LED Array Driver with Segmented Current Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional LED backlight modules for LCDs lack advanced functions such as dynamic contrast, scanning backlight, and color sequence due to limitations in current stability and color temperature compensation, restricting their ability to achieve better image quality and reduced manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A current driver for LED arrays that independently controls the current, luminance, and timing of each LED set, using feedback and compensation techniques to enable dynamic response and improved image processing functions, reducing the need for color filters and enhancing contrast.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional current regulating circuits are used to drive LED arrays, then the structure is simple, but the current stability and color temperature compensation are only achieved globally, not locally for each LED set
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the LED array into multiple independently controllable LED sets, with each set having its own current regulating circuit. This segmentation allows local current stability and color temperature compensation for each LED set rather than global control, resolving the contradiction by trading increased device complexity for improved reliability and local control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Each LED set is equipped with dedicated current regulating components (current regulating transistors, feedback resistors, and compensation capacitors) that provide localized current control and color temperature compensation. This local quality approach ensures that each LED set maintains stable current and appropriate color temperature independently, addressing the limitation of conventional global control while accepting increased overall system complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional LED backlight modules are used, then manufacturing cost is lower, but advanced functions such as dynamic contrast, scanning backlight, and color sequence facility cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control capabilities by enabling independent adjustment of current magnitude and timing for each LED set. This dynamic control allows the system to achieve advanced functions such as dynamic contrast adjustment, scanning backlight, and color sequence facilities, resolving the contradiction between increased adaptability and manufacturing complexity by providing programmable control over each LED set's operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The current driver circuit is designed with universal control capabilities that can implement multiple functions (dynamic contrast, scanning backlight, color sequence) through software control of the same hardware architecture. This multi-functionality approach allows a single driver design to support various advanced features, addressing the need for adaptability while maintaining reasonable manufacturing ease through standardized hardware.
3Ease of operation
If independent control of each LED set is implemented, then voltage control range and current stability are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each LED set incorporates feedback mechanisms where the current regulating transistor's base voltage is controlled by feedback signals derived from the LED set's actual current consumption. This feedback control enables precise current regulation and expands the effective voltage control range, addressing the ease of operation requirement while managing device complexity through intelligent control rather than purely hardware-based solutions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate control elements (current regulating transistors, feedback resistors, and compensation capacitors) that mediate between the control signals and the LED sets. These intermediary components provide smooth control transition and expand the voltage control range by acting as buffer elements, resolving the contradiction between improved ease of operation and increased device complexity.
4Manufacturing precision
If modularized driver architecture with feedback and compensation is used, then color gamut quality and image quality are improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback and compensation mechanisms that dynamically adjust electrical parameters (current magnitude, timing, and voltage levels) for each LED set to optimize color output. By changing these parameters through control circuits rather than requiring precision-matched physical components, the system achieves improved color gamut quality while managing manufacturing costs through software-based parameter optimization rather than hardware precision manufacturing.
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
The solution provides stable and accurate dynamic response, improved color gamut, and reduced manufacturing costs by enabling independent control of each LED set, achieving better LCD quality and mitigating image blur.
Implementation Method 1
Light emitting diode (LED) arrays have been gradually employed as the backlight module to a liquid crystal display (LCD)
Data Source
AI summary
A driver and method for driving a semiconductor light emitting device array is provided. The driver includes at least one current regulator unit having a plurality of controllable switches to regulate the current of each set of cascaded light emitting devices in the semiconductor light emitting device array. The currents of the sets are used to generate a plurality of feedback signals through a feedback unit. A compensation unit generates a plurality of control signals in response to the feedback signals and a plurality of timing signals, so as to control the controllable switches. A driver according to the present invention can independently and individually control the luminance and timing of each set of cascaded light emitting devices.