Interleaved Lighting Converter Control for Low-Current Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-phase interleaved power converters for automotive lighting systems face efficiency issues when low output current requirements are needed, such as for low beam or anti-glare functions, due to the inefficiency in activating a significant number of individual light sources being deactivated.
Innovation Solution
A controller selectively activates a strictly necessary number of elementary converters in a multi-phase interleaved power converter based on the required electrical power for a desired light beam, optimizing efficiency by matching the number of activated converters with the current demand.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If all elementary converters are activated to provide high electrical current for pixelated lighting functions, then the lighting system can achieve high light intensity and substantial electrical current output, but the efficiency of the power converter decreases when low output current requirements are needed
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the number of active elementary converters based on the required output current. The controller activates only the necessary number of converters to meet the current demand, transitioning the system from a static all-or-nothing configuration to a dynamic adaptive configuration that optimizes efficiency across varying load conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The power converter is divided into multiple independent elementary converters that can be selectively activated. This segmentation allows the system to activate only the required number of converters based on load demand, rather than running all converters continuously, thereby improving overall system efficiency during low-current operations
2Power
If a multi-phase interleaved power converter is used to generate high electrical current, then the system can meet the power requirements of pixelated lighting functions, but the efficiency is compromised when significant numbers of light sources are deactivated
Solution Approach 1:
The controller dynamically determines the required electrical power based on the desired light beam and activates only the strictly necessary number of elementary converters to meet that requirement. This dynamic adjustment ensures that the system consumes minimal electrical power from the vehicle battery while still providing sufficient power output for the lighting functions
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters by adjusting the number of active converters based on the required output power. By varying this key parameter (number of active converters) according to the lighting requirements, the system optimizes the ratio between input power from the battery and output power to the light sources
Data Source
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Figure 3~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a motor vehicle lighting system (1) comprising: a light source (2), a multi-phase interleaved power converter (3) comprising a plurality of selectively activatable elementary converters (31a, 31b, 31c, 31n), each of which is configured to generate an electrical signal (Ia, Ib, Ic, In) having its own phase, the power converter being designed to supply electrical power (Ps) to the light source; and a controller (4) designed to selectively control each of the elementary converters of the power converter; characterized in that the controller is designed to receive an emission command (Im) for the emission of a desired light beam by the light source and to activate a strictly necessary number (N) of elementary converters of the power converter such that the power converter supplies, to the light source, an electrical power (Pn) needed to emit the desired light beam.