Light-Emitting Device Driving Module With Capacitor Energy Recovery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing VCSEL driving devices are inefficient in energy management and fail to stabilize light emission due to unnecessary energy consumption and waste, while camera modules suffer from unstable image capture due to external vibrations and tilts during zoom and autofocus operations.

Innovation Solution

A light-emitting device driving module with a controller managing switching devices and storage capacitors to optimize energy use and a camera module with actuators and controllers to compensate for tilts and vibrations, using pixel movement calibration for precise actuator control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If a light-emitting device is driven using conventional switching control without energy storage, then the device can be simplified in structure, but energy is wasted during each switching cycle and cannot be reused

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy waste in light-emitting deviceVSAvoidstructure of driving module
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent recovers energy that would otherwise be discarded during the switching off of the light-emitting device. When the switching device turns off the light-emitting device, the storage capacitor connected in parallel captures and stores the residual energy from the device. This stored energy is then reused in subsequent operating cycles, converting what would be waste into a reusable resource and reducing overall energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The storage capacitor serves as an intermediary energy storage element between the power supply and the light-emitting device. It mediates the energy transfer by capturing residual energy during switching off and releasing it during switching on, enabling energy reuse without requiring complex regenerative circuitry. This intermediary component simplifies the overall system while achieving energy recovery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Use of energy by moving object

If the light-emitting device is turned off completely to save energy, then energy consumption is reduced, but the device cannot respond quickly when light emission is needed again

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumption of light-emitting deviceVSAvoidresponse speed of light-emitting device
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The storage capacitor performs preliminary energy storage during the period when the light-emitting device is off. By continuously capturing and storing residual energy even when the device is not emitting light, the system prepares energy in advance for the next activation. This preliminary energy accumulation allows the device to respond quickly when needed without requiring high instantaneous power input, thus maintaining fast response speed while reducing overall energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Illumination intensity

If multiple light-emitting devices are connected in parallel to increase light output, then the total light emission is improved, but the control complexity and energy management difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetotal light outputVSAvoidcontrol circuit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the energy storage function with the switching control function by connecting storage capacitors in parallel with each light-emitting device. This combination allows multiple devices to share a common energy recovery approach, where each device's storage capacitor independently captures and reuses energy. The merged design achieves increased total light output while maintaining simple, scalable control architecture that does not require complex centralized energy management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 reduces energy consumption by storing excess energy in capacitors for reuse, enhances light-emitting device efficiency, and compensates for camera tilts during zoom and autofocus operations, improving image stability and reducing noise.

Implementation Method 1

a third switching device connecting the light-emitting device and a storage capacitor... the light-emitting device may be charged by the driving power source and the storage capacitor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

an inductor arranged between the light-emitting device and the third switching device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP4642043A1Light-emitting device driving module and camera module
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 LG INNOTEK CO LTD
  • EP4642043A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4642043A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4642043A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A light-emitting device driving module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises: a first switching device which connects a light-emitting device to a driving power source; a second switching device which connects the light-emitting device to a ground; a third switching device which connects the light-emitting device to a storage capacitor; and a controller which controls operations of the first to third switching devices, wherein charging of the light-emitting device is conducted by the driving power source and the storage capacitor and discharging of the light-emitting device is conducted by the ground and the storage capacitor.