LED Driving Device Resolving PWM Control Contradictions

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Solution Overview

Problem

LEDs under PWM control have limited controllable duty-ratio ranges and low accuracy in current control due to their inherent characteristics, which restricts their performance in driving applications.

Innovation Solution

A driving device is designed with a resistor to speed up the transistor's rising time, extending the controllable duty-ratio range and maintaining one terminal at a constant voltage to enhance current control accuracy, regardless of changes in the LED element.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If PWM control is applied to LED, then light output can be controlled, but the controllable duty-ratio range is limited by element characteristics

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveduty-ratio control rangeVSAvoidcontrollability under element characteristics
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

A resistor is inserted between the transistor and LED to act as an intermediary element. This resistor speeds up the transistor's rising time by providing a discharge path for the gate capacitance, thereby extending the controllable duty-ratio range at the leading edge of the PWM signal without being limited by the transistor's inherent switching characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The circuit changes the voltage parameter at the transistor gate by maintaining one terminal at a constant voltage level. This parameter change improves the accuracy of control current by stabilizing the transistor's operating point, making the LED driving less sensitive to element characteristic variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If element characteristics are considered, then LED protection is improved, but accuracy of control current becomes low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelement protectionVSAvoidcontrol current accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

One terminal of the transistor is maintained at a constant voltage level, creating an equipotential reference point. This stabilizes the voltage across the LED and transistor, improving control current accuracy by reducing voltage fluctuations that would otherwise occur due to element characteristic changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #12Equipotentiality

Solution Approach 2:

The resistor serves as a mediator that decouples the transistor's switching behavior from the LED's current control. By providing a controlled discharge path, it allows the transistor to switch faster while maintaining accurate current control through the resistor's stabilizing effect on the gate voltage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3007518B1Driving device
Publication Date: 2022.07.20 ROHM CO LTD
  • EP3007518B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3007518B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3007518B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A driving device comprises a first transistor (B13), a second transistor (B14), and a resistance element. The first transistor (B13) has one terminal receiving a pulsed current and a control terminal connected to the one terminal. The second transistor (B14) has one terminal connected to at least one load, the other terminal connected to a reference potential together with the other terminal of the first transistor (B13), and a control terminal connected to the control terminal of the first transistor (B13). The resistance element is connected between the control terminal of the first transistor (B13) and the other terminal of the first transistor (B13).