Compact driver, notably for a light emitting diode, having an auxiliary output

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016234901-A1
Application number	US-201415023242-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 18, 2014
Priority date	Sep 19, 2013
Publication date	Aug 11, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The current invention relates to a driver( 10,20 ) for driving at least one main load and one auxiliary load comprising: a power converter( 101 ) adapted to convert an input voltage(Vin) into at least one main output voltage provided through a main output( 1011 ) for driving said main load, and at least one auxiliary output DC voltage through an auxiliary output( 1013 ) for supplying said auxiliary load, a controller( 103 )adapted to control the main output based on at least one input set point, wherein the power converter( 101 )comprises a switched capacitor converter comprising a plurality of switches and a plurality of capacitors, the main output( 1011 )being connected to at least one internal node of the power converter ( 101 ), the auxiliary output( 1013 ) being connected to a DC node of the power converter( 101 ).

First claim

1 .- 12 . (canceled)

13 . A driver for driving at least one main load and one auxiliary load, the driver comprising:
a power converter adapted to convert a DC input voltage into at least one main output voltage provided through a main output for driving said main load, and at least one auxiliary output DC voltage through an auxiliary output for supplying said auxiliary load, a controller adapted to control the main output based on at least one input set point, wherein the power converter comprising a switched capacitor converter comprising a plurality of switches and a plurality of capacitors, the main output being connected to at least one internal node of the power converter, the auxiliary output being connected to a DC node of the power converter, and wherein the main output of the power converter conveys a floating voltage having a level that is a fraction of the input voltage level related to the conversion ratio, with a bias component split in a plurality of steps ranging from a determined lowest fraction level to a determined highest fraction level.

14 . The driver as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the power converter is configured for providing a plurality of output signals having a level that is a fraction of the input voltage level, each output signal being floating with a bias component split in a plurality of steps ranging from a determined lowest fraction level to a determined highest fraction level, the driver further comprising a selection module adapted to select one output signal among said plurality of output signals and to output such selected output signal.

15 . The driver as claimed in claim 14 , further comprising an output filter connected to the main output of the power converter.

16 . The driver as claimed in claim 14 , further comprising an output filter connected to the output of the selection module.

17 . The driver as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the power converter comprises a Switched Capacitor Converter, comprising a plurality of switches controlled by the controller.

18 . The driver as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the power converter is based on at least one topology in the group consisting of Dickson ladder, standard ladder, Fibonacci, and series-parallel topologies.

19 . The driver as claimed in claim 13 , further comprising a regulation module coupled to auxiliary output for regulating the auxiliary output voltage.

20 . The driver as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the regulation module comprises a regulation controller comprising an input conveying a signal representing a sensed voltage across the auxiliary load, and at least one output conveying control signals for controlling the switches of the power converter that allow charging the DC node capacitor of the power converter, said control signals being generated by the regulation controller.

21 . The driver as claimed in claim 20 , wherein the regulation module comprising a linear regulator connected in series between the DC node of the power converter and the auxiliary load.

22 . The driver as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the controller comprises one main feedback input for receiving feedback signals representative of the operation of the main load, and/or one auxiliary feedback input for receiving feedback signals representative of the actual operation of the auxiliary load, the controller being adapted to adjust operating parameters of the power converter as a function of input set point values, and/or said feedback signals.

23 . A lighting system comprising:
a driver for driving at least one main load and one auxiliary load, the driver comprising:
a power converter adapted to convert a DC input voltage into at least one main output voltage provided through a main output for driving said main load, and at least one auxiliary output DC voltage through an auxiliary output for supplying said auxiliary load,
a controller adapted to control the main output based on at least one input set point,
wherein the power converter comprising a switched capacitor converter comprising a plurality of switches and a plurality of capacitors, the main output being connected to at least one internal node of the power converter, the auxiliary output being connected to a DC node of the power converter, and wherein the main output of the power converter conveys a floating voltage having a level that is a fraction of the input voltage level related to the conversion ratio, with a bias component split in a plurality of steps ranging from a determined lowest fraction level to a determined highest fraction level.
a main load and an auxiliary load, wherein the main load comprises at least one Light Emitting Device and the auxiliary load comprises at least one of a control unit, a communication unit and a sensor unit.

Assignees

• Philips Lighting Holding Bv

Inventors

• Delos Ayllon Julia
• Lopez Toni
• Hendrix Machiel Antonius Martinus
• Alarcon-Cot Eduardo-Jose

Classifications

• H02M3/07

  using capacitors charged and discharged alternately by semiconductor devices with control electrode {, e.g. charge pumps} · CPC title

• H05B33/0845 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H05B33/0815

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H02M1/008

  Plural converter units for generating at two or more independent and non-parallel outputs, e.g. systems with plural point of load switching regulators · CPC title

• H05B45/3725 Primary

  Switched mode power supply [SMPS] · CPC title