Light emitting diode driving circuit

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Taiwanese Patent Application No. 097143814, filed Nov. 13, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a driving circuit and, more particularly to a light emitting diode (LED) driving circuit.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIG. 7 , a conventional LED driving circuit 70 is adapted to drive a LED load 300 . The LED driving circuit 70 includes a transformer T 1 , a rectifying filtering circuit 72 , a pulse width modulation integrated circuit (PWM IC) 74 , a feedback circuit 76 , and a constant current circuit 78 . The transformer T 1 has a primary side and a secondary side. The rectifying filtering circuit 72 is electrically coupled to the secondary side of the transformer T 1 and used to rectify and filter alternating current (AC) power outputted from the secondary side of the transformer T 1 and output a direct current (DC) voltage from an output terminal thereof. The PWM IC 74 is electrically coupled to the primary side of the transformer T 1 . The feedback circuit 76 has an inverting input terminal and a non-inverting input terminal. The inverting input terminal is electrically coupled to the rectifying filtering circuit 72 to receive the DC voltage. The non-inverting input terminal receives a constant reference voltage Vref 1 . The feedback circuit 76 controls the PWM IC 74 according to both the DC voltage and the reference voltage Vref 1 respectively received by the inverting input terminal and the non-inverting input terminal thereof. The LED load 300 is electrically coupled between the output terminal of the rectifying filtering circuit 72 and an output terminal of the constant current circuit 78 . The constant current circuit 78 includes a three-terminal regulator U 2 , a field effect transistor Q 1 , and resistors Ra, Rb. An output terminal of the three-terminal regulator U 2 receives a DC voltage VCC through the pull-up resistor Rb. A gate terminal of the field effect transistor Q 1 is electrically coupled to the output terminal of the three-terminal regulator U 2 , a drain terminal thereof is electrically coupled to an input terminal of the three-terminal regulator U 2 , and a source terminal thereof is used as the output terminal of the constant current circuit 78 . The resistor Ra is electrically coupled between a ground terminal and the input terminal of the three-terminal regulator U 2 .

Furthermore, when there is a need to perform an external PWM dimming applied to the LED load 300 , a dimming circuit 79 is electrically coupled to the ground terminal of the three-terminal regulator U 2 of the constant current circuit 78 . The dimming circuit 79 includes an operational amplifier U 1 and a field effect transistor Q 3 . An inverting input terminal and a non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier U 1 respectively receive a pulse width modulation signal PWM and a reference voltage Vref 2 . An output terminal of the operational amplifier U 1 is electrically coupled to a gate terminal of the field effect transistor Q 3 . The field effect transistor Q 3 is electrically coupled between the ground terminal of the three-terminal regulator U 2 and a ground potential.

However, the LED driving circuit 70 utilizes the three-terminal regulator U 2 , the field effect transistor Q 1 , and the resistor Ra to produce a constant current output, and the outputted DC voltage is constant rather than varied with the LED load 300 , so that a relatively large power loss occurs on the field effect transistor Q 1 . In addition, an additional field effect transistor Q 3 is needed to perform the external PWM dimming.

The present invention is directed to provide a LED driving circuit capable of reducing a power loss.

Other advantages and objects of the present invention can be further comprehended through the technical features disclosed in the present invention.

In order to achieve one or part of or all the objectives or other objectives, a LED driving circuit in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is provided. The LED driving circuit is adapted to drive a LED load. The LED driving circuit includes a transformer, a rectifying filtering circuit, a pulse width modulation integrated circuit, a constant current circuit, and a feedback circuit. The transformer has a primary side and a secondary side. The rectifying filtering circuit is electrically coupled to the secondary side and has a first output terminal. The pulse width modulation integrated circuit is electrically coupled to the primary side. The constant current circuit has a second output terminal. The LED load is adapted to be electrically coupled between the first output terminal and the second output terminal. The feedback circuit has a first input terminal and a second input terminal. The first input terminal is electrically coupled to the first output terminal to receive a first voltage. The second input terminal is electrically coupled to the constant current circuit to receive a second voltage. The second voltage is capable of varying with a conduction status of the LED load. The feedback circuit is adapted to control the pulse width modulation integrated circuit according to the first voltage and the second voltage.

In one embodiment, the constant current circuit includes a three-terminal regulator, a diode, a field effect transistor, a first resistor, a second resistor, a third resistor, and a fourth resistor. A ground terminal of the three-terminal regulator is grounded, an input terminal of the three-terminal regulator is electrically coupled to the ground terminal through the fourth resistor, and an output terminal of the three-terminal regulator is adapted to receive a third voltage through the second resistor. An anode of the diode is electrically coupled to the second input terminal and adapted to receive a fourth voltage through the first resistor, and a cathode of the diode is electrically coupled to the output terminal of the three-terminal regulator through the third resistor. The field effect transistor is electrically coupled between the input terminal of the three-terminal regulator and the second output terminal, and a gate terminal of the field effect transistor is electrically coupled to the output terminal of the three-terminal regulator.

In one embodiment, the third voltage and the fourth voltage are equal to each other.

In one embodiment, the third voltage is outputted by an operational amplifier. The operational amplifier has a third input terminal and a fourth input terminal, the third input terminal is adapted to receive a reference voltage, and the fourth input terminal is adapted to receive a pulse width modulation signal.

Alternatively, in one embodiment, the constant current circuit includes a three-terminal regulator, a diode, a field effect transistor, a first resistor, a second resistor, a third resistor, and a fourth resistor. A ground terminal of the three-terminal regulator is grounded, an input terminal of the three-terminal regulator is electrically coupled to the ground terminal through the fourth resistor, and an output terminal of the three-terminal regulator is adapted to receive a third voltage through the first resistor and the second resistor connected in series. A cathode of the diode is electrically coupled to the second input terminal, and an anode of the diode is electrically coupled to a node formed between the first resistor and the second resistor through the third resistor. The field effect transistor is electrically coupled between the input terminal of the three-terminal regulator and the second output terminal, and a gate terminal of the field effect transistor is electrically coupled to the output terminal of the three-terminal regulator. Furthermore, the third voltage is outputted by an operational amplifier. In particular, the operational amplifier has a third input terminal and a fourth input terminal, the third input terminal is adapted to receive a reference voltage, and the fourth input terminal is adapted to receive a pulse width modulation signal.

In order to achieve one or part of or all the objectives or other objectives, another LED driving circuit in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is provided. The LED driving circuit is adapted to drive a plurality of LED loads connected in parallel. The LED driving circuit includes a transformer, a rectifying filtering circuit, a pulse width modulation integrated circuit, a plurality of constant current circuits, and a feedback circuit. The transformer has a primary side and a secondary side. The rectifying filtering circuit is electrically coupled to the secondary side and has a first output terminal. The pulse width modulation integrated circuit is electrically coupled to the primary side. Each of the constant current circuits has a second output terminal. The LED loads are respectively adapted to be electrically coupled between the first output terminal and the second output terminals. The feedback circuit has a first input terminal and a second input terminal. The first input terminal is electrically coupled to the first output terminal to receive a first voltage, and the second input terminal is electrically coupled to the constant current circuits to receive a second voltage provided by a particular constant current circuit of the constant current circuits. The second voltage is capable of varying with a conduction status of the LED load electrically coupled to the particular constant current circuit. The feedback circuit is adapted to control the pulse width modulation integrated circuit according to the first voltage and the second voltage.

In one embodiment, each of the constant current circuits includes a three-terminal regulator, a diode, a field effect transistor, a first resistor, a second resistor, a third resistor, and a fourth resistor. A ground terminal of the three-terminal regulator is grounded, an input terminal of the three-terminal regulator is electrically coupled to the ground terminal through the fourth resistor, and an output terminal of the three-terminal regulator is adapted to receive a third voltage through the first resistor and the second resistor connected in series. A cathode of the diode is electrically coupled to the second input terminal, and an anode of the diode is electrically coupled to a node formed between the first resistor and the second resistor through the third resistor. The field effect transistor is electrically coupled between the input terminal of the three-terminal regulator and the second output terminal, and a gate terminal of the field effect transistor is electrically coupled to the output terminal of the three-terminal regulator. Furthermore, the third voltage is outputted by an operational amplifier. In particular, the operational amplifier has a third input terminal and a fourth input terminal, the third input terminal is adapted to receive a reference voltage, and the fourth input terminal is adapted to receive a pulse width modulation signal.

In various embodiments of the present invention, the constant current circuit(s) is/are electrically coupled to the second input terminal of the feedback circuit, so as to supply a reference voltage varied with the conduction status of the LED load to the second input terminal. Therefore, a single constant current output or multiple constant current outputs may be realized and the output voltage of the rectifying filtering circuit coupled to the secondary side of the transformer varies with the LED load, the power loss is reduced as a result. Furthermore, when there is a need to perform an external PWM dimming applied to the LED load, no additional field effect transistor is needed as required in the prior art, therefore the cost is also reduced.

Other objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will be further understood from the further technological features disclosed by the embodiments of the present invention wherein there are shown and described preferred embodiments of this invention, simply by way of illustration of modes best suited to carry out the invention.

These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic circuit diagram of a LED driving circuit in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic circuit diagram of a LED driving circuit in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic circuit diagram of a LED driving circuit in accordance with a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic circuit diagram of a LED driving circuit in accordance with a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic circuit diagram of a LED driving circuit in accordance with a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic circuit diagram of a LED driving circuit in accordance with a sixth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic circuit diagram of a conventional LED driving circuit.

It is to be understood that other embodiment may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless limited otherwise, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” and “mounted,” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect connections, couplings, and mountings.

Referring to FIG. 1 , a LED driving circuit 10 in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention is adapted to drive a LED load 100 . The LED driving circuit 10 includes a transformer T 1 , a rectifying filtering circuit 12 , a pulse width modulation integrated circuit (PWM IC) 14 , a constant current circuit 16 , and a feedback circuit 18 .

The transformer T 1 includes a primary side and a secondary side. The rectifying filtering circuit 12 is electrically coupled to the secondary side of the transformer T 1 and used to rectify and filter an alternating current (AC) power outputted from the secondary side and output a direct current (DC) voltage from an output terminal 120 thereof. In this exemplary embodiment, the rectifying filtering circuit 12 is consisted of a rectifier diode D 1 , an inductor L 1 , and capacitors C 1 , C 2 . The PWM IC 14 is electrically coupled to the primary side of the transformer T 1 .

The constant current circuit 16 includes a three-terminal regulator U 2 , a diode D 2 , a field effect transistor Q 1 , and resistors R 3 , R 5 , R 6 and R 7 . A ground terminal of the three-terminal regulator U 2 is grounded, an input terminal of the three-terminal regulator U 2 is electrically coupled to the ground terminal through the resistor R 7 , and an output terminal of the three-terminal regulator U 2 is adapted to receive a DC voltage VCC through the resistor R 5 . An anode of the diode D 2 is adapted to receive the DC voltage VCC through the resistor R 3 , and a cathode of the diode D 2 is electrically coupled to the output terminal of the three-terminal regulator U 2 through the resistor R 6 . The field effect transistor Q 1 is electrically coupled between an output terminal 160 of the constant current circuit 16 and the input terminal of the three-terminal regulator U 2 , and a gate terminal of the field effect transistor Q 1 is electrically coupled to the output terminal of the three-terminal regulator U 2 . The node formed between the gate terminal of the field effect transistor Q 1 and the output terminal of the three-terminal regulator U 2 is defined as node A. The LED load 100 is adapted to be electrically coupled between the output terminal 120 of the rectifying filtering circuit 12 and the output terminal 160 of the constant current circuit 16 .

The feedback circuit 18 includes two resistors R 1 and R 2 coupled in serial, an operational amplifier U 1 A, a diode D 3 , an optoelectronic coupler ISO 1 , and a pull-up resistor R 4 . The DC voltage outputted from the output terminal 120 of the rectifying filtering circuit 12 is voltage-divided by the resistors R 1 and R 2 , and then is inputted into an inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier U 1 A. A non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier U 1 A is electrically coupled to the anode of the diode D 2 of the constant current circuit 16 . The node formed between the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier U 1 A and the anode of the diode D 2 is defined as node B. The diode D 3 is electrically coupled between an output terminal of the operational amplifier U 1 A and the optoelectronic coupler ISO 1 . The optoelectronic coupler ISO 1 receives the DC voltage VCC through the pull-up resistor R 4 and is electrically coupled to the PWM IC 14 . Herein, the feedback circuit 18 controls the PWM IC 14 according to signals received by the inverting input terminal and the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier U 1 A.

An operational principle of the LED driving circuit 10 of the first exemplary embodiment will be described in detail as follows.

(1) In the initial boot stage, the voltage drop between the two terminals of the resistor R 7 does not reach the threshold voltage (e.g., 1.25 volts) of the three-terminal regulator U 2 , the voltage at the node A is VCC. The voltage of the gate terminal of the field effect transistor Q 1 is VCC and the field effect transistor Q 1 keeps in on-state, and what is defined as stage one. In the stage one, based on the Kirchhoff's Voltage Law (KVL), no current flows through the diode D 2 and the resistor R 6 , the voltage at the node B is VCC. Therefore, VCC is a maximum reference voltage of the operational amplifier U 1 A of the feedback circuit 18 , and thus a maximum output voltage of the output terminal 120 of the rectifying filtering circuit 12 may be set based on the maximum reference voltage.

(2) When the voltage drop between the two terminals of the resistor R 7 reaches the threshold voltage of the three-terminal regulator U 2 , the three-terminal regulator U 2 turns on. The voltage at the node A is pulled down to a low potential, the gate terminal of the field effect transistor Q 1 is in the low potential, the field effect transistor Q 1 is in off-state, and what is defined as stage two. Once the field effect transistor Q 1 turns off and the voltage drop between the two terminals of the resistor R 7 does not reach the threshold voltage of the three-terminal regulator U 2 , the LED driving circuit 10 returns back to the stage one, and so repeatedly. Since the response speed of the three-terminal regulator U 2 is fast enough, a steady voltage VDD (not shown in FIG. 1 ) (VDD<VCC) is formed at the node A, and the voltage drop between the two terminals of the resistor R 7 keeps at the threshold voltage of the three-terminal regulator U 2 . As a result, the current flowing through the two terminals of the resistor R 7 is a constant current.

(3) When the steady voltage VDD is formed at the node A, the reference voltage (i.e., the voltage at the node B) of the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier U 1 A falls in between VCC and VDD. Therefore, the output voltage of the output terminal 120 of the rectifying filtering circuit 12 coupled to the secondary side of the transformer T 1 is lower than the maximum output voltage thereof and is directly proportional to the amount of the LEDs of the LED load 100 . In particular, the less the amount of the LEDs, the lower the value of the VDD as well as the output voltage. Accordingly, a single constant current output may be realized and the output voltage of the output terminal 120 of the rectifying filtering circuit 12 coupled to the secondary side of the transformer T 1 varies with the LED load 100 , the power loss is reduced as a result. In this exemplary embodiment, the voltage of the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier U 1 A (i.e., the voltage at the node B) varies with the conduction status of the LED load 100 .

Referring to FIG. 2 , a LED driving circuit 20 in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention is similar to the LED driving circuit 10 of the first exemplary embodiment, and the difference is that the LED driving circuit 20 further includes an operational amplifier U 1 B to perform an external PWM dimming for the LED load 100 . Correspondingly, the output terminal of the three-terminal regulator U 2 is electrically coupled to the operational amplifier U 1 B through the resistor R 5 , rather than directly receive the DC voltage VCC through the resistor R 5 as shown in FIG. 1 . More specifically, the power terminal of the operational amplifier U 1 B directly receives the DC voltage VCC, the ground terminal thereof is grounded, the inverting input terminal thereof receives the reference voltage Vref, the non-inverting input terminal thereof receives the pulse width modulation signal PWM, and an output terminal thereof is used to output a DC voltage to the output terminal of the three-terminal regulator U 2 through the resistor R 5 .

An operational principle of the LED driving circuit 20 of the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail as follows.

(1) In the initial boot stage, when the pulse width modulation signal PWM is a low potential, the DC voltage outputted from the output terminal of the operational amplifier U 1 B is a low potential, the gate terminal of the field effect transistor Q 1 is in the low potential. The field effect transistor Q 1 is in off-state, the LED load 100 is in off-state correspondingly, and at this time the node A is in a low potential. Based on the KVL, there is a current flowing through the diode D 2 and the resistor R 6 , the voltage at the node B is VEE (not shown in FIG. 2 ) (VEE<VCC), and what is defined as stage one. In the stage one, the output voltage of the output terminal 120 of the rectifying filtering circuit 12 coupled to the secondary side of the transformer T 1 is lower than the maximum output voltage thereof.

(2) When the pulse width modulation signal PWM is a high potential and the voltage drop between the two terminals of the resistor R 7 does not reach the threshold voltage of the three-terminal regulator U 2 , the three-terminal regulator U 2 keeps in off-state. The DC voltage outputted from the output terminal of the operational amplifier U 1 B is a high potential VCC, the voltage at the node A also is VCC. That is, the gate terminal of the field effect transistor Q 1 is in a high potential, the field effect transistor Q 1 turns on, and what is defined as stage two. In the stage two, based on the KVL, no current flows through the diode D 2 and the resistor R 6 , and the voltage at the node B is VCC. Therefore, VCC is the maximum reference voltage of the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier U 1 A, and the maximum output voltage of the output terminal 120 of the rectifying filtering circuit 12 coupled to the secondary side of the transformer T 1 may be set according to the maximum reference voltage.

(3) When the voltage drop between the two terminals of the resistor R 7 reaches the threshold voltage of the three-terminal regulator U 2 , the three-terminal regulator U 2 turns on. The voltage at the node A is pulled down to a low potential, the gate terminal of the field effect transistor Q 1 is in a low potential, the field effect transistor Q 1 turns off, and what is defined as stage three. Once the field effect transistor Q 1 turns off, the voltage drop between the two terminals of the resistor R 7 does not reach the threshold voltage of the three-terminal regulator U 2 , and the LED driving circuit 20 returns back to the stage two, and so repeatedly. Since the response speed of the three-terminal regulator U 2 is fast enough, a steady voltage VDD (not shown in FIG. 2 ) (VDD<VCC) is formed at the node A, the voltage drop between the two terminals of the resistor R 7 keeps at the threshold voltage of the three-terminal regulator U 2 . As a result, the current flowing through the resistor R 7 is a constant current.

(4) When the steady voltage VDD is formed at the node A, the reference voltage of the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier U 1 A, i.e., the voltage at the node B, falls in between VCC and VDD. Therefore, the output voltage of the output terminal 120 of the rectifying filtering circuit 12 coupled to the secondary side of the transformer T 1 may be lower than the maximum output voltage thereof, and is directly proportional to the amount of the LEDs of the LED load 100 . In particular, the less the amount of the LEDs, the lower the value of VDD as well as the output voltage. Accordingly, a single-group constant current output may be realized and the output voltage of the output terminal 120 of the rectifying filtering circuit 12 coupled to the secondary side of the transformer T 1 varies with the load, the power loss is reduced as a result. In this exemplary embodiment, the voltage of the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier U 1 A (i.e., the voltage at the node B) also varies with the conduction status of the LED load 100 .

Referring to FIG. 3 , a LED driving circuit 30 in accordance with a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention is similar to the LED driving circuit 10 of the first exemplary embodiment, and what is difference is that the circuit structural configuration of a constant current circuit 36 of the LED driving circuit 30 is different from that of the constant current circuit 16 of the LED driving circuit 10 of the first exemplary embodiment.

In particular, the constant current circuit 36 includes a three-terminal regulator U 2 , a diode D 2 , a field effect transistor Q 1 and resistors R 3 , R 5 , R 6 and R 7 . The ground terminal of the three-terminal regulator U 2 is electrically coupled to the ground potential, the input terminal of the three-terminal regulator U 2 is electrically coupled to the ground terminal thereof through the resistor R 7 , and the output terminal of the three-terminal regulator U 2 is adapted to receive the DC voltage VCC through the two series-connected resistors R 3 and R 5 . The node formed between the two series-connected resistors R 3 and R 5 is defined as node A. The anode of the diode D 2 is electrically coupled to the node A through the resistor R 6 , and the cathode of the diode D 2 is electrically coupled to the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier U 1 A of the feedback circuit 18 . The node formed between the cathode of the diode D 2 and the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier U 1 A is defined as node B. The field effect transistor Q 1 is electrically coupled between the output terminal 360 of the constant current circuit 36 and the input terminal of the three-terminal regulator U 2 , and the gate terminal of the field effect transistor Q 1 is electrically coupled to the output terminal of the three-terminal regulator U 2 .

The operational principle of the LED driving circuit 30 is similar to that of the LED driving circuit 10 of the first exemplary embodiment, and thus may not be repeated herein.

Referring to FIG. 4 , a LED driving circuit 40 in accordance with a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention is similar to the LED driving circuit 30 of the third exemplary embodiment, and what is difference is that the LED driving circuit 40 further includes an operational amplifier U 1 B to perform an external PWM dimming applied to the LED load 100 . Correspondingly, the output terminal of the three-terminal regulator U 2 is electrically coupled to the operational amplifier U 1 B through the two series-connected resistors R 3 and R 5 , rather than directly receive the DC voltage VCC through the two series-connected resistors R 3 and R 5 as shown in FIG. 3 . More specifically, the power terminal of the operational amplifier U 1 B receives the DC voltage VCC, the ground terminal thereof is electrically coupled to the ground potential, the inverting input terminal thereof receives a reference voltage Vref, the non-inverting input terminal thereof receives a pulse width modulation signal PWM, and the output terminal thereof is configured for outputting a DC voltage to the output terminal of the three-terminal regulator U 2 through the two series-connected resistors R 3 and R 5 .

An operational principle of the LED driving circuit 40 is similar to that of the LED driving circuit 20 of the third exemplary embodiment, and thus may not be repeated herein.

Referring to FIG. 5 , a LED driving circuit 50 in accordance with a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention is adapted to drive a plurality of LED load 100 , 200 connected in parallel. The LED driving circuit 50 is similar to the LED driving circuit 30 of the third exemplary embodiment, and what is difference is that the LED driving circuit 50 further includes another constant current circuit 47 .

The constant current circuit 47 and the constant current circuit 36 have similar circuit structural configurations. In particular, the constant current circuit 47 includes a three-terminal regulator U 3 , a diode D 4 , a field effect transistor Q 2 and resistors R 8 , R 9 , R 10 and R 11 . The ground terminal of the three-terminal regulator U 3 is electrically coupled to the ground potential, the input terminal of the three-terminal regulator U 3 is electrically coupled to the ground terminal thereof through the resistor R 10 , and the output terminal of the three-terminal regulator U 3 is adapted to receive the DC voltage VCC through the two series-connected resistors R 9 and R 11 . The node formed between the resistors R 9 and R 11 is defined as node C. The anode of the diode D 4 is electrically coupled to the node C through the resistor R 8 , and the cathode of the diode D 4 is electrically coupled to the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier U 1 A of the feedback circuit 18 . The field effect transistor Q 2 is electrically coupled between an output terminal 470 of the constant current circuit 47 and the input terminal of the three-terminal regulator U 3 , and the gate terminal of the field effect transistor Q 2 is electrically coupled to the output terminal of the three-terminal regulator U 3 . The LED load 200 is adapted to be electrically coupled between the output terminal 120 of the rectifying filtering circuit 12 and the output terminal 470 of the constant current circuit 47 .

In this exemplary embodiment, the LED driving circuit 50 may produce two constant current outputs, an operational principle thereof is similar to the operational principle of the LED driving circuit 30 of the third exemplary embodiment and thus may not be repeated herein. However, when the LED driving circuit 50 is applied to the plurality of LED loads 100 , 200 connected in parallel, differences of the forward threshold voltages of the LEDs ought to be taken in consideration. That is, different driving voltages would be required in order to obtain a same current for the LED loads have the same amount of LEDs. Therefore, in the application of the plurality of LED loads 100 , 200 connected in parallel, a maximum driving voltage is taken to drive each of the LED loads 100 , 200 connected in parallel. Otherwise, some of the LEDs would have a low brightness because of the insufficient driving voltage.

The output voltage of the output terminal 120 of the rectifying filtering circuit 12 of the LED driving circuit 50 still is determined by the voltage of the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier U 1 A (i.e., the voltage at the node B). The higher the voltage at the node B, the higher the output voltage of the output terminal 120 of the rectifying filtering circuit 12 coupled to the secondary side of the transformer T 1 . As shown in FIG. 5 , the voltages at the node A and the node C are directly proportional to the driving voltages required by the LED loads 100 , 200 respectively. That is, if the driving voltage required by the LED load 100 is higher than the driving voltage required by the LED load 200 , the voltage at the node A is higher than the voltage at the node C. Therefore, the voltage at the node B is determined by the voltage at the node A, and the output terminal 120 of the rectifying filtering circuit 12 may output the required driving voltage.

Referring to FIG. 6 , a LED driving circuit 60 in accordance with a sixth exemplary embodiment of the present invention is similar to the LED driving circuit 50 of the fifth exemplary embodiment, and what is difference is that the LED driving circuit 60 further includes an operational amplifier U 1 B to perform an external PWM dimming applied to the LED loads 100 , 200 . Correspondingly, the output terminal of the three-terminal regulator U 2 is electrically coupled to the operational amplifier U 1 B through the two series-connected resistors R 3 and R 5 , rather than directly receive the DC voltage VCC as shown in FIG. 5 . The output terminal of the three-terminal regulator U 3 is electrically coupled to the operational amplifier U 1 B through the two series-connected resistors R 9 and R 11 , rather than directly receive the DC voltage VCC as shown in FIG. 5 . More specifically, the power terminal of the operational amplifier U 1 B receives the DC voltage VCC, the ground terminal thereof is electrically coupled to the ground potential, the inverting input terminal thereof receives a reference voltage Vref, the non-inverting input terminal thereof receives a pulse width modulation signal PWM, and the output terminal thereof is configured for outputting the DC voltage to the output terminal of the three-terminal regulator U 2 and the output terminal of the three-terminal regulator U 3 respectively through the two series-connected resistors R 3 and R 5 and the two series-connected resistors R 9 and R 11 .

An operational principle of the LED driving circuit 60 is similar to that of the LED driving circuit 20 of the third exemplary embodiment and the LED driving circuit 50 of the fifth exemplary embodiment, and thus may not be repeated herein.

In summary, in the various embodiments of the present invention, the constant current circuit(s) is/are electrically coupled to an input terminal of the feedback circuit for supplying a reference voltage varied with the conduction status of the LED load to the input terminal. Therefore, a single constant current output or multiple constant current outputs may be achieved and the output voltage of the rectifying filtering circuit coupled to the secondary side of the transformer varies with the LED load, the power loss is reduced as a result. Furthermore, when there is a need to perform an external PWM dimming applied to the LED load(s), no additional field effect transistor is needed as required in the prior art, therefore the cost is also reduced.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form or to exemplary embodiments disclosed. Accordingly, the foregoing description should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Obviously, many modifications and variations may be apparent to practitioners skilled in this art. The embodiments are chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its best mode practical application, thereby to enable persons skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use or implementation contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents in which all terms are meant in their broadest reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated. Therefore, the term “the invention”, “the present invention” or the like is not necessary limited the claim scope to a specific embodiment, and the reference to particularly preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention does not imply a limitation on the invention, and no such limitation is to be inferred. The invention is limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The abstract of the disclosure is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, which will allow a searcher to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure of any patent issued from this disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Any advantages and benefits described may not apply to all embodiments of the invention. It should be appreciated that variations may be made in the embodiments described by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims. Moreover, no element and component in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element or component is explicitly recited in the following claims.