Balanced circuit for multi-LED driver

• US 20060284569A1
• Filed: 06/16/2005
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
• Inventors: Wey, Chin-Der, Yu, Ya-Yun, Li, Hsien-Jen, Lee, Yueh-Pao
• Granted Patent: US 7,196,483 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/282
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/35 Balancing circuits

Abstract

A driving circuit uses a plurality of transformers to provide currents for driving a plurality of LEDs associated with a plurality of current paths. Each transformer has two induction coils with a coil turn ratio between to the number of turns in each induction coil. One induction coil is used to provide an output current to a different current path and the other induction coil is connected to the corresponding induction coil of other transformers for forming a current loop. The output current of each transformer has a relationship with the output current of the other transformers depending on the coil turn ratios of the connected transformers. LEDs in red, blue and green colors can be connected to different current paths so that the brightness of the LEDs in each color can be determined by the current in a current path.

Claims

1. A method to balance current flows in a light source operatively connected to an electrical circuit providing electrical power to the light source, the light source having at least a first current path, a second current path, one or more first light-emitting devices connected to the first current path, and one or more second light-emitting devices connected to the second current path, the first current path operatively connected to a first power source through a first rectifying means for receiving a first current, the second current path operatively connected to a second power source through a second rectifying means for receiving a second current, wherein a ratio of the second current to the first current is R, and wherein the electrical circuit comprises:

a first transformer operatively connected between the first power source and the first rectifying means, the first transformer having

a current providing coil for providing the first current, the current providing coil having a number of coil turns, and an induction coil magnetically coupled to the current providing coil for producing an induction current in response to the first current, the induction coil having a further number of coil turns with a first coil turn ratio between the number and the further number;

a second transformer operatively connected between the second power source and the second rectifying means, the second transformer having

a current providing coil for providing the second current, the current providing coil having a number of coil turns, and an induction coil magnetically coupled to the current providing coil for producing an induction current in response to the second current, the induction coil having a further number of coil turns with a second coil turn ratio between the number and the further number, said method comprising the steps of;

connecting the induction coil of the first transformer and the induction coil of the second transformer to form a current loop for the induction current in the first and second transformers;

selecting the first and second coil turn ratios such that the ratio between the first coil turn ratio and the second coil turn ratio is substantially equal to R.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the light source further has a third current path and one or more third light-emitting devices connected to the third current path, the third current path operatively connected to a third power source through a third rectifying means for receiving a third current, wherein a ratio of the third current to the first current is R′

, and wherein the electrical circuit further comprises;

a third transformer operatively connected between the third power source and the third rectifying means, the third transformer having

a current providing coil for providing the third current, the current providing coil having a number of coil turns, and an induction coil magnetically coupled to the current providing coil, the induction coil having a further number of coil turns with a third coil turn ratio between the number and the further number, said method further comprising the steps of;

connecting the induction coil of the third transformer to the induction coils of the first and second transformers to form the current loop for the induction current in the first, second and third transformers;

selecting the third coil turn ratio such that the ratio between the first coil turn ratio and the third coil turn ratio is substantially equal to R′

.

3. An electrical circuit for use with a light source, the light source having at least a first current path, a second current path, one or more first light-emitting devices connected to the first current path for receiving a first current from the electrical circuit, and one or more second light-emitting devices connected to the second current path for receiving a second current from the electrical circuit, wherein a ratio of the second current to the first current is R, said electrical circuit comprising:

an inverter driver section to provide electrical power;

a rectifying section having a first rectifier and a second rectifier; and

a balanced transformer section disposed between the inverter driver section and the rectifying section, the balanced transformer section comprising;

a first transformer operatively connected between the inverter driver section and the first rectifier, the first transformer having

a current providing coil for providing the first current, the current providing coil having a number of coil turns, and an induction coil magnetically coupled to the current providing coil for producing an induction current in response to the first current, the induction coil having a further number of coil turns with a first coil turn ratio between the number and the further number;

a second transformer operatively connected between the inverter driver section and the second rectifier, the second transformer having

a current providing coil for providing the second current, the current providing coil having a number of coil turns, and an induction coil magnetically coupled to the current providing coil for producing an induction current in response to the second current, the induction coil having a further number of coil turns with a second coil turn ratio between the number and the further number,

wherein the induction coil of the first transformer and the induction coil of the second transformer are connected to form a current loop for the induction current in the first and second transformers, and wherein a ratio between the first coil turn ratio and the second coil turn ratio is substantially equal to R.

4. The electrical circuit of claim 3, wherein the rectifying section further includes a third rectifier, the light source further having a third current path and one or more third light-emitting devices connected to the third current path, the third current path operatively connected to the inverter driver section through the third rectifier for receiving a third current, wherein a ratio of the third current to the first current is R′

, said electrical circuit further comprising;

a third transformer operatively connected between the inverter driver section and the third rectifying means, the third transformer having

a current providing coil for providing the third current, the current providing coil having a number of coil turns, and an induction coil magnetically coupled to the current providing coil, the induction coil having a further number of coil turns with a third coil turn ratio between the number and the further number, wherein

the induction coil of the third transformer is connected to the induction coils of the first and second transformers to form the current loop for the induction current in the first, second and third transformers, and wherein a ratio between the first coil turn ratio and the third coil turn ratio is substantially equal to R′

.

5. A transformer circuit for use in a driving circuit having a power source and a rectifying section for providing currents to a light source, the rectifying section comprising a first rectifier and a second rectifier, the light source having at least

a first current path operatively connected to the first rectifier,

a second current path operatively connected to the second rectifier,

one or more first light-emitting devices connected to the first current path for receiving a first current from the driving circuit, and

one or more second light-emitting devices connected to the second current path for receiving a second current from the driving circuit, wherein a ratio of the second current to the first current is R, said transformer circuit comprising:

a first transformer operatively connected between the power source and the rectifying section, the first transformer having

a current providing coil for providing the first current, the current providing coil having a number of coil turns, and an induction coil magnetically coupled to the current providing coil for producing an induction current in response to the first current, the induction coil having a further number of coil turns with a first coil turn ratio between the number and the further number;

a second transformer operatively connected between the power source and the rectifying section, the second transformer having

a current providing coil for providing the second current, the current providing coil having a number of coil turns, and an induction coil magnetically coupled to the current providing coil for producing an induction current in response to the second current, the induction coil having a further number of coil turns with a second coil turn ratio between the number and the further number,

wherein the induction coil of the first transformer and the induction coil of the second transformer are connected to form a current loop for the induction current in the first and second transformers, and wherein a ratio between the first coil turn ratio and the second coil turn ratio is substantially equal to R.

6. The transformer circuit of claim 5, wherein the rectifying section further comprises a third rectifier, the light source further having a third current path operatively connected to the third rectifier, and one or more third light-emitting devices connected to the third current path for receiving a third current from the driving circuit, wherein a ratio of the third current to the first current is R′

, said transformer circuit further comprising;

a third transformer operatively connected between the power source and the rectifying section, the third transformer having

a current providing coil for providing the third current, the current providing coil having a number of coil turns, and an induction coil magnetically coupled to the current providing coil, the induction coil having a further number of coil turns with a third coil turn ratio between the number and the further number, wherein

the induction coil of the third transformer is connected to the induction coils of the first and second transformers to form the current loop for the induction current in the first, second and third transformers, and wherein a ratio between the first coil turn ratio and the third coil turn ratio is substantially equal to R′

.

7. A lighting panel comprising:

a light source, and

a driving circuit for providing currents to the light source, the light source having at least a first current path, a second current path, one or more first light-emitting devices connected to the first current path for receiving a first current from the driving circuit, and one or more second light-emitting devices connected to the second current path for receiving a second current from the driving circuit, wherein a ratio of the second current to the first current is R, the driving circuit comprising;

an inverter driver section to provide electrical power;

a rectifying section having a first rectifier and a second rectifier; and

a balanced transformer section disposed between the inverter driver section and the rectifying section, the balanced transformer section comprising;

a first transformer operatively connected between the inverter driver section and the first rectifier, the first transformer having

a current providing coil for providing the first current, the current providing coil having a number of coil turns, and an induction coil magnetically coupled to the current providing coil for producing an induction current in response to the first current, the induction coil having a further number of coil turns with a first coil turn ratio between the number and the further number;

a second transformer operatively connected between the inverter driver section and the second rectifier, the second transformer having

a current providing coil for providing the second current, the current providing coil having a number of coil turns, and an induction coil magnetically coupled to the current providing coil for producing an induction current in response to the second current, the induction coil having a further number of coil turns with a second coil turn ratio between the number and the further number,

wherein the induction coil of the first transformer and the induction coil of the second transformer are connected to form a current loop for the induction current in the first and second transformers, and wherein a ratio between the first coil turn ratio and the second coil turn ratio is substantially equal to R.

8. The lighting panel of claim 7, wherein the rectifying section further includes a third rectifier, the light source further having a third current path and one or more third light-emitting devices connected to the third current path, the third current path operatively connected to the inverter driver section through the third rectifier for receiving a third current, wherein a ratio of the third current to the first current is R′

, the electrical circuit further comprising;

a third transformer operatively connected between the inverter driver section and the third rectifying means, the third transformer having

a current providing coil for providing the third current, the current providing coil having a number of coil turns, and an induction coil magnetically coupled to the current providing coil, the induction coil having a further number of coil turns with a third coil turn ratio between the number and the further number, wherein

the induction coil of the third transformer is connected to the induction coils of the first and second transformers to form the current loop for the induction current in the first, second and third transformers, and wherein a ratio between the first coil turn ratio and the third coil turn ratio is substantially equal to R′

.

9. The lighting panel of claim 7, wherein the first light emitting devices are red light emitting devices, the second light emitting devices are green light emitting devices and the third light emitting devices are blue light emitting devices.

10. The lighting panel of claim 9, wherein the light source is used to provide white light having three color components:

a red color component provided by the red light emitting devices,

a green color component provided by the green light emitting devices and

a blue color component provided by the blue light emitting devices.

11. The lighting panel of claim 10, wherein at least one of the color components in the white light can be adjusted by changing a number of respective light emitting devices in the light source.

12. The lighting panel of claim 7, further comprising:

at least one current adjustment device disposed in the inverter driver section for adjusting the currents to the light source.

13. The light panel of claim 12, wherein the inverter driver section comprises at least one DC power source operatively connected to a DC-to-AC converter to provide the electrical power in AC form, and a switching means connected to the DC power source, and wherein the current adjustment device comprises a pulse width modulator operatively connected to the switching means for adjusting the electrical power.