LED Driver Device Self-Powered Control Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing driver devices for LED/OLED units require additional wires for power supply, leading to energy losses and unwanted influences on the load behavior, such as decreased light intensity.
Innovation Solution
A driver device with a shunting switch, energy storage element, and recharge control circuitry that recharges the energy storage element during periods when the light unit is switched off, using the drive current to avoid additional wires and minimize load behavior influence, with a control unit managing the shunting switch and recharge control circuitry to maintain optimal voltage levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If additional wires are used to feed supply voltage to the control circuit, then the control circuit can be powered, but energy losses increase and the load behavior is influenced negatively
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit powers itself by harvesting energy from the drive current during LED off-periods. The energy storage element accumulates energy when the LED is off and supplies power to the control circuit during operation, eliminating the need for external power wires and avoiding energy losses associated with separate power supply wiring.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive current serves dual purposes: it drives the LED during on-periods and simultaneously charges the energy storage element during off-periods. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated power supply wires, reducing system complexity and energy losses.
2Ease of operation
If additional wires are used to feed supply voltage to the control circuit, then the control circuit can be powered, but the load behavior is influenced negatively
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit derives power from the existing drive current through the energy storage element, eliminating external power connections that could introduce voltage fluctuations or interference affecting LED performance. This self-powered approach ensures clean power supply without influencing load behavior.
3Use of energy by stationary object
If energy is derived from drive current during on-periods, then the energy storage element can be recharged, but the LED may switch on unintentionally
Solution Approach 1:
The system operates in periodic cycles: during LED on-periods, the LED is driven; during LED off-periods, the energy storage element is recharged from the drive current. This periodic operation ensures that recharging only occurs when the LED is off, preventing unintentional LED activation while maintaining continuous power supply to the control circuit.
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit monitors the state of the LED and the charge level of the energy storage element, dynamically controlling when to charge the storage element and when to drive the LED. This feedback mechanism ensures proper timing and prevents conditions that could cause unwanted LED switching.
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
Eliminates the need for additional wires, avoids energy losses, and maintains light intensity by deriving recharge energy from the drive current during off periods, ensuring the driver device's power supply does not affect the load behavior.
Implementation Method 1
an energy storage element adapted to supply power to at least the control unit
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a driver device for aload (11), particularly an LED/OLED unit (12; 20, 22), comprising a shunting switch (30) parallel to the load, a controlunit(14, 26) for controlling the shunting switch (30), an energy storage element (40) adapted to supply energy to at least the control unit(14, 26), and a recharge control circuitry (46) arranged in series with the energy storage element (40), the series connection of energy storage element (40) and recharge control circuitry (46) being provided parallel to the shunting switch (30), wherein said control unit (14, 26) is adapted to activate said recharge control circuitry (46) and to switch said shunting switch (30) off, when said energy storage element (40) is to be recharged. The invention also relates to a method of driving a load (11).