LED Current Sharing Driver with Parallel String Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing LED driver systems struggle to maintain uniform brightness across multiple LED strings connected in parallel due to varying current flow, leading to inconsistent light output and increased power loss.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of current control devices, such as transistors and voltage measurement systems, which measure and adjust the current flowing through each LED string to ensure balanced current distribution, using resistors and control circuits to regulate the current and maintain uniform brightness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If LEDs are connected in parallel to reduce total voltage drop, then the number of LEDs that can be powered increases, but the current distribution becomes unbalanced leading to different brightness levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing individual current control for each LED string through separate control circuits. Each string receives tailored current regulation based on its specific characteristics, ensuring uniform brightness across all strings while maintaining the parallel connection configuration that allows higher quantity of LEDs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where voltage across each LED string is measured and used to regulate the current through that string. This closed-loop control ensures that current distribution remains balanced across parallel strings, solving the brightness uniformity problem while maintaining the ability to power multiple LEDs.
2Device complexity
If simple parallel connection is used without current control, then device complexity is reduced, but power loss increases due to unbalanced current distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs self-service principles where each LED string has its own voltage measurement and current control circuitry that automatically regulates its own current based on real-time voltage conditions. This decentralized approach manages power distribution efficiently without requiring complex centralized control, balancing circuit complexity with power loss reduction.
3Illumination intensity
If series connection is used to ensure same current through all LEDs, then brightness uniformity is improved, but the cumulative voltage drop limits the number of LEDs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the LED array into multiple independent strings that can be connected in parallel. Each string is treated as an independent unit with its own current control, allowing the system to scale to higher numbers of LEDs while maintaining brightness uniformity through individual string regulation rather than relying on series connection constraints.
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 solution effectively balances current between LED strings, ensuring consistent light output and reducing power loss, while allowing for flexible operation with various DC sources and enabling color mixing and control.
Implementation Method 1
the voltage of each of the plurality of strings may be measured and compared, and based on the comparison, the current provided to each of the plurality of strings may be increased or decreased
Implementation Method 2
a first current control device connected in series with the first string of LEDs; a second current control device connected in series with the second string of LEDs
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for a current sharing driver for light emitting diodes are disclosed. One disclosed system includes: a first string of LEDs; a second string of LEDs connected in parallel with the first string; a first current control device connected in series with the first string of LEDs; a second current control device connected in series with the second string of LEDs; a first voltage measurement device coupled to the first string of LEDs and the second string of LEDs, the first voltage measurement circuit coupled to the first current control device and configured to control the first current control device; and a second voltage measurement device coupled to the first string of LEDs and the second string of LEDs, the second voltage measurement circuit coupled to the second current control device and configured to control the second current control device.