Segmented Lighting Assembly for Blocking Parasitic Driver Leakage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Large and heavy lighting assemblies face installation challenges, particularly when divided into parts, due to parasitic capacitors causing driver instability and flickering issues during deep dimming due to asynchronized switching.

Innovation Solution

A blocking arrangement is introduced to prevent current flow between switched mode driving units via parasitic capacitance, using diodes or unidirectional devices to block current flow in one or both directions, ensuring stable operation without synchronization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the lighting assembly is divided into multiple parts with separate drivers, then installation ease is improved, but driver stability deteriorates due to parasitic capacitance coupling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation easeVSAvoiddriver stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting assembly is divided into multiple independent parts, each with its own housing, lighting board, and switched-mode driver. This segmentation allows for easier installation and maintenance while the blocking arrangement ensures electrical isolation between segments to prevent parasitic capacitance coupling from affecting driver stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A blocking arrangement (blocking capacitor or high-value resistor) is introduced between the lighting boards of different parts. This intermediary component prevents parasitic capacitance coupling between the drivers while still allowing the structure to remain segmented for ease of installation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If deep dimming is implemented with shunt switches, then illumination control is improved, but driver stability deteriorates due to asynchronized switching causing parasitic current

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedimming controlVSAvoiddriver stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A blocking arrangement is placed in the signal path between lighting boards to prevent parasitic current flow caused by asynchronized shunt switch operation. This allows deep dimming functionality to be maintained in each independent part without the stability issues that arise from parasitic capacitance coupling between parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Each lighting part operates as an electrically independent unit with its own driver and shunt switch control. This segmentation, combined with the blocking arrangement, allows each part to perform deep dimming independently without causing parasitic current issues in other parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Strength

If metal housings are electrically connected, then structural integrity is improved, but electrical isolation between lighting boards deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidelectrical isolation

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Even though metal housings are electrically connected for structural integrity, a blocking arrangement is placed in the signal path between lighting boards to prevent parasitic capacitance coupling. This intermediary component maintains electrical isolation between the lighting circuits while allowing the metal housings to remain connected for structural strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Prevents driver instability and flickering by blocking parasitic leakage currents, allowing asynchronous operation of the lighting units and extending the dimming range without complex synchronization.

Implementation Method 1

A parasitic capacitance is present between the first lighting unit board and the second lighting unit board

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectParasitic capacitance: Parasitic Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

A blocking arrangement is in a path between the first and second lighting arrangements (e.g., between the switched mode driving units) and it blocks a current flowing at least from one of the first and second lighting arrangements to the other of the first and second lighting arrangements via the parasitic capacitance

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDiode blocking: Diode

Data Source

PatentUS12520402B2Lighting assembly

Publication Date: 2026.01.06 SIGNIFY HOLDING BV

AI summary

A lighting assembly comprises a first lighting arrangement with a first lighting unit board and a first switched mode driving unit and a second lighting arrangement with a second lighting unit board and a second switched mode driving unit. A parasitic capacitance is present between the first and second lighting unit boards. The switched mode driving units switches voltages on the lighting arrangements and said voltages generates a differential voltage across the parasitic capacitance and leads to a leakage current. A blocking arrangement is in a path between the first and second lighting arrangements and it blocks the leakage current flowing at least from one of the first and second lighting arrangements to the other of the first and second lighting arrangements via the parasitic capacitance due to the differential voltage between the driving units. In this way, disturbances to the current regulation function in one of the driving units, caused by a parasitic current flow from the other driving unit, is prevented.