Patent Publication Number: US-7710043-B2

Title: Discharge-lamp lighting apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to a discharge-lamp lighting apparatus for lighting discharge lamps such as cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs), and particularly, to a technique of simultaneously driving a plurality of CCFLs. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
     FIG. 1  is a view showing a configuration of a discharge-lamp lighting apparatus according to a related art. This apparatus includes a DC power source E connected in series with a first switching element Q 1  and a second switching element Q 2 . The first and second switching elements Q 1  and Q 2  are turned on and off in response to control signals from a control circuit  10 . The control circuit  10  conducts PWM control, phase control, frequency control, or the like to control the on/off operation of the first and second switching elements Q 1  and Q 2 . 
   The second switching element Q 2  is connected in parallel to a quasi-voltage-resonance capacitor C 6 . The element Q 2  is also connected in parallel to a series circuit that includes a primary winding P 1  of a first transformer T 1  and a current resonance capacitor C 4 . The first transformer T 1  has a leakage inductance Lr for managing resonance operation. 
   A secondary winding S 1  of the first transformer T 1  is connected, through a resistor RS, in parallel to a series circuit that includes a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (hereinafter referred to as CCFL)  11   a  and a ballast capacitor C 11  and a series circuit that includes a CCFL  11   b  and a ballast capacitor C 12 . The resistor RS is a current detection resistor to detect a current. A signal representative of the current detected by the resistor RS is fed back to the control circuit  10  on the primary side. According to the signal fed back from the resistor RS, the control circuit  10  controls on/off operation of the first and second switching elements Q 1  and Q 2 , thereby controlling an AC voltage applied to the primary winding P 1  of the first transformer T 1 . 
     FIG. 2  shows a voltage-current characteristic of a typical CCFL. The CCFL has a negative resistance characteristic that a current (lamp current) increases as an applied voltage (lamp voltage) decreases. To relieve the negative resistance characteristic, an impedance element is inserted in series with a CCFL in the discharge-lamp lighting apparatus. The impedance element must have a sufficient value to absorb the negative resistance characteristic of the CCFL. When driving a single CCFL, the discharge-lamp lighting apparatus uses the leakage inductance Lr of the first transformer T 1  as the impedance element. 
   When simultaneously driving a plurality of CCFLs, simply connecting the CCFLs in parallel with one another causes a problem that a CCFL that is first turned on triggers a voltage drop due to impedance to prevent the other CCFLs from being turned on. To avoid this problem, an impedance element is inserted in series with each CCFL. In the example shown in  FIG. 1 , the impedance elements are the ballast capacitors C 11  and C 12 . With the ballast capacitors C 11  and C 12 , a voltage applied to the secondary winding S 1  of the first transformer T 1  becomes free from the ON or OFF state of any CCFL, and therefore, all CCFLs are surely turned on. 
   Another example of the discharge-lamp lighting apparatus is a multi-lamp drive system disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-31383. This multi-lamp drive system drives a lamp set consisting of first and second lamps. The system includes a drive circuit for converting a DC signal into an AC signal, a transformer whose primary side is electrically connected to the driver circuit and whose secondary side provides an AC power source, and a current balance circuit electrically connected to the lamp set to balance currents passed to the first and second lamps. The current balance circuit has a core, a first winding electrically connected to the first lamp, and a second winding electrically connected to the second lamp. The first and second windings are wound around the same core and have the same number of turns. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The discharge-lamp lighting apparatuses mentioned above have problems. In  FIG. 1 , the first transformer T 1  must generate on its secondary winding S 1  a high voltage that is the sum of voltages applied to the ballast capacitors C 11  and C 12  and voltages applied to the CCFLs  11   a  and  11   b . Due to this, the apparatus must take large-scale safety measures to secure reliability, prevent leakage, and ensure creepage distances and spatial distances. These measures increase the cost of the apparatus. 
   A discharge-lamp lighting apparatus of the present invention needs no large-scale safety measures, greatly reduces the cost, realizes high reliability, and accurately stabilizes and balances currents passed to CCFLs that are simultaneously driven. 
   According to a first aspect of the present invention, provided is a discharge-lamp lighting apparatus having a first discharge lamp and a second discharge lamp. The apparatus includes a first transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding receiving an AC voltage generated by turning on/off switching elements connected to a DC power source, the secondary winding transforming the AC voltage received by the primary winding into an output voltage; a second transformer having a primary winding, a first secondary winding, and a second secondary winding, the primary winding of the second transformer being connected in parallel to one of the primary and secondary windings of the first transformer, each of the first and second secondary windings of the second transformer being connected to the secondary winding of the first transformer with polarities being set so that a voltage of each secondary winding of the second transformer becomes additive to a voltage of the secondary winding of the first transformer. The first discharge lamp is connected in parallel to a series circuit that includes the secondary winding of the first transformer and the first secondary winding of the second transformer. The second discharge lamp is connected in parallel to a series circuit that includes the secondary winding of the first transformer and the second secondary winding of the second transformer. 
   According to a second aspect of the present invention, provided is a discharge-lamp lighting apparatus having a first discharge lamp and a second discharge lamp. The apparatus includes a first transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding receiving an AC voltage generated by turning on/off switching elements connected to a DC power source, the secondary winding transforming the AC voltage received by the primary winding into an output voltage; a second transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding of the second transformer being connected in parallel to one of the primary and secondary windings of the first transformer, the secondary winding of the second transformer being connected to the secondary winding of the first transformer with polarities being set so that a voltage of the secondary winding of the second transformer becomes additive to a voltage of the secondary winding of the first transformer; and a third transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding of the third transformer being connected in parallel to one of the primary and secondary windings of the first transformer, the secondary winding of the third transformer being connected to the secondary winding of the first transformer with polarities being set so that a voltage of the secondary winding of the third transformer becomes additive to a voltage of the secondary winding of the first transformer. The first discharge lamp is connected in parallel to a series circuit that includes the secondary winding of the first transformer and the secondary winding of the second transformer. The second discharge lamp is connected in parallel to a series circuit that includes the secondary winding of the first transformer and the secondary winding of the third transformer. 
   According to a third aspect of the present invention, provided is a discharge-lamp lighting apparatus having a first discharge lamp and a second discharge lamp. The apparatus includes a first transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding receiving an AC voltage generated by turning on/off switching elements connected to a DC power source, the secondary winding transforming the AC voltage received by the primary winding into an output voltage; a second transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding of the second transformer being connected in parallel to one of the primary and secondary windings of the first transformer, the secondary winding of the second transformer being connected to the secondary winding of the first transformer with polarities being set so that a voltage of the secondary winding of the second transformer becomes additive to a voltage of the secondary winding of the first transformer; and a third transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding of the third transformer being connected in series with the primary winding of the second transformer, the secondary winding of the third transformer being connected to the secondary winding of the first transformer with polarities being set so that a voltage of the secondary winding of the third transformer becomes additive to a voltage of the secondary winding of the first transformer. The first discharge lamp is connected in parallel to a series circuit that includes the secondary winding of the first transformer and the secondary winding of the second transformer. The second discharge lamp is connected in parallel to a series circuit that includes the secondary winding of the first transformer and the secondary winding of the third transformer. 
   According to a first aspect of the present invention, provided is a discharge-lamp lighting apparatus having a first discharge lamp and a second discharge lamp. The apparatus includes a first transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding receiving an AC voltage generated by turning on/off switching elements connected to a DC power source, the secondary winding transforming the AC voltage received by the primary winding into an output voltage; and a second transformer having a primary winding, a first secondary winding, and a second secondary winding, the primary winding of the second transformer being connected in series with one of the primary and secondary windings of the first transformer, each of the first and second secondary windings of the second transformer being connected to the secondary winding of the first transformer with polarities being set so that a voltage of each secondary winding of the second transformer becomes additive to a voltage of the secondary winding of the first transformer. The first discharge lamp is connected in parallel to a series circuit that includes the secondary winding of the first transformer and the first secondary winding of the second transformer. The second discharge lamp is connected in parallel to a series circuit that includes the secondary winding of the first transformer and the second secondary winding of the second transformer. 
   According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, provided is a discharge-lamp lighting apparatus having a first discharge lamp and a second discharge lamp. The apparatus includes a first transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding receiving an AC voltage generated by turning on/off switching elements connected to a DC power source, the secondary winding transforming the AC voltage received by the primary winding into an output voltage; a second transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding of the second transformer being connected in series with one of the primary and secondary windings of the first transformer, the secondary winding of the second transformer being connected to the secondary winding of the first transformer with polarities being set so that a voltage of the secondary winding of the second transformer becomes additive to a voltage of the secondary winding of the first transformer; and a third transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding of the third transformer being connected in series with one of the primary and secondary windings of the first transformer, the secondary winding of the third transformer being connected to the secondary winding of the first transformer with polarities being set so that a voltage of the secondary winding of the third transformer becomes additive to a voltage of the secondary winding of the first transformer. The first discharge lamp is connected in parallel to a series circuit that includes the secondary winding of the first transformer and the secondary winding of the second transformer. The second discharge lamp is connected in parallel to a series circuit that includes the secondary winding of the first transformer and the secondary winding of the third transformer. 
   According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, provided is a discharge-lamp lighting apparatus having a first discharge lamp and a second discharge lamp. The apparatus includes a first transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding receiving an AC voltage generated by turning on/off switching elements connected to a DC power source, the secondary winding transforming the AC voltage received by the primary winding into an output voltage; a second transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding of the second transformer being connected in series with one of the primary and secondary windings of the first transformer, the secondary winding of the second transformer being connected to the secondary winding of the first transformer with polarities being set so that a voltage of the secondary winding of the second transformer becomes additive to a voltage of the secondary winding of the first transformer; and a third transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding of the third transformer being connected in series with the primary winding of the second transformer, the secondary winding of the third transformer being connected to the secondary winding of the first transformer with polarities being set so that a voltage of the secondary winding of the third transformer becomes additive to a voltage of the secondary winding of the first transformer. The first discharge lamp is connected in parallel to a series circuit that includes the secondary winding of the first transformer and the secondary winding of the second transformer. The second discharge lamp is connected in parallel to a series circuit that includes the secondary winding of the first transformer and the secondary winding of the third transformer. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a view showing a configuration of a discharge-lamp lighting apparatus according to a related art; 
       FIG. 2  is a view showing a voltage-current characteristic of a typical CCFL; 
       FIG. 3  is a view showing a configuration of a discharge-lamp lighting apparatus according to first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a view showing a configuration of a discharge-lamp lighting apparatus according to second embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a view showing a configuration of a discharge-lamp lighting apparatus according to third embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a view showing a configuration of a discharge-lamp lighting apparatus according to fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a view showing a configuration of a discharge-lamp lighting apparatus according to fifth embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a view showing a configuration of a discharge-lamp lighting apparatus according to sixth embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 9  is a view showing a configuration of a discharge-lamp lighting apparatus according to seventh embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 10  is a view showing a configuration of a discharge-lamp lighting apparatus according to eighth embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Discharge-lamp lighting apparatuses according to embodiments of the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
   First Embodiment 
     FIG. 3  is a view showing a discharge-lamp lighting apparatus according to first embodiment of the present invention. The operation and configuration of the primary side of first embodiment are the same as those of the related art shown in  FIG. 1 , and therefore, explanations thereof are omitted. In  FIG. 3 , the control circuit  10  and current detection resistor RS are not shown. 
   Parts of first embodiment that are different from those of the related art will mainly be explained. Through the drawings, a filled circle indicates a winding start point of each transformer winding. Although discharge lamps in the embodiments are CCFLs, they may be external electrode fluorescent lamps, fluorescent lamps, and the like. 
   On the secondary side of the apparatus, there is a second transformer T 2  instead of the first and second ballast capacitors C 11  and C 12  of the related art. The second transformer T 2  has a primary winding P 2 , a first secondary winding S 21 , and a second secondary winding S 22 . The three windings of the second transformer T 2  are wound in order of S 21 , P 2 , and S 22 . The primary winding P 2  and first secondary winding S 21  of the second transformer T 2  are loosely coupled to each other, the primary winding P 2  and second secondary winding S 22  of the second transformer T 2  are loosely coupled to each other, and the first and second secondary windings S 21  and S 22  of the second transformer T 2  are loosely coupled to each other. 
   A secondary winding S 1  of a first transformer T 1  is connected in parallel to a series circuit that includes a CCFL  11   a  and the first secondary winding S 21  of the second transformer T 2  and a series circuit that includes a CCFL  11   b  and the second secondary winding S 22  of the second transformer T 2 . The primary winding P 2  of the second transformer T 2  is connected in parallel to a primary winding P 1  of the first transformer T 1 . Polarities of the first and second secondary windings S 21  and S 22  of the second transformer T 2  are set so that voltages generated by the first and second secondary windings S 21  and S 22  are additive to a voltage generated by the secondary winding S 1  of the first transformer T 1 . 
   Operation of the discharge-lamp lighting apparatus according to first embodiment with the above-mentioned configuration will be explained. An AC voltage applied to the primary winding P 1  of the first transformer T 1  and the primary winding P 2  of the second transformer T 2  makes the secondary winding S 1  of the first transformer T 1  and the first and second secondary windings S 21  and S 22  of the second transformer T 2  generate voltages. As a result, the CCFL  11   a  receives the sum of the voltage of the secondary winding S 1  of the first transformer T 1  and the voltage of the first secondary winding S 21  of the second transformer T 2 , and the CCFL  11   b  receives the sum of the voltage of the secondary winding S 1  of the first transformer T 1  and the voltage of the second secondary winding S 22  of the second transformer T 2 . 
   As a result, the CCFLs  11   a  and  11   b  turn on. Since the first and second secondary windings S 21  and S 22  of the second transformer T 2  are loosely coupled to each other, ON operation of one of the CCFLs  11   a  and  11   b  do not drop a voltage applied to the other CCFL. Namely, the CCFLs  11   a  and  11   b  can stably be turned on without an influence of voltage drop caused by ON operation of the CCFLs  11   a  and  11   b.    
   The loose coupling of the primary winding P 2  and first secondary winding S 21  of the second transformer T 2  forms a leakage inductance Lr 1 , and the loose coupling of the primary winding P 2  and second secondary winding S 22  of the second transformer T 2  forms a leakage inductance Lr 2 . These leakage inductances result in balancing currents passed to the CCFLs  11   a  and  11   b . The voltages applied to the CCFLs  11   a  and  11   b  are shared between the first and second transformers T 1  and T 2 , and therefore, an output voltage provided by any one of the first and second transformers T 1  and T 2  can be lower than that of the related art. This results in eliminating the need of large-scale safety measures to secure reliability, prevent leakage, and ensure creepage distances and spatial distances, thereby minimizing the cost of the apparatus. 
   Second Embodiment 
     FIG. 4  is a view showing a configuration of a discharge-lamp lighting apparatus according to second embodiment of the present invention. The primary winding P 2  of the second transformer T 2  of the discharge-lamp lighting apparatus according to the first embodiment is connected in parallel to the secondary winding S 1  of the first transformer T 1 . The discharge-lamp lighting apparatus according to the present embodiment provides the same operation and effect as the discharge-lamp lighting apparatus according to the first embodiment. 
   Third Embodiment 
     FIG. 5  is a view showing a configuration of a discharge-lamp lighting apparatus according to third embodiment of the present invention. The second transformer T 2  of the discharge-lamplighting apparatus according to the first embodiment is divided into a second transformer T 2  and a third transformer T 3 . The second transformer T 2  has a primary winding P 2  and a secondary winding S 2 , and the third transformer T 3  has a primary winding P 3  and a secondary winding S 3 . 
   According to the third embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , a secondary winding S 1  of a first transformer T 1  is connected in parallel to a series circuit that includes a CCFL  11   a  and the secondary winding S 2  of the second transformer T 2  and a series circuit that includes a CCFL  11   b  and the secondary winding S 3  of the third transformer T 2 . Each of the primary windings P 2  and P 3  of the second and third transformers T 2  and T 3  is connected in parallel to the primary winding P 1  of the first transformer T 1 . The secondary windings S 2  and S 3  of the second and third transformers T 2  and T 3  are connected to the secondary winding S 1  of the first transformer T 1  with their polarities being set so that voltages generated by the secondary windings S 2  and S 3  become additive to a voltage generated by the secondary winding S 1  of the first transformer T 1 . 
   The primary and secondary windings P 2  and S 2  of the second transformer T 2  are loosely coupled to each other, and the primary and secondary windings P 3  and S 3  of the third transformer T 3  are also loosely coupled to each other. 
   Operation of the discharge-lamp lighting apparatus according to the third embodiment with the above-mentioned configuration will be explained. An AC voltage applied to the primary windings P 1 , P 2 , and P 3  of the first, second, and third transformers T 1 , T 2 , and T 3  makes the secondary windings S 1 , S 2 , and S 3  of the first, second, and third transformers T 1 , T 2 , and T 3  generate voltages. As a result, the CCFL  11   a  receives the sum of the voltage of the secondary winding S 1  of the first transformer T 1  and the voltage of the secondary winding S 2  of the second transformer T 2 . 
   Similarly, the CCFL  11   b  receives the sum of the voltage of the secondary winding S 1  of the first transformer T 1  and the voltage of the secondary winding S 3  of the third transformer T 3 . 
   As a result, the CCFLs  11   a  and  11   b  turn on. Since the secondary windings S 2  and S 3  of the second and third transformers T 2  and T 3  are independent of each other, ON operation of one of the CCFLs  11   a  and  11   b  do not drop a voltage applied to the other CCFL. Namely, the CCFLs  11   a  and  11   b  can stably be turned on without an influence of voltage drop caused by ON operation of the CCFLs  11   a  and  11   b.    
   The loose coupling of the primary and secondary windings P 2  and S 2  of the second transformer T 2  forms a leakage inductance Lr 1 , and the loose coupling of the primary and secondary windings P 3  and S 3  of the third transformer T 3  forms a leakage inductance Lr 2 . These leakage inductances result in balancing currents passed to the CCFLs  11   a  and  11   b . The voltages applied to the CCFLs  11   a  and  11   b  are shared between the first and second transformers T 1  and T 2  and between the first and third transformers T 1  and T 3 , and therefore, an output voltage provided by any one of the first to third transformers T 1  to T 3  can be lower than that of the related art. This results in eliminating the need of large-scale safety measures to secure reliability, prevent leakage, and ensure creepage distances and spatial distances, thereby minimizing the cost of the apparatus. 
   Fourth Embodiment 
     FIG. 6  is a view showing a configuration of a discharge-lamp lighting apparatus according to fourth embodiment of the present invention. Each of the primary windings P 2  and P 3  of the second and third transformers T 2  and T 3  of the discharge-lamp lighting apparatus of the third embodiment is connected in parallel to the secondary winding S 1  of the first transformer T 1 . The fourth embodiment provides the same operation and effect as the third embodiment. 
   Fifth Embodiment 
     FIG. 7  is a view showing a configuration of a discharge-lamp lighting apparatus according to fifth embodiment of the present invention. The primary windings P 2  and P 3  of the second and third transformers T 2  and T 3  of the discharge-lamp lighting apparatus of the third embodiment is connected in series with each other to form a series circuit and this series circuit is connected in parallel to the primary winding P 1  of the first transformer T 1  of the third embodiment. The fifth embodiment provides the same operation and effect as the third embodiment. 
   Like the fourth embodiment, the fifth embodiment may be modified to connect the above-mentioned series circuit in parallel to the secondary winding S 1  of the first transformer T 1 . The modification provides the same operation and effect as the fifth embodiment. 
   Sixth Embodiment 
     FIG. 8  is a view showing a configuration of a discharge-lamp lighting apparatus according to sixth embodiment of the present invention. 
   The primary winding P 2  of the second transformer T 2  of the discharge-lamp lighting apparatus of first embodiment is connected in series with the primary winding P 1  of the first transformer T 1 . The sixth embodiment provides the same operation and effect as the first embodiment. 
   Like the second embodiment, the sixth embodiment may be modified to connect the primary winding P 2  of the second transformer T 2  in series with the secondary winding S 1  of the first transformer T 1 . This modification provides the same operation and effect as the second embodiment. 
   Seventh Embodiment 
     FIG. 9  is a view showing a configuration of a discharge-lamp lighting apparatus according to seventh embodiment of the present invention. Each of the primary windings P 2  and P 3  of the second and third transformers T 2  and T 3  of the discharge-lamp lighting apparatus of the third embodiment is connected in series with the primary winding P 1  of the first transformer T 1 . The seventh embodiment provides the same operation and effect as the third embodiment. 
   Like the fourth embodiment, the seventh embodiment may be modified to connect each of the primary windings P 2  and P 3  of the second and third transformers T 2  and T 3  in series with the secondary winding S 1  of the first transformer T 1 . This modification provides the same operation and effect as the fourth embodiment. 
   Eighth Embodiment 
     FIG. 10  is a view showing a discharge-lamp lighting apparatus according eighth embodiment of the present invention. 
   The primary windings P 2  and P 3  of the second and third transformers T 2  and T 3  of the discharge-lamp lighting apparatus of third embodiment is connected in series with each other to form a series circuit and this series circuit is connected in series with the primary winding P 1  of the first transformer T 1 . The eighth embodiment provides the same operation and effect as the third embodiment. 
   Like the fourth embodiment, the eighth embodiment may be modified to connect the series circuit consisting of the primary windings P 2  and P 3  of the second and third transformers T 2  and T 3  in series with the secondary winding S 1  of the first transformer T 1 . This modification provides the same operation and effect as the eighth embodiment. 
   Although each of the first embodiment to the eighth embodiment controls two CCFLs, the present invention is applicable to form a discharge-lamp lighting apparatus that controls an optional number of CCFLs. 
   The present invention can realize a discharge-lamp lighting apparatus that is manufacturable at low cost, is highly reliable, and is capable of simultaneously driving a plurality of CCFLs. 
   The discharge-lamp lighting apparatus according to the present invention generates voltages applied to first and second discharge lamps from first and second (and third, too) transformers in a shared manner to reduce a voltage to be generated by each transformer. This results in eliminating large-scale safety measures to be taken for the apparatus, greatly reducing the cost of the apparatus, and improving the reliability of the apparatus. 
   Supplying voltages to the first and second discharge lamps with the use of the second and/or third transformers provides an advantage that a leakage inductance of each transformer can be used as an impedance to absorb the negative resistance characteristics of the first and second discharge lamps. This results in stabilizing and balancing currents passed to the discharge lamps that are simultaneously driven. 
   This application claims benefit of priority under 35 USC §119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-145730, filed on May 25, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. Although the invention has been described above by reference to certain embodiments of the invention, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Modifications and variations of the embodiments described above will occur to those skilled in the art, in light of the teachings. The scope of the invention is defined with reference to the following claims.