阅读说明：本技术 驱动器、控制方法与发光系统 (Driver, control method and light emitting system ) 是由 粘家荣 邱维政 于 2019-02-15 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明公开了一种驱动器、控制方法与发光系统,驱动器用以驱动负载单元,该驱动器包括：转换电路、旁路电路与控制电路。转换电路将输入电压转换为输出电压,其中负载单元耦接至该转换电路以接收输出电压与输出电流；旁路电路电性耦接于转换电路和负载单元；控制电路在驱动模式控制输出电流流经负载单元以驱动负载单元,且在待机模式控制输出电流流经旁路电路,其中在待机模式下的输出电流低于在驱动模式下的输出电流。(The invention discloses a driver, a control method and a light emitting system, wherein the driver is used for driving a load unit and comprises the following components: a conversion circuit, a bypass circuit and a control circuit. The conversion circuit converts an input voltage into an output voltage, wherein the load unit is coupled to the conversion circuit to receive the output voltage and the output current; the bypass circuit is electrically coupled to the conversion circuit and the load unit; the control circuit controls the output current to flow through the load unit to drive the load unit in the driving mode, and controls the output current to flow through the bypass circuit in the standby mode, wherein the output current in the standby mode is lower than the output current in the driving mode.)

1. A driver for driving a load unit, the driver comprising:

the load unit is coupled to the conversion circuit to receive the output voltage and an output current;

a bypass circuit electrically coupled between the converting circuit and the load unit; and

and the control circuit controls the output current to flow through the load unit to drive the load unit in a driving mode and controls the output current to flow through the bypass circuit in a standby mode, wherein the output current in the standby mode is lower than the output current in the driving mode.

2. The driver of claim 1, wherein the bypass circuit comprises:

a resistor coupled to a first end of the load unit; and

and the switch is connected in series with the resistor and is coupled with a second end of the load unit, and in the standby mode, the switch is conducted according to a switching signal, so that the output current flows through the resistor.

3. The driver as claimed in claim 2, wherein in the driving mode, the switch is turned off according to the switching signal, so that the output current does not flow through the resistor.

4. The driver of claim 1, wherein the control circuit comprises:

the processing circuit selectively enters the driving mode or the standby mode according to a control signal, generates a voltage adjusting signal and a current adjusting signal and generates a switching signal to the bypass circuit; and an adjusting circuit, coupled to the processing circuit, for adjusting the output voltage according to the voltage adjusting signal and adjusting the output current according to the current adjusting signal.

5. The driver of claim 4, wherein the adjustment circuit comprises:

a first operational amplifier comprising:

a first terminal for receiving the voltage adjustment signal;

a second terminal for receiving the output voltage; and

an output end coupled to the second end; and

a second operational amplifier comprising:

a first terminal for receiving the current adjustment signal;

a second terminal for receiving the output current; and

an output end coupled to the second end.

6. The driver of claim 1, further comprising:

a regulator circuit for regulating the output voltage to generate a supply voltage for powering the control circuit, wherein the control circuit reduces the output voltage but not zero in the standby mode.

7. The driver of claim 1, wherein the switching circuit further comprises a first isolation circuit and a second isolation circuit, and the control circuit senses the output current through the first isolation circuit and outputs a switching signal to the bypass circuit through the second isolation circuit.

8. The driver as claimed in claim 1, wherein in the standby mode, the control circuit adjusts and reduces the output voltage such that the output voltage is not zero and the output current does not flow through the load unit.

9. A control method for controlling a load unit, comprising:

providing an output current and an output voltage by a conversion circuit;

selectively operating the load unit in a driving mode or a standby mode by a control circuit according to a control signal;

in the driving mode, controlling the output current to flow through the load unit to drive the load unit; and

in the standby mode, the output current is controlled to flow through a bypass circuit connected in parallel with the load unit, wherein the output current in the standby mode is lower than the output current in the driving mode.

10. The control method of claim 9, wherein controlling the output current to flow through the bypass circuit in parallel with the load unit in the standby mode comprises:

a switch of the bypass circuit is turned on according to a switching signal, so that the output current flows through the bypass circuit and does not flow through the load unit.

11. The control method of claim 9, wherein controlling the output current to flow through the bypass circuit in parallel with the load unit in the standby mode comprises:

generating a voltage adjusting signal and a current adjusting signal according to the control signal; and

the output voltage is reduced according to the voltage adjusting signal, and the output current is reduced according to the current adjusting signal.

12. The control method of claim 9 wherein in the standby mode, the output voltage is reduced by the control circuit but is not zero such that a regulator circuit regulates the output voltage to generate a supply voltage to power the control circuit.

13. A lighting system, comprising:

a light emitting unit; and

a driver for driving the light emitting unit and including;

a conversion circuit for converting an input voltage into an output voltage, wherein the light emitting unit is coupled to the conversion circuit for receiving the output voltage and an output current;

a bypass circuit electrically coupled between the converting circuit and the light emitting unit; and

and the control circuit controls the output current to flow through the light-emitting unit in a driving mode so as to drive the light-emitting unit, and controls the output current to flow through the bypass circuit in a standby mode, wherein the output current in the standby mode is lower than the output current in the driving mode.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a driver and a control method, and more particularly, to a driving circuit and a control method for controlling a load unit.

Background

Due to the rising awareness of energy and power conservation, many electronic devices enter a sleep mode or a standby mode when they are not used for a long time. Many electronic components inside the electronic device will be turned off, however, a small portion of the electronic components (such as the processor, the memory, etc.) still need to be powered continuously to resume the operation of the electronic device in real time when the electronic device is to be woken up. Compared to turning off the entire electronic device (i.e., all components are powered off), the operation of the electronic device needs to be restarted and waits for the components to be restarted, and the standby mode or the sleep mode provides advantages of saving energy and facilitating operation.

In a typical lighting device, the power conversion circuit will still continuously provide the output power to power a portion of the electronic components (e.g., the processor) during the standby mode, but such an action will result in continuous output current to the light-emitting component. Conventionally, an additional circuit (e.g., an auxiliary winding) is usually required to bypass the power supplied by the power conversion circuit to the processor for intelligent control, but this increases the circuit complexity of the whole circuit.

Disclosure of Invention

In order to improve the above problems, some aspects of the present disclosure provide a driver for driving a load unit, the driver including a converting circuit, a bypass circuit and a control circuit. The conversion circuit converts an input voltage into an output voltage, wherein the load unit is coupled to the conversion circuit to receive the output voltage and the output current; the bypass circuit is electrically coupled to the conversion circuit and the load unit; the control circuit controls the output current to flow through the load unit to drive the load unit in the driving mode, and controls the output current to flow through the bypass circuit in the standby mode, wherein the output current in the standby mode is lower than the output current in the driving mode.

Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a control method, including: in the driving mode, controlling the output current to flow through the load unit to drive the load unit; and in a standby mode, controlling the output current to flow through the bypass circuit, wherein the output current in the standby mode is lower than the output current in the driving mode.

In summary, the driver and the control method provided by the embodiment of the present invention do not need an additional circuit to provide power to the microprocessor, and can be directly supplied by the voltage coupled with the output or the output, so as to achieve the function of low power consumption by simple circuit operation, thereby reducing the complexity and cost of the whole circuit.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an electronic device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

fig. 2 is a circuit diagram of a driver according to some embodiments of the disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a control method according to some embodiments of the disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a second type of circuit diagram of a driver according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; and

fig. 5 is a circuit diagram of a third type of driver according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Wherein the reference numerals are:

10: electronic device

100: driver

110: switching circuit

120: control circuit

130: bypass circuit

140: load cell

210: switch with a switch body

211. 212, and (3): resistance (RC)

220: processing circuit

230: adjusting circuit

231: first arithmetic circuit

232. 234: impedance element group

233: second arithmetic circuit

240: regulator circuit

S310, S320, S321, S330, S340: operation of

410: first secondary side winding

420: second secondary side winding

510: first isolation circuit

520: second isolation circuit

V_out: output voltage

V_in: input voltage

I_out: output current

CV and CC: operational amplifier

S_o: external signal

S_i: internal signal

S_a: adjusting signals

S_w: switching signal

Vbus 1: first power line

Vbus 2: second power line

Detailed Description

It will be understood that the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections. These elements, components, regions, layers and/or regions should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure.

When an element is referred to as being "connected" or "coupled" to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another element, there are no additional elements present.

Referring to fig. 1, fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an electronic device 10 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The electronic device 10 includes a driver 100 and a load unit 140. The driver 100 is used for driving the load unit 140, and can adjust the magnitude of the current provided to the load unit 140 according to the situation, thereby adjusting the state of the load unit 140. In some embodiments, the electronic device 10 may be a lighting system. The load unit 140 may be a light emitting diode (led string or led array, etc.) or other light emitting devices (e.g., fluorescent lamp, incandescent bulb or halogen lamp, etc.). The driver 100 can adjust the current supplied to the light emitting device according to the situation, thereby adjusting the brightness of the light emitted by the light emitting device. In other embodiments, the load unit 140 may not be limited to a light emitting device, but may be other current driving type products, such as a motor. The driver 100 can adjust the current supplied to the motor according to the situation, thereby adjusting the rotation speed. The following embodiments will take the load unit 140 as an led as an example, but the invention is not limited thereto.

Driver 100 includes a switching circuit 110, a control circuit 120, and a bypass circuit 130. The converting circuit 110 is used for converting an input voltage V_inIs converted into an output voltage V_out. Partial output voltage V_outFor supplying power to the load unit, while the output voltage V of the other part_outThen the power is provided to the control circuit 120 and/or other components. In some embodiments, the conversion circuit 110 may be a switching type conversion circuit including a dc-dc or ac-dc architecture. For example, the conversion circuit 110 may include, but is not limited to, a buck converter (buck converter), a boost converter (boost converter), a forward converter (forward converter), a buck-boost converter circuit (buck-boost converter circuit), a half-bridge converter (half-bridge converter), a full-bridge converter, a flyback converter (flyback converter), and/or variations thereof.

The bypass circuit 130 is electrically connected between the converting circuit 110 and the load unit 140, and determines whether to be turned on according to the operation of the control circuit 120.

The control circuit 120 can switch the driver 100 in a driving mode or a standby mode. In some embodiments, the control circuit 120 can determine whether the driver 100 enters the driving mode or the standby mode according to the control signal. The control signal may comprise an external signal S_oAnd/or internal signal S_i. External signal S_oSuch as, but not limited to, an instruction signal sent from outside the electronic device 10. For example, the user can send a dimming command or a standby command to the control circuit 120 by remote control, touch control, etc. according to the actual requirement, so as to enable the driver 100 to enter the driving mode or the standby mode. The internal signal Si may be, for example and without limitation, any signal from an internal component of the electronic device 10. For example, the control circuit 120 may sense the input voltage V accepted by the conversion circuit 110_inAnd byBy comparing the input voltage V_inAnd the reference voltage to determine whether the driver 100 enters the driving mode or the standby mode. For example, when the input voltage V_inWhen the voltage is greater than or equal to the reference voltage, the driving mode is entered, and when the input voltage V is greater than or equal to the reference voltage_inAnd entering a standby mode when the reference voltage is less than the reference voltage.

In the driving mode, the control circuit 120 cuts off the bypass circuit 130 to make the output current I_outFlows through the load unit 140 and adjusts the output current I according to the situation_outAnd an output voltage V_outTo adjust the brightness of the load unit 140 (e.g., light emitting diode). In the standby mode, the control circuit 120 turns on the bypass circuit 130 and reduces the output current I_outAnd an output voltage V_outBy making the output current I_outFlows through the turned-on bypass circuit 130 instead of the load unit 140. In other words, in the standby mode, the control circuit 120 still controls the converting circuit 110 to continuously provide the output current I_outAnd an output voltage V_outThereby passing through the output voltage V_outAnd (5) supplying power.

Generally, in the standby mode, the control device of the electronic device 10 usually controls the power conversion circuit to stop converting the input power to the output power or converting the input power to the zero output power, so as to stop providing the voltage and/or current to the load. However, unlike the fully off state, some components (e.g., control components, memory components, etc.) still need to be powered up partially to enable the electronic device 10 when it is awakened (as opposed to being powered up). In such a case, the control element and some elements need to convert the output power to the power required by these elements through other conversion circuits or auxiliary windings. In contrast, the electronic device 10 of the present embodiment has the bypass circuit 130, so that the output current I stops being supplied during the standby mode_outIn the case of the load unit 140, the control circuit 120 can still be supplied with power through the same switching circuit 110 without providing an additional switching circuit or an auxiliary winding.

Referring to fig. 2, fig. 2 is a circuit diagram of a driver according to some embodiments of the disclosure, wherein in some embodiments, the primary side of the converting circuit 110 includes a set of primary windings. The secondary side of the switching circuit 110 includes two sets of secondary windings, wherein the starting end of one secondary winding is electrically coupled to the ending end of the other secondary winding. For example, in some embodiments, the converting circuit 110 may be a transformer with a center tap on the secondary side to divide the secondary side of the converting circuit 110 into a first secondary winding and a second secondary winding coupled to each other. In some embodiments, the converter circuit 110 may also be a transformer with only one set of secondary windings on the secondary side, and may be configured with a full-bridge rectifier circuit, and the secondary side and its rectifier circuit may be implemented according to any form known to those skilled in the art.

In some embodiments, the control circuit 120 includes a processing circuit 220 and an adjusting circuit 230. The processing circuit 220 is used for receiving a control signal (external signal S)_oOr internal signal S_iEither one) and outputs an adjustment signal S according to the control signal_aTo the adjusting circuit 230 and output the switching signal S_wTo the bypass circuit 130. The adjusting circuit 230 adjusts the signal S according to the adjusting signal_aCorrespondingly adjusting the output voltage V provided to the load unit 140_outAnd/or output current I_out. The bypass circuit 130 is responsive to the switching signal S_wAnd correspondingly turned on or off.

When the control signal indicates to enter the driving mode, the processing circuit 220 outputs the desired output voltage V according to the control signal_outAnd/or output current I_outGenerating a corresponding adjusting signal S_aThe adjusting circuit 230 is based on the adjusting signal S_aAdjusting an output voltage V provided to a load unit 140_outAnd/or output current I_outThe requirement of the control signal is met. In addition, the processing circuit 220 also outputs a switching signal S_wThe bypass circuit 130 is turned off to let the output current I_outMay be provided to the load unit 140.

When the control signal indicates to enter the standby mode, the processing circuit 220 generates the corresponding adjustment signal S_aThe adjusting circuit 230 reduces the output voltage Vout and/or the output current I according to the adjusting signal Sa_outTo a minimum but to maintain the power required by the control circuit 120 and/or other components. In addition, the processing circuit 220 also outputs a switching signal S_wBy-passing electricityThe circuit 130 is conducted to make the output current I_outFlows through the bypass circuit 130 without flowing through the load unit 140.

In other words, there will be no output current I when the driver 100 is in the standby mode_outFlows to the load unit 140 but outputs the voltage V_outBut not zero, in order to utilize the voltage for control circuits and/or other components. That is, the output voltage V is output no matter whether the driver 100 is in the standby mode or the driving mode_outWill not be zero.

In some embodiments, the adjusting circuit 230 is coupled to the processing circuit 220 for receiving the voltage adjusting signal (i.e. the adjusting signal S transmitted to the first computing circuit 231 described later)_a) And a current adjustment signal (i.e., an adjustment signal S transmitted to a second arithmetic circuit 233 described later)_a) Wherein the adjusting circuit 230 is used for adjusting the output voltage V according to the voltage adjusting signal_outAnd adjusting the output current I according to the current adjustment signal_out。

In some embodiments, the adjusting circuit 230 includes a first operational circuit 231 and a second operational circuit 233, wherein the first and second operational circuits 231 and 233 can adjust the output voltage V by negative feedback_outAnd an output current I_out。

In some embodiments, the first operational circuit 231 includes an operational amplifier CV and an impedance element group 232. A first input terminal of the operational amplifier CV is connected to the processing circuit 220 for receiving the voltage adjustment signal from the processing circuit 220, and a second input terminal of the operational amplifier CV is connected to the first power line V of the output terminal_bus1And is used for receiving a first power line V_bus1And is connected to the output terminal of the operational amplifier CV through the impedance element set 232 to form a negative feedback path. Thus, when the voltage adjustment signal changes, the operational amplifier CV can adjust the first power line V_bus1Is made equal to the voltage indicated by the changed voltage adjustment signal, thereby adjusting the output voltage V_out。

In some embodiments, the second operational circuit 233 includes an operational amplifier CC and an impedance element set 234. The first input terminal of the operational amplifier CC is connected toA second power line V connected to the processing circuit 220 for receiving the current adjustment signal from the processing circuit 220, and a second input terminal of the operational amplifier CC connected to the output terminal_bus2And is used for receiving a second power line V_bus2And is connected to the output terminal of the operational amplifier CC via the impedance element set 234 to form a negative feedback path. Specifically, the second power supply line V_bus2A resistor 212 is included, a first terminal of the resistor 212 is connected to ground and a second terminal is connected to the second input terminal of the operational amplifier CC. Thus, when the current adjustment signal changes, the constant current operational amplifier CC can adjust the second power line V_bus2Such that it is equal to the voltage indicated by the changed current adjustment signal. Since the value of the resistance is fixed and the first terminal is already grounded, the second power supply line V is adjusted_bus2The voltage level of the voltage can further adjust the output current I_out。

In some embodiments, the driver 100 further comprises a regulator circuit 240 coupled to the first power line V_bus1For receiving and regulating the output voltage V_outTo generate a supply voltage to drive the control circuit 120.

In some embodiments, the load unit 140 of fig. 2 may include more than two sets of series or parallel connected leds for outputting the current I according to_outEmits a light source with a corresponding brightness.

In some embodiments, the bypass circuit 130 includes a switch 210 and a resistor 211 connected in series, the switch 210 being responsive to the switching signal S_wControlling the on or off. Specifically, the value of the resistor 211 is selected to be smaller than the output voltage V in the standby mode_outDivided by the output current I_outThereby enabling the output current I to be obtained when the bypass circuit 130 is turned on_outEntirely via the bypass circuit 130.

Referring to fig. 3, fig. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a control method according to some embodiments of the disclosure, and for easy understanding, reference is made to fig. 1 and 2 together. In some embodiments, the control method can be used for standby mode and driving mode applications of the driver 100, achieving low power consumption and reducing the overall circuit complexity. The respective operations in the control method are merely examples and are not limited to being performed in the order in this example. Various operations under the control method may be added, substituted, omitted, or performed in a different order, as appropriate, without departing from the manner and scope of operation of the embodiments herein.

In step S310, the processing circuit 220 determines whether the switch driver 100 is in the standby mode or the driving mode according to the control signal, and if the switch driver is in the standby mode, the processing circuit executes step S320. If the mode is the driving mode, step S321 is executed.

In step S321, the processing circuit 220 generates an adjustment signal to the adjusting circuit 230 according to the control signal to adjust the output voltage V_outAnd/or output current I_outAnd sends a switching signal to switch off the switch 210 to output the current I_outFlows completely into the load cell 140.

In step S320, the processing circuit 220 switches the driver 100 to the standby mode according to the control signal, and then the processing circuit 220 sends the current adjusting signal to the second operation circuit 233 to adjust the output current I_outFor the specific implementation, reference may be made to the above embodiments, which are not described herein again.

In step S330, the processing circuit 220 sends out a switching signal to turn on the switch 210, so as to output the current I_outFlows completely into the bypass circuit 130.

In step S340, the processing circuit 220 sends a voltage control signal to the first operation circuit 231 to adjust the output voltage V_outFor the specific implementation, reference may be made to the above embodiments, which are not described herein again.

In the standby mode, the output voltage V is reduced in the first operation circuit 231_outBut not zero (in some embodiments, the output voltage V_outNot less than the required voltage for normal operation of the control circuit 120), thereby enabling the output voltage V_outIs continuously provided to the regulator circuit 240 such that the regulator circuit 240 generates the supply voltage to power the control circuit 120.

Referring to fig. 4, fig. 4 is a second circuit diagram of a driver according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, in which the converter circuit 110 further includes a first secondary winding 410 and a second secondary winding 420.

In some embodiments, the converter circuit 110 outputs the output voltage Vout and the output current Iout through the first secondary winding 410 to drive a load unit (e.g., a light emitting diode), and outputs the first voltage through the second secondary winding 420 to provide the regulator circuit 240 with a supply voltage to drive the control circuit 120.

Referring to fig. 5, fig. 5 is a circuit diagram of a third type of driver according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, in which the conversion circuit 110 further includes a first isolation circuit 510 and a second isolation circuit 520.

In some embodiments, the control circuit 120 senses the output current I via the first isolation circuit 510_outAnd according to the current indicated by the control signal and the sensed output current I_outPerform a comparison (e.g., by the second operation circuit 233) to adjust the output current I_out. The first isolation circuit 510 may be an auxiliary winding pair. In addition, the control circuit 120 senses the output voltage V via the second secondary side winding 420_outAnd comparing the voltage indicated by the control signal with the sensed output voltage Vout (e.g., by the first operation circuit 231) to adjust the output voltage V_out. Thus, by design of the auxiliary winding pair and the second secondary winding 420, the output voltage V sensed by the control circuit 120 is_outAnd an output current I_outThe interference of noise can be reduced and the accuracy is improved.

Similarly, the control circuit 120 may transmit a switching signal to the bypass circuit 130 (e.g., the switch 210) via the second isolation circuit 520. The second isolation circuit 520 may be, for example, an optocoupler.

In summary, the driver and the control method provided by the embodiment of the present invention do not need an additional circuit to provide power to the microprocessor, and can be directly supplied by the voltage coupled with the output or the output, so as to achieve the function of low power consumption by simple circuit operation, thereby reducing the complexity and cost of the whole circuit.

Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and therefore, the scope of the present disclosure should be limited only by the terms of the appended claims.