LED Drive Circuit DC Bus Voltage Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional LED drive circuits using silicon-controlled rectifier dimmers face inefficiencies due to large circuit losses and increased temperature from bleeder circuits, especially when the conduction angle is large, leading to suboptimal system performance.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves controlling the direct current bus voltage to be constant during bleeding, with an adjustable desired value, to delay the turn-on time of the silicon-controlled rectifier dimmer when the conduction angle is large, ensuring the bus voltage is near the lighting voltage when the dimmer is turned on, thereby reducing the need for prolonged bleeder current sinking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the conduction angle of the silicon-controlled rectifier dimmer is large, then the dimming control range is improved, but the direct current bus voltage when the dimmer is turned on is less than the lighting voltage of the LED load, requiring the bleeder circuit to sink a large current to raise the voltage, which results in large circuit loss and reduced system efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedimming control rangeVSAvoidcircuit loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by controlling the direct current bus voltage to rise in advance before the silicon-controlled rectifier dimmer is turned on. The voltage is raised to a predetermined value (greater than or equal to the lighting voltage of the LED load) prior to dimmer conduction, ensuring that when the dimmer turns on, the bus voltage is already sufficient to illuminate the LED load immediately, eliminating the need for the bleeder circuit to sink large current to raise the voltage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of direct current bus voltage by controlling it to follow a predetermined rise pattern. Instead of allowing the voltage to rise passively after the dimmer turns on, the system actively controls the voltage parameter to reach the required level beforehand, thereby changing the operational state from voltage-deficient to voltage-sufficient condition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the bleeder circuit sinks large current to raise the direct current bus voltage, then the LED load can operate, but the temperature of the circuit is increased due to heat generated by the bleeder circuit, which further affects the system performance

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveLED operationVSAvoidcircuit temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-raising the direct current bus voltage to the required level before the silicon-controlled rectifier dimmer turns on. This ensures that when the dimmer conducts, the LED load receives sufficient voltage immediately and does not require the bleeder circuit to sink large current, thereby preventing excessive heat generation and temperature rise in the circuit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of time

If the direct current bus voltage is controlled to be constant during bleeding, then the turn-on time instant can be delayed when the conduction angle is large, but the system requires precise control mechanisms to maintain the voltage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveturn-on timeVSAvoidcontrol mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs feedback control where the control circuit monitors the direct current bus voltage and adjusts the bleeding process accordingly. The feedback mechanism ensures that the voltage is controlled to follow the predetermined rise pattern and reach the required level at the appropriate time, enabling precise control of the turn-on timing without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of direct current bus voltage by controlling it to follow a predetermined rise pattern. Instead of allowing the voltage to rise passively after the dimmer turns on, the system actively controls the voltage parameter to reach the required level beforehand, thereby changing the operational state from voltage-deficient to voltage-sufficient condition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3518623B1Dimmable light emitting diode drive circuit
Publication Date: 2025.03.05 SILERGY SEMICON TECH (HANGZHOU) CO LTD
  • EP3518623B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3518623B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3518623B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

There are provided a circuit module, a dimmable light emitting diode (LED) drive circuit and a control method. A direct current bus voltage during bleeding is controlled to be constant, and a desired value of the direct current bus voltage is adjustable, so that a turn-on time instant can be delayed in a case that the conduction angle is large, and the direct current bus voltage when the silicon-controlled rectifier dimmer is turned on can be near a lighting voltage. In this way, it is not required to sink a bleeder current from a direct current bus for a long time period after the silicon-controlled rectifier dimmer is turned on, effectively reducing the system loss, and improving the system efficiency.