LED Driver Segmentation for Brightness Consistency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing LED lighting drivers struggle to maintain consistent brightness across multiple LED lamps, especially when dimmed, due to variations in current distribution and temperature, leading to an unpleasant user experience and increased manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A lighting apparatus driver comprising multiple voltage regulator IC modules, each connected to a separate LED lamp, with a dimming control system that sends independent dimming signals to Buck or FlyBack modules to ensure consistent current input and brightness, eliminating the need for half bridges and allowing for different LED sizes and powers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If multiple LED lamps are connected in parallel with a single driver, then the device complexity is reduced, but the brightness consistency among lamps deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the driver system into multiple independent voltage regulator IC modules, where each module is responsible for controlling one LED lamp. This segmentation allows each lamp to receive independently regulated voltage, ensuring consistent brightness while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure by using standardized modular components.
2Use of energy by moving object
If PWM dimming is applied to multiple parallel LED lamps, then energy consumption is reduced, but brightness uniformity deteriorates at low temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single PWM dimming control for all lamps, the patent implements separate voltage regulator IC modules for each LED lamp. Each regulator independently manages its associated lamp's power and brightness, preventing the brightness uniformity issues that occur with centralized PWM control at low temperatures, while still achieving energy savings through individual lamp control.
3Loss of energy
If half bridge circuits are used for LED driving, then power conversion efficiency is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive half bridge circuits with multiple voltage regulator IC modules that use more affordable components such as MOSFETs, diodes, and capacitors. While individual regulator modules have lower power conversion efficiency than half bridge circuits, the overall system achieves acceptable efficiency while significantly reducing manufacturing costs and improving ease of production.
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
The solution ensures that each LED lamp maintains substantially the same brightness, even when dimmed, improving user experience and reducing manufacturing costs by eliminating half bridges and using established integrated circuits.
Implementation Method 1
a rectifier to convert an alternating current voltage into a direct current voltage
Implementation Method 2
a filter to filter out noise
Implementation Method 3
each of the plurality of voltage regulator IC modules is capable of independently controlling current input to the lighting apparatus connected thereto
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a lighting apparatus driver, comprising: a filter, which is used to filter out noise; a rectifier, which is used to convert an alternating current voltage into a direct current voltage; and a plurality of voltage regulator integrated circuit (IC) modules, which are directly or indirectly connected to the rectifier, wherein each one of the plurality of voltage regulator IC modules is used to connect to a separate lighting apparatus, so that each one of the plurality of voltage regulator IC modules can independently control the electric current inputted into the lighting apparatus connected thereto.