LED Driver and Load With Integrated Zener DC Generation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing LED drivers require a separate low voltage DC power supply for the microcontroller in the luminaire, leading to complex and costly driver designs, which many less expensive drivers lack.
Innovation Solution
A system with an integrated DC voltage generation circuit within the luminaire, utilizing Zener diodes to supply DC voltage to both the LED load and the logic unit, eliminating the need for an additional power supply and allowing a single-channel LED driver to manage multiple LED strings with different color temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate low voltage DC power supply is provided by the driver, then the microcontroller in the luminaire can be powered, but the driver design becomes more complex and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The DC voltage generation circuit is extracted from the LED driver and relocated to the luminaire housing. This separates the power generation function from the driver, allowing the driver to focus solely on LED control while the luminaire's DC voltage generation circuit provides power to the microcontroller and other logic units, thereby reducing driver complexity without compromising power supply capability
Solution Approach 2:
A DC voltage generation circuit using Zener diodes is introduced as an intermediary component between the LED driver output and the microcontroller power input. This intermediary circuit converts the driver's output voltage to the appropriate low voltage DC level needed by the microcontroller, enabling power supply functionality without requiring complex integrated power management in the driver
2Reliability
If a separate low voltage DC power supply is provided by the driver, then the microcontroller can be powered, but the driver costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The DC voltage generation circuit is extracted from the expensive LED driver and placed in the luminaire housing where it can be implemented using cost-effective discrete components like Zener diodes. This extraction significantly reduces driver manufacturing costs while maintaining the ability to power the microcontroller through the separate DC voltage generation circuit
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs simple, inexpensive components such as Zener diodes for voltage regulation in the DC voltage generation circuit. These basic components provide reliable power conversion at low cost, replacing the need for expensive integrated power management circuits that would be required if the functionality were built into the driver
3Device complexity
If a single-channel LED driver manages multiple LED strings with different color temperatures, then driver complexity is reduced, but precise color control becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The LED load is segmented into multiple independent LED strings, each with different color temperatures (e.g., warm white and cool white). The single-channel driver controls these segmented strings by independently adjusting their current levels, allowing precise color temperature mixing and control despite the driver's simple single-channel architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent controls color temperature by changing the current parameters supplied to different LED strings. By independently varying the current magnitude to each LED string with different color characteristics, the system achieves precise color control through parameter adjustment rather than through complex multi-channel driver architecture
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
Reduces driver complexity and cost while enabling precise color control and efficient power management, facilitating miniaturization and cost savings.
Implementation Method 1
A luminaire comprises a LED driver (3) and a luminaire housing (1). The LED driver (3) has output terminals (41a, 41b) for supplying an LED load (40). The luminaire housing (1) has DC voltage output terminals (5, 6) for supplying a DC voltage to supply a logic unit (50). The luminaire housing (1) further comprises a DC voltage generation circuit (44) arranged in parallel to the output terminals (41a, 41b) for generating the DC voltage at the DC voltage output terminals (5, 6) from the output voltage of the LED driver (3). The DC voltage generation circuit (44) comprises at least one Zener diode (44A).
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a system comprising a LED driver and a LED load, comprising: output terminals for supplying the LED load; DC voltage output terminals for supplying a DC voltage preferably to supply a logic unit e.g. microcontroller or sensor; a DC voltage generation circuit connected to the DC voltage output terminals.