Methods and systems of detecting failure modes of DC to DC power converters
First Claim
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1. A method of operating a direct current (DC) to DC power converter, comprising:
- commanding, by a lighting microcontroller, a power converter to control an average current provided to light-emitting diodes (LEDs) coupled to the power converter by way of an inductor;
reading, by the lighting microcontroller, values from the power converter; and
detecting, by the lighting microcontroller, one or more failure modes of the power converter based on the values.
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Abstract
Detecting failure modes of DC to DC power converters. In a system comprising a lighting microcontroller communicatively coupled to a direct current (DC) to DC power converter coupled to light-emitting diodes (LEDs) by way of an inductor, an example method may include: commanding, by the lighting microcontroller, the power converter to control an average current provided to the LEDs; reading, by the lighting microcontroller, values from the power converter; and detecting, by the lighting controller, one or more failure modes of the power converter based on the values.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of operating a direct current (DC) to DC power converter, comprising:
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commanding, by a lighting microcontroller, a power converter to control an average current provided to light-emitting diodes (LEDs) coupled to the power converter by way of an inductor; reading, by the lighting microcontroller, values from the power converter; and detecting, by the lighting microcontroller, one or more failure modes of the power converter based on the values. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A semiconductor device that implements a driver for a direct current (DC) to DC power converter for driving light-emitting diodes (LEDs), the semiconductor device comprising:
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a power switch that has a gate input; a current switch having a control input, a first switch lead, and a second switch lead, the first switch lead coupled to the power switch; a regulating controller coupled to the gate input of the power switch and the control input of the current switch; a first current source having a control input; a second current source having a control input; and a current swapping block coupled to the first current source and the second current source, the current swapping block defining a control input and a plurality of block leads for switching the first current source and the second current source between the second switch lead of the current switch and the power switch, the control input of the current swapping block controllable from a control device external to the semiconductor device;
whereinthe regulating controller is configured to receive from the control device an indication of off time, and the regulating controller is configured to generate a pulse signal on the gate input, with de-asserted time of the pulse signal based on the indication of off time, and with asserted time of the pulse signal based on a value indication of average current; the semiconductor device configured such that a value indicative of ripple current provided to the control input of the first current source or the second current source is a control variable of a control loop for the DC to DC power converter; and the current swapping block has a first configuration in which the first current source is coupled to the current switch and the second current source is coupled to the power switch, and the current swapping block has a second configuration in which the first current source is coupled to the power switch and the second current source is coupled to the current switch. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for operating a light-emitting diode (LED), comprising:
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a lighting microcontroller; a power converter communicatively coupled to the lighting microcontroller; an LED coupled to the power converter by way of an inductor; the power converter comprises; a power switch that has a gate input, the power switch coupled to the LED by way of the inductor; a current switch having a control input, a first switch lead, and a second switch lead, the first switch lead coupled to the power switch; a regulating controller coupled to the gate input of the power switch and the control input of the current switch, the regulating controller configured to receive from the lighting microcontroller one or more commands to regulate an output current of the power converter; wherein the regulating controller is configured to receive from the lighting microcontroller an indication of off time, and the regulating controller is configured to generate a pulse signal on the gate input, with de-asserted time of the pulse signal based on the indication of off time, and with asserted time of the pulse signal based on a value indicative of average current provided to the control input of the first current source; the power converter configured such that a value indicative of ripple current provided to the control input of the second current source is a control variable of a control loop for the power converter; wherein the lighting microcontroller is configured to read values from the power converter and detect one or more failure modes of the power converter based on the values from the power converter. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification