power. This preliminary energy storage allows the system to meet high current demands without requiring the power supply module to continuously provide maximum capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
A storage battery is introduced as an intermediary energy storage device between the power supply module and the light source. The battery acts as a buffer that decouples the continuous low-power charging from the intermittent high-power discharge, allowing the power supply module to be smaller while still supporting peak current requirements.
2Productivity
If a power supply module directly supplies high current to the light source, then the light source can be activated, but electromagnetic interference and noise are generated on the coaxial cable
Solution Approach 1:
The storage battery serves as an intermediary that delivers high current locally to the light source without requiring the current to flow through the coaxial cable from the remote power supply module. This eliminates the electromagnetic interference problem by separating the high-current path from the communication path.
Solution Approach 2:
The power delivery function is segmented into two separate paths: a low-current communication path through the coaxial cable for control signals, and a high-current local power path through the storage battery for the light source. This segmentation prevents electromagnetic interference on the communication cable while maintaining light source operation.
3Reliability
If an oversized electronic control unit is used to supply power to the light source, then current peaks can be handled, but the system becomes less efficient and more expensive for all other operations
Solution Approach 1:
Energy is preliminarily stored in the battery during low-demand periods when the light source is inactive, allowing the electronic control unit to operate at lower power levels continuously rather than being sized for peak demand. This improves overall system efficiency while maintaining the ability to handle current peaks when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage battery mediates between the electronic control unit and the light source, allowing the control unit to be sized for average power consumption rather than peak power consumption. The battery handles the transient peak demands, enabling more efficient operation of the control unit during normal conditions.
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
This approach allows the use of a less powerful power supply module, minimizing current peaks and electromagnetic interference, while ensuring reliable operation and reducing the need for expensive control units.
Implementation Method 1
a storage battery and a switching module configured so that in a first configuration, the storage battery is electrically coupled to the power supply module via the switching module
Implementation Method 2
the switching module being a bidirectional chopper, the first configuration of which is a series chopper configuration and the second configuration of which is a parallel chopper configuration
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic system includes a power supply module (5) configured to supply power to an electronic device. The electronic device includes at least one light source, a storage battery and a switching module configured so that, in a first configuration, the storage battery is electrically coupled to the power supply module via the switching module and the light source is not supplied with power. In a second configuration, the storage battery is disconnected from the power supply module and electrically coupled to the light source via the switching module so as to supply it with power. The switching module may be a bidirectional chopper, the first configuration of which is a series chopper configuration and the second configuration of which is a parallel chopper configuration.