LED Parallel Branch Current Regulator for Fault Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing light-emitting diode (LED) devices connected in parallel suffer from accelerated aging or premature failure of other LEDs when one LED fails, leading to increased current flow through remaining branches, which degrades their lifespan.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a current regulator connected in shunt with each LED and a switching circuit controlled by a detection system that alternately blocks or allows current through the faulty LED or current regulator, maintaining continuous operation and reducing stress on other LEDs by ensuring a consistent current flow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a detection means switches off an entire branch when one LED fails, then the faulty LED is isolated, but the current intensity through remaining branches increases causing accelerated aging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefault isolationVSAvoidLED lifespan
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The branch is segmented into two parallel paths: one containing the LED and another containing the current regulator. This segmentation allows the current to be routed through different components based on LED status, preventing complete branch shutdown and maintaining current flow through the regulator when LED fails.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The current regulator acts as an intermediary component that takes over current regulation function when the LED fails. The switching circuit mediates between the LED and current regulator, routing current through the appropriate path based on detection means output.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If parallel branches share common current supply, then circuit simplicity is maintained, but current redistribution upon LED failure causes stress on remaining LEDs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecircuit structureVSAvoidLED branch stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Each parallel branch is equipped with local quality control through individual current regulators and switching circuits. This allows independent current management in each branch, preventing current redistribution issues while maintaining overall circuit simplicity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3028545B1Light-emitting diode device
Publication Date: 2017.05.03 RENAULT SA
  • EP3028545B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~2
  • EP3028545B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention concerns a light-emitting diode device (10) comprising at least two branches mounted electrically in parallel and each comprising a light-emitting diode, including a first branch (11) comprising a first light-emitting diode (LED1) and a second branch (12) comprising a second light-emitting diode (LED2), and a first detection means (DET1) designed to detect a failure of said first light-emitting diode. According to the invention, the light-emitting diode device further comprises a current regulator (REG1) mounted to electrically bypass said first light-emitting diode, and a switching circuit (COM1) controlled by said detection means to alternately block the current passing through said first light-emitting diode or said current regulator, depending respectively on whether or not said detection means detects a failure of said first light-emitting diode.