Tunable White LED Driver With Segmented Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting products either compromise on energy efficiency when offering warm dimming or tunable white features, as warmer color temperatures require less efficient phosphor coatings and more LEDs to achieve the same illumination, limiting their efficiency across a wide range of intensities and color temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that allows independent control of correlated color temperature (CCT) and light output intensity across a wide range, using a single or dual handle interface to adjust both parameters, with a controller and LED driver to produce light output within specified ranges, limiting warmer temperatures at full intensity and optimizing energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If warmer color temperatures are used to provide warm dimming functionality, then the light output can be adjusted across a range of color temperatures, but energy efficiency decreases due to less efficient phosphor coatings requiring more LEDs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the LED driver into multiple independent channels, each capable of controlling specific LED groups. This allows different LED groups to operate at different color temperatures and intensities simultaneously, enabling the system to provide warm dimming functionality while maintaining overall energy efficiency by only activating warm LEDs when necessary rather than requiring all LEDs to operate at full power.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control of LED output by allowing the driver to independently adjust the intensity and color temperature of different LED groups in real-time. The system can dynamically switch between cool and warm LED groups based on user preferences and environmental conditions, optimizing energy efficiency across the full range of color temperatures without being locked into a single fixed temperature.
2Illumination intensity
If more LEDs are used to compensate for inefficient phosphors at warmer colors, then the desired illumination level can be achieved, but the device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the LED lighting system into multiple independent groups or channels, each with dedicated driver circuitry. This segmentation allows the system to achieve desired illumination levels by selectively activating specific LED groups rather than requiring all LEDs to operate at full power, thereby reducing overall device complexity and energy consumption while maintaining the ability to provide high illumination when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal LED driver architecture that can handle multiple LED groups with different color temperatures and intensity requirements through a single integrated control system. This multi-functional driver design simplifies the overall system by consolidating control logic while maintaining the capability to independently manage diverse LED configurations, reducing the need for separate dedicated drivers for each LED group.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a wide range of color temperatures is provided, then the lighting adapts to different scenarios, but the energy efficiency across the full range is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic switching between different LED groups based on the desired color temperature and environmental conditions. The system can dynamically adjust which LED groups are active and at what intensity levels, allowing it to maintain high energy efficiency across the full tunable white range by only activating the minimum necessary LEDs to achieve the desired output rather than operating all LEDs continuously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in the LED driver control signals to optimize the performance of different LED groups across various color temperatures. By dynamically adjusting control parameters such as pulse width modulation duty cycle, current levels, and switching timing, the system can maximize the efficiency of each LED group at its optimal operating point while maintaining overall system efficiency across the complete color temperature range.
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
Enables energy-efficient lighting with adjustable white light across a broad range of CCTs and intensities, maintaining high efficiency by limiting warmer CCTs at full intensity and adjusting parameters like delta-uv, color, and CRI, thereby meeting energy standards while providing user-friendly control.
Implementation Method 1
a driver, such as an LED driver, and a programmed controller, such as a microprocessor, may control the driver
Implementation Method 2
warmer color temperatures are historically of lower efficiency, as LEDs of warmer colors require a less efficient phosphor coating to counteract the blue color of the underlying diode
Data Source
AI summary
A system allows a light fixture to have a wider range of color temperatures (CCT) while limiting the warmest temperature reached at full intensity. The CCT of the light output may be controlled independently of intensity across a certain range of CCT and dependent on intensity across another range. In an implementation, both intensity and CCT may be adjusted from a single handle, where the interface positions may be divided into multiple zones. In another implementation, intensity may be adjusted from a first handle, while CCT may be adjusted from a second handle. The CCT of the light output may be limited to cooler levels when the intensity is higher, and/or the intensity of the light may be limited to lower levels when the CCT is warmer.