Parallel LED Lighting Units with Differential Turn-On Voltages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing LED lighting systems face reliability issues due to the failure of individual LEDs, which causes the entire series connection to malfunction, making it difficult to maintain high operation reliability.
Innovation Solution
A lighting apparatus comprising a first lighting unit with a first turn-on voltage and a second lighting unit with a higher turn-on voltage, connected in parallel, allowing the system to continue operating by diverting the driving current to the second unit if the first unit fails, ensuring consistent brightness and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If LEDs are connected in series to achieve high brightness, then illumination intensity is improved, but reliability deteriorates because one broken LED causes the entire system to fail
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the lighting system into multiple independent lighting units (first lighting unit and second lighting unit), each capable of independent operation. This segmentation allows the system to maintain functionality even when one unit fails, resolving the reliability issue while preserving brightness through parallel operation of multiple units.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent prepares a standby second lighting unit that can immediately take over when the first lighting unit fails. This beforehand cushioning approach ensures continuous operation and high reliability by having a pre-configured backup system ready to compensate for failures.
2Reliability
If multiple lighting units are added to improve reliability, then operation reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The first and second lighting units are designed with identical or similar functional characteristics, allowing either unit to perform the complete lighting function independently. This universality means the system doesn't require complex control logic to manage different types of units, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving improved reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes (specifically turn-on voltage differences) to enable automatic switching between lighting units without complex control circuits. The second lighting unit has a higher turn-on voltage, allowing it to be activated when the first unit fails, providing a simple parameter-based failover mechanism that minimizes system complexity.
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 enables the lighting system to maintain high operation reliability by ensuring that the lighting operation continues with the same brightness even if one of the lighting units fails, as the driving current is diverted to the second unit, maintaining consistent output.
Implementation Method 1
a first lighting unit with a first turn-on voltage and a second lighting unit with a second turn-on voltage greater than the first turn-on voltage
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting apparatus having high operation reliability includes a first lighting unit with a first turn-on voltage and a second lighting unit with a second turn-on voltage greater than the first turn-on voltage. The lighting apparatus is put in use for generating output light according to a driving current flowing through the first lighting unit or the second lighting unit. The first lighting unit is capable of generating output light having a first brightness according to the driving current. The second lighting unit, electrically connected in parallel with the first lighting unit, is capable of generating output light having a second brightness according to the driving current. The second brightness is preferably identical to the first brightness.