Scalable Power Supply Circuit with Integrated Surge and Thermal Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power supply circuits for solid state light sources require significant redesign for each application to address technical and safety requirements, such as power surge protection and efficiency, leading to inefficiencies and increased design resources.
Innovation Solution
A scalable power supply circuit design incorporating a front end circuit, power factor correction circuit, and drive circuit with integrated surge protection, over-temperature protection, and open-circuit protection features, utilizing gas discharge tubes and controllers to ensure safe and efficient operation across various applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If power supply circuit is redesigned from scratch for each application to meet safety and technical requirements, then protection features and reliability are improved, but design time and resources increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply circuit is divided into modular functional blocks (front end circuit, PFC circuit, drive circuit) with standardized protection features in each block. This segmentation allows designers to select and combine pre-designed modules rather than redesigning the entire circuit, reducing design time while maintaining comprehensive protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal power supply circuit platform with integrated protection features that can be applied across multiple applications. The standardized modules with built-in surge protection, over-temperature protection, and open-circuit protection can serve different load requirements without requiring complete redesign, thus reducing design resources while improving reliability.
2Reliability
If comprehensive protection features are integrated into power supply circuit, then safety and reliability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple protection functions (surge protection, over-temperature protection, open-circuit protection) are merged into standardized circuit modules. By combining these protection features within integrated modules rather than implementing them as separate distributed components, the overall circuit complexity is reduced while maintaining comprehensive safety coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The protection circuits are designed to automatically detect and respond to fault conditions without requiring external control or complex monitoring systems. For example, the over-temperature protection circuit automatically disables the PFC circuit when temperature exceeds thresholds, and the open-circuit protection automatically detects load failures. This self-service capability reduces the need for additional control complexity.
3Productivity
If standardized modules are used in power supply circuit, then design efficiency and scalability are improved, but adaptability to specific applications may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The standardized power supply modules incorporate adjustable parameters and configurable features that allow adaptation to different applications. For example, the protection thresholds and operating parameters can be tuned within the standardized framework, enabling the same modular design to serve diverse load requirements while maintaining design efficiency.
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 scalable power supply circuit provides reliable, efficient, and safe power delivery to solid state light sources, reducing the need for extensive redesign and enhancing protection against power surges and temperature fluctuations.
Implementation Method 1
In some embodiments, the surge protection circuit is one or more gas discharge tubes
Implementation Method 2
the over-temperature protection circuit includes a temperature-sensitive component and a transistor, the temperature-sensitive component being configured to disable the power factor correction circuit by causing the transistor to couple the disable pin of the power factor correction circuit controller to ground when the temperature-sensitive component is at a temperature above the maximum allowed temperature
Implementation Method 3
the startup circuit includes a diode (e.g., a zener diode) and a transistor, the diode being configured to disable the drive circuit by causing the transistor to couple the disable pin of the drive controller to ground until the driving voltage reaches a threshold voltage
Implementation Method 4
the open-circuit protection circuit includes a diode (e.g., a zener diode) and an optical isolator (optoisolator), the diode being configured to disable the drive circuit by causing the optoisolator to couple the disable pin in the drive controller to ground if an open circuit is detected across the load
Data Source
AI summary
A power supply circuit and method for supplying power are provided. The power supply circuit includes a front end circuit, a power factor correction circuit, and a drive circuit. The front end circuit is configured to generate a direct current voltage based on an input voltage. The front end circuit includes a first surge protection circuit. The power factor correction circuit is configured to generate a driving voltage based on the generated direct current voltage. The power factor correction circuit includes a second surge protection circuit and an over-temperature protection circuit. The drive circuit is configured to generate an output voltage for a load based on the driving voltage. The drive circuit includes a third surge protection circuit, a startup circuit, and an open-circuit protection circuit.