LED driving circuit and protection circuit for DC/DC converter

The present invention relates to the field of LED lighting, and more particularly to a LED Circuit having a protection circuit.

With the declining costs of LED manufacturing, LED lights with high efficiency, low power consumption, long life and other advantages will become more widely used in the field of lighting. In practical applications, the stability of the circuit design has attracted more and more attention, therefore overvoltage protection for the LED driver is particularly important.

The traditional overvoltage protection circuit is often more complex, while there is a continuous current flow when the LED is operating, leading to the entire circuit generating additional power loss. On the other hand, in order to meet the needs of different brightness and energy saving goals, LED and traditional dimming circuits needed to be combined together. At this point, the traditional overvoltage protection circuit will participate in the operating resonance of the driver, thereby impacting the universality of dimming circuit selection.

For the above reasons, it is necessary to provide a protection circuit for a DC/DC conversion circuit and an LED driver including this protection circuit to solve the technical problem mentioned above.

In one embodiment of the present invention, an LED driver comprises a DC/DC conversion circuit and a protection circuit. The DC/DC conversion circuit is used to convert the input voltage of the DC voltage input terminal into the output voltage, and the DC/DC conversion circuit comprises a high frequency switch and the first inductor. The protection circuit comprises a detection module, a trigger module and a locking module. The detection module is coupled to the first inductor for detecting the output voltage and outputting a voltage detection signal; the trigger module is used for receiving the voltage detection signal, and to output a voltage trigger signal when the voltage detection signal is negative and the absolute value of the negative voltage is greater than or equal to the present value; the locking module is coupled to the trigger module and stops the high frequency switch from operating after receiving the voltage trigger signal.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a protection circuit of a DC/DC converter comprises a protection circuit that comprises a detection module, trigger module and locking module. The protection circuit comprises a detection module, a trigger module and a locking module. The detection module is coupled to the first inductor for detecting the output voltage and outputting a voltage detection signal; the trigger module is used for receiving the voltage detection signal, and to output a voltage trigger signal when the voltage detection signal is negative and the absolute value of the negative voltage is greater than or equal to the present value; the locking module is coupled to the trigger module and stops the high frequency switch from operating after receiving the voltage trigger signal.

The protection circuit of the DC/DC converter may be used in a self-oscillating circuit. When the DC/DC converter is in normal operation, there is no current flow in the locking circuit of the protection circuit, so no additional power loss is generated from the entire circuit. Also, when the DC/DC converter and the dimming circuit are combined, the protection circuit does not participate in the operating resonance of the driver, thereby improving the universality of the dimming circuit.

The present invention will be better understood from the following description of embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a DC/DC converter protection circuit in the LED driver of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a circuit schematic diagram of an embodiment of the LED driver of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of the protection circuit portion of FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram showing the voltage detection signal output from the detection module of the driving circuit of the LED as shown in FIG. 2 and the output voltage of the driver of the LED, in relation to time;

FIG. 5 shows a partial waveform diagram of the voltage detection signal and the output voltage in relation to time as shown in FIG. 4 .

Unless otherwise defined, the technical and scientific terms used in the claims and the specification are as they are usually understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. “First”, “second” and similar words used in this specification and in the claims do not denote any order, quantity or importance, but are merely intended to distinguish between different constituents. Similarly, the terms “one”, “a” and the like are not meant to be limiting, but rather denote the presence of at least one. “Comprising”, “consisting” and similar words mean that elements or articles appearing before “comprising” or “consisting” include the elements or articles and their equivalent elements appearing behind “comprising” or “consisting”, not excluding any other elements or articles. “Connected”, “coupled” and similar words are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections, but may include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a module of an embodiment of a DC/DC converter protection circuit in the LED driver of the present invention. This protection circuit 100 is used for overvoltage protection of the DC/DC converter 101 in the LED driver. The DC/DC converter 101 may be a step-up DC/DC converter, a step-down DC/DC converter and a step-up/step-down DC/DC converter. The protection circuit 100 comprises a detection module 102 , a trigger module 103 and a locking module 104 . The DC/DC converter 101 is used for converting the input voltage at the DC voltage input terminal into an output voltage. The detection module 102 is coupled to the DC/DC converter 101 for detecting the output voltage and outputting a voltage detection signal. The trigger module 103 is used for receiving a voltage detection signal and outputting a voltage trigger signal when the voltage detection signal is a negative voltage and the absolute value of the negative voltage is greater than or equal to the preset value. The locking module 104 is coupled to the trigger module and locks the DC/DC converter after receiving the voltage trigger signal.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic circuit diagram of an embodiment of the LED driver of the present invention. The LED driver 200 comprises a power supply output terminal 10 , an EMI rectifier filter 201 , a DC/DC converter 101 , a protection circuit 100 and a load circuit 203 . The EMI rectifier filter 201 is used for converting the AC power input from the power supply input terminal 10 into direct current, and then converting the DC input voltage into a DC output voltage through the DC/DC converter 101 , and supplying the AC power to the load circuit 203 .

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 , the EMI rectifier filter 201 comprises a rectifier D 1 , a fuse Fu and a selectively connected resistor R 1 . The rectifier D 1 may be a bridge rectifier. The resistor R 1 is connected between the power supply output terminal 10 and the rectifier filter 201 for current limiting. The EMI rectifier filter 201 further comprises an inductor L 1 and an inductor L 2 connected between the power supply output terminal 10 and the rectifier D 1 , a resistor R 3 connected in parallel with inductor L 1 , a resistor R 2 connected in parallel with inductor L 2 , and a varistor RV 2 used for lightning protection. In other embodiments, the EMI rectifier filter 201 may comprise other circuit connections known to those skilled in the art.

The rectifier filter 201 further comprises an inductor L 3 for filtering, a capacitor C 1 , and a capacitor C 2 . The output terminal 12 and the contact 14 of the rectifier D 1 are respectively connected to both ends of the capacitor C 1 . One end of the inductor L 3 is coupled to the output terminal 12 , the other end is coupled to the contact 16 at one end of the capacitor C 2 , while the other end of the capacitor C 2 is grounded. The contact 16 at one end of the capacitor C 2 is the DC signal output terminal of the rectifier filter 201 .

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 , the DC/DC converter 101 comprises a high frequency switch Q 1 and a first inductor T 1 A. The high frequency of the high frequency switch Q 1 is relative to the linear frequency, which should be higher than 10 kHz under normal conditions. The high frequency switch Q 1 can be MOSFT, IGBT, solid state switch and other fixed, semi-controllable or controllable switching devices. The DC/DC converter 101 receives the DC voltage output from the rectifier filter 201 to be supplied to the first inductor T 1 A, and transmitted to the DC output voltage of the load circuit 203 through the on-off control of the high frequency switch Q 1 . The first inductor T 1 A has two contacts at both ends, contact C and contact D, where contact C is coupled to contact 16 , and contact D is coupled to the gate of the high frequency switch Q 1 .

The DC/DC converter 101 further comprises starting resistors R 5 and R 6 , a driving resistor R 8 , and a second capacitor C 5 . One end of the starting resistor R 5 is coupled to the contact point 16 , the other end of the starting resistor R 5 is connected in series with the starting resistor R 6 , while the other end of the driving resistor R 8 is coupled to the gate of the high frequency switch Q 1 . The starting resistors R 5 and R 6 are used to start the high frequency switch Q 1 , and after the high frequency switch Q 1 has started, the starting resistors R 5 and R 6 do not operate. The driving resistor R 8 and the second capacitor C 5 constitute an RC oscillator to control the resonance of the high frequency switch Q 1 , so as to control the DC voltage of the output of the DC/DC converter.

The DC/DC converter 101 further comprises a damping circuit coupled to the DC voltage input terminal. The damping circuit comprises a damping resistor R 4 and a third capacitor C 3 . One end of the damping resistor R 4 is coupled to the contact 16 , while the other end is connected to the third capacitor C 3 in series then grounded. The damping resistor R 4 and the third capacitor C 3 are used for tangential dimming as well as improving the compatibility between the dimming circuit (not shown) and the driver 200 .

The DC/DC converter 101 further comprises sampling resistors R 9 and R 10 , a resistor R 13 , and a switch Q 2 . One end of the resistor R 13 is coupled to the point of intersection between the driving resistor R 8 and the high frequency switch Q 1 , while the other end is connected to the collector of the switch Q 2 . The base of the switch Q 2 is connected to one end of the resistor R 14 , while the other end of the resistor R 14 is connected to the source of the high frequency switch Q 1 . The resistor R 9 is connected in parallel with the resistor R 10 , with one end connected to the source of the high frequency switch Q 1 and collecting the operating voltage of the high frequency switch Q 1 , while the other end is grounded together with the emitter of the switch Q 2 . In other embodiments, the sampling resistors R 9 and R 10 may be replaced by a resistor or replaced with a plurality of resistors connected in parallel or connected through other methods. The resistors R 13 and R 14 , as well as the switch Q 2 , constitute the peak current limiting circuit of the high frequency switch Q 1 . When the operating voltage of the high frequency switch Q 1 is greater than the preset value of the switch Q 2 , the switch Q 2 is turned off and the high frequency switch Q 1 is short-circuited. In the present embodiment, the switch Q 2 may be a comparator, with the voltage preset value of the comparator being 0.7 V. In other embodiments, the peak current limiting circuit may use other circuit connections known to those skilled in the art.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 , the load circuit 203 comprises a diode D 5 , a capacitor C 7 , and a resistor R 12 . The cathode of the diode D 5 is coupled to the contact D of the inductor T 1 A and receives the DC output voltage from the inductor T 1 A. The anode of the diode D 5 outputs a high frequency alternating voltage. The positive pole of the capacitor C 7 is coupled with the anode of the diode D 5 , the negative terminal of the capacitor C 7 is connected with the contact C of the inductor T 1 A, while the capacitor C 7 acts as a regulator. The resistor R 12 and the capacitor C 7 are connected in parallel then coupled with the load, which protects the load. In the present embodiment, at least one LED is combined with other circuit elements as a load to form an optical device.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 , the protection circuit 100 comprises a detection module 102 , a trigger module 103 , and a locking module 104 . The detection module 102 comprises a second inductor T 1 B, a first capacitor C 6 and a diode D 6 . The second inductor T 1 B has two contacts at both ends, the contacts A and B, with the contact B coupled to the cathode of the diode D 6 , the anode of the diode D 6 coupled to one end of the first capacitor C 6 , while the other end of the first capacitor C 6 is grounded. The second inductor T 1 B and the first inductor T 1 A are coupled to form a winding for mutual inductance. The contact A of the second inductor T 1 B and the contact D of the first inductor T 1 A form the dotted terminal. In other embodiments, the contact point A of the inductor T 1 B and the contact point C of the inductor T 1 A may be set as a dotted terminal, but an inverse unit must be added, such as an inverting amplifier. The first capacitor C 6 is coupled to the second inductor T 1 B and detects the voltage at both ends. Since the inductors T 1 B and T 1 A form the winding of the mutual inductance, the first capacitor C 6 can detect the voltage at both ends of the inductor T 1 A, i.e., the first capacitor C 6 can detect the output voltage from the DC/DC converter.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 , the trigger module 103 comprises a current limiting resistor R 20 , a second diode D 21 , and a Zener diode D 22 . One end of the current limiting resistor R 20 is grounded while the other end is coupled to the anode of the second diode D 21 , the cathode of the second diode D 21 is coupled to the cathode of the Zener diode D 22 , and the anode of the Zener diode D 22 is coupled to the locking module 104 . The trigger module 103 receives the voltage detection signal output from the detection module 102 and outputs a voltage trigger signal when the voltage detection signal is a negative voltage, and the absolute value of the negative voltage is greater than or equal to the preset value. In the embodiment shown in the figure, the preset value is the regulated value of the Zener diode D 22 , and when the voltage detection signal is greater than the regulated value of the Zener diode D 22 , the Zener diode D 22 is turned on and outputs the voltage trigger signal. In other embodiments, the Zener diode D 22 may be a bidirectional trigger diode.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 , the locking module 104 comprises a first diode D 20 and a thyristor Q 20 . The anode of the first diode D 20 is coupled to the point of intersection between the driving resistor R 8 and the second capacitor C 5 , the cathode of the first diode D 20 is coupled to the anode of the thyristor Q 20 , and the cathode of the thyristor Q 20 is coupled to the anode of the diode D 6 . The first diode D 20 is used to prevent the reverse voltage from being supplied to the thyristor Q 20 when the DC/DC converter 101 is in normal operation. The gate of the thyristor Q 20 is coupled to the anode of the Zener diode D 22 , which is turned on after being trigged by the voltage trigger signal received from the Zener diode D 22 , causing the high frequency switch Q 1 to stop operating. In other embodiments, the thyristor Q 20 may comprise at least two discrete transistors or other equivalent circuits.

The operating principle of the protection circuit 100 shown in FIG. 3 is described below with reference to FIG. 2 .

The protection circuit 100 has two modes of operations of monitoring and triggering. Under the monitoring mode, that is, when the load circuit 203 and the DC/DC converter 101 are in normal operation, the locking module 104 within the protection circuit 100 does not operate, i.e., the protection circuit 100 only has the detection module 102 that is electrically connected to the DC/DC converter 101 , with no current flowing through the trigger module 103 and the locking module 104 , resulting in no additional power loss. The LED lights up as normal.

Under the trigger mode, that is, when the load is damaged, which is equivalent to an open circuit, the voltage at both ends of the load rises rapidly, reaching the starting voltage of the protection circuit 100 , i.e., the voltage detection signal output from the detection module 102 is greater than or equal to the regulating value of the Zener diode D 22 in the trigger module, and the thyristor Q 20 in the locking module 104 is turned on. The locking module 104 electrically connects the first capacitor C 6 and the gate of the high frequency switch Q 1 so that the driving voltage of the high frequency switch Q 1 is reduced to a negative value and stops resonating. The first capacitor C 6 is discharged to 0 V, and the thyristor Q 20 is continuously turned on and discharges electricity through the starting resistors R 5 and R 6 , thereby completing a cycle, while the driver is in standby mode.

FIG. 4 shows the waveform of the voltage detection signal Vovp output from the detection module 102 of the LED driver 200 and the output voltage Vo output from the LED driver 200 in relation to time. FIG. 5 shows a partial magnification of the waveform shown in FIG. 4 between the time period of 0-70 ms. The operating principle of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is described below with reference to the waveform of the voltage detection signal Vovp output from the detection module 102 of the LED driver 200 and the output voltage Vo of the LED driver 200 in relation to time, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 .

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , when the load is operating as normal, the voltage Vo at both ends of the load is 45 V, while the protection circuit 100 is not operating. When the load is damaged, the voltage Vo at both ends of the load rises rapidly, and the absolute value of the negative voltage Vovp at both ends of the first capacitor C 6 in the detection module also rises rapidly. When the absolute value of the voltage Vovp is increased to the regulating value (about 6.8 V) of the Zener diode D 22 , the thyristor Q 20 is turned on, the high frequency switch Q 1 stops resonating, and the voltage Vovp at both ends of the first capacitor C 6 drops rapidly to 0 V. Through the power loss of the starting resistors R 5 and R 6 , the voltage Vo at both ends of the load is gradually reduced to 0 V, thereby achieving the objective of protecting the load circuit 203 as well as the entire LED driver 200 .

As described above, the protection circuit 100 of the LED driver 200 of the present invention responds quickly when the load is damaged to achieve overvoltage protection. When the driver 200 is operating as normal, no current is flowing in the locking circuit 103 , reducing the additional power loss of the entire circuit. Also, when the DC/DC converter and the dimming circuit are combined, the protection circuit does not participate in the operating resonance of the driver, thereby improving the universality of the dimming circuit.

While the present invention has been described in detail with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations can be made in the present invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and variations insofar as they are within the true spirit and scope of the invention.