Variable Load Driver Control Signal Modulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lamp control systems face challenges in achieving high bit rates for stable brightness and color control while avoiding electromagnetic compatibility issues and driver bandwidth limitations, particularly in LED lamp applications.

Innovation Solution

A hardware and method for generating a control signal using alternating sets of consecutive off-bits and on-bits, organized into packets with variable rates of change, allowing for adjustable intensity and color control of lamps by iteratively selecting subsets from bit pools until a minimum threshold is reached, ensuring compatibility with drivers and reducing EMC issues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a high bit rate control signal is used to achieve stable brightness and color control, then the brightness and color stability is improved, but electromagnetic compatibility issues worsen and driver bandwidth limitations are exceeded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebrightness and color stabilityVSAvoidelectromagnetic compatibility issues
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control signal is segmented into alternating sets of consecutive off-bits and consecutive on-bits organized into packets. This segmentation allows the signal to maintain a variable bit rate while reducing electromagnetic compatibility issues by avoiding continuous high-frequency switching that would exceed driver bandwidth limitations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control signal uses periodic packets with alternating on-bits and off-bits. This periodic structure provides stable brightness and color control through consistent timing patterns while the variable bit rate within packets prevents electromagnetic interference by avoiding fixed high-frequency repetition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Reliability

If a high bit rate control signal is used to achieve stable brightness and color control, then the brightness and color stability is improved, but driver bandwidth limitations are exceeded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebrightness and color stabilityVSAvoiddriver response speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The control signal implements dynamic bit rate adjustment within packets, transitioning from fixed high-frequency switching to variable rate transmission. This allows the system to adapt the switching speed to match driver response capabilities while maintaining brightness and color stability through the structured alternating on-bits and off-bits pattern.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the bit rate parameter dynamically within packets rather than maintaining a fixed high bit rate. This parameter change allows the control signal to provide sufficient bandwidth for stable lamp control while avoiding excessive switching frequencies that would exceed driver bandwidth limitations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Speed

If the enable signal changes quickly to achieve fast brightness adjustment, then the response speed is improved, but the driver needs minimum stable time which limits the switching frequency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebrightness adjustment speedVSAvoidminimum stable time
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The control signal prepares for driver stabilization by incorporating minimum stable time intervals within the packet structure. The alternating on-bits and off-bits are arranged to ensure the driver has adequate time to stabilize at each level before the next transition, preventing premature switching that would cause instability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system preemptively accounts for driver response limitations by designing packets with appropriate timing that prevents excessive switching. The structured alternating pattern of on-bits and off-bits ensures transitions occur only after the driver has had sufficient time to stabilize, avoiding the harmful effects of too-frequent switching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Data Source

PatentEP2755449B1Variable load driver with power message transfer
Publication Date: 2018.11.21 INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
  • EP2755449B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2755449B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2755449B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Representative implementations of devices and techniques provide a modulation arrangement for a control signal. The control signal is received as a digital value. A modulated control signal having a varying rate of change may be generated based on the quantity of off-bits and the quantity of on-bits of the digital value.