Light emitting diode driver

• US 6,853,150 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2001
• Issued: 02/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Clauberg, Bernd, Erhardt, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dinh, Trinh Vo
• Application Number:
  US10/037,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20030122502A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: H05/B03.7/00, H05/B03.7/02, 315/185.R, 315/186, 315/192, 315/242, 315/244, 315/209.R, 315/185.S, 315/217, 315/224, 315/216, 315/243, 315/291, 345/39, 345/46, 345/82, 345/83
• US Class Current: 315/185.00R
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/39 Circuits containing inverter bridges

Abstract

A LED driver includes a high frequency inverter and an impedance circuit. The high frequency inverter operates to produce a high frequency voltage source whereby the impedance circuit directs a flow of alternating current through a LED array including one or more anti-parallel LED pairs, one or more anti-parallel LED strings, and/or one or more anti-parallel LED matrixes. A transistor can be employed to divert the flow of the alternating current from the LED array, or to vary the flow of the alternating current through LED array.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a first LED array having a first anti-parallel configuration excluding any parallel connections to capacitors;

an inverter operable to provide an alternating voltage; and

a first resonant impedance circuit including a first resonant inductor and a first resonant capacitor connected to said first LED array in a first series resonant, series loaded configuration having said first resonant inductor connected in series to said inverter, and said first resonant capacitor connected in series between said first resonant inductor and said first LED array,

wherein said first resonant impedance circuit directs a first flow of a first alternating current through said first LED array in response to the alternating voltage having a first polarity and directs a second flow of the first alternating current through said first LED array in response to the alternating voltage having a second polarity.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said first LED array includes at least one of a LED pair, a LED string and a LED matrix.

3. The device of claim 1,

further comprising a second LED array having a second anti-parallel configuration;

wherein said first resonant impedance circuit further includes a second resonant capacitor;

wherein said first resonant inductor and said second resonant capacitor are connected to said second LED array in a second series resonant, series loaded configuration having said first resonant inductor connected in series to said inverter, and said second resonant capacitor connected in series between said first resonant inductor and said second LED array; and

wherein said first resonant impedance circuit directs a third flow of a second alternating current through said second LED away in response to the alternating voltage having the first polarity and directs a fourth flow of the second alternating current through said second LED array in response to the alternating voltage having the second polarity.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a second LED array having a second anti-parallel configuration; and

a second resonant impedance circuit including a second resonant inductor and a second resonant capacitor connected to said second LED array in a second series resonant, series loaded configuration having said second resonant inductor connected in series to said inverter, and said second resonant capacitor connected in series between said second resonant inductor and said second LED array,

wherein said second resonant impedance circuit directs a third flow of a second alternating current through said second LED array in response to the alternating voltage having the first polarity and directs a fourth flow of the second alternating current through said second LED array in response to the alternating voltage having the second polarity.

5. A device, comprising:

a first LED array having a first anti-parallel configuration;

an inverter operable to provide an alternating voltage; and

a first resonant impedance circuit including a first resonant inductor and a first resonant capacitor array connected to said first LED array in a first series resonant, series loaded configuration having said first resonant inductor connected in series to said inverter, and said first resonant capacitor array connected in series between said first resonant inductor and said first LED array,

wherein said first resonant impedance circuit directs a first flow of a first alternating current through first LED array in response to the alternating voltage having a first polarity and directs a second flow of the first alternating current through said first LED array in response to the alternating voltage having a second polarity.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said first LED array includes at least one of a LED pair, a LED string and a LED matrix.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein said first LED array includes a switch operable to control at least one of the first flow and the second flow of the first alternating current through said first LED array.

8. The device of claim 5,

further comprising a second LED array having a second anti-parallel configuration;

wherein said first resonant impedance circuit further includes a second resonant capacitor array;

wherein said first resonant inductor and said second resonant capacitor array are connected to said second LED array in a second series resonant, series configuration having said first resonant inductor connected in series to said inverter, and said second resonant capacitor array connected in series between said first resonant inductor and said second LED array; and

wherein said first resonant impedance circuit directs a third flow of a second alternating current through said second LED away in response to the alternating voltage having the first polarity and directs a fourth flow of the second alternating current through said second LED array in response to the alternating voltage having the second polarity.

9. The device of claim 8,

wherein said first LED array includes a first switch operable to control at least one of the first flow and the second flow of the first alternating current through said first LED array;

and

wherein said second LED array includes a second switch operable to control at least one of the third flow and the fourth flow of the second alternating current through said second LED array.

10. The device of claim 5, further comprising:

a second LED array having a second anti-parallel configuration; and

a second resonant impedance circuit including a second resonant inductor and a second resonant capacitor array connected to said second LED array in a second series resonant, series loaded configuration having said second resonant inductor connected in series to said inverter, and said second resonant capacitor array connected in series between said second resonant inductor and said second LED array,

wherein said second resonant impedance circuit directs a third flow of a second alternating current through said second LED array in response to the alternating voltage having the first polarity and directs a fourth flow of the second alternating current through said second LED array in response to the alternating voltage having the second polarity.

11. The device of claim 10,

wherein said first LED may includes a first switch operable to control at least one of the first flow and the second flow of the first alternating current through said first LED array;

and

wherein said second LED array includes a second switch operable to control at least one of the third flow and the fourth flow of the second alternating current through said second LED array.

12. A device, comprising:

a first LED array having a first anti-parallel configuration excluding any parallel connections to capacitors;

an inverter operable to provide an alternating voltage; and

a first resonant impedance circuit connected to said first LED array in a first series resonant, series loaded configuration having said first resonant impedance circuit connected in series between said inverter and said first LED array,

wherein said first resonant impedance circuit includes means for directing a first flow of a first alternating current through said first LED array in response to the alternating voltage having a first polarity and directing a second flow of the first alternating current through said first LED array in response to the alternating voltage having a second polarity.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said first LED array includes at least one of a LED pair, a LED string and a LED matrix.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein said first LED array includes a switch operable to control at least one of the first flow and the second flow of the first alternating current through said first LED array.

15. The device of claim 12,

further comprising a second LED array having a second anti-parallel configuration;

wherein said first resonant impedance circuit is connected to said second LED array in a second series resonant, series loaded configuration having said first resonant impedance circuit connected in series between said inverter and said second LED array; and

wherein said first resonant impedance circuit includes means for directing a third flow of a second alternating current through said second LED array in response to the alternating voltage having the first polarity and directing a fourth flow of the second alternating current through said second LED array in response to the alternating voltage having the second polarity.

16. The device of claim 15,

wherein said first LED array includes a first switch operable to control at least one of the first flow and the second flow of the first alternating current through said first LED array;

and

wherein said second LED array includes a second switch operable to control at least one of the third flow and the fourth flow of the second alternating current through said second LED array.

17. The device of claim 12, further comprising:

a second LED array having a second anti-parallel configuration; and

a second resonant impedance circuit connected to said second LED array in a second series resonant, series loaded configuration having said second resonant impedance circuit connected In series between said Inverter and said second LED array,

wherein said second resonant impedance circuit includes means for directing third flow of a second alternating current through said second LED array in response to the alternating voltage having the first polarity and directing a fourth flow of the second alternating current through said second LED array in response to the alternating voltage having the second polarity.

18. The device of claim 17,

wherein said first LED array includes a first switch operable to control at least one of the first flow and the second flow of the first alternating current through said first LED array;

and

wherein said second LED array includes a second switch operable to control at least one of the third flow and the fourth flow of the second alternating current through said second LED array.

19. A device, comprising:

at least one LED array, each LED array having an anti-parallel configuration excluding any parallel connections to capacitors;

an inverter means for providing an alternating voltage; and

a resonant impedance means connected to each LED array in a series resonant, series loaded configuration having said resonant impedance means connected in series between said inverter and each LED array, said resonant impedance means for directing a first flow of a first alternating current through said at least one LED array in response to the alternating voltage having a first polarity and directing a second flow of the first alternating current through said at least one LED array in response to the alternating voltage having a second polarity.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein said at least one LED array includes switching means for controlling at least one of the first flow and the second flow of the first alternating current through said at least one LED array.

21. A device, comprising:

a first LED array having a first anti-parallel configuration;

an inverter operable to provide an alternating voltage;

a first resonant impedance circuit including a first resonant inductor and a first resonant capacitor connected to said first LED array in a first series resonant, series loaded configuration having said first resonant inductor connected in series to said inverter, and said first resonant capacitor connected in series between said first resonant inductor and said first LED array,

wherein said first resonant impedance circuit directs a first flow of a first alternating current through said first LED array in response to the alternating voltage having a first polarity and directs a second flow of the first alternating current through said first LED array in response to the alternating voltage having a second polarity; and

a second LED array having a second anti-parallel configuration,

wherein said first resonant impedance circuit further includes a second resonant capacitor,

wherein said first resonant inductor and said second resonant capacitor are connected to said second LED array in a second series resonant, series loaded configuration having said first resonant inductor connected in series to said inverter, and said second resonant capacitor connected in series between said first resonant inductor and said second LED array, and

wherein said first resonant impedance circuit directs a third flow of a second alternating current through said second LED array in response to the alternating voltage having the firm polarity and directs a fourth flow of the second alternating current through said second LED array in response to the alternating voltage having the second polarity.

22. A device, comprising:

a first LED array having a first anti-parallel configuration;

an inverter operable to provide an alternating voltage;

a first resonant impedance circuit including a first resonant inductor and a first resonant capacitor connected to said first LED array in a first series resonant, series loaded configuration having said first resonant inductor connected in series to said inverter, and said first resonant capacitor connected in series between said first resonant inductor and said first LED array,

wherein said first resonant impedance circuit directs a first flow of a first alternating current through said first LED array in response to the alternating voltage having a first polarity and directs a second flow of the first alternating current through said first LED array in response to the alternating voltage having a second polarity;

a second LED array having a second anti-parallel configuration; and

a second resonant impedance circuit including a second resonant inductor and a second resonant capacitor connected to said second LED array in a second series resonant, series loaded configuration having said second resonant inductor connected in series to said inverter, and said second resonant capacitor connected in series between said second resonant inductor and said second LED array,

wherein said second resonant impedance circuit directs a third flow of a second alternating current through said second LED array in response to the alternating voltage having the first polarity and directs a fourth flow of the second alternating current through said second LED array in response to the alternating voltage having the second polarity.

23. A device, comprising:

a first LED array having a first anti-parallel configuration;

an inverter operable to provide an alternating voltage; and

a first resonant impedance circuit connected to said first LED array in a first series resonant, series loaded configuration having said first resonant impedance circuit connected in series between said inverter and said first LED array,

wherein said first resonant impedance circuit includes means for directing a first flow of a first alternating current through said first LED array in response to the alternating voltage having a first polarity and directing a second flow of the first alternating current through said first LED array in response to the alternating voltage having a second polarity; and

a second LED array having a second anti-parallel configuration,

wherein said first resonant impedance circuit is connected to said second LED array in a second series resonant, series loaded configuration having said first resonant impedance circuit connected in series between said inverter and said second LED array, and

wherein said first resonant impedance circuit includes means for directing a third flow of a second alternating current through said second LED array in response to the alternating voltage having the first polarity and directing a fourth flow of the second alternating current through said second LED array in response to the alternating voltage having the second polarity.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein said first LED array includes a first switch operable to control at least one of the first flow and the second flow of the first alternating current through said first LED array.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein said second LED array includes a second switch operable to control at least one of the third flow and the fourth flow of the second alternating current through said second LED array.

26. A device, comprising:

a first LED array having a first anti-parallel configuration;

an inverter operable to provide an alternating voltage; and

a first resonant impedance circuit connected to said first LED array in a first series resonant, series loaded configuration having said first resonant impedance circuit connected in series between said inverter and said first LED array,

wherein said first resonant impedance circuit includes means for directing a first flow of a first alternating current through said first LED array in response to the alternating voltage having a first polarity and directing a second flow of the first alternating current through said first LED array in response to the alternating voltage having a second polarity;

a second LED array having a second anti-parallel configuration; and

a second resonant impedance circuit connected to said second LED array in a second series resonant, series loaded configuration having said second resonant impedance circuit connected in series between said inverter and said second LED array,

wherein said second resonant impedance circuit includes means for directing third flow of a second alternating current through said second LED array in response to the alternating voltage having the first polarity and directing a fourth flow of the second alternating current through said second LED array in response to the alternating voltage having the second polarity.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein said first LED array includes a first switch operable to control at least one of the first flow and the second of the first alternating current through said first LED array.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein said second LED array includes a second switch operable to control at least one of the third flow and the fourth flow of the second alternating current through said second LED array.