Parallel LED Driver Power Supply for Balanced Load Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
When parallel-connecting constant voltage LED drivers, manufacturing tolerances cause some drivers to regulate at slightly different output voltages, leading to uneven power distribution where one driver provides most of the power while others provide minimal power.
Innovation Solution
Each LED driver autonomously adjusts its output power based on time-averaged power detection, modifying its output if it exceeds or falls short of a defined fraction of the total power, and synchronizes this adjustment with other drivers using a shared sweep curve and phase shift to balance power distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If multiple constant voltage LED drivers are parallel-connected to increase total output power, then the power supply capacity is improved, but the power distribution becomes unbalanced with one driver providing most power while others provide minimal power
Solution Approach 1:
Each LED driver continuously monitors its own output power and the total output power of the parallel-connected system. Based on this feedback, each driver autonomously adjusts its output power to maintain a balanced distribution, ensuring that no single driver becomes overloaded while others remain underutilized.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables each LED driver to independently regulate its own output power without requiring external control or communication between drivers. Each driver self-adjusts based on detected power levels, automatically achieving balanced power distribution across the parallel-connected configuration.
2Device complexity
If LED drivers operate with unbalanced power distribution, then system complexity is reduced by using simple parallel connection, but reliability decreases as one driver bears excessive load
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback mechanism allows each driver to detect its load condition and adjust accordingly, preventing any single driver from being overloaded. This maintains reliability while preserving the simplicity of parallel connection architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static parallel connection to dynamic power regulation where each driver continuously adapts its output. This dynamic adjustment ensures balanced load distribution and improved reliability without adding complex connection structures.
3Ease of operation
If dedicated high-power drivers are designed to achieve balanced power distribution, then power balance is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the power regulation function to each individual driver, allowing standard drivers to work together in parallel. Each driver independently manages its power output, eliminating the need for specialized high-power driver designs while achieving balanced distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention enables standard, off-the-shelf LED drivers to function as balanced power sources when connected in parallel. The autonomous power adjustment mechanism allows universal application of identical driver models, reducing design complexity and manufacturing costs compared to custom high-power drivers.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a power supply (1), comprising a plurality of first-stage power converters (11) having parallel-connected output ports (111) and being configured to: regulate a common output voltage (112) of the first-stage power converters (11) in accordance with a constant voltage setpoint value; and balance average output powers of the first-stage power converters (11). This provides a more balanced distribution of output power supply across a plurality of parallel-connected constant voltage LED drivers.