Control circuit for LED lamps

A control circuit for LED lamps comprises a rectifier module, a filter module, at least one additional expansion module, and an output control module. The filter module comprises a filter capacitor C6. The output control module is configured to output a PWM signal or a PFM signal. Each of the additional expansion modules comprises an additional filter circuit, a switch control circuit, and a duty cycle/frequency sampling circuit. The control circuit for LED lamps provided by the present invention utilizes the duty cycle/frequency sampling circuit to monitor the duty cycle or power of the PWM signal or the PFM signal output by the output control module in real time so as to output the control signal, and the switch control circuit controls the on-off of the switch of the additional expansion circuit according to the output control signal of the duty cycle/frequency sampling circuit, so that the capacitor of the additional expansion circuit can be connected in parallel or unparallel to the filter module, in full load conditions LED power PF value and THD value can conform to the corresponding standards.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to a Chinese Patent Application No. CN 201710514600.3, filed on Jun. 29, 2017.

FIELD OF THE TECHNOLOGY

The present invention relates to a power supply for LED lamps, with particular emphasis on a control circuit for LED lamps.

BACKGROUND

In ordinary daily life, all kinds of lighting apparatus can be seen everywhere, such as fluorescent lamps, street lamps, table lamps, artistic lamps and so on. In the above-described lighting apparatus, the tungsten bulb is traditionally used as a light-emitting light source. In recent years, due to the ever-changing technology, light-emitting diode (LED) has been used as a light source. Moreover, in addition to lighting apparatus, for the general traffic signs, billboards, headlights etc., light-emitting diode has also been used as a light source. The light-emitting diode as a light source has the advantages of energy-saving and greater brightness. Therefore, it has been gradually common.

With the popularity of LED lamps, LED lamps are used in more and more occasions, but as we all know, LED lamps are powered by a dedicated LED power supply. As the user awareness of LED power deepens, the performance requirements of the LED power supply or lamp PF (Power Factor) and THD (Total Harmonic Distortion, THD) are also higher and higher. For example, DLC in the United States requires PF>0.9 for LED power supplies and THD<20%, and the similar requirements are in Europe. Therefore, for the general design of power supply, especially as a built-in power supply, the power supply needs to meet the requirements of more lamps as much as possible to reduce costs. Therefore, the load range of the power supply should be as wide as possible, and the minimum load can meet the requirements of PF>0.9 and THD<20%.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is necessary to provide a control circuit for LED lamps that can vary in load range depending on the load.

A control circuit for LED lamps, comprising: a rectifier module, a filter module connected in parallel with the output of the rectifier module, at least one additional expansion module connected in parallel with the filter module and an output control module; the filter module comprising a filter capacitor C6, the output control module being configured to output a PWM signal or a PFM signal, each of the additional expansion modules comprising an additional filter circuit connected in parallel with the filter module, a switch control circuit for controlling on-off of the additional filter circuit, and a duty cycle/frequency sampling circuit electrically connected to the switch control circuit, the additional filter circuit comprising an additional filter capacitor C13and a switch for controlling on-off of the additional filter capacitor, the duty cycle/frequency sampling circuit sampling power of the PWM signal or the PFM signal and outputting a control signal by the duty cycle of the PWM signal or the PFM signal, the switch control circuit controlling the switch of the additional filter capacitor according to the control signal output by the duty ratio/frequency sampling circuit to increase or decrease the size of the filter capacitor value of the control circuit for LED lamps. The additional filter module further comprises a resistor connected in parallel with the additional filter capacitor.

Further, the switch is a MOS transistor Q5, the MOS transistor Q5is NPN type, and the base of the MOS transistor Q5is connected with the switch control circuit, the drain is electrically connected to one end of the additional filter capacitor C13, and the source is grounded.

Further, the base of the MOSQ5transistor is electrically connected to a turn-on voltage Vcc.

Further, the switch control circuit comprises a transistor Q6, the emitter of the transistor Q6is electrically connected to the turn-on voltage Vcc, the base of the transistor is electrically connected to the duty cycle/frequency sampling circuit and the collector is grounded.

Further, the switch control circuit further comprises two resistors R44and R41, one end of the resistor R44is electrically connected to the turn-on voltage Vcc, and the other end of the resistor R44is connected to the one end of the resistor R41, and the other end of the resistor R41is grounded, an emitter of the transistor Q6and a base of the MOS transistor Q5are electrically connected between the two resistors R44and R41.

Further, when the power of the load increases, the condition that the MOS transistor Q5is turned on is as follows:
VCC×R41/R41+R44−D×VCC<0.7
Wherein: Vcc is the voltage value of the turn-on voltage Vcc;

R41, R44are the value of the resistors R41and R44;

D is the duty cycle value of the PWM signal or PFM signal.

Further, the duty cycle/frequency sampling circuit is electrically connected to the output terminal of the output PWM signal or the PFM signal of the output control module.

Further, the duty cycle/frequency sampling circuit comprises two resistors R1, R42and a capacitor C23, the resistors R1and R42are connected in series, One end of the capacitor C23is electrically connected between the two resistors R1and R42and electrically connected to the switch control circuit, and the other end of the capacitor C23is grounded.

Further, the control circuit for LED lamps comprises a plurality of additional filter modules electrically connected in parallel.

Compared with the prior art, The control circuit for LED lamps provided by the present invention utilizes the duty cycle/frequency sampling circuit to monitor the duty cycle or power of the PWM signal or the PFM signal output by the output control module in real time so as to output the control signal, and the switch control circuit controls the on-off of the switch of the additional expansion circuit according to the output control signal of the duty cycle/frequency sampling circuit, so that the capacitor of the additional expansion circuit can be connected in parallel or unparallel to the filter module, in full load conditions LED power PF value and THD value can conform to the corresponding standards.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present application is illustrated by way of the following detailed description based on of the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that illustration to the embodiment in this application is not intended to limit the invention.

Please referring toFIG. 1toFIG. 2, which are a schematic block diagram and an application circuit diagram of a control circuit for LED lamps provided by the present invention. The control circuit100for LED lamps comprises a rectifier module10, a filter module20connected in parallel with the output of the rectifier module10, at least one additional expansion module30connected in parallel with the filter module20, and an output control module40. It is conceivable that the control circuit100for LED lamps further comprises other functional modules such as a electric power supply, a differential/common mode module, a transformer, a power factor, a feedback module, and the like, which are used for LED lamps, and these are well-known to those skilled in the art, these functional modules are only shown inFIG. 2, but they will not be described in detail.

The rectifier module10is a universal circuit function module in the LED power supply. The rectifier module10is used for converting electric power supply into varying direct current (DC). The rectifier module10may be a bridge rectifier circuit that r utilizes the unidirectional conductivity of the diode to convert alternating current into direct current. The bridge rectifier circuit uses four diodes connected head to tail two by two. When the positive half of the sine wave is input, two of the four diodes conduct to output a positive half sine wave. When the negative half of the sine wave is input, the other two of the four diodes are turned on. Since these two diodes are reversely connected, the output will also be the positive half of the sine wave, thus reducing power loss.

The filter module20comprises a capacitor C6connected in parallel with the output terminal of the rectifier module10to filter out high frequency waves in the direct wave outputted from the rectifier module10to make the output waveform of the filter module20smoother and less burrs.

When the output power is larger, that is, the load power is greater, the required capacitance of the capacitor C6also requires greater, if it is too small, it will not play the role of filtering. Of course, it is conceivable that in order to accommodate the possible maximum load power, one would set the filter module20as the maximum capacity capacitor C6, but when the capacitance of the capacitor C6does not match the load power, the PF value, ie the power factor, will fall so low that they do not meet the performance requirements. It should be known to those skilled in the art that the PF value is 1 only when the waveform of the output voltage exactly matches the waveform of the output current. When the capacity of the capacitor C6does not match the load power, the waveform of the output current will be severely deformed. As a result, the PF value will decrease, resulting in difficulties in complying with the national standards for LED power supply, such as the EU regulations or the US regulations. Therefore, the best result should be that the capacitance of the filter module20matches the magnitude of the load power as much as possible to obtain the PF value that meets the national standard.

The additional expansion module30is disposed in parallel with the filter module20and is configured to expand the capacitance of the output terminal of the rectifier module10according to the actual requirement. There may be one additional expansion module30, or multiple additional expansion modules30according to actual needs, and the load can be increased or decreased. In this embodiment, the control circuit100for LED lamps comprises only one additional expansion module30. The additional expansion module30comprises an additional filter circuit31connected in parallel with the filter module20, a switch control circuit32for controlling the on-off of the additional filter circuit31and a duty cycle/frequency sampling circuit33electrically connected to the switch control circuit32.

The additional filter circuit31comprises an additional filter capacitor C13, a switch controlling the on-off of the additional filter capacitor C13, and a resistor R45disposed in parallel with the additional filter capacitor C13. It is conceivable that when a plurality of the additional expansion modules30are included, each of the additional expansion modules30comprises an additional expansion circuit31comprising an additional filter capacitor CBN (N is a natural number), a switch QBN (N is a natural number) for controlling on-off of the additional filter capacitor CBN, and a resistor RBN (N is a natural number) provided in parallel with said additional filter capacitor CBN. The specifications of the additional filter capacitor CBN and the resistor RBN can be selected according to the actual needs, such as the expected load size, and will not be described here. The switch may be a MOS transistor Q5, and it is NPN. The base of the MOS transistor Q5is electrically connected to the switch control circuit32. A drain of the MOS transistor Q5is electrically connected to one end of the additional filter capacitor C13, and a source of the MOS transistor Q5is grounded. When the MOS transistor Q5is turned on, the additional filter capacitor C13is turned on to be connected in parallel with the filter capacitor C6, thereby increasing the total capacitance of the filter capacitor. It is well-known to those skilled in the art that the MOS transistor Q5must have a turn-on voltage Vcc in operation, which is electrically connected to the base of the MOS transistor Q5. When the turn-on voltage Vcc is applied to the MOS transistor Q5, the MOS transistor Q5is turned on. When the turn-on voltage Vcc is blocked from supplying power to the MOS transistor Q5, the MOS transistor Q5is turned off. The on-off of the MOS transistor Q5can be controlled by controlling the turn-on voltage Vcc.

The switch control circuit32is configured to control the on-off of the switch, ie, the MOS transistor Q5, to control the turn-on voltage Vcc. The switch control circuit32comprises a transistor Q6. The emitter of the transistor Q6is electrically connected to the turn-on voltage Vcc. The base of the transistor Q6is electrically connected to the duty cycle/frequency sampling circuit33. The collector of the transistor Q6is grounded. When the voltage output from the duty cycle/frequency sampling circuit33to the base of the transistor Q6is greater than the threshold voltage of the transistor Q6, that is, 0.7V, the transistor Q6is turned on and the on-voltage Vcc is directly grounded, so the voltage will not be loaded on the MOS transistor Q5, so that the MOS transistor Q5is turned off. When the voltage outputted from the duty cycle/frequency sampling circuit33to the base of the transistor Q6is less than the threshold voltage of the transistor Q6, that is, 0.7V, the transistor Q6is turned off and the on-voltage Vcc is applied to the MOS transistor Q5, so that the MOS tube Q5is turned on. Because sometimes the voltage value of the turn-on voltage Vcc does not meet the rated voltage of one of the transistors Q6, a voltage divider resistor is needed to reduce the voltage applied to the transistor Q6. In this embodiment, the switch control circuit32comprises two resistors R44and R41. One end of the resistor R44is electrically connected to the turn-on voltage Vcc, and the other end of the resistor R44is electrically connected to one end of the resistor R41. The other end of the resistor R41is grounded. An emitter of the transistor Q6is electrically connected to a base of the MOS transistor Q5and connected between the two resistors R44, R41.

The duty cycle/frequency sampling circuit33is configured to control the control signal of the switch control circuit32according to an output signal of the output control module40. The duty cycle/frequency sampling circuit33comprises two resistors R1, R42and a capacitor C23. The resistors R1and R42are connected in series. Specifically, one end of the resistor R1is connected to the signal output terminal of the output control module40. The other end is connected to one end of a resistor R42, and the other end of the resistor R42is grounded. One end of the capacitor C23is electrically connected between the two resistors R1and R42, and is electrically connected to the switch control circuit32. The other end of the capacitor C23is grounded. When the output control module40outputs a PWM signal or a PFM signal which have a certain voltage value, a stable control voltage can be provided to the switch control circuit32under the function of the capacitor C23.

The output control module40is configured to output a PWM signal or a PFM signal to control the output power of the LED power supply. Referring toFIG. 2, the output control module40comprises a micro-processing unit N1, some auxiliary electronic components, and the like. The micro-processing unit N1outputs a PWM signal or a PFM signal according to the feedback circuit to adjust the output power of the entire circuit so as to meet the requirement of the load power. The output control module40is known to those skilled in the art and will not be described in detail herein. The PWM signal and the PFM signal are square wave signals with a certain duty cycle. By changing the duty cycle of the PWM signal or the PFM signal, the duty cycle signal is superposed on the main circuit, that is, the output of the rectifier module10can adjust the size of its output power.

The working principle of the control circuit100for LED lamps will be explained below. In the initial state, the load power is 0, and the LED power is not output. At this time, the transistor Q6in the switch control circuit32is turned on and the turn-on voltage Vcc is pulled low, so that the MOS transistor Q5is turned off. When the load power is increased, that is, the number of lamps powered by the LED power supply increases, the duty cycle of the PWM signal or the PFM signal output by the output control module40is increased by the feedback circuit, that is, the output power is increased. Please referring toFIG. 2, the condition that the MOS transistor Q5is turned on is as follows:
VCC×R41/R41+R44−D×VCC<0.7
Wherein: Vcc is the voltage value of the turn-on voltage Vcc;

R41, R44are the value of the resistors R41and R44;

D is the duty cycle value of the PWM signal or PFM signal.

As the duty cycle value D gradually increases, the transistor Q6in the switch control circuit32is turned off, so that the voltage applied to the base of the MOS transistor Q5is increased to turn on the MOS transistor Q5, and then the additional expansion circuit31is turned on, the capacitor C13is connected in parallel to the capacitor C6of the filter module20, thereby increasing the capacitance of the filter capacitor of the entire circuit to increase the capacitance of the filter capacitor as the load power increases.

It should be further explained that when the control circuit100for LED lamps comprises a plurality of additional expansion modules30, the additional expansion circuit31of each additional expansion module30is connected in parallel with the filter module20. The on-off of the switch of each additional expansion circuit31is determined by the switch control circuit32provided by the switch control circuit32. Specifically, the switch control circuit32has two voltage divider resistors. That is, by designing two switches of the switch control circuit32the resistance of the voltage dividing resistor can decide when the MOS transistor of the additional expansion circuit31is turned on, that is, when what level the load power increases to. In addition, since both the PF value and the THD value are in a range, the PF value and the THD value of the entire LED power supply can be limited to desired with different capacitance values range by providing several additional expansion modules30.

In addition, the switch control circuit32and the duty cycle/frequency sampling circuit33may be replaced with a micro control unit (MCU) according to actual needs, so that the complexity of the entire circuit may be reduced.

The above disclosure has been described by way of example and in terms of exemplary embodiment, and it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited thereto. Rather, any modifications, equivalent alternatives or improvement etc. within the spirit of the invention are encompassed within the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.