Open-circuit protection circuit of constant current driving circuit for light emitting diodes

• US 9,072,126 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2010
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inventronics (Hangzhou), Inc.
• Original Assignee: Inventronics (Hangzhou), Inc.
• Inventors: Ge, Liang'an, Yao, Xiaoli
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hai L
• Application Number:
  US13/814,771
• Publication Number:
  US 20130154482A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,642 Days
• Field of Search: 315/121, 315/160, 315/161, 315/172, 315/176
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/385 using flyback topology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/50 responsive to malfunctions or undesirable behaviour of LEDs; responsive to LED life; Protective circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/24 Circuit arrangements for protecting against overvoltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

A open-circuit protection circuit of a constant current driving circuit for light emitting diodes is disclosed, which includes that: a transformer (Ta1), which has at least one secondary winding (WT1), is connected to at least two load branches (A1, A2); a commutating loop is composed of each load branches (A1, A2) and one secondary winding (WT1), wherein the secondary winding (WT1) has tap ends; a current sharing transformer (T1) is set in two neighbor load branch (A1, A2); each load branch (A1, A2) is separately connected to one open-circuit protection module (10). The open circuit protection module (10) includes: a detection control unit (101), used for outputting a control signal to a processing unit (102) when the detection control unit detects that the output voltages of each load branch (A1, A2) or the voltages proportionate to the output voltages are not less than a corresponding preset threshold; the processing unit (102), used for shorting one secondary sub winding (WT11, WT12) in the corresponding load branch (A1, A2) and a sharing current winding (W1) of the current sharing transformer (T1) in series with the secondary sub winding (WT11, WT12) when receiving the control signal. With the embodiments of the present invention, the cost and the bulk of the current sharing transformer (T1) can be reduced.

Claims

1. An open-circuit protection circuit of a constant current driving circuit for light emitting diodes, comprising a transformer which comprises at least one secondary winding connected to at least two load branches, each of the load branches having a same structure;

wherein;

each of the load branches and the secondary winding form a rectification loop, and the secondary winding has a tap end which divides the secondary winding into two secondary sub-windings;

the circuit further comprises a current sharing transformer provided in two adjacent load branches; and

each of the load branches is connected to an open-circuit protection module which comprises a detection control unit and a processing unit, wherein;

the detection control unit is configured to output a control signal to the processing unit when the detection control unit detects that an output voltage of the load branch or a voltage proportional to the output voltage is not less than a corresponding preset threshold; and

the processing unit is configured to short the secondary sub-winding in the corresponding load branch and a current sharing winding of the current sharing transformer connected in series with the secondary sub-winding once the control signal is received.

2. The open-circuit protection circuit of the constant current driving circuit for light emitting diodes according to claim 1, wherein, in each of the load branches,

a dotted end of the secondary winding is connected to an anode of a first diode, and a cathode of the first diode is connected to an non-dotted end of the secondary winding via a first output capacitor;

one terminal of the first output capacitor which is connected to the cathode of the first diode serves as a positive output terminal of the load branch, and the other terminal of the first output capacitor serves as a negative output terminal of the load branch; and

a winding of the current sharing transformer provided in the load branch and the adjacent load branch is connected in series between the non-dotted end of the secondary winding and the negative output terminal of the load branch comprising the secondary winding.

3. The open-circuit protection circuit of the constant current driving circuit for light emitting diodes according to claim 2, wherein the processing unit comprises a second diode, a first capacitor and a switching device, wherein:

an anode of the second diode is connected to the tap end of the secondary winding, and a cathode of the second diode is connected to a first terminal of the switching device;

a second terminal of the switching device is connected to the negative output terminal of the load branch, and a control terminal of the switching device is connected to a control signal output terminal of the detection control unit; and

the first capacitor is connected in parallel with the switching device between the first and second terminals of the switching device.

4. The open-circuit protection circuit of the constant current driving circuit for light emitting diodes according to claim 3, wherein the detection control unit comprises a zener diode, a first resistor, a second resistor and a first filter capacitor;

the switching device is a thyristor, an anode of the thyristor serves as the first terminal of the switching device, and a cathode of the thyristor serves as the second terminal of the switching device; and

a cathode of the zener diode is connected to the positive output terminal of the load branch, an anode of the zener diode is connected to the negative output terminal of the load branch via the first resistor and the second resistor, and the first filter capacitor is connected in parallel with the second resistor.

5. The open-circuit protection circuit of the constant current driving circuit for light emitting diodes according to claim 1, wherein, in each of the load branches,

a dotted end of the secondary winding is connected to an anode of a first diode via a first output capacitor, and a cathode of the first diode is connected to an non-dotted end of the secondary winding;

one terminal of the first output capacitor which is connected to the dotted end of the secondary winding serves as a positive output terminal of the load branch, and the other terminal of the first output capacitor which is connected to the anode of the first diode serves as a negative output terminal of the load branch; and

a winding of the current sharing transformer provided in the load branch and the adjacent load branch is connected in series between the dotted end of the secondary winding and the positive output terminal of the load branch comprising the secondary winding.

6. The open-circuit protection circuit of the constant current driving circuit for light emitting diodes according to claim 5, wherein the processing unit comprises a second diode, a first capacitor and a switching device, wherein:

a first terminal of the switching device is connected to the positive output terminal of the load branch, a second terminal of the switching device is connected to an anode of the second diode, and a cathode of the second diode is connected to the tap end of the secondary winding; and

a control terminal of the switching device is connected to a control signal output terminal of the detection control unit; and

the first capacitor is connected in parallel with the switching device between the first and second terminals of the switching device.

7. The open-circuit protection circuit of the constant current driving circuit for light emitting diodes according to claim 1, wherein a primary side of the transformer comprises a primary winding and a switch;

the transformer and the switch form a flyback topology circuit; and

a dotted end of the primary winding of the transformer is connected to one terminal of the switch, the other terminal of the switch is connected to a negative terminal of a power supply, and an non-dotted end of the primary winding of the transformer is connected to a positive terminal of the power supply.

8. An open-circuit protection circuit of a constant current driving circuit for light emitting diodes, comprising a transformer which comprises at least one secondary winding connected to at least two load branches, each of the load branches having a same structure;

wherein;

each of the load branches and the secondary winding form a rectification loop, and the secondary winding has a tap end which divides the secondary winding into two secondary sub-windings;

the circuit further comprises a current sharing transformer connected in series in each of the load branches, wherein a primary current sharing winding of each current sharing transformer is respectively connected to a secondary sub-winding of a secondary winding corresponding to each of the load branches, and secondary current sharing windings of the current sharing transformers are connected in series sequentially; and

each of the load branches is connected to an open-circuit protection module which comprises a detection control unit and a processing unit, wherein;

the detection control unit is configured to output a control signal to the processing unit when the detection control unit detects that an output voltage of the load branch or a voltage proportional to the output voltage is not less than a corresponding preset threshold; and

the processing unit is configured to perform shorting between the tab end of the secondary winding and one terminal of the primary current sharing winding of the current sharing transformer which is not connected to the secondary winding once the control signal is received.

9. The open-circuit protection circuit of the constant current driving circuit for light emitting diodes according to claim 8, wherein, in each of the load branches,

a dotted end of the secondary winding is connected to an anode of a first diode, and a cathode of the first diode is connected to an non-dotted end of the secondary winding via a first output capacitor;

one terminal of the first output capacitor which is connected to the cathode of the first diode serves as a positive output terminal of the load branch, and the other terminal of the first output capacitor serves as a negative output terminal of the load branch; and

the primary current sharing winding of the current sharing transformer is connected in series between the non-dotted end of the secondary winding and the negative output terminal of the load branch comprising the secondary winding.

10. The open-circuit protection circuit of the constant current driving circuit for light emitting diodes according to claim 9, wherein the processing unit comprises a second diode, a first capacitor and a switching device, wherein:

an anode of the second diode is connected to the tap end of the secondary winding, and a cathode of the second diode is connected to a first terminal of the switching device;

a second terminal of the switching device is connected to the negative output terminal of the load branch, and a control terminal of the switching device is connected to a control signal output terminal of the detection control unit; and

the first capacitor is connected in parallel with the switching device between the first and second terminals of the switching device.

11. The open-circuit protection circuit of the constant current driving circuit for light emitting diodes according to claim 10, wherein the detection control unit comprises a zener diode, a first resistor, a second resistor and a first filter capacitor;

the switching device is a thyristor, an anode of the thyristor serves as the first terminal of the switching device, and a cathode of the thyristor serves as the second terminal of the switching device; and

a cathode of the zener diode is connected to the positive output terminal of the load branch, an anode of the zener diode is connected to the negative output terminal of the load branch via the first resistor and the second resistor, and the first filter capacitor is connected in parallel with the second resistor.

12. The open-circuit protection circuit of the constant current driving circuit for light emitting diodes according to claim 8, wherein, in each of the load branches,

a dotted end of the secondary winding is connected to an anode of a first diode via a first output capacitor, and a cathode of the first diode is connected to an non-dotted end of the secondary winding;

one terminal of the first output capacitor which is connected to the dotted end of the secondary winding serves as a positive output terminal of the load branch, and the other terminal of the first output capacitor which is connected to the anode of the first diode serves as a negative output terminal of the load branch; and

the current sharing winding of the current sharing transformer is connected in series between the dotted end of the secondary winding and the positive output terminal of the load branch comprising the secondary winding.

13. The open-circuit protection circuit of the constant current driving circuit for light emitting diodes according to claim 12, wherein the processing unit comprises a second diode, a first capacitor and a switching device, wherein:

a first terminal of the switching device is connected to the positive output terminal of the load branch, a second terminal of the switching device is connected to an anode of the second diode, and a cathode of the second diode is connected to the tap end of the secondary winding; and

a control terminal of the switching device is connected to a control signal output terminal of the detection control unit; and

the first capacitor is connected in parallel with the switching device between the first and second terminals of the switching device.

14. The open-circuit protection circuit of the constant current driving circuit for light emitting diodes according to claim 8, wherein a primary side of the transformer comprises a primary winding and a switch;

the transformer and the switch form a flyback topology circuit; and

a dotted end of the primary winding of the transformer is connected to one terminal of the switch, the other terminal of the switch is connected to a negative terminal of a power supply, and an non-dotted end of the primary winding of the transformer is connected to a positive terminal of the power supply.