Converter Circuit Programmable Blanking for LED Driver Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Converter circuits in switched-mode power supply topologies face challenges in providing stable load current due to time delays in digital signal processing, leading to increased peak currents and flicker in lighting modules.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of a blanking time interval in the converter circuit controls the switch to inhibit switching from the conducting state to the non-conducting state during this interval, eliminating the need for an analogue filter and reducing signal spikes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If digital signal processing is used for switch control, then circuit integration is improved, but time delay increases leading to higher peak current

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecircuit integrationVSAvoidsignal processing time delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by implementing a blanking interval before the asynchronous break function is activated. This blanking interval is set in advance to cover the period when switching disturbances occur, preventing false triggering of the asynchronous break while maintaining the benefits of digital signal processing and integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Speed

If asynchronous break function is introduced, then switching speed is improved, but switching disturbances increase causing false triggering

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveswitching speedVSAvoidswitching disturbances

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by introducing a blanking interval that actively prevents false triggering caused by switching disturbances. During this blanking period, the asynchronous break function is inhibited, counteracting the harmful effect of switching spikes before they can cause unintended switch-off events.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If analogue filter is used to reduce signal spikes, then signal quality is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal spikesVSAvoidcircuit complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the filtering function from the traditional analogue filter approach and implements it digitally through the blanking interval mechanism. This removes the need for additional analogue filter components while achieving the same goal of reducing signal spikes and preventing false triggering.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/analog filter system with a digital control mechanism. Instead of using passive analogue filter components to reduce signal spikes, the invention uses a digitally controlled blanking interval to inhibit the asynchronous break function during problematic periods, substituting analog filtering with digital signal processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Measurement precision

If digital current sensor signal processing is performed, then measurement precision is improved, but time delay increases affecting switching accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecurrent sensing precisionVSAvoidswitching timing accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by establishing a blanking interval in advance that accounts for the digital signal processing time delay. This pre-set interval ensures that the asynchronous break function is inhibited during the period when switching disturbances occur, compensating for the time delay introduced by digital current sensing and processing while maintaining switching accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250024572A1Programmable blanking for asynchronous driver break

Publication Date: 2025.01.16 TRIDONIC GMBH & CO KG

AI summary

The invention concerns a converter circuit for providing a load current to a load, in particular to a lighting device such as a LED lighting module. The converter circuit comprises at least one switch configured to switch between a conducting state and a non-conducting state based on a switch control signal. A current sense circuit of the converter circuit generates a current sense signal based on a sensed current via the switch. Based on the current sense signal, a control circuit of the converter circuit generates the switch control signal. The control circuit controls the switch to switch asynchronously from the conducting state to the non-conducting state when the current sense signal reaches a threshold value. The converter circuit is characterized by the control circuit setting a blanking time interval, wherein the blanking time interval starts at a time when the switch switches from the non-conducting state to the conducting state, and, during the blanking time interval, the control circuit inhibits switching the switch from the conducting state to the non-conducting state.