TWI704707B - Illumination system, illumination device, andillumination method - Google Patents

Abstract

An illumination system is disclosed that provides a control signal interface configured to provide a voltage control signal via a control channel. A light engine is provided and includes a first signal generator configured to provide a first pulse-width modulated (PWM) signal based on the control signal, via a first channel, a second signal generator configured to provide a second PWM signal based on the control signal, via a second channel, and a third signal generator configured to provide a third PWM signal based on the first PWM signal and the second PWM signal, via a third channel.

Description

Lighting system, lighting device and lighting method

The present invention generally relates to light emitting devices and more particularly relates to a lighting system including a light engine.

Light-emitting diodes ("LEDs") are often used as light sources in various applications. LEDs are more efficient than traditional light sources. For example, they provide much higher energy conversion efficiency than incandescent lamps and fluorescent lights. In addition, compared to traditional light sources, LEDs radiate less heat into the illuminated area and obtain brightness, Wider control of emission color and frequency spectrum. These features make LEDs an excellent choice for various lighting applications ranging from indoor lighting to automotive lighting.

The present invention discloses a lighting system that provides a control signal interface configured to provide a voltage control signal via a control channel. A light engine is provided, and the light engine includes: a first signal generator configured to provide a first pulse width modulation (PWM) signal via a first channel based on the control signal; a second signal generator And a third signal generator configured to provide a second PWM signal based on the control signal via a second channel; and a third signal generator configured to provide a second PWM signal based on the first PWM signal and the second PWM signal via a The third channel provides a third PWM signal.

100: lighting system

110: Control signal interface

120: lamps

122: light source

124: light source

126: light source

130: Light Engine

200: PWM generator

200B: LED device

201: LED device

201A: pixel

201B: pixel

201C: Pixel

202: substrate

202B: substrate

204: Action layer

204B: active layer

206: wavelength conversion layer

206B: Wavelength conversion layer

207: Waveguide

208: Primary optics

208B: Primary optics

209: lens

210: Power input terminal

211: LED array

212: Secondary optics

220: Ground terminal

221: Lighting System

230: Control terminal

240: output terminal

310: electronic circuit board

312: Power Module

314: Sensor Module

316: Connectivity and control module

318: LED attachment area

320: substrate

400A: LED system

400B: LED lighting system

400C: LED lighting system

400D: LED lighting system

410: LED array

411A: First channel

411B: second channel

412: AC/DC converter circuit

414: Sensor Module

415: dimmer interface circuit

416: Connectivity and control module

418A: Trace

418B: Trace

418C: Trace

431: Trace

432: Trace

433: Trace

434: Trace

435: Trace

440: DC/DC converter

440A: DC-DC conversion circuit

440B: DC-DC conversion circuit

445A: First surface

445B: second surface

452: Power Module

472: Microcontroller

481: LED Module

483: Power Conversion Module

485: LED driver input signal

490: LED module

491: LED Module

493: Embedded LED calibration and setting data

494A: The first group of LEDs

494B: The second group of LEDs

494C: The third group of LEDs

497: Vin

499: circuit board

500: lighting system

510: lamps

512: light source

514: Light Source

516: light source

520: Control signal interface

521: First Channel

522: Channel

523: Channel

524: Channel

525: First signal generator GEN 1

526: Second signal generator GEN 2

530: Light Engine

532: current source

534: Voltage Regulator

536: Reference voltage generator

540: operational amplifier

552: resistor

554: Resistor

556: Resistor

558: resistor

700: drawing

800: drawing

900: drawing

950: example system

952: LED lighting system

954: Secondary optics

956: LED lighting system

958: Secondary optics

960: Application Platform

961: beam

961a: Arrow

961b: Arrow

962: beam

962a: Arrow

962b: Arrow

965: pipeline

1000: handler

1010: Step

1020: step

1030: steps

1040: step

1050: step

1060: step

1070: step

1080: steps

1090: step

CTRL: Control signal

GEN3: The third signal generator

P: period

PWR1: the first PWM signal

PWR2: second PWM signal

PWR3: third PWM signal

R1: resistance

R2: resistance

S0: state

S1: Status

S2: Status

S3: Status

S4: Status

SUB1: Voltage subtraction circuit

SW1: First switch

SW2: second switch

SW3: third switch

Vc: second value

Vc ₁ : cut-off voltage

Vc ₂ : cut-off voltage

VCRL1: Control signal

VCTRL: Voltage control signal

VCTRL1: Voltage control signal

VCTRL2: Control signal

VDD: voltage

VGATE1: PWM signal

VGATE2: PWM signal

VGATE3: PWM signal

Vm: value

VREF: Reference voltage signal

W: Pulse width

The drawings described below are for illustrative purposes only. The drawings are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The same component symbols shown in the drawings indicate the same components in the various embodiments.

1 is a schematic diagram of a lighting system according to an aspect of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an example of a PWM signal generator according to an aspect of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a PWM signal generated from FIG. 2 according to an aspect of the present invention The diagram of an example of the PWM signal generated by the generator; FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the response of the PWM generator of FIG. 2 to the change of the control voltage according to the aspect of the present invention; FIG. 5 is the lighting system according to the aspect of the present invention Fig. 6A is a drawing illustrating the relationship between different PWM signals according to the aspect of the present invention; Fig. 6B is a drawing illustrating the relationship between different PWM signals according to the aspect of the present invention; Fig. 7 is a drawing based on A possible configuration illustrates the drawing of the operation of the lighting system of Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a drawing illustrating the operation of the lighting system of Fig. 5 according to another possible configuration; Fig. 9 is a drawing illustrating the configuration of Fig. 5 according to the present invention Drawing of the relationship between different control signals in the lighting system; FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an example of a processing procedure according to aspects of the present invention; 11 is a top view of an electronic component board of an integrated LED lighting system according to an embodiment; FIG. 12A is a top view of an electronic component board, in which in one embodiment the LED array is attached to the substrate at the LED device attachment area; 12B is a diagram of an embodiment of a dual-channel integrated LED lighting system, in which electronic components are mounted on two surfaces of the circuit board; FIG. 12C is a diagram of an embodiment of the LED lighting system, in which the LED array is in and driving and The control circuit is separated on the electronic component board; Figure 12D is a block diagram of the LED lighting system, where the LED array and some electronic components are on the electronic component board separated from the drive circuit; Figure 12E is an example LED showing a multi-channel LED drive circuit The diagram of the lighting system; Figure 13 is a diagram of an example application system; Figure 14A is a diagram showing an LED device; and Figure 14B is a diagram showing a plurality of LED devices.

Hereinafter, examples of different light illumination systems and/or light emitting diode ("LED") implementations will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. These examples are not mutually exclusive, and features found in one example can be combined with features found in one or more other examples to achieve additional implementations. Therefore, it should be understood that the examples shown in the accompanying drawings are provided for illustrative purposes only, and they are not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Similar numbers refer to similar elements throughout.

It should be understood that, although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms can be used to An element is distinguished from another element. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the first element may be referred to as the second element, and the second element may be referred to as the first element. As used herein, the term "and/or" can include any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

It should be understood that when an element such as a layer, region, or substrate is referred to as being "on" or extending "on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or directly extended to the other element, Or there may be intervening elements. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly on another element" or "extending directly to another element," there is no intervening element. It should also be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to another element and/or connected or coupled to another element through one or more intervening elements. One element. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another element, there is no intervening element between the element and the other element. It should be understood that these terms are intended to cover different orientations of elements other than any of the orientations depicted in the figures.

Relative terms such as "below", "above", "upper", "lower", "horizontal" or "vertical" can be used herein to describe one element, layer or region and another as illustrated in the figures. The relationship between a component, layer or area. It should be understood that these terms are intended to cover different orientations of the device than those depicted in the figures.

In addition, the LEDs, LED arrays, electrical components, and/or electronic components may be accommodated on one, two, or more electronic component boards depending on design constraints and/or applications.

Semiconductor light emitting devices (LED) or light power emitting devices (such as devices that emit ultraviolet (UV) or infrared (IR) light power) are the most efficient light sources currently available. These devices (hereinafter "LEDs") may include light emitting diodes, resonant cavity light emitting diodes, vertical cavity laser diodes, edge emitting lasers, or the like. For example, due to its compact size and lower power Demand, LEDs can be absorbing candidates for many different applications. For example, LEDs can be used as light sources for handheld battery-powered devices such as cameras and cellular phones (such as flashlights and camera flashes). LED can also be used for automotive lighting, head-up display (HUD) lighting, garden lighting, street lighting, video torch, general lighting (for example, home, shop, office and studio lighting, cinema/stage lighting and architectural lighting), expansion Augmented reality (AR) lighting, virtual reality (VR) lighting, backlighting for displays, and IR spectrum analysis. A single LED can provide light that is not as bright as an incandescent light source, and therefore, multi-junction devices or LED arrays (such as monolithic LED arrays, micro LED arrays, etc.) can be used for applications that require or require greater brightness.

Tunable lighting highly meets the needs of consumers and commercial lighting. Tunable lighting systems are usually able to change their color and brightness independently of each other. According to aspects of the present invention, a tunable lighting system is disclosed, which divides a single channel output into three by means of current steering and/or time division and multiplexing technology. More specifically, the tunable optical system can split the input current into three pulse width modulation (PWM) channels. The individual duty cycle of the PWM channel can be adjusted based on the control signal received via the control signal interface. The control signal interface may include switches and/or other circuits manipulated by the user when the user wishes to change the color of the light output by the lighting system.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a lighting system is disclosed, which includes: a first signal generator configured to generate a first pulse width modulation (PWM) signal based on a first control signal; a second signal generator, which Configured to generate the second PWM signal based on the voltage difference between the reference signal and the first control signal; a third signal generator configured to generate the third PWM signal based on the first PWM signal and the second PWM signal, The third PWM signal has a different duty cycle from at least one of the first PWM signal and the second PWM signal; the first light emitting diode (LED) uses the first PWM signal to supply power to the first LED, and the first LED is Configure to emit the first type of light; the second LED, use the second PWM signal to power the second LED, the second LED With the second CCT, the second LED is configured to emit the second type of light; and the third LED uses the third PWM signal to supply power to the third LED, and the third LED is configured to emit the third type of light.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a method for operating a lighting system is disclosed, which includes: generating a first pulse width modulation (PWM) signal based on a first control signal; generating based on a difference between a reference signal and the first control signal The second PWM signal; generates a third PWM signal based on the first PWM signal and the second PWM signal, the third PWM signal has a different duty cycle from at least one of the first PWM signal and the second PWM signal; based on the first PWM The signal controls the first light emitting diode (LED), the first LED is configured to output the first type of light; the second LED is controlled based on the second PWM signal, and the second LED is configured to output the second type of light; And based on the third PWM signal to control the third LED, the third LED is configured to output a third type of light.

Fig. 1 is a diagram of an example of a lighting system 100 according to an aspect of the present invention. The lighting system 100 may include a control signal interface 110, a lamp 120 and a light engine 130. In operation, the lighting system 100 can receive user input via the control signal interface 110 and change the color of the light output by the lamp 120 based on the input. For example, if the first user input is received, the lamp 120 can output light with the first color. On the contrary, if the second user input is received, the lamp 120 can output light having a second color different from the first color. In some embodiments, the user can provide input to the lighting system by rotating a knob or moving a slider that is part of the control signal interface 110. Additionally or alternatively, in some implementations, the user can provide input to the lighting by using his or her smart phone and/or another electronic device for transmitting the indication of the desired color to the control signal interface 110 system.

The control signal interface 110 may include any suitable type of circuit or device configured to generate the voltage signal CTRL and provide the voltage signal CTRL to the light engine 130. Although in this example, the control signal interface 110 and the light engine 130 are depicted as independent devices, they Alternative implementations in which the control signal interface 110 and the light engine 130 are integrated together in the same device are possible. For example, in some implementations, the control signal interface 110 may include a potentiometer coupled to a knob or slider, which is operable to generate a control signal CTRL based on the position of the knob (or slider). As another example, the control signal interface may include a wireless receiver (e.g., Bluetooth receiver, Zigbee receiver, WiFi receiver, etc.), which can operate from a remote device (e.g., smart phone or Zigbee gateway) ) Receive one or more data items and output a control signal CTRL based on the data items. In some implementations, the one or more data items may include a number identifying the desired correlated color temperature (CCT) to be output by the lamp 120.

The lamp 120 may include a light source 122 (for example, warm white light), a light source 124 (for example, cool white light), and a light source 126 (for example, neutral white light). The light source 122 (eg, warm white light) may include one or more LEDs configured to output white light with a CCT of about 2700K. The light source 124 (eg, cold white light) may include one or more LEDs configured to output white light with a CCT of about 6500K. The light source 126 (eg, neutral white light) may include one or more LEDs configured to output white light with a CCT of about 4000K.

The light engine 130 can be configured to supply power to the lamp 120 via three different channels. More specifically, the light engine 130 can be configured to: supply the first PWM signal PWR1 to the light source 122 (for example, warm white light) via the first channel; supply the second PWM signal PWR2 to the light source 124 (for example, warm white light) via the second channel Cool white light); and supply the third PWM signal PWR3 to the light source 126 (for example, neutral white light) via the third channel. The signal PWR1 can be used to supply the warm white light source, and its duty cycle can determine the brightness of the warm white light source. The signal PWR2 can be used to supply power to the cold white light source, and its duty cycle can determine the brightness of the cold white light source. The signal PWR3 can be used to supply power to the neutral white light source, and its duty cycle can determine the brightness of the neutral white light source. In operation, the tunable light engine can change the relative working cycles of the signals PWR1, PWR2 and PWR3 To adjust the individual brightness of each of the light sources 122 to 126. As can be easily understood, changing the individual brightness of the light sources 122 to 126 can cause the output of the lamp 120 to change color (and/or CCT). As noted above, the light output of the lamp 120 may be a combination (for example, a mixture) of light emission generated by the light sources 122 to 126.

According to aspects of the present invention, the light engine 130 may include any suitable type of electronic device and/or electronic circuit configured to generate the signals PWR1, PWR2, and PWR3. Although in this example, the signals PWR1 to PWR3 are PWM signals, alternative implementations where the signal PWR1 is a current signal, a voltage signal, and/or any other suitable type of signal are possible. In addition, although the light sources 122 to 126 are white light sources in this example, alternative implementations in which the light sources 122 to 126 are each configured to emit light of different colors are possible. For example, the light source 122 may be configured to emit red light, the light source 126 may be configured to emit green light, and the light source 124 may be configured to emit blue light.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an example of a PWM generator 200 according to an aspect of the present invention. The PWM generator 200 may include any suitable type of PWM generator. In some embodiments, the PWM generator 200 may include a power input terminal 210, a ground terminal 220, a control terminal 230, and an output terminal 240. In operation, the PWM generator 200 may receive power at the power input terminal 210 and the voltage control signal VCTRL at the control terminal 230. Based on the control signal VCTRL, the PWM generator 200 can generate a PWM signal and output the PWM signal from the output terminal 240.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the PWM signal that can be generated by the PWM generator 200. The PWM signal may have a period P and a pulse width W. The duty cycle of the PWM signal can be the ratio (for example, high) of each cycle P when the PWM signal is turned on, and it can be described by the following equation 1:

4 is a diagram illustrating the response of the PWM generator 200 according to the aspect of the present invention. As explained, when the control signal VCTRL has a first value (for example, about 0V), the duty cycle of the PWM signal generated by the PWM generator 200 can be 100%, and when the control signal VCTRL has a second value Vc, The PWM generator 200 is disabled. Although not shown in FIG. 4, in some implementations, the PWM generator 200 can be configured to set the duty cycle of the PWM signal to when the value of the control signal VCTRL is within a predetermined range (for example, 0V to 0.4V) 100%. Configuring the PWM generator 200 in this way can ensure that a PWM signal with a 100% duty cycle can always be output, because obtaining a control signal of exactly 0V may not always be feasible in similar circuits. According to the aspect of the present invention, when the PWM generator is disabled, it can be regarded as generating a PWM signal with a duty cycle of 0%. According to the present invention, the value Vc can be referred to as the cut-off voltage of the PWM generator. The value Vc may depend on the internal design of the PWM generator 200. Depending on the design specification, any suitable Vc value can be achieved by a person familiar with the technology.

5 is a circuit diagram of an example of a lighting system 500 that uses a PWM generator, such as the PWM generator 200, as one of its building blocks. As illustrated, the lighting system 500 may include a lamp 510, a control signal interface 520, and a light engine 530.

The lamp 510 may include a light source 512, a light source 514, and a light source 516. Each light source may include one or more individual LEDs. For example, the light source 512 may include one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) configured to generate a first type of light. The light source 514 may include one or more LEDs configured to generate a second type of light. The light source 516 may include one or more LEDs configured to generate a third type of light. One or more of the wavelength, color rendering index (CRI), correlated color temperature (CCT) and/or color of the three types of light may be different from each other. In some embodiments, the first type of light may be warm white light, the second type of light may be cool white light, and the third type of light may be neutral white light. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the first type of light may be red light, and the second type of light The light can be green light, and the third type of light can be blue light.

According to this example, the lamp 510 may be configured to generate tunable white light by mixing the individual output of each of the light sources 512 to 516. In these cases, the light source 512 can be configured to emit warm white light with a CCT of about 2700K; the light source 514 can be configured to emit cool white light with a CCT of about 6500K; and the light source 516 can be configured to emit CCT neutral white light of about 4000K. As noted above, the output of the lamp 510 may be a composite light output generated due to the emission from the light sources 512 to 516 being mixed with each other. The CCT of the composite light output can be changed by changing the individual brightness of each of the light sources based on the control signal VCRL1, which is generated by the control signal interface 520 and provided through the first channel 521.

The control signal interface 520 may include any suitable type of circuit or a device configured to generate the voltage control signal VCTRL1 and provide the control signal VCTRL1 to the light engine 530. Although in this example, the control signal interface 520 and the light engine 530 are depicted as separate devices, alternative implementations in which the control signal interface 520 and the light engine 530 are integrated together in the same device are possible. For example, in some implementations, the control signal interface 520 may include a potentiometer coupled to a knob or slider, which is operable to generate the control signal VCTRL1 based on the position of the knob (or slider). As another example, the control signal interface may include a wireless receiver (e.g., Bluetooth receiver, Zigbee receiver, WiFi receiver, etc.), which can operate from a remote device (e.g., smart phone or Zigbee gateway) ) Receive one or more data items and output a control signal VCTRL1 based on the data items. As another example, the control signal interface 520 may include an autonomous or semi-autonomous controller configured to generate the control signal VCTRL1 based on various control criteria. Their control criteria may include one or more of the time of day, current date, current month, current season, and so on.

The light engine 530 may be a three-channel light engine. The light engine 530 can be configured to pass Different channels 522, 523, and 524 supply power to each of the light sources 512 to 516. The light engine 530 may include a current source 532, a voltage regulator 534, and a reference voltage generator 536. As shown, the voltage regulator 534 can be configured to generate the voltage VDD used to power various components of the light engine 530. The reference voltage generator 536 can be configured to generate the reference voltage signal VREF. The influence of the signal VREF on the operation of the light engine 530 is further discussed below.

The light engine 530 is operable to drive the light source 512 by using the first PWM signal PWR1 supplied to the light source 512 via the first channel 522. The signal PWR1 can be generated by using the first signal generator GEN 1 525 and the first switch SW1. The generator GEN 1 525 may be the same as or similar to the PWM generator 200 discussed in relation to FIG. 2, and it may have a cut-off voltage Vc ₁ . The switch SW1 can be a MOSFET transistor. The light source 512 may be connected to a current source 532 across the drain-source of the MOSFET transistor SW1, and the gate of the MOSFET transistor SW1 may be configured to receive the PWM signal VGATE1 generated by the signal generator GEN 1 525. As can be easily understood, this configuration can cause the switch SW1 to assign the same or similar duty cycles of the signal PWR1 and the signal VGATE1. The duty cycle of the signal VGATE1 can be determined by the magnitude (for example, the level) of the control signal VCTRL1 as shown in FIG. 3.

The light engine 530 is operable to drive the light source 514 by using the second PWM signal PWR2 supplied to the light source 514 via the second channel 523. The signal PWR2 can be generated by using the second signal generator GEN 2 526 and the second switch SW2. The generator GEN 2 526 may be the same as or similar to the PWM generator 200 discussed in relation to FIG. 2 and it may have a cut-off voltage Vc ₂ . The cut-off voltage Vc _{2 of the} signal generator GEN 2 526 can be the same as or different from the cut-off voltage Vc _{1 of the} signal generator GEN 1 525. The switch SW2 can be a MOSFET transistor. The light source 514 may be connected to a current source 532 across the drain-source of the MOSFET transistor SW2, and the gate of the MOSFET transistor SW2 may be configured to receive the PWM signal VGATE2 generated by the signal generator GEN 2 526. As can be easily understood, this configuration can cause the switch SW2 to assign the same or similar duty cycles of the signal PWR2 and the signal VGATE2. The duty cycle of the signal VGATE2 can be determined by the magnitude (for example, the level) of the voltage control signal VCTRL2 as shown in FIG. 3.

The control signal VCTRL2 can be a voltage signal. In addition, as pointed out above, the signals VCTRL1 and VREF can also be voltage signals. In this regard, the control signal VCTRL2 can be generated by subtracting the voltage of the first control signal VCTRL1 from the voltage of the reference signal VREF. For example, when the reference signal VREF is 10V and the control signal VCTRL1 is 3V, the control signal VCTRL2 may be equal to 7V. The control signal VCTRL2 can be generated using the voltage subtraction circuit SUB1. The subtracting circuit SUB1 may include an operational amplifier (opamp) 540 configured to operate as a voltage subtractor. In addition, the subtracting circuit SUB1 may include resistors 552, 554, 556, and 558. Both resistors 552 and 554 can have a resistance R2. Both resistors 556 and 558 can have a resistance R1. The resistance R2 can be the same as or different from the resistance R1. As shown, the resistor 552 may be placed between the output terminal and the inverting input terminal of the opamp 540. The resistor 554 can be coupled between the non-inverting input terminal of the opamp 540 and the ground. The resistor 556 can be coupled between the inverting terminal of the opamp 540 and the control signal interface 520. The resistor 558 can be coupled between the non-inverting terminal of the opamp 540 and the control reference voltage generator 536. In operation, the opamp 540 can: (i) receive the control signal VCTRL1 in the first input form, (ii) receive the reference signal VREF in the second input form, and generate the control signal VCTRL2 based on the control signal VCTRL1 and the reference signal VREF. The magnitude of the control signal VCTRL2 can be described by the following equation 2:

The light engine 530 is operable to drive the light source 516 by using the third PWM signal PWR3 supplied to the light source 516 via the third channel 524. The signal PWR3 can be generated by using the third signal generator GEN3 and the third switch SW3. The switch SW3 can be a MOSFET transistor. The light source 516 may be connected to a current source 532 across the drain-source of the MOSFET transistor SW3, and the gate of the MOSFET transistor SW3 may be configured to receive the PWM signal VGATE3 generated by the signal generator GEN3. As can be easily understood, this configuration can cause the switch SW3 to assign the same or similar duty cycles to the signal PWR3 and the signal VGATE3. The signal VGATE3 can be generated by the generator GEN3 based on the signals VGATE1 and VGATE2. In some embodiments, the signal generator GEN3 may include an "inverted OR" gate. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the "reverse-OR" gate can receive the signals VGATE1 and VGATE2 in input form and generate the signal VGATE3 by performing the reverse-OR operation on the signals VGATE1 and VGATE2.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6A to 6B, one or more of the following can be selected so that only one of the signals VGATE1 and VGATE2 is at a logical high at any given time: (i) the value of the voltage signal VREF (for example , Level), (ii) the value of the cut-off voltage Vc1 of the signal generator GEN 1 525 (for example, level), and (iii) the value of the cut-off voltage Vc2 of the signal generator GEN 2 526 (for example, the level). This condition may be required so that the current from the current source 532 can be shunted to only one channel (e.g., only one of the light sources 512 to 516) at any given time. In some implementations, it may be advantageous to shunt the current from the current source 532 to only one channel at any given time because it may permit more precise control of the brightness of the light sources 512 to 516.

In some implementations, as illustrated in FIGS. 6A to 6B, one of the signals VGATE1 and VGATE2 may always have a duty cycle of 0%, and the other may have a duty cycle greater than 0%. In these cases, the signal VGATE3 can be generated by inverting a given one of the signals VGATE1 and VGATE2, which has a larger duty cycle. As a result, the sum of a given one of the signals VGATE1 and VGATE2 with a larger duty cycle and the duty cycle of the signal VGATE3 can be equal to 100%. In short, in the examples of FIGS. 6A to 6B, the signal VGATE3 is the inverse of one of the signals VGATE1 and VGATE2. According to the invention Similarly, when the value of one PWM signal is opposite to that of another PWM signal, the previous signal is the inverse of the next signal. For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, the signal VGATE3 can be regarded as the inverse of the signal VGATE1, because when the signal VGATE1 is at a logic low, the signal VGATE3 is always at a logic high, and vice versa.

To put it simply, in some implementations, the light engine 530 can direct the current generated by the current source 532 into three pulse width modulation channels (for example, PWR1, PWR2, PWR3) whose total duty cycle is a whole. This effect can be achieved by: (i) ensuring that only one of the signals VGATE1 and VGATE2 is at a logic high value at any given time, and (ii) ensuring that the signal VGATE3 is one of the signals VGATE1 and VGATE2 with a larger duty cycle The opposite of one. Shunting the current from the current source 532 in this way can help achieve more precise control of the brightness of the light output from the light sources 512 to 516.

As noted above, the light engine 530 of the visual reference magnitude signal VREF operation, the signal generator GEN 1 525 of the cut-off voltage Vc _1, one of the signal generator GEN ₂ and the ratio R2 / R1 of the cut-off voltage Vc 2 526 or It depends on more. The present invention is not limited to the reference signal VREF, a signal generator GEN 1 525 of the cut-off voltage Vc _1, the signal generator GEN any particular value of the cut-off voltage Vc 2 526 ₂ and the ratio of R2 / R1. The value of any one of these variables can vary in different configurations of the lighting system 500, and it can be selected according to the desired design specifications.

As discussed above, the control signal VCTRL1 may be generated by the control signal interface 520 in response to a user input indicating the desired CCT (and/or color) of the light output by the lamp 510. The control signal VCTRL1 can therefore be a voltage signal indicating the desired CCT (and/or color) of the light emitted from the lamp 510.

The control signal VCTRL1 can determine when the light source 512 will be turned off. More specifically, when the magnitude of the control signal VCTRL1 exceeds the cut-off voltage Vc _{1 of the} signal generator GEN 1 525, the light source 512 can be turned off. The reference signal VREF can determine when the light source 516 will be turned on. If the value of the reference signal VREF is lower than twice the cut-off voltage Vc ₁ of the signal generator GEN 1 525, the light source 514 can be turned on before the light source 512 is turned off. On the contrary, if the value of the reference signal VREF is higher than twice the cut-off voltage Vc ₁ of the signal generator GEN 1 525, the light source 514 can be turned on before the light source 512 is turned off. Similarly, when the signal VREF is equal to twice the cut-off voltage Vc ₁ of the signal generator GEN 1 525, the light source 514 can be turned on while the light source 512 is turned off.

The ratio R2/R1 can determine the ratio when the brightness of the light source 514 changes in response to the change of the signal VCTRL1. This in turn can affect the responsiveness of the lighting system 500 to user input. As noted above, in some implementations, the light source 514 may be a cool white light source, and the control signal VCRL1 may be generated by the control signal interface 520 in response to the user rotating the knob. In these cases, when the ratio R2/R1 is high, the light output of the lighting system 500 will suddenly become cooler when the knob is turned. Conversely, when the ratio R2/R1 is low, the light output of the lighting system 500 can become cooler when the knob is actuated.

FIG. 7 shows a drawing 700 illustrating the operation of the lighting system 500 according to one possible configuration of the light engine 530. In this configuration, the signal generator GEN-off voltage Vc 1 525 of the signal generator _{GEN. 1} off voltage Vc 2 526 ₂ of the same, and the reference signal VREF is equal to the magnitude of twice the cut-off voltage Vc _1. The graph 700 shows the relationship between each of the signals PWR1, PWR2, and PWR3 and the respective duty cycles of the control signal VCTRL1. In addition, the drawing 700 illustrates that the lighting system 500 can have at least five operational states, which are listed as states S0 to S4 herein.

When the control signal VCTRL1 is equal to 0V (VCTRL1=0V), the lighting system 500 may be in the state S0. When the lighting system 500 is in the state S0, the light source 512 can be turned on (at maximum capacity), and the light sources 514 and 516 can be turned off.

When the control signal VCTRL1 is greater than 0V and less than the cut-off voltage Vc ₁ (0<VCTRL1<Vc ₁ ) of the signal generator GEN 1 525, the lighting system 500 may be in the state S1. When the lighting system 500 is in the state S1, the light sources 512 and 516 can be turned on, and the light source 514 can be turned off.

When the control signal VCTRL1 is equal to the cut-off voltage Vc ₁ of the signal generator GEN 1 525 (VCTRL1=Vc ₁ ), the lighting system 500 may be in the state S2. When the lighting system 500 is in the state S2, the light source 516 can be turned on (at maximum capacity), and the light sources 512 and 514 can be turned off.

When the control signal VCTRL1 is greater than the cut-off voltage Vc _{1 of the} signal generator GEN 1 525 and less than the reference signal VREF (Vc ₁ <VCTRL1<VREF), the lighting system 500 may be in the state S3. When the lighting system 500 is in the state S3, the light sources 514 and 516 can be turned on, and the light source 512 can be turned off.

VREF)時，照明系統500可處於狀態S4。當照明系統500處於狀態S4時，可接通光源514(處於最大容量)，且可斷開光源512及516。 When the control signal VCTRL1 is greater than or equal to VREF(VCTRL1

VREF), the lighting system 500 may be in the state S4. When the lighting system 500 is in the state S4, the light source 514 can be turned on (at maximum capacity), and the light sources 512 and 516 can be turned off.

FIG. 8 shows a drawing 800 illustrating the operation of the lighting system 500 according to another possible configuration of the light engine 530. In this configuration, the signal generator GEN-off voltage Vc 1 525 ₁ of the signal generator GEN off voltage Vc 2 526 ₂ of the same, and the reference signal VREF of magnitude greater than twice the magnitude of _a cut-off voltage Vc. The graph 800 shows the relationship between each of the signals PWR1, PWR2, and PWR3 and the respective duty cycles of the control signal VCTRL1. In addition, the drawing 800 illustrates that the lighting system 500 can have at least five operational states, which are listed as states S0 to S4 herein.

When the control signal VCTRL1 is equal to 0V (VCTRL1=0V), the lighting system 500 may be in the state S0. When the lighting system 500 is in the state S0, the light source 512 can be turned on (at maximum capacity), and the light sources 514 and 516 can be turned off.

When the control signal VCTRL1 is greater than 0V and less than the cut-off voltage Vc ₁ (0<VCTRL1<Vc ₁ ) of the signal generator GEN 1 525, the lighting system 500 may be in the state S1. When the lighting system 500 is in the state S1, the light sources 512 and 516 can be turned on, and the light source 514 can be turned off.

VCTRL1

Vm)時，照明系統500可處於狀態S2。當照明系統500處於狀態S2時，可接通光源516(處於最大容量)，且可斷開光源512及514。在一些實施方案中，值Vm可由以下方程式3界定：

When the control signal VCTRL1 is greater than or equal to the cut-off voltage Vc _{1 of the} signal generator GEN 1 525 and less than or equal to Vm (Vc ₁

VCTRL1

When Vm), the lighting system 500 may be in the state S2. When the lighting system 500 is in the state S2, the light source 516 can be turned on (at maximum capacity), and the light sources 512 and 514 can be turned off. In some embodiments, the value Vm can be defined by the following equation 3:

When the control signal VCTRL1 is greater than Vm and less than the reference signal VREF (Vm<VCTRL1<VREF), the lighting system 500 may be in the state S3. When the lighting system 500 is in the state S3, the light sources 514 and 516 can be turned on, and the light source 512 can be turned off. Therefore, Vm can be the value of the control signal VCTRL1 when the light source 514 is turned on.

VREF)時，照明系統500可處於狀態S4。當照明系統500處於狀態S4時，可接通光源514(處於最大容量)，且可斷開光源512及516。 When the control signal VCTRL1 is greater than or equal to the reference signal VREF (VCTRL1

VREF), the lighting system 500 may be in the state S4. When the lighting system 500 is in the state S4, the light source 514 can be turned on (at maximum capacity), and the light sources 512 and 516 can be turned off.

FIG. 9 shows a plot 900 illustrating the relationship between the control signals VCTRL1 and VCTRL2 according to the configuration of the lighting system 500 discussed in relation to FIG. 8. As shown, when the control signal VCTRL1 reaches the value of the cut-off voltage Vc ₁ of the signal generator GEN 1 525, the light source 512 can be turned off and the light source 516 can reach 100% brightness. When the control signal VCTRL1 exceeds the value Vm, the brightness of the light source 516 can begin to decrease. In addition, for VCTRL1 values between Vc ₁ and Vm, the light source 516 can operate at maximum brightness and the light sources 512 and 514 can be turned off.

Plots 700 and 800 illustrate that the lighting system 500 allows the user to change the The color and/or CCT of the light output generated by the system 500 does not affect the total brightness of the light emitted from the lighting system 500. This concept is illustrated in drawings 700 and 800. As illustrated in the plots 700 and 800, the magnitude of the slope of the lines representing the signals PWR1 and PWR2 is equal to the slope of the line representing the signal PWR3, but the sign is opposite to the slope. This implies that any decrease in the brightness of one of the light source 512 and the light source 514 can match an equal increase in the brightness of the light source 516, and vice versa. Therefore, in some embodiments, when the CCT (or color) of the light output of the lighting system 500 changes (due to a change in the control signal VCTRL1), that change can be achieved without any increase or decrease in the brightness of the light output of the lighting system 500 Under the circumstances.

Fig. 10 is a flowchart of an example of a processing procedure according to aspects of the present invention. In some embodiments, all the steps in the processing program 1000 can be executed simultaneously based on the sequence of the symbol symbols provided in FIG. 10. Alternatively, in some embodiments, some or all of the steps in the processing program 1000 can be executed sequentially, for example, as outlined by the flow arrows provided in FIG. 10. The processing program 1000 can be executed by the lighting system 100, the lighting system 500 and/or any other suitable type of electronic device. For example, in some implementations, at least some of the steps in the processing program 1000 may be executed using a processing circuit, such as a microprocessor (for example, an ARM-based processor, an Arduino-based processor, etc.). Additionally or alternatively, in some implementations, at least some of the steps in the processing program 1000 may be executed using electronic circuits, such as the electronic circuit shown in FIG. 5.

At step 1010, a first control signal indicating the desired CCT and/or desired color of the light output is received. The control signal can be received from a control signal interface (such as the control signal interface 110 or 520). In some embodiments, the control signal may be a voltage signal, such as the control signal VCTRL1. In some implementations, the control signal may be a digital representation of a number or string of words indicating the desired CCT and/or color. At step 1020, a reference signal is generated. In some In an embodiment, the reference signal may be a voltage signal, such as the signal VREF. Additionally or alternatively, in some implementations, the reference signal may be a digital representation of a number and/or a string of words. At step 1030, a second control signal is generated based on at least one of the reference signal and the first control signal. In some implementations, the second control signal may be generated by subtracting the first control signal from the reference signal.

At step 1040, a first PWM signal is generated based on the first control signal. In some embodiments, the first PWM signal may have a duty cycle based on the first control signal. In some implementations, the duty cycle of the first PWM signal may be proportional to the magnitude of the first control signal (eg, proportional to the level of the first control signal).

At step 1050, a second PWM signal is generated. In some implementations, the duty cycle of the second PWM signal can be generated based on at least one of the first control signal and the reference signal. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the second control signal may be generated based on the second control signal. Additionally or alternatively, in some implementations, the second PWM signal may have a duty cycle proportional to the magnitude of the second control signal.

At step 1060, a third PWM signal is generated based on at least one of the first PWM signal and the second PWM signal. In some implementations, the third PWM signal may have a different duty cycle than each of the first PWM signal and the second PWM signal. In some implementations, the third PWM signal can be generated by inverting one of the first PWM signal and the second PWM signal that has a larger duty cycle. Additionally or alternatively, in some implementations, the third PWM signal may be generated by performing an inverse OR operation on the first PWM signal and the second PWM signal.

At step 1070, the first light source is controlled based on the first PWM signal. The first light source may include one or more LEDs and/or any other suitable type of light source. In some implementations In this case, controlling the first light source may include turning on and/or turning off the first light source based on the first PWM signal. Additionally or alternatively, in some implementations, controlling the first light source may include increasing and/or decreasing the brightness of the first light source. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, controlling the first light source may include changing the state of a switch that controls the flow of current across the first light source based on the first PWM signal.

At step 1080, the second light source is controlled based on the second PWM signal. The second light source may include one or more LEDs and/or any other suitable type of light source. In some implementations, controlling the second light source may include turning on and/or turning off the second light source based on the second PWM signal. Additionally or alternatively, in some implementations, controlling the second light source may include increasing and/or decreasing the brightness of the second light source. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, controlling the second light source may include changing the state of a switch that controls current flow across the second light source based on the second PWM signal.

At step 1090, the third light source is controlled based on the third PWM signal. The third light source may include one or more LEDs and/or any other suitable type of light source. In some embodiments, controlling the third light source may include turning on and/or turning off the third light source based on the third PWM signal. Additionally or alternatively, in some implementations, controlling the third light source may include increasing and/or decreasing the brightness of the third light source. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, controlling the third light source may include changing the state of a switch that controls the flow of current across the third light source based on the third PWM signal.

Figures 1 to 10 are provided as examples only. Although in the example of FIG. 5, the switches SW1 and SW2 are implemented as MOSFET transistors, any suitable type of switches, such as solid state relays, PMOS transistors, etc., may be used instead. Although in the example of FIG. 5, an opamp is used to implement the subtractor SUB1, any suitable type of electronic circuit may alternatively be used to implement the subtractor. Although in the example in FIG. 3, the generator GEN3 is implemented using an "inverse-OR" gate, any other suitable type of circuit may be used instead. For example, the signal generator GEN3 can be implemented by using an “OR” gate and one or more inverters. Among the elements in the discussion of these schemas At least some may be arranged in a different order, combined, and/or omitted entirely.

FIG. 11 is a top view of an electronic component board 310 of an integrated LED lighting system according to an embodiment. In alternative embodiments, two or more electronic component boards may be used in the LED lighting system. For example, the LED array can be on a separate electronic component board, or the sensor module can be on a separate electronic component board. In the illustrated example, the electronic component board 310 includes a power module 312, a sensor module 314, a connectivity and control module 316, and an LED attachment area 318 reserved for attaching the LED array to the substrate 320 . The power module 312 of FIG. 11 may include the light engine disclosed herein (for example, the light engine 530 of FIG. 5).

The substrate 320 may be any board that can provide mechanical support and use conductive connections such as tracks, traces, pads, vias, and/or wires to provide electrical coupling with electrical components, electronic components, and/or electronic modules. The substrate 320 may include one or more metallization layers disposed between or on one or more layers of non-conductive material, such as a dielectric composite material. The power module 312 may include electrical components and/or electronic components. In an example embodiment, the power module 312 includes an AC/DC conversion circuit, a DC/DC conversion circuit, a dimming circuit, and an LED driving circuit.

The sensor module 314 may include the sensors required for the application in which the LED array will be implemented. Example sensors may include optical sensors (e.g., IR sensors and image sensors), motion sensors, thermal sensors, mechanical sensors, proximity sensors, or even timers. For example, LEDs in street lighting, general lighting, and garden lighting applications can be based on several different sensor inputs (such as detected user presence, detected ambient lighting conditions, detected weather conditions) ) Or close/open and/or adjust based on time of day/time of night. This may include, for example, adjusting the intensity of the light output, the shape of the light output, the color of the light output, and/or turning the lights on or off to save energy. For AR/VR applications, motion sensors can be used to detect user movement. The motion sensor itself can be an LED, such as an IR detector LED. As another example, for the camera flash In applications, images and/or other optical sensors or pixels can be used to measure the lighting of the scene to be captured, so that the color, intensity, and/or shape of the flashlight lighting can be optimized. In an alternative embodiment, the electronic component board 310 does not include a sensor module.

The connectivity and control module 316 may include a system microcontroller and any type of wired or wireless module configured to receive control input from an external device. For example, the wireless module can include Bluetooth, Zigbee, Z-wave, Mesh, WiFi, and can use Near Field Communication (NFC) and/or inter-class modules. The microcontroller can be any type of dedicated computer or processor, which can be embedded in the LED lighting system and configured or configurable to receive input from the wired or wireless module or other modules in the LED system (such as sensor Tester data and data fed back from the LED module) and provide control signals to other modules based on the data. The control signal interface 110 disclosed herein may be part of a microcontroller or may receive input or provide output to the microcontroller. Algorithms implemented by special purpose processors can be implemented in computer programs, software, or firmware incorporated into non-transitory computer-readable storage media for special purpose processors to execute. Examples of non-transitory computer-readable storage media include read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), registers, cache memory, and semiconductor memory devices. The memory can be included as part of the microcontroller or can be implemented elsewhere, on or off the electronic component board 310.

As used herein, the term module can refer to electrical components and/or electronic components arranged on individual circuit boards, and these components can be soldered to one or more electronic component boards 310. However, the term module can also refer to electrical components and/or electronic components that provide similar functions but can be individually soldered to one or more circuit boards in the same area or in different areas.

FIG. 12a is a top view of the electronic component board 310, in which the LED array 410 is attached to the substrate 320 at the LED device attachment area 318 in one embodiment. The electronic component board 310 together with the LED array 410 represents the LED system 400A. In addition, the power module 312 passes traces 418B receives the voltage input at Vin 497 and the control signal from the connectivity and control module 316, and provides a driving signal to the LED array 410 via the trace 418A. The LED array 410 is turned on and off by the driving signal from the power module 312. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the connectivity and control module 316 receives the sensor signal from the sensor module 314 via trace 418C. The power module 312 of FIG. 12 may include the light engine disclosed herein (for example, the light engine 530 of FIG. 5) and it may provide the PWM signal disclosed herein to the LEDs in the LED array 410.

FIG. 12b illustrates an embodiment of a dual-channel integrated LED lighting system in which electronic components are mounted on both surfaces of the circuit board 499. As shown in FIG. 12b, the LED lighting system 400B includes a first surface 445A on which is mounted an input and AC/DC conversion circuit 412 for receiving dimmer signals and AC power signals. The LED system 400B includes a second surface 445B on which is mounted a dimmer interface circuit 415, DC-DC conversion circuits 440A and 440B, a connectivity with a microcontroller 472 and a control module 416 (in this example, a wireless module Group) and LED array 410. The LED array 410 is driven by two independent channels 411A and 411B. In alternative embodiments, a single channel can be used to provide drive signals to the LED array, or any number of multiple channels can be used to provide drive signals to the LED array. For example, FIG. 12E illustrates an LED lighting system 400E having 3 channels (eg, channels 522, 523, and 524 of FIG. 5, as disclosed herein), and is described in further detail below.

The LED array 410 may include two or more groups of LED devices. In an example embodiment, the LED devices of group A are electrically coupled to the first channel 411A, and the LED devices of group B are electrically coupled to the second channel 411B. Each of the two DC-DC converters 440A and 440B can provide respective driving currents for driving respective A-group LEDs and B-group LEDs in the LED array 410 through a single channel 411A and 411B. The LED in one of the LEDs in each group can be configured to emit light with a different color point than the LED in the second group of LEDs. Combination of light emitted by LED array 410 The control of the color point can be tuned within a range by controlling the current and/or duty cycle applied by the individual DC/DC converter circuits 440A and 440B through the individual channels 411A and 411B, respectively. Although the embodiment shown in FIG. 12B does not include a sensor module (as described in FIGS. 11 and 12), alternative embodiments may include a sensor module.

The illustrated LED lighting system 400B is an integrated system in which the LED array 410 and the circuit for operating the LED array 410 are arranged on a single electronic component board. The connection between modules on the same surface of the circuit board 499 can be provided by electrical coupling by surface or sub-surface interconnects (such as traces 431, 432, 433, 434, and 435) or metallization (not shown) To exchange voltage, current, and control signals between modules. The connectors between the modules on the opposite surfaces of the circuit board 499 may be electrically coupled via board interconnects such as vias and metallization (not shown).

Figure 12c illustrates an embodiment of an LED lighting system in which the LED array is on an electronic component board separate from the driving and control circuits. The LED lighting system 400C includes a power module 452 on an electronic component board separate from the LED module 490. The power module 452 may include an AC/DC conversion circuit 412, a sensor module 414, a connectivity and control module 416, a dimmer interface circuit 415, and a DC/DC converter 440 on the first electronic component board. The LED module 490 may include embedded LED calibration and setting data 493 and an LED array 410 on the second electronic component board. Data, control signals and/or LED driver input signals 485 can be exchanged between the power module 452 and the LED module 490 via wires that allow the two modules to be electrically and communicatively coupled. The embedded LED calibration and setting data 493 may include any data required by other modules in a given LED lighting system to control the way the LEDs in the LED array are driven. In one embodiment, the embedded calibration and setting data 493 may include data required by the microcontroller to generate or modify a control signal using, for example, a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal, which sends instructions to the driver to provide Power is supplied to each of the A and B LEDs. In this example, calibration and setting The data 493 can inform the microcontroller 472, for example, the number of power channels to be used, the desired color point of the composite light to be provided by the entire LED array 410, and/or the AC/DC conversion circuit 412 to provide to each channel The percentage of electricity.

Figure 12d illustrates a block diagram of an LED lighting system, in which the LED array and some electronic components are on an electronic component board separate from the driving circuit. The LED system 400D includes a power conversion module 483 and an LED module 481 positioned on an independent electronic component board. The power conversion module 483 may include an AC/DC conversion circuit 412, a dimmer interface circuit 415, and a DC-DC conversion circuit 440, and the LED module 481 may include embedded LED calibration and setting data 493, LED array 410, and sensing The device module 414 and the connectivity and control module 416. The power conversion module 483 can provide the LED driver input signal 485 to the LED array 410 via a wired connection between two electronic component boards.

Figure 12e is a diagram showing an example LED lighting system 400D of a multi-channel LED driving circuit. In the illustrated example, the system 400D includes a power module 452 and an LED module 491 that includes embedded LED calibration and setting data 493 and three sets of LEDs 494A, 494B, and 494C. As disclosed herein, the power module 452 may include the light engine 530, so that the power module 452 can receive control signals through the control channel and can generate three PWM signals to provide power to the LED/LED group. Although three sets of LEDs are shown in FIG. 12e, those skilled in the art will recognize that any number of sets of LEDs can be used according to the embodiments described herein. In addition, although the individual LEDs in each group are arranged in series, in some embodiments they can be arranged in parallel.

The LED array 491 may include groups of LEDs that provide light with different color points. For example, the LED array 491 may include a warm white light source generated by the first group of LEDs 494A, a cool white light source generated by the second group of LEDs 494B, and a neutral white light source generated by the third group of LEDs 494C. The warm white light source generated by the first group of LED 494A can be included Including one or more LEDs configured to provide white light with a correlated color temperature (CCT) of about 2700K. The cool white light source generated by the second set of LEDs 494B may include one or more LEDs configured to provide white light with a CCT of about 6500K. The neutral white light source generated by the third set of LEDs 494C may include one or more LEDs configured to provide light with a CCT of about 4000K. Although various white LEDs are described in this example, those skilled in the art will recognize that other color combinations can be used to provide composite light output from the LED array 491 with various overall colors according to the embodiments described herein.

The power module 452 may include a tunable light engine (not shown) that may be configured to supply power to the LED array 491 via three independent channels (indicated as LED1+, LED2+, and LED3+ in FIG. 12e). More specifically, the tunable light engine can be configured to supply a first PWM signal to a first group of LEDs 494A (such as a warm white light source) via a first channel, and a second PWM signal to a second group of LEDs via a second channel 494B and supplies the third PWM signal to the third group of LED 494C via the third channel. Each signal provided through each channel can be used to supply power to the corresponding LED or corresponding group of LEDs, and the duty cycle of the signal can determine the overall duration of the on and off states of each individual LED. The duration of the on and off states can produce an overall light effect that can have light characteristics (for example, correlated color temperature (CCT), color point, or brightness) based on the duration. In operation, the tunable light engine can change the relative magnitude of the duty cycle of the first, second, and third signals to adjust the individual light characteristics of each group of LEDs to provide the desired light characteristics of the LED array 491 Composite light emitted. As noted above, the light output of the LED array 491 may have a color point based on the combination (eg, mixing) of light emission from each of the groups of LEDs 494A, 494B, and 494C.

In operation, the power module 452 can receive control inputs generated based on user and/or sensor inputs and provide signals via individual channels to control the LEDs based on the control inputs. The composite color of the light output by the array 491. In some embodiments, the user can provide input to the LED system for controlling the DC/DC conversion circuit by rotating a knob or moving a slider that can be part of a sensor module (not shown), for example. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the user can use a smart phone and/or other electronic devices to provide input to the LED lighting system 400D to transmit the indication of the desired color to the wireless module (not shown).

FIG. 13 shows an example system 950, which includes an application platform 960, LED lighting systems 952 and 956, and secondary optics 954 and 958. The LED lighting system 952 generates a light beam 961 shown between arrows 961a and 961b. The LED lighting system 956 can generate a light beam 962 between arrows 962a and 962b. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, the light emitted from the LED lighting system 952 passes through the secondary optics 954, and the light emitted from the LED lighting system 956 passes through the secondary optics 958. In an alternative embodiment, the beams 961 and 962 do not pass through any secondary optics. The secondary optics may be or may include one or more light guides. The one or more light guides may be edge-lit or may have internal openings that define the inner edge of the light guide. The LED lighting system 952 and/or 956 can be inserted into the inner opening of one or more light guides so that it emits light into the inner edge (inner opening light guide) or outer edge (side-lighting light guide) of one or more light guides. The LEDs in the LED lighting system 952 and/or 956 may be arranged around the periphery of the base that is part of the light guide. According to an embodiment, the substrate is thermally conductive. According to an embodiment, the base may be coupled to a heat dissipation element disposed above the light guide. The heat dissipation element may be configured to receive the heat generated by the LED and dissipate the received heat via the thermally conductive base. The one or more light guides may allow the light emitted by the LED lighting systems 952 and 956 to be shaped in a desired manner (such as having a gradient, a chamfer profile, a narrow profile, a broad profile, an angular profile, or the like).

In an example embodiment, the system 950 may be a mobile phone of a camera flash system, indoor residential or commercial lighting, outdoor lighting (such as street lighting), automobiles, medical devices, AR/VR devices and mechanical devices. The integrated LED lighting system 400A shown in Figure 12, the integrated LED lighting system 400B shown in Figure 12b, the LED lighting system 400C shown in Figure 12c, and the LED lighting system 400D shown in Figure 12D illustrate example implementations The LED lighting systems 952 and 956 in the example.

In an example embodiment, the system 950 may be a mobile phone of a camera flash system, indoor residential or commercial lighting, outdoor lighting (such as street lighting), automobiles, medical devices, AR/VR devices, and mechanical devices. The integrated LED lighting system 400A shown in Figure 12, the integrated LED lighting system 400B shown in Figure 12b, the LED lighting system 400C shown in Figure 12c, and the LED lighting system 400D shown in Figure 12D illustrate example implementations The LED lighting systems 952 and 956 in the example.

As discussed herein, the application platform 960 can provide power to the LED lighting system 952 and/or 956 via a power bus, via a pipeline 965, or other suitable input. In addition, the application platform 960 can provide input signals for operating the LED lighting system 952 and the LED lighting system 956 via the pipeline 965. The input can be based on user input/preferences, sensed readings, pre-programmed or autonomously determined output, or Similar. One or more sensors can be inside or outside the housing of the application platform 960.

In various embodiments, the application platform 960 sensor and/or the LED lighting system 952 and/or 956 sensor can collect visual data (for example, LIDAR data, IR data, data collected by a camera, etc.), audio data , Distance-based data, mobile data, environmental data, or similar or a combination of data. Data can be related to physical items or entities such as objects, individuals, vehicles, etc. For example, the sensing device can collect object proximity data based on ADAS/AV applications, which can optimize the detection of physical items or entities and subsequent operations based on the detection. The data may be based on optical signals (such as IR signals) emitted by, for example, LED lighting systems 952 and/or 956 And the collection is based on the data of the emitted optical signal. The data can be collected by a component different from the component that emits optical signals for data collection. Continuing this example, the sensing device can be positioned on a car, and a vertical cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) can be used to emit a beam. One or more sensors can sense the response to the emitted light beam or any other applicable input.

In an example embodiment, the application platform 960 may represent an automobile, and the LED lighting system 952 and the LED lighting system 956 may represent automobile headlights. In various embodiments, the system 950 can represent a car with steerable light beams, where LEDs can be selectively activated to provide steerable light. For example, an array of LEDs can be used to define or project shapes or patterns, or to illuminate only selected parts of the road. In an example embodiment, the infrared camera or detector pixels in the LED lighting system 952 and/or 956 may be sensors that identify parts of the scene (roads, pedestrian crossings, etc.) that need to be illuminated.

FIG. 14A is a diagram of the LED device 201 in an example embodiment. The LED device 201 may include a substrate 202, an active layer 204, a wavelength conversion layer 206, and a primary optical member 208. In other embodiments, the LED device may not include a wavelength conversion layer and/or primary optics. The individual LED devices 201 may be included in an LED array in an LED lighting system, such as any of the LED lighting systems described above.

As shown in FIG. 14A, the active layer 204 may be adjacent to the substrate 202 and emit light when excited. Suitable materials for forming the substrate 202 and the active layer 204 include sapphire, SiC, GaN, polysilicon oxide, and more specifically can be formed from the following: Group III-V semiconductors, including but not limited to AlN, AlP, AlAs, AlSb , GaN, GaP, GaAs, GaSb, InN, InP, InAs, InSb; Group II-VI semiconductors, including but not limited to ZnS, ZnSe, CdSe, CdTe; Group IV semiconductors, including but not limited to Ge, Si, SiC And its mixtures or alloys.

The wavelength conversion layer 206 may be far away from, close to the active layer 204, or directly above the active layer. The active layer 204 can emit light into the wavelength conversion layer 206. The wavelength conversion layer 206 is used to further modify the wavelength of the light emitted by the active layer 204. LED devices that include a wavelength conversion layer are commonly referred to as phosphor-converted LEDs ("PCLED"). The wavelength conversion layer 206 may include any luminescent material, such as a transparent or translucent adhesive or phosphor particles in a matrix, or a ceramic phosphor element that absorbs light of one wavelength and emits light of different wavelengths.

The primary optical element 208 may be located on or above one or more layers of the LED device 201 and allow the light self-acting layer 204 and/or the wavelength conversion layer 206 to pass through the primary optical element 208. The primary optics 208 can be a lens or package configured to protect one or more layers and at least partially shape the output of the LED device 201. The primary optics 208 may include transparent and/or translucent materials. In an example embodiment, light passing through the primary optics may be emitted based on a Lambertian distribution pattern. It should be understood that one or more of the characteristics of the primary optics 208 may be modified to produce a light distribution pattern different from the Lambertian distribution pattern.

Figure 14b shows a cross-sectional view of an illumination system 221 including an LED array 211 with pixels 201A, 201B, and 201C and a secondary optic 212 in an example embodiment. The LED array 211 includes pixels 201A, 201B, and 201C, each of which includes a respective wavelength conversion layer 206B, an active layer 204B, and a substrate 202B. The LED array 211 may be a monolithic LED array manufactured using wafer-level processing technology, a micro LED with a size of less than 500 microns, or the like. The pixels 201A, 201B, and 201C in the LED array 211 can be formed using array segmentation or alternatively using pick and place technology.

The space 203 shown between one or more of the pixels 201A, 201B, and 201C of the LED device 200B may include an air gap or may be filled with a material such as a metal material that may be a contact (eg, n-contact).

The secondary optics 212 may include one or both of the lens 209 and the waveguide 207. It should be understood that although the secondary optics are discussed according to the example shown, in example embodiments, the secondary optics 212 can be used to spread incident light (diverging optics), or to gather incident light into a collimated beam (collimation Optical parts). In an example embodiment, the waveguide 207 may be a concentrator, and may have any suitable shape for concentrating light, such as a parabolic shape, a tapered shape, an inclined shape, or the like. The waveguide 207 may be coated with a dielectric material, a metallization layer, or the like for reflecting or redirecting incident light. In alternative embodiments, the illumination system may not include one or more of the following: the conversion layer 206B, the primary optics 208B, the waveguide 207, and the lens 209.

The lens 209 may be formed of any applicable transparent material, such as but not limited to SiC, alumina, diamond, or the like or combinations thereof. The lens 209 can be used to modify the light beam input to the lens 209 so that the output light beam from the lens 209 will effectively meet the desired luminosity specification. In addition, the lens 209 can be used for one or more aesthetic purposes, such as by determining the illuminated and/or unilluminated appearance of the pixels 201A, 201B, and/or 201C of the LED array 211.

After describing the embodiments in detail, those familiar with the art will understand that, in view of the description of the present invention, the embodiments described herein can be modified without departing from the spirit of the concept of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments illustrated and described.

500: lighting system

510: lamps

512: light source

514: Light Source

516: light source

520: Control signal interface

521: First Channel

522: Channel

523: Channel

524: Channel

525: First signal generator GEN 1

526: Second signal generator GEN 2

530: Light Engine

532: current source

534: Voltage Regulator

536: Reference voltage generator

540: operational amplifier

552: resistor

554: Resistor

556: Resistor

558: resistor

GEN3: The third signal generator

PWR1: the first PWM signal

PWR2: second PWM signal

PWR3: third PWM signal

R1: resistance

R2: resistance

SUB1: Voltage subtraction circuit

SW1: First switch

SW2: second switch

SW3: third switch

VCRL1: Control signal

VCTRL1: Voltage control signal

VCTRL2: Control signal

VDD: voltage

VGATE1: PWM signal

VGATE2: PWM signal

VGATE3: PWM signal

VREF: Reference voltage signal

Claims (20)

A lighting system comprising: a control signal interface configured to provide a voltage control signal via a control channel; and a light engine comprising: a first signal generator configured to be based on the control The signal provides a first pulse-width modulated (PWM, pulse-width modulated) signal via a first channel; a second signal generator configured to provide a second PWM via a second channel based on the control signal Signal; and a third signal generator configured to provide a third PWM signal via a third channel based on the first PWM signal and the second PWM signal, and the light engine is configured such that the first channel The sum of the respective duty cycles of the second channel and the third channel is unity, and only one of the first PWM signal and the second PWM signal is at a logic high value at the same time, and The third PWM signal is the inverse of one of the first PWM signal and the second PWM signal that has a larger duty cycle. Such as the system of claim 1, wherein the control signal interface is communicatively coupled to receive an input from an actuator (actuator), and the light engine further includes a controller that is communicatively coupled to receive an input from the control signal interface A user input is received and the voltage control signal is provided based on this. Such as the system of claim 1, which further includes: A first light emitting diode (LED), which is electrically coupled to receive the first PWM signal provided through the first channel and configured to emit light with a first characteristic; a second LED, using The first PWM signal provided via the second channel supplies power to the second LED, and the second LED is configured to emit light with a second characteristic; and a third LED using the third channel provided The first PWM signal supplies power to the third LED and the third LED is configured to emit light having a third characteristic. Such as the system of claim 3, wherein the first LED is configured to emit warm white light when activated, the second LED is configured to emit cool white light when activated, and the third LED is configured to emit When activated, it emits neutral white light. Such as the system of claim 3, wherein the first LED is configured to emit red light when activated, the second LED is configured to emit blue light when activated, and the third LED is configured to emit red light when activated. It emits green light when activated. Such as the system of claim 3, wherein: the first control signal is a voltage signal having a first magnitude, and the first signal generator is configured to exceed the first signal generator when the first control signal Turn off the first LED when a cut-off voltage occurs; and the second PWM signal is further based on the reference signal, the reference signal is a voltage signal having a second magnitude, the second magnitude greater than or equal to the first signal The cut-off voltage of the generator. Such as the system of claim 1, wherein the third signal generator includes an "inverted OR" gate configured to receive the first PWM signal and the second PWM signal in an input form. Such as the system of claim 3, which further comprises: a first switch configured to control a current flow across the first LED based on the first PWM signal; a second switch configured to be based on the A second PWM signal controls a current flow across the second LED; and a third switch configured to control a current flow across the third LED based on the third PWM signal. A light-emitting device includes: a first signal generator configured to provide a first PWM signal based on a control signal; a second signal generator configured to provide a first PWM signal based on the first PWM signal A second PWM signal; and a third signal generator configured to provide a third PWM signal based on the first PWM signal and the second PWM signal, the device is configured so that only the first PWM signal and One of the second PWM signals is at a logic high value at the same time, and the third PWM signal is the inverse of one of the first PWM signal and the second PWM signal that has a larger duty cycle. Such as the device of claim 9, which further includes: A first light emitting diode (LED) uses the first PWM signal to power the first LED, the first LED is configured to emit light with a first characteristic; a second LED uses the second LED The PWM signal supplies power to the second LED, the second LED is configured to emit light having a second characteristic; and a third LED uses the third PWM signal to supply power to the third LED, the third LED is It is configured to emit light with a third characteristic. Such as the device of claim 10, wherein the first LED is configured to emit warm white light when activated, the second LED is configured to emit cool white light when activated, and the third LED is configured to emit When activated, it emits neutral white light. Such as the device of claim 10, wherein the first LED is configured to emit red light when activated, the second LED is configured to emit blue light when activated, and the third LED is configured to emit red light when activated. It emits green light when activated. The device of claim 10, further comprising: a first switch configured to control a current flow across the first LED based on the first PWM signal; and a second switch configured to control a current flow based on the first LED A second PWM signal controls a current flow across the second LED; and a third switch configured to control a current flow across the third LED based on the third PWM signal. Such as the device of claim 9, wherein: the first control signal is a voltage signal having a first magnitude, and the first signal generator is configured to exceed the value of the first signal generator when the first control signal Turn off the first LED when a cut-off voltage occurs; and the second PWM signal is further based on the reference signal, the reference signal is a voltage signal having a second magnitude, the second magnitude greater than or equal to the first signal The cut-off voltage of the generator. Such as the device of claim 9, wherein the third signal generator includes an "inverted OR" gate configured to receive the first PWM signal and the second PWM signal in an input form. A lighting method, comprising: receiving a voltage control signal via a control channel; providing a first PWM signal to a first light emitting diode (LED) via a first channel based on the voltage control signal; based on a reference signal and The voltage control signal provides a second PWM signal to a second LED via a second channel; provides a third PWM signal to a third LED via a third channel based on the first PWM signal and the second PWM signal, The third PWM signal has a different duty cycle from at least one of the first PWM signal and the second PWM signal; ensuring that only one of the first PWM signal and the second PWM signal is at logic high at the same time Value, and the third PWM signal is the inverse of one of the first PWM signal and the second PWM signal that has a larger duty cycle, The first LED emits light with a first intensity based on the first PWM signal and a first wavelength; the second LED emits light with a second intensity based on the second PWM signal and a second wavelength; And the third LED emits light with a third intensity based on the third PWM signal and a third wavelength. The method of claim 16, wherein the first wavelength corresponds to warm white light, the second wavelength corresponds to cool white light, and the third wavelength corresponds to neutral white light. Such as the method of claim 16, wherein the first wavelength corresponds to red light, the second wavelength corresponds to blue light, and the third wavelength corresponds to green light. Such as the method of claim 16, further comprising: receiving a control input; and generating the voltage control signal based on the control input. The method of claim 16, further comprising: when the first PWM signal has a duty cycle greater than that of the second PWM signal, generating the third PWM signal by inverting the first PWM signal; and when If the second PWM signal has a duty cycle greater than that of the first PWM, the third PWM signal is generated by inverting the second PWM signal.

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