EP3713376B1 - Improved led short circuit and open load detection with a single controller pin - Google Patents
Improved led short circuit and open load detection with a single controller pin Download PDFInfo
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- EP3713376B1 EP3713376B1 EP19163603.4A EP19163603A EP3713376B1 EP 3713376 B1 EP3713376 B1 EP 3713376B1 EP 19163603 A EP19163603 A EP 19163603A EP 3713376 B1 EP3713376 B1 EP 3713376B1
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- 238000002955 isolation Methods 0.000 claims description 19
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- 238000004804 winding Methods 0.000 description 6
- 230000006399 behavior Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000004065 semiconductor Substances 0.000 description 2
- 101000836649 Homo sapiens Selenoprotein V Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 102100027056 Selenoprotein V Human genes 0.000 description 1
- 230000000295 complement effect Effects 0.000 description 1
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- 238000001914 filtration Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910044991 metal oxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- H05B45/00—Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
- H05B45/50—Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED] responsive to malfunctions or undesirable behaviour of LEDs; responsive to LED life; Protective circuits
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- H05B45/00—Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
- H05B45/50—Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED] responsive to malfunctions or undesirable behaviour of LEDs; responsive to LED life; Protective circuits
- H05B45/58—Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED] responsive to malfunctions or undesirable behaviour of LEDs; responsive to LED life; Protective circuits involving end of life detection of LEDs
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- H05B45/00—Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
- H05B45/30—Driver circuits
- H05B45/37—Converter circuits
- H05B45/3725—Switched mode power supply [SMPS]
- H05B45/382—Switched mode power supply [SMPS] with galvanic isolation between input and output
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- H05B45/00—Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
- H05B45/30—Driver circuits
- H05B45/37—Converter circuits
- H05B45/3725—Switched mode power supply [SMPS]
- H05B45/39—Circuits containing inverter bridges
Definitions
- the invention relates to a switched isolated LED driver with a circuitry for detecting a short circuit and an open load condition on the secondary side of an isolation stage, and to method for an isolated LED driver.
- the first approach makes use of two separate controller (microcontroller or ASIC) pins, wherein one pin is used to evaluate the sensed output (LED) voltage e.g. to detect an open load condition when the secondary side voltage exceeds a given threshold. Another pin is used to evaluate the sensed output (LED) current.
- the first pin utilizes a comparator to detect over voltage (open load) conditions
- the second pin utilizes a comparator to detect over current (short circuit) conditions.
- Fig. 1 such a situation is shown, wherein the output voltage sensing module generates the voltage signal V SNS which is given as input in a pin of a controller, while the output current sensing module generates the current signal I SNS_PK which is given as input to another pin of the controller.
- the sensing circuity uses peak hold circuits (namely, rectifier diode and filter capacitor) the sensed voltage can follow the real output voltage very fast in positive going direction. However, it follows slow in negative going direction as it takes some time for the filter capacitor to discharge.
- the second approach makes use of only one controller pin, wherein only the output (LED) voltage is evaluated.
- Two comparators are used: one to detect over voltage (open load) conditions and one to detect under voltage (short circuit) conditions.
- reaction times depend on the filtering of the sensed output voltage signal. If the sensed secondary side voltage of the LLC (output voltage) is fed to a peak hold circuit (namely, rectifier diode and filter capacitor), over voltage conditions can be detected very fast (because peak hold capacitor is charged immediately). However, under voltage (short circuit) conditions are detected delayed, because it takes some time for the peak hold capacitor to discharge. This leads to the problem that high output currents flow for several milliseconds that could probably destroy parts of the circuit.
- a peak hold circuit namely, rectifier diode and filter capacitor
- WO 2004/057924 A1 discloses a power supply for LEDs which provides power to a LED light source having a variable number of LEDs wired in series and/or in parallel.
- the power supply uses current and voltage feedback to adjust power to the LEDs and provides protection to the LED light source.
- a feedback controller compares sensed current and sensed voltage to a reference signal and generates a feedback signal, which is processed by a power factor corrector to adjust the current flow through the transformer supplying current to the LEDs.
- a LED control switch clamps a peak of the current to the LEDs to provide further protection to the LED light source.
- a short/open detection circuit indicates any detection of a "LED outage" of the LED light source.
- US2015171754 discloses an isolated LLC LED driver.
- an isolated LED driver comprises a control unit controlling at least one switch on a primary side of an isolation stage of the LED driver, means for detecting a voltage on a secondary side of the isolation stage and producing a voltage-representing signal, means for detecting a current flowing on the secondary side, and producing a current-representing signal, and means for combining the current-representing signal, with the voltage representing signal and feeding it to an input pin of the control unit.
- this aspect of the invention allows fast detections of both over voltage and over current conditions.
- two different signals one representative for the output voltage and one representative for the output current
- the current representing signal is supplied to a further input of the control unit for a feedback control of an LED load current.
- control unit is a microcontroller or an application-specific integrated circuit, ASIC.
- the means for detecting the voltage on the secondary side of the isolation stage comprise an analog to digital converter, ADC.
- the LED driver comprises a LLC converter, comprising an LLC transformer.
- control unit is further configured to compare the current representing signal with a threshold value in order to derive a frequency, a duty cycle value or an actuating variable for the LLC current transformer.
- the means for combining the current representing signal further comprises a diode for combining the current representing signal with the voltage representing signal to obtain a total signal.
- control unit further comprises a comparator configured to compare the total signal to a threshold value and, if the total signal is higher than the threshold value, to detect a short-circuit condition or an over voltage condition.
- the comparator is a comparator with variable reference and polarity.
- the comparator is a comparator with single reference.
- control unit is configured to switch off the means for combing the current representing signal in the short-circuit condition or over voltage condition.
- a method for an isolated LED driver comprises the steps of: controlling at least one switch on a primary side of an isolation stage of the LED driver, detecting a voltage on a secondary side of the isolation stage and producing a voltage-representing signal, detecting a current flowing on the secondary side; producing a current-representing signal; combining the current-representing signal with the voltage representing signal; and feeding it to an input pin of the control unit.
- the current representing signal is supplied to a further input of the control unit for a feedback control of an LED load current.
- the method further comprises comparing the current representing signal with a threshold value in order to derive a frequency, a duty cycle value or an actuating variable for the LLC current transformer.
- the aspect of the present invention might contain integrated circuits that can be readily manufactured using conventional semiconductor technologies, such as complementary metal-oxide semiconductor technology, short "CMOS".
- CMOS complementary metal-oxide semiconductor technology
- the aspects of the present invention may be implemented with other manufacturing processes for making optical as well as electrical devices.
- FIG. 2 an exemplary embodiment of a circuit of an isolated LED driver 200 with open circuit and short-circuit at one input terminal ("pin") of a preferably integrated control circuitry in according to the invention is shown.
- the isolated LED driver 200 comprises a control unit (not shown in Fig. 2 ) controlling at least one switch on the primary side of an isolation stage of the LED driver 200.
- the switching of the switch determines the power supplied to a LED load and especially the LED current.
- the LED current may be feedback-controlled back to the control circuitry by a current signal representing the LED current.
- the control circuitry compares LED current signal with a nominal value (which may be varied for a dimming control) and controls the switching of the switch.
- the LLC comprises a half-bridge DC/AC converter with two serially connected switches (FETs), M40, M41.
- the half-bridge arrangement M40, M41 is fed with a DC voltage.
- the mid-point of the switches M40, M41 is connected to a resonance capacitor C51 and the primary side winding L51a of the transformer of the LLC.
- the primary side winding L51a of the transformer of the LLC is coupled with a secondary side winding L51b connected to a rectifier, which in the example is a diode arrangement D52a, D52b, D52c and D52d.
- the diodes may be Schottky diodes.
- the shown example represents a full-bridge rectifier. However, alternatively a middle-tapped rectifier may be used.
- the output of the rectifier (diode arrangement) is fed to a capacitor C52, the DC voltage of which is applied to output terminals LED+ and LED- for supplying a LED load.
- the primary side windings of the sensing transformers L52b, L52c are coupled with a secondary side of the sensing transformer L52a.
- a signal ISNS_PK indicating the peak current of the LED current is generated as well as a further signal ISNS_AVG indicating the average value of the LED current.
- Both signals ISNS_PK and ISNS_AVG can be used by the control circuitry 2 as feedback signals in order to set the clocking of the half-bridge switches M40, M41.
- the AC component of the LED current is decoupled via a transformer L53a, L53b in order to generate a signal which may be sent to a sensing terminal OVP_SCP_PIN of the control circuitry.
- this signal representing the decoupled AC component of this sensed LED current is thus combined with a signal produced by the circuitry 202 sensing, using a further transformer L51c, L51b, the voltage on the secondary side of the power transformer of the transformer L51a, L51b of the LLC.
- the LED driver 200 comprises means for detecting the voltage on the secondary side of the isolation stage 202 and producing a voltage-representing signal. Furthermore, the LED driver 200 comprises means for detecting the current flowing on the secondary side 204, and especially the current through an LED load when connected at supply terminals of the LED driver, and producing a current-representing signal, means combining for a current-representing signal, optionally the decoupled AC component of the current representing signal, with the voltage representing signal and feeding it to an input pin of the control unit OVP_SCP_PIN in Fig. 2 .
- the control unit can further be configured to compare the current representing signal with a threshold value in order to derive regulation values for the LLC current transformer, for example, a frequency, a duty cycle value or an actuating variable.
- the control unit can be a microcontroller or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).
- ASIC application-specific integrated circuit
- ADC analog-to-digital converter
- a comparator 206 can be used to detect over voltage conditions (when the voltage at that pin rises above a certain threshold). In this embodiment, the voltage signal is generated by the LED voltage source.
- a current pulse is generated in the signal I SNS_PK .
- This current pulse can be transformed via current transformer to a voltage signal which can then be coupled to the voltage signal at a diode.
- a peak occurs in this signal, which can be fed to a comparator within the controller. The comparator will detect the peak so that the controller can react to the short-circuit condition.
- the current signal does not affect the voltage signal during normal operation (where I LED is a constant DC), but it increases the voltage signal during transients of I LED such as in the case of a short circuit of the output.
- control unit in the short-circuit condition or over voltage condition can be configured to switch off the means for combining the current representing signal.
- Fig. 3 shows exemplary behaviors of the current I LED and voltage V LED in the isolated LED driver 200 according to the invention.
- V LED and I LED are combined into a single total signal and then fed to the comparator 206, as shown in figure 4 .
- the comparator 206 can be a comparator configured to compare the total signal to a threshold value and, if the total signal is higher than the threshold value, to detect a short-circuit condition or an over voltage condition.
- the comparator 206 can be a comparator with variable reference and polarity or a comparator with single reference.
- the circuit shown in Fig. 4 further comprises two diodes D1 and D2, one resistance R1 and one capacitance C1.
- the signals V LED and I LED pass through the diodes D1 and D2, respectively. Afterwards, they are combined into a single signal PA3 which is fed to the comparator 206 and then compared to the reference voltage V ref,int in order to detect an over voltage or short current condition.
- Fig. 5 shows an exemplary implementation of an isolated LED driver 800 not forming part of the invention comprising a comparator 806.
- an isolated LED driver 800 with open circuit and short-circuit at one pin comprises a control unit controlling at least one switch on the primary side of an isolation stage of the LED driver, means for detecting the voltage on the secondary side of the isolation stage and producing a voltage-representing signal, a comparator 806 supplied with the voltage representing signal at its non-inverted input, wherein the reference level of the comparator and, in synchronization therewith, the polarity of the comparator output signal are switched in order to produce a signal indicating, in time multiplex a LED load open circuit and short-circuit indicating signal.
- the LED driver 800 shown in Fig. 5 comprises an LED load, whose voltage V LED is compared to a reference voltage V ref by the comparator 806. Moreover, the LED driver 800 comprises three resistors R1, R2, and R3 and two capacitors C1 and C2.
- the comparator 806 can comprise an operational amplifier, wherein the polarity of the operational amplifier output circuit depends on the polarity of the difference between the two input voltages V LED and V ref .
- Fig. 6 shows exemplary behaviors of the voltage V LED in an isolated LED driver not forming part of the invention as a function of time.
- the frequency of variation is 1kHz.
- a peak is produced in the output signal of the comparator 806 on a microcontroller.
- Fig. 7 shows a method 1000 according to an embodiment for an isolated LED driver 200 according to an embodiment.
- the method 1000 comprises the following steps:
- Fig. 8 shows a further method 1100 not forming part of the invention for an isolated LED driver 800 not forming part of the invention.
- the method 1100 comprises the following steps:
Description
- The invention relates to a switched isolated LED driver with a circuitry for detecting a short circuit and an open load condition on the secondary side of an isolation stage, and to method for an isolated LED driver.
- In currently available LED gears, with e.g. a half-bridge LLC resonant circuit as at least one stage of a LED driver, the following two approaches are used to detect secondary side errors, namely short-circuit and over voltage conditions, as described in the following.
- The first approach makes use of two separate controller (microcontroller or ASIC) pins, wherein one pin is used to evaluate the sensed output (LED) voltage e.g. to detect an open load condition when the secondary side voltage exceeds a given threshold. Another pin is used to evaluate the sensed output (LED) current. The first pin utilizes a comparator to detect over voltage (open load) conditions, the second pin utilizes a comparator to detect over current (short circuit) conditions. In
Fig. 1 , such a situation is shown, wherein the output voltage sensing module generates the voltage signal VSNS which is given as input in a pin of a controller, while the output current sensing module generates the current signal ISNS_PK which is given as input to another pin of the controller. - With this approach open load and short circuit can both be detected fast, because positive edges are used in both cases as detection criteria. As the sensing circuity uses peak hold circuits (namely, rectifier diode and filter capacitor) the sensed voltage can follow the real output voltage very fast in positive going direction. However, it follows slow in negative going direction as it takes some time for the filter capacitor to discharge.
- The second approach makes use of only one controller pin, wherein only the output (LED) voltage is evaluated. Two comparators are used: one to detect over voltage (open load) conditions and one to detect under voltage (short circuit) conditions.
- In this approach the reaction times (time until the error is detected) depend on the filtering of the sensed output voltage signal. If the sensed secondary side voltage of the LLC (output voltage) is fed to a peak hold circuit (namely, rectifier diode and filter capacitor), over voltage conditions can be detected very fast (because peak hold capacitor is charged immediately). However, under voltage (short circuit) conditions are detected delayed, because it takes some time for the peak hold capacitor to discharge. This leads to the problem that high output currents flow for several milliseconds that could probably destroy parts of the circuit.
- In the case where an LED load open and short-circuit situation in a micro-controller based control circuit is detected by an ADC measurement of LED voltage, a slow response (about 10 to 100ms to detect) occurs. For precautionary measure under LED open condition, a Zener diode is connected across the LED load to prevent the further rise of LED voltage, before the micro-controller can act by shutting down the LED driver. For SELV products the voltage overshoot value requirement is quite tight and Zener diode as well as ADC tolerance becomes unacceptable. Further the short-circuit detection based on LED voltage detection needs to be fast enough before the current rises and causes a voltage drop across the short-circuit or low load voltage condition which can cause the sensed voltage above the detection threshold.
- Furthermore, using a small size micro-controller poses a considerable challenge in wisely using the available pins (and associated analog and digital resources) by multi-tasking them to achieve all the advanced functionality or features of an, e.g., emergency LED driver, as it is the case when there is a quest to combine the sensing of LED open or short-circuit situation.
- Moreover document
WO 2004/057924 A1 discloses a power supply for LEDs which provides power to a LED light source having a variable number of LEDs wired in series and/or in parallel. The power supply uses current and voltage feedback to adjust power to the LEDs and provides protection to the LED light source. A feedback controller compares sensed current and sensed voltage to a reference signal and generates a feedback signal, which is processed by a power factor corrector to adjust the current flow through the transformer supplying current to the LEDs. A LED control switch clamps a peak of the current to the LEDs to provide further protection to the LED light source. A short/open detection circuit indicates any detection of a "LED outage" of the LED light source.US2015171754 discloses an isolated LLC LED driver. - Thus, it is an objective to provide an improved LED driver allowing to efficiently detect short current and over voltage conditions, all by reducing the complexity and especially the pin number requirements.
- According to a first aspect of the invention, an isolated LED driver is provided. The isolated LED driver comprises a control unit controlling at least one switch on a primary side of an isolation stage of the LED driver, means for detecting a voltage on a secondary side of the isolation stage and producing a voltage-representing signal, means for detecting a current flowing on the secondary side, and producing a current-representing signal, and means for combining the current-representing signal, with the voltage representing signal and feeding it to an input pin of the control unit.
- Advantageously, while only utilizing one controller pin, this aspect of the invention allows fast detections of both over voltage and over current conditions. In fact, in this approach, two different signals (one representative for the output voltage and one representative for the output current) are fed to a single controller pin.
- According to the first aspect of the invention, the current representing signal is supplied to a further input of the control unit for a feedback control of an LED load current.
- In a further preferred embodiment, the control unit is a microcontroller or an application-specific integrated circuit, ASIC.
- In a further preferred embodiment, the means for detecting the voltage on the secondary side of the isolation stage comprise an analog to digital converter, ADC.
- According to the first aspect of the invention, the LED driver comprises a LLC converter, comprising an LLC transformer.
- According to the first aspect of the invention, the control unit is further configured to compare the current representing signal with a threshold value in order to derive a frequency, a duty cycle value or an actuating variable for the LLC current transformer.
- According to the first aspect of the invention, the means for combining the current representing signal further comprises a diode for combining the current representing signal with the voltage representing signal to obtain a total signal.
- According to the first aspect of the invention, the control unit further comprises a comparator configured to compare the total signal to a threshold value and, if the total signal is higher than the threshold value, to detect a short-circuit condition or an over voltage condition.
- This has the advantage that, LED over-voltage detection and over-current detection are performed, while using a single micro-controller pin by using its onboard high-speed comparator.
- In a further preferred embodiment, the comparator is a comparator with variable reference and polarity.
- In a further preferred embodiment, the comparator is a comparator with single reference.
- In a further preferred embodiment, the control unit is configured to switch off the means for combing the current representing signal in the short-circuit condition or over voltage condition.
- According to a second aspect of the invention, a method for an isolated LED driver is provided. The method comprises the steps of: controlling at least one switch on a primary side of an isolation stage of the LED driver, detecting a voltage on a secondary side of the isolation stage and producing a voltage-representing signal, detecting a current flowing on the secondary side; producing a current-representing signal; combining the current-representing signal with the voltage representing signal; and feeding it to an input pin of the control unit. The current representing signal is supplied to a further input of the control unit for a feedback control of an LED load current.. The method further comprises comparing the current representing signal with a threshold value in order to derive a frequency, a duty cycle value or an actuating variable for the LLC current transformer.
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Fig. 1 shows an exemplary circuit of an LED driver according to prior art; -
Fig. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a circuit of an isolated LED driver according to the invention; -
Fig. 3 shows exemplary behaviors of current ILED and voltage VLED in an isolated LED driver according to the invention; -
Fig. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of a comparator according to the invention; -
Fig. 5 shows an exemplary implementation of an LED driver not forming part of the invention; -
Fig. 6 shows exemplary behaviors of a voltage V in an isolated LED driver not forming part of the invention as a function of time; -
Fig. 7 shows a method according to an embodiment for an isolated LED driver according to an embodiment; and -
Fig. 8 shows a further method not forming part of the invention for an isolated LED driver not forming part of the invention. - Aspects of the present invention are described herein in the context of an isolated LED driver.
- The present invention is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which various aspects of the present invention are shown. This invention however may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the various aspects of the present invention presented through this disclosure. Rather, these aspects are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the present invention to those skilled in the art. The various aspects of the present invention illustrated in the drawings may not be drawn to scale. Rather, the dimensions of the various features may be expanded or reduced for clarity. In addition, some of the drawings may be simplified for clarity. Thus, the drawings may not depict all of the components of a given apparatus.
- Various aspects of an isolated LED driver will be presented. However, as those skilled in the art will readily appreciate, these aspects may be extended to aspects of LED drivers without departing from the invention.
- It is further understood that the aspect of the present invention might contain integrated circuits that can be readily manufactured using conventional semiconductor technologies, such as complementary metal-oxide semiconductor technology, short "CMOS". In addition, the aspects of the present invention may be implemented with other manufacturing processes for making optical as well as electrical devices. Reference will now be made in detail to implementations of the exemplary aspects as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The same references signs will be used throughout the drawings and the following detailed descriptions to refer to the same or like parts.
- Now referring to
Fig. 2 , an exemplary embodiment of a circuit of anisolated LED driver 200 with open circuit and short-circuit at one input terminal ("pin") of a preferably integrated control circuitry in according to the invention is shown. - The
isolated LED driver 200 comprises a control unit (not shown inFig. 2 ) controlling at least one switch on the primary side of an isolation stage of theLED driver 200. The switching of the switch determines the power supplied to a LED load and especially the LED current. Thus, the LED current may be feedback-controlled back to the control circuitry by a current signal representing the LED current. The control circuitry compares LED current signal with a nominal value (which may be varied for a dimming control) and controls the switching of the switch. - The LLC comprises a half-bridge DC/AC converter with two serially connected switches (FETs), M40, M41. The half-bridge arrangement M40, M41 is fed with a DC voltage. The mid-point of the switches M40, M41 is connected to a resonance capacitor C51 and the primary side winding L51a of the transformer of the LLC. The primary side winding L51a of the transformer of the LLC is coupled with a secondary side winding L51b connected to a rectifier, which in the example is a diode arrangement D52a, D52b, D52c and D52d. The diodes may be Schottky diodes. The shown example represents a full-bridge rectifier. However, alternatively a middle-tapped rectifier may be used.
- The output of the rectifier (diode arrangement) is fed to a capacitor C52, the DC voltage of which is applied to output terminals LED+ and LED- for supplying a LED load.
- Furthermore, on the secondary side two primary side windings L52b, L52c of a sensing transformer for the secondary side current to the secondary side voltage are provided.
- The primary side windings of the sensing transformers L52b, L52c are coupled with a secondary side of the sensing transformer L52a.
- On the basis of the voltage across the secondary side winding L52a of the sensing transformer, a signal ISNS_PK indicating the peak current of the LED current is generated as well as a further signal ISNS_AVG indicating the average value of the LED current. Both signals ISNS_PK and ISNS_AVG can be used by the
control circuitry 2 as feedback signals in order to set the clocking of the half-bridge switches M40, M41. - According to the invention the AC component of the LED current is decoupled via a transformer L53a, L53b in order to generate a signal which may be sent to a sensing terminal OVP_SCP_PIN of the control circuitry.
- As furthermore, shown in
Fig. 2 , this signal representing the decoupled AC component of this sensed LED current is thus combined with a signal produced by thecircuitry 202 sensing, using a further transformer L51c, L51b, the voltage on the secondary side of the power transformer of the transformer L51a, L51b of the LLC. - Moreover, the
LED driver 200 comprises means for detecting the voltage on the secondary side of theisolation stage 202 and producing a voltage-representing signal. Furthermore, theLED driver 200 comprises means for detecting the current flowing on thesecondary side 204, and especially the current through an LED load when connected at supply terminals of the LED driver, and producing a current-representing signal, means combining for a current-representing signal, optionally the decoupled AC component of the current representing signal, with the voltage representing signal and feeding it to an input pin of the control unit OVP_SCP_PIN inFig. 2 . - This provides the advantage that the pins of the control unit, e.g. a microcontroller, can be used more efficiently and, thus, saving costs.
- The control unit can further be configured to compare the current representing signal with a threshold value in order to derive regulation values for the LLC current transformer, for example, a frequency, a duty cycle value or an actuating variable.
- The control unit can be a microcontroller or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). Within the controller, e.g., an analog-to-digital converter, ADC, can be used to determine the LED voltage. Additionally, a
comparator 206 can be used to detect over voltage conditions (when the voltage at that pin rises above a certain threshold). In this embodiment, the voltage signal is generated by the LED voltage source. - If a short-circuit of the LED takes place, then a current pulse is generated in the signal ISNS_PK. This current pulse can be transformed via current transformer to a voltage signal which can then be coupled to the voltage signal at a diode. In short circuit conditions, a peak occurs in this signal, which can be fed to a comparator within the controller. The comparator will detect the peak so that the controller can react to the short-circuit condition.
- Advantageously, the current signal does not affect the voltage signal during normal operation (where ILED is a constant DC), but it increases the voltage signal during transients of ILED such as in the case of a short circuit of the output.
- Moreover, in the short-circuit condition or over voltage condition the control unit can be configured to switch off the means for combining the current representing signal.
-
Fig. 3 shows exemplary behaviors of the current ILED and voltage VLED in theisolated LED driver 200 according to the invention. - After being detected, VLED and ILED are combined into a single total signal and then fed to the
comparator 206, as shown infigure 4 . - The
comparator 206 can be a comparator configured to compare the total signal to a threshold value and, if the total signal is higher than the threshold value, to detect a short-circuit condition or an over voltage condition. Thecomparator 206 can be a comparator with variable reference and polarity or a comparator with single reference. - The circuit shown in
Fig. 4 , further comprises two diodes D1 and D2, one resistance R1 and one capacitance C1. The signals VLED and ILED pass through the diodes D1 and D2, respectively. Afterwards, they are combined into a single signal PA3 which is fed to thecomparator 206 and then compared to the reference voltage Vref,int in order to detect an over voltage or short current condition. -
Fig. 5 shows an exemplary implementation of anisolated LED driver 800 not forming part of the invention comprising acomparator 806. - In this implementation an
isolated LED driver 800 with open circuit and short-circuit at one pin, comprises a control unit controlling at least one switch on the primary side of an isolation stage of the LED driver, means for detecting the voltage on the secondary side of the isolation stage and producing a voltage-representing signal, acomparator 806 supplied with the voltage representing signal at its non-inverted input, wherein the reference level of the comparator and, in synchronization therewith, the polarity of the comparator output signal are switched in order to produce a signal indicating, in time multiplex a LED load open circuit and short-circuit indicating signal. - The
LED driver 800 shown inFig. 5 comprises an LED load, whose voltage VLED is compared to a reference voltage Vref by thecomparator 806. Moreover, theLED driver 800 comprises three resistors R1, R2, and R3 and two capacitors C1 and C2. - The
comparator 806 can comprise an operational amplifier, wherein the polarity of the operational amplifier output circuit depends on the polarity of the difference between the two input voltages VLED and Vref. -
Fig. 6 shows exemplary behaviors of the voltage VLED in an isolated LED driver not forming part of the invention as a function of time. - In this implementation, Vref represents the variable reference, namely voltage varying between VREFINT and ½REFINT, wherein VREFINT=1,2V The frequency of variation is 1kHz.
- As it can be taken from
Fig. 6 , in case of an over voltage event or short circuit event, a peak is produced in the output signal of thecomparator 806 on a microcontroller. -
Fig. 7 shows amethod 1000 according to an embodiment for anisolated LED driver 200 according to an embodiment. - The
method 1000 comprises the following steps: - controlling 1002 at least one switch on the primary side of an isolation stage of the
LED driver 200; - detecting 1004 the
voltage 202 on the secondary side of the isolation stage and producing a voltage-representing signal; - detecting 1006 the current flowing on the secondary side, and especially the current through an LED load when connected at supply terminals of the
LED driver 200; - producing 1008 a current-representing signal;
- combining 1010 for a current-representing signal, optionally a decoupled AC component of the current representing signal, with the voltage representing signal; and
- feeding 1012 it to an input pin of the control unit.
-
Fig. 8 shows afurther method 1100 not forming part of the invention for anisolated LED driver 800 not forming part of the invention. - In an example for a better understanding of the invention, but not belonging to the invention, the
method 1100 comprises the following steps: - controlling 1102 at least one switch on the primary side of an isolation stage of the LED driver;
- detecting 1104 the voltage on the secondary side of the isolation stage and producing a - voltage-representing signal; and
- switching 1106 the reference level of a comparator and, in synchronization therewith, the polarity of the comparator output signal in order to produce a signal indicating, in time multiplex, a LED load open circuit and short-circuit indicating signal, wherein the comparator is supplied with the voltage representing signal at its non-inverted input.
- All features of all embodiments described, shown and/or claimed herein can be combined with each other.
- While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only and not limitation. Numerous changes to the disclosed embodiments can be made in accordance with the disclosure herein without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described embodiments. Rather, the scope of the invention should be defined in accordance with the following claims and their equivalence.
- Although the invention has been illustrated and described with respect to one or more implementations, equivalent alternations and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art upon the reading of the understanding of the specification and the annexed drawings.
-
- 200
- driver
- 202
- means
- 204
- means
- 206
- comparator
- 800
- driver
- 802
- means
- 806
- comparator
- 1000
- method
- 1002
- step
- 1004
- step
- 1006
- step
- 1008
- step
- 1010
- step
- 1012
- step
- 1100
- method
- 1102
- step
- 1104
- step
- 1106
- step
Claims (7)
- Isolated LED driver (200), comprising:- an LLC converter, comprising an LLC current transformer (L51);- a control unit controlling at least one switch on a primary side of an isolation stage of the LED driver (200),- means for detecting a voltage on a secondary side of the isolation stage (202) and producing a voltage-representing signal,- means for detecting a current flowing on the secondary side (L52), and producing a current representing signal,- means for combining the current representing signal with the voltage representing signal and feeding it to an input pin (OVP_SCP_PIN) of the control unit,wherein the current representing signal is supplied to a further input (ISNS_PK, ISNS_AVG) of the control unit for a feedback control of a LED load current,wherein the control unit is further configured to compare the current representing signal with a threshold value in order to derive a frequency, a duty cycle value or an actuating variable for the LLC current transformer,wherein the means for combining the current representing signal further comprises a diode (D50) for combining the current representing signal with the voltage representing signal to obtain a total signal (PA3), andwherein the control unit further comprises a comparator (206) configured to compare the total signal to a threshold value and, if the total signal is higher than the threshold value, to detect a short-circuit condition or an over voltage condition.
- Isolated LED driver (200) according to claim 1,
wherein the control unit is a microcontroller or an application-specific integrated circuit, ASIC. - Isolated LED driver (200) according to any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the means for detecting the voltage (202) on the secondary side of the isolation stage comprise an analog to digital converter, ADC. - Isolated LED driver (200) according to claim 1,
wherein the comparator is a comparator with variable reference and polarity. - Isolated LED driver (200) according to claim 1,
wherein the comparator is a comparator with single reference. - Isolated LED driver (200) according to claim 1,
wherein the control unit is configured to switch off the means for combining the current representing signal in the short-circuit condition or over voltage condition. - A method (1000) for an isolated LED driver (200), comprising:- controlling (1002) at least one switch on a primary side of an isolation stage of the LED driver (200),- detecting (1004) a voltage on a secondary side of the isolation stage and producing a voltage-representing signal,- detecting (1006) a current flowing on the secondary side;- producing (1008) a current-representing signal;- combining (1010) the current-representing signal with the voltage representing signal; and- feeding (1012) it to an input pin of a control unit,wherein the current representing signal is supplied to a further input of the control unit for a feedback control of an LED load current,wherein the method further comprises:- comparing the current representing signal with a threshold value in order to derive a frequency, a duty cycle value or an actuating variable for an LLC current transformer of an LLC converter of the isolated LED driver (200);- combining the current representing signal with the voltage representing signal to obtain a total signal, and- comparing (206) the total signal to a threshold value and, if the total signal is higher than the threshold value, to detect a short-circuit condition or an over voltage condition.
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP19163603.4A EP3713376B1 (en) | 2019-03-19 | 2019-03-19 | Improved led short circuit and open load detection with a single controller pin |
EP20715280.2A EP3935919A1 (en) | 2019-03-19 | 2020-03-11 | Improved led short circuit and open load detection with a single controller pin |
PCT/EP2020/056545 WO2020187669A1 (en) | 2019-03-19 | 2020-03-11 | Improved led short circuit and open load detection with a single controller pin |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP19163603.4A EP3713376B1 (en) | 2019-03-19 | 2019-03-19 | Improved led short circuit and open load detection with a single controller pin |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP3713376A1 EP3713376A1 (en) | 2020-09-23 |
EP3713376B1 true EP3713376B1 (en) | 2024-02-28 |
Family
ID=65818415
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19163603.4A Active EP3713376B1 (en) | 2019-03-19 | 2019-03-19 | Improved led short circuit and open load detection with a single controller pin |
EP20715280.2A Pending EP3935919A1 (en) | 2019-03-19 | 2020-03-11 | Improved led short circuit and open load detection with a single controller pin |
Family Applications After (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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EP20715280.2A Pending EP3935919A1 (en) | 2019-03-19 | 2020-03-11 | Improved led short circuit and open load detection with a single controller pin |
Country Status (2)
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EP (2) | EP3713376B1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2020187669A1 (en) |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6437994B1 (en) * | 1999-09-17 | 2002-08-20 | Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V. | LLC converter includes a current variation detector for correcting a frequency adjusting control signal of an included difference detector |
US20140160799A1 (en) * | 2012-12-11 | 2014-06-12 | Eaton Corporation | Dc/dc converter with resonant converter stage and buck stage and method of controlling the same |
US20150171754A1 (en) * | 2013-12-18 | 2015-06-18 | Texas Instruments Deutschland Gmbh | Primary side current regulation on llc converters for led driving |
WO2017137430A1 (en) * | 2016-02-12 | 2017-08-17 | Philips Lighting Holding B.V. | Dc/dc resonant converters and power factor correction using resonant converters, and corresponding control methods |
Family Cites Families (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
ES2933481T3 (en) * | 2002-12-19 | 2023-02-09 | Signify Holding Bv | led driver |
DE102016121930A1 (en) * | 2016-11-15 | 2018-05-17 | Ledvance Gmbh | lighting system |
-
2019
- 2019-03-19 EP EP19163603.4A patent/EP3713376B1/en active Active
-
2020
- 2020-03-11 EP EP20715280.2A patent/EP3935919A1/en active Pending
- 2020-03-11 WO PCT/EP2020/056545 patent/WO2020187669A1/en unknown
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6437994B1 (en) * | 1999-09-17 | 2002-08-20 | Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V. | LLC converter includes a current variation detector for correcting a frequency adjusting control signal of an included difference detector |
US20140160799A1 (en) * | 2012-12-11 | 2014-06-12 | Eaton Corporation | Dc/dc converter with resonant converter stage and buck stage and method of controlling the same |
US20150171754A1 (en) * | 2013-12-18 | 2015-06-18 | Texas Instruments Deutschland Gmbh | Primary side current regulation on llc converters for led driving |
WO2017137430A1 (en) * | 2016-02-12 | 2017-08-17 | Philips Lighting Holding B.V. | Dc/dc resonant converters and power factor correction using resonant converters, and corresponding control methods |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP3713376A1 (en) | 2020-09-23 |
EP3935919A1 (en) | 2022-01-12 |
WO2020187669A1 (en) | 2020-09-24 |
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