Two-Wire LED Driver for Color Temperature Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional LED lighting systems require complex and costly circuitry to adjust color temperature and brightness, often needing multiple power supplies and drivers, which is inefficient for large LED loads and does not replicate the warm glow effect of dimmed incandescent bulbs.

Innovation Solution

A dimmable and color-tunable LED light fixture using two wires, where first and second LED light sources are connected in an anti-parallel arrangement, with an LED driver configured to output DC voltage switched between two polarities, allowing for adjustable duty-cycle ratios to control color temperature and brightness without additional connections for color tuning or dimming signals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple power supplies and drivers are used to control color temperature and brightness of LED lighting, then color temperature and brightness control capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor temperature and brightness control capabilityVSAvoidcircuitry complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple LED strings with different color temperatures (warm white and cool white) into a single lighting system controlled by one driver. The driver alternates between driving different LED strings based on duty cycle ratios to achieve color temperature adjustment, eliminating the need for separate power supplies and drivers for each LED string.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single LED driver is designed to perform multiple functions: it can drive both warm white and cool white LED strings, control brightness through overall duty cycle adjustment, and control color temperature through differential duty cycle ratios. This multi-functional driver replaces what would traditionally require multiple specialized drivers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple power supplies and drivers are used to control color temperature and brightness of LED lighting, then color temperature and brightness control capability is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor temperature and brightness control capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replicates the warm glow effect of incandescent bulbs using LED technology by alternately driving warm white and cool white LED strings in specific duty cycle ratios. This creates a perceived warm color temperature (2700K-3300K) that mimics incandescent lighting while maintaining LED energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Use of energy by moving object

If conventional LED dimming techniques are used, then energy efficiency is improved, but the warm glow effect of dimmed incandescent bulbs is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidcolor temperature variation capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses periodic switching between warm white and cool white LED strings at frequencies above the human visual perception threshold. By alternating the driving of different LED strings in a periodic manner with specific duty cycle ratios, the human eye perceives a mixed color temperature that can be adjusted to create a warm glow effect similar to dimmed incandescent bulbs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the duty cycle ratio parameters between warm white and cool white LED strings to achieve different perceived color temperatures. By adjusting the proportion of time each LED string is active, the system can vary the overall color temperature from cool to warm while maintaining high energy efficiency compared to actual incandescent operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution reduces the cost and complexity of LED lighting systems by enabling independent control of color temperature and brightness using a single power supply, providing a natural and smooth saturation of light similar to dimmed incandescent bulbs, while maintaining efficiency for large LED loads.

Implementation Method 1

first and second LED light sources connected in an anti-parallel arrangement, with an LED driver configured to output DC voltage switched between two polarities

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight Emitting Diode: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentUS11388796B2Systems and methods for controlling color temperature and brightness of LED lighting using two wires

Publication Date: 2022.07.12 HONGKONG SUNRICHER TECH LTD

AI summary

Electronic circuitry for independently adjusting color temperature and brightness of an LED light fixture is disclosed utilizing two wires. According to one embodiment, a color-tunable and dimmable LED light fixture has first and second LED light strings connected in an anti-parallel arrangement.