LED Driver Adaptive Voltage Detection via Secondary Side Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing LED drivers face inflexibility and increased complexity and cost due to the need to determine and adapt to different supply voltages, which limits their functionality and effectiveness across various geographical regions with different mains voltages.
Innovation Solution
A power converter with a primary and secondary circuit, magnetically coupled and galvanically separated, that includes a sensor and detection unit to determine the frequency and other electrical characteristics of the supply voltage on the secondary side, allowing for adaptive control of LED fixtures and behavior changes when switching between mains and emergency power sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If supply voltage information is stored in the memory of a controller on the load side, then the LED driver can be adapted to different supply voltages, but the application becomes inflexible and ineffective when supply voltage types differ from stored information
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of determining supply voltage characteristics on the primary side (supply side) where the voltage actually exists, the patent inverts the approach by determining these characteristics on the secondary side (load side) where the controller already resides. This is achieved by detecting parameters such as frequency, voltage, or current on the secondary side and using these to infer the primary side supply voltage characteristics, thereby eliminating the need for primary side sensing components and communication infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the transformer coupling between primary and secondary circuits as an intermediary mechanism. The transformer naturally transfers not only power but also frequency information from primary to secondary side. By utilizing this inherent coupling, the system can infer primary side supply characteristics (such as 50Hz vs 60Hz mains frequency) from secondary side measurements without requiring direct sensing on the primary side or additional communication components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a communication means is provided between the supply side and the load side to provide supply voltage information, then the LED driver can adapt to different supply voltages, but the complexity and cost of the LED driver increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the supply voltage detection function from the primary side (where it would require separate sensing components and communication infrastructure) and relocates it to the secondary side where the controller already exists. By taking out the need for primary side sensing components, communication opto-couplers, and associated control logic, the solution eliminates the complexity and cost increases while maintaining adaptability to different supply voltages.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller on the secondary side performs self-service by determining the supply voltage characteristics itself using measurements taken on the secondary side. Instead of relying on external communication from the primary side to provide this information, the system enables the controller to autonomously detect and adapt to the supply voltage type (e.g., 230V/50Hz vs 277V/60Hz) through local measurements of frequency, voltage, or current parameters.
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
Enables easier assessment and adaptation to different supply voltages, enhancing the control and functionality of LED fixtures, reducing complexity and cost by determining supply voltage characteristics on the secondary side, and allowing for efficient power management during voltage changes.
Implementation Method 1
a primary circuit (11) and a secondary circuit (12), comprising a primary (13) respectively secondary winding (14) that are magnetically coupled
Data Source
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AI summary
A power converter for supplying an output voltage or an output current for powering an LED fixture is described, the power converter comprising: - a primary circuit comprising: o an input terminal for receiving a supply voltage; o a primary winding connected to the input terminal; - a secondary circuit comprising a secondary winding that is magnetically coupled with the primary winding for providing the output voltage or output current; - the power converter further comprising: o a sensor for measuring an electrical characteristic of the secondary circuit and; o a detector configured to determine an electrical characteristic of the supply voltage based on the measured electrical characteristic of the secondary circuit.