LED Driver Circuitry for Efficient Multi-String Expansion

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional circuitry for driving white light LEDs is inconvenient to expand and requires a large number of components, leading to high costs and low efficiencies when controlling additional LED strings.

Innovation Solution

The circuitry includes a voltage converter and multiple current regulating circuits, with control circuits generating signals based on output voltages to regulate DC driving voltage, allowing for convenient expansion by adding more control circuits as needed, and integrating these components into ASIC chips to manage multiple LED strings efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional circuitry uses separate voltage converters and ASIC chips for each LED string, then current regulation is achieved, but device complexity and component quantity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecurrent regulationVSAvoidcomponent quantity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple separate voltage converters and ASIC chips into a single integrated circuit that can control multiple LED strings. The controller integrates the functions of multiple independent voltage converters and current balance circuits, reducing the total number of components while maintaining current regulation capability across all LED strings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated controller is designed to perform multiple functions: it acts as a voltage converter for multiple LED strings simultaneously and incorporates current balance circuitry for all strings. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate dedicated circuits for each LED string, reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional circuitry adds more voltage converters and ASIC chips to control additional LED strings, then LED string control capability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveLED string control capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated controller is designed as a universal solution that can control multiple LED strings simultaneously. By incorporating multiple voltage conversion channels and current balance circuits within a single chip, the system achieves high adaptability for controlling different numbers of LED strings without requiring additional components, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines multiple independent control circuits into a single integrated controller chip. This merging approach reduces the total component count and assembly complexity, leading to lower manufacturing costs while maintaining the capability to control multiple LED strings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If conventional circuitry uses multiple independent voltage converters and ASIC chips, then each LED string receives dedicated control, but system efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvededicated controlVSAvoidsystem efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple independent control systems into a single integrated controller that manages multiple LED strings. This integration reduces power losses associated with multiple separate circuits and improves overall system efficiency while maintaining dedicated control capability for each LED string through internal circuit segmentation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 enables efficient and cost-effective expansion of LED string control, reducing the number of components required and improving efficiency by dynamically regulating current and voltage across multiple LED strings.

Implementation Method 1

a voltage converter, configured to provide a DC driving voltage for the LED strings and configured to regulate the DC driving voltage according to the control signals

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVoltage conversion:

Implementation Method 2

a plurality of current regulating circuits, each current regulating circuit being configured to regulate a current flowing through a corresponding LED string

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectroluminescence: Electroluminescence

Data Source

PatentUS8525423B2Circuitry for driving light emitting diodes and associated methods

Publication Date: 2013.09.03 MONOLITHIC POWER SYSTEMS INC

AI summary

Circuitry and methods for driving a plurality of LED strings are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the circuitry comprises a plurality of current regulating circuits electrically coupled to the LED strings and are configured to regulate a current flowing through the LED strings. At least two control circuits are coupled to the current regulating circuits and are configured to generate a control signal according to terminal voltages of the corresponding current regulating circuits. A voltage converter is electrically coupled to the LED strings and to the at least two control circuits, and is configured to regulate the DC driving voltage according to the at least two control signals.