Series-Connected LED Lighting Display Voltage Droop Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Series-connected LED lighting displays experience voltage droop and dimming issues due to high current levels, particularly affecting the last LED in the chain when powered with low-voltage DC power.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a series-connected lighting display system where each independently-controllable LED receives input power at a higher input voltage level and provides output power at a lower output voltage level, with each LED acting as both a power source and a receiver, allowing for a voltage drop across them to minimize dimming effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If low-voltage DC power is used to power series-connected LED lighting displays, then energy efficiency is improved, but voltage droop and dimming occur in the last LED
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the voltage parameter along the series-connected chain by incorporating DC-DC converters that step up the voltage for downstream LEDs. This allows the system to maintain low-voltage DC operation at each individual LED while compensating for voltage droop across the entire chain, thereby preserving both energy efficiency and uniform brightness.
2Power
If high current levels are provided to series-connected LED chains, then power delivery is improved, but voltage droop increases causing dimming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the series-connected LED chain into multiple zones, each served by its own DC-DC converter. This segmentation allows independent voltage regulation for each segment, ensuring that high current requirements are met locally without causing cumulative voltage droop that would dim downstream LEDs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces DC-DC converters as intermediary devices between the power source and the LED chains. These converters act as mediators that transform and regulate voltage levels, enabling adequate power delivery to each LED while preventing the voltage droop that would otherwise cause dimming in the last LED.
3Illumination intensity
If DC-DC converters are added to each LED to regulate voltage, then brightness uniformity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the DC-DC converter functionality directly into the LED driver circuitry or integrates multiple converters into a coordinated control system. This merging approach reduces overall system complexity by eliminating separate voltage regulation components while maintaining brightness uniformity across the LED chain.
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
This configuration helps maintain consistent brightness across all LEDs in a series-connected chain by managing voltage drops, preventing noticeable dimming of the last LED in the chain.
Implementation Method 1
Light Emitting Diodes (LED) have been used in lighting displays. LEDs usually require low-voltage DC power for illumination.
Implementation Method 2
Each of the intervening one(s) of the independently-controllable lighting elements provides the output power at an output voltage level and receives the input power at an input voltage level, thereby having a voltage drop thereacross
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and associated methods relate to a lighting display that has a plurality of independently-controllable lighting elements distributed therealong. The plurality of independently-controllable lighting elements are series-connected from a first, through intervening one(s), to a last of the plurality of independently-controllable lighting elements. The intervening one(s) of the plurality of independently-controllable lighting elements receiving input power from and providing an output control signal to an immediately preceding one of the plurality of independently-controllable lighting elements. The intervening one(s) of the plurality of independently-controllable lighting elements providing output power to and receiving an input control signal from an immediately succeeding ones of the plurality of independently-controllable lighting elements. Each of the intervening one(s) of the independently-controllable lighting elements provides the output power at an output voltage level and receives the input power at an input voltage level, the input voltage level being greater than the output voltage level.