Time-Sliced LED Driver for Parallel Strings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional LED lighting systems require separate drivers for each string of LEDs connected in parallel, making them inefficient and unsafe for high-voltage applications, such as airfield lighting, where multiple parallel strings are needed.
Innovation Solution
A single LED driver with a constant current power source and a switch, such as a MOSFET, that time-slices power across multiple outputs to provide an effective average constant current to each string of LEDs, allowing for the use of lower, safer voltages and enabling power distribution to multiple parallel strings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate lighting drivers are used for each parallel string of LEDs, then each string can be powered reliably, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate lighting drivers into a single driver unit that can control multiple parallel LED strings. The driver includes a controller that sequentially activates different output channels to drive different LED strings, replacing what would traditionally require multiple independent driver circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
The single lighting driver is designed with multi-functionality to control multiple parallel LED strings through different output channels. The controller can selectively activate different outputs based on which LED string needs power, making one driver perform the function of multiple drivers.
2Power
If high voltage is used to power multiple parallel LED strings, then the power delivery capability increases, but safety decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The driver uses periodic action by sequentially activating different output channels over time. The controller switches between different LED strings in a time-multiplexed manner, providing high power delivery capability when needed while keeping the voltage at safe levels for any individual LED string at any given moment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between different output configurations based on which LED string requires power. The controller can change the active output channel in real-time, providing adaptive power distribution that maintains safety while delivering sufficient power to multiple parallel strings.
Data Source
AI summary
An LED driver is provided. The LED driver has a constant current power source. In some embodiments, the constant current power source is an electrical input configured for connection to a source of power at a constant current. In some embodiments, the source of power is a constant current regulator. The LED driver also includes a switch electrically connected to the constant current power source. The switch has at least two outputs wherein the switch is configured to selectively connect the constant current power source to each of the at least two outputs. The switch is configured to connect each of the at least two outputs for a pre-determined period of time.