Basic Electrical Design

Linear Forward Voltage Modeling Series and Parallel Drive Circuits PWM and Dimming

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LZ Series Typical VF Characteristics

1500
Typical AlInGaP VF Curve Typical InGaN VF Curve

1250 IF - Forward Current (mA) 1000

RD = VF / IF (Red 0.6) ( RD = VF / IF (Blue 0.5) (

750 500 250 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 VF - Forward Voltage (V)

AlInGaP Cutin Voltage

InGaN Cutin Voltage

dVf/dTj = 24mV/C
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Derivation of Linear Model

Equation VF = VO + RS IF Procedure Measure VF versus IF Graph data on a linear scale Draw straight line tangent to actual data through points (VF1, IF1) and (VF2, IF2) Intercept on X axis (IF = 0) is VO
VO = =

(VF 1 I F 2 (I F 2 (VF 2 (I F 2

VF 2 I F 1 ) I F1 )

RS

VF 1 ) I F1 )

Note: Model works over a limited range of forward current

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Linear Forward Voltage modeling

400

Forward C Current (mA)

Tj = 25 25 C Vf = V0 + Rs * If Rs = dVf/dIf V0 = Threshold Voltage Rs typ = dVf / dIf Rs may y vary y from p part to p part

350
Vf-typ for Vf bin a)

Rs=dV V/dI=0.3V/0.25A A=1.2

300
Vf typ for Vf bin b) Vf-typ

250 200 150 50 100 50 0

Tj > 25 25 C: Vf = V0 + ( (R Rs * If)+ ( (dVf/dT dVf/dTj * (T (Tj - 25 25 C)) Example for Red and Amber (AlInGaP (AlInGaP): ):

0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 Forward Voltage (V)

Vf Vf=2 Vf=2.58V+(1.2 =2.58V+(1.2 =2 58V+(1 2*0 *0.35A)+( *0.35A)+(35A)+(-2mV/ 2mV/C*(120 C*(120C-25 25 C)) Vf=2.58V+0.42V Vf =2.58V+0.42V-0.19V=2.81V

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Pros and Cons of Linear Model

Pros Equation E ti can be b solved l d for f IF = f(VF) Can be substituted into li linear equations ti of f complex l circuits Easy to visualize effects of VO and d RS Can be used to model forward voltage over t temperature t Cons Limited Li it d dynamic d i range (<4:1) Mediocre accuracy Model quickly loses accuracy if IF < IF1 or IF > IF2

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Paralleled LEDs

IF +

VF

IF1

LED1

IF2

LED2 VF

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Expected Vf Matching for LZ-Series LZ Series Products

3.4 3.2 3.0 2.8 2.6

IF Ratio

2.4 2.2 2.0 1.8 1.6 1.4 1.2 1.0 0.10

0.15

0.20 0.25 LED drive current

0.30

0.35

Design Current (Amps)

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Improving Matching of Paralleled LEDs using i B Balancing l i R Resistors i t

+ IF
R R

VF

IF1

LED1

IF2

+ LED2 VF

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Effect of Balancing Resistor

Expected matching for paralleled 1%-tile and 99%-tile white Luxeo with 0.75 ohm external series resistor for each LED
3.4 3.2 3.0 2.8 26 2.6 2.4 2.2 2.0 1.8 1.6 1.4 1.2 1.0 0 10

IF ratio

0 15

0 20

0 25 LED drive current

0 30

0 35

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Series String Drive Circuits

Resistor R = Current Limiting Device
IF R + VS R R R

+ V

2 LED Seri es Stri ng

3 LED Seri es Stri ng

4 LED Seri es Stri ng

5 LED Seri es Stri ng

VS nVF R= IF

VS nVF IF = R

More sensitive to varying y g Vs; ; Higher g system y efficiency y Less sensitive to varying Vs; Lower system efficiency

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Typical Circuit Configurations

X strings X strings

+ R VIN

+ R
Y LED lamps per string

R
Y LED lamps per string

VIN

Series-connected strings Configuration A X strings

Paralleled strings Configuration B

+ VIN

Cross-connected Cross connected paralleled strings Configuration C

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Recommended

Z LED lamps per rung. Y LED Note z = 1,2y , y lamps per (z = 1 is illustrated) string

Dimming Using Pulse Width Modulation

Duty Factor (%) = ton/(ton+toff)*100

If
1 2 3 4 5

DF=10%

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 time(ms)

If
1 2 3 4 5

DF=50%

ton

toff

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 time(ms)

If
DF=100%
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 time(ms) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

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Dimming Operation
Disadvantages of DC drive Light output matching is worse at low currents Low current operation of paralleled strings of LED lamps causes large forward current variations Benefits of PWM operation Drive D i LED l lamps at t same peak k current tb but t at tl low duty cycle Eliminates matching gp problems caused by y driving g at low currents

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Electrical Design Summary

Key Points Forward characteristics of LEDs can be modeled. LEDs can be driven with either a current source or with a voltage source if a resistor is connected in series with the LED. LEDs should NOT be driven directly from a voltage source. LEDs can be connected in parallel, only if the LEDs are from the same VF Bin and driven at currents near the binning binning test current (nominal current).

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Advanced Electrical Design

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Content
DC/DC Circuit Approaches

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Basic DC Circuit Approaches

Resistor
R

Voltage Regulator + Resistor

Fixed voltage
R

Current Source
Fixed current Current source

Voltage regulator
dc source (variable)

dc source (variable)

dc d source (variable)

V VF IF = IN R

IF =

VREG VF R

IF constant

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Resistor Circuit Design Example

Example for VF = 12V, IF = 1000mA, R j-air = 50C/W, VF/T = -3mV/C

+ VIN
dc input voltage
R

Vf Bin F G F G F

Bin Range [V] 3.2 3.44 3.68 3.92 4.16 3.44 3.68 3.92 4.16 4.4

Resistor [] 8.80 8.56 8.32 8.08 7.84

R (5% tol) P_resistor [] [W] 9.1 9.1 8.2 8.2 7.5 9.1 9.1 8.2 8.2 7.5

VS nVF R= IF
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Pros/Cons of Resistor Circuit

Pros Least L t expensive i circuit i it Electrical transients generally do not damage circuit i it b but t may h harm LED LEDs Cons Requires R i resistor i t selection l ti for each LED VF category Forward current through LED not LEDs t regulated l t d well ll f for changing input voltage Power inefficient

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Pros/Cons Voltage Regulator/Resistor Circuit

Pros Regulates g forward current through LEDs due to input voltage variations More power efficient than resistor alone at high input voltages Cons More expensive than resistor Requires resistor selection for each LED VF category May y be susceptible p to electrical transients/ reverse voltages Forward current will vary over temperature p due to VF/T of LEDs Requires higher minimum input voltage than resistor due to minimum voltage drop p across regulator g

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Pros/Cons of Current Source Circuit

Pros Regulates R l t f forward d current t through LEDs due to both input voltage variations as well as LED VF variations Forward current is unaffected by LED VF categories as well as VF/T of LEDs Roughly same power efficiency as voltage regulator plus resistor circuit at high input voltages Cons Roughly R hl same cost t as voltage regulator plus resistor circuit. May M be b susceptible tibl t to electrical transients/ reverse voltages May M have h hi higher h minimum i i input voltage requirement than voltage regulator plus resistor due to voltage drop across sense resistor

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Simple Current Source

+

dc input voltage

VREF

+ -

RSENSE

( VREF VBE )( ) IF = R SENSE ( + 1)

Note: VBE varies by ~ -2mV/C, so current will change over temperature, unless temperature compensation is added to VREF. Note: Minimum input voltage is approximately VREF + nVF.
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DC/DC Converter Circuits

Most useful topologies for LED drivers are Boost, Buck, BuckBuckBoost and Charge Boost, Charge-Pumps Pumps. Some topologies can generate a regulated output voltage greater than input voltage. C t and Cost d complexity l it much h higher hi h than th other th designs. d i Generally offer power efficiencies from 60 to 90%. May generate electrical transients that could damage LEDs May generate electrical noise that could interfere with other electronics.

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Boost Topology DC/DC Converter

Switch closed +
VIN
LOAD

Switch open +
VIN

LOAD

Note: VIN < VLOAD

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Boost DC/DC Converter

VOUT VBATT

Control

Note: VOUT > VBATT

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Buck Topology DC/DC Converter

Switch closed +
VIN
LOAD

Switch open +
VIN I

LOAD

Note: VIN > VLOAD

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Buck DC/DC Converter

VOUT VBATT

Control

Note: VOUT < VBATT

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Cascaded DC/DC Converters

Cascaded Buck Boost DC/DC Converter

VBATT

Buck

Boost

VOUT

Cascaded Boost Buck DC/DC Converter

VBATT

Boost

Buck

VOUT

Ad Advantage: t VOUT < > VBATT

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Charge-Pump DC/DC converters

VBATT + CIN Cs VOUT COUT

Note: This circuit called a 1X, 2X converter because output capacitor charged to 2X VBATT

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1X, 1.5X, 2X Charge-Pump DC/DC Converter

VBATT CS1

VOUT COUT CS2

Note: 1X Mode, CS1 and CS2 are both charged to VBATT, then connected to COUT 1.5X Mode, CS1 and CS2 are connected in series, so they each charge to VBATT, then added to VBATT when connected to COUT 2X Mode, CS1 and CS2 are both charged to VBATT, then added to VBATT when connected to COUT LedEngin, Inc.
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