Patent Description:
Different countries may adopt different voltage standards. Therefore, currently available lighting device driving circuit needs to have a universal voltage circuit design. Currently, the most frequently-used driving circuit structure is the circuit structure including a constant-voltage circuit and a voltage reduction circuit with a view to prevent lighting devices from flickering. When a high input voltage or a low input voltage is inputted to this circuit structure, the constant-voltage circuit thereof should boost the input voltage to a certain voltage value, such as 400V or 450V. However, when the input voltage is low, the constant-voltage circuit would be burdened with high step-up ratio, which significantly decreases the operating efficiency thereof. The difference between the operating efficiency of this circuit structure operating in the high input voltage and the operating efficiency of this circuit structure operating in the low input voltage may be up to <NUM>%. Accordingly, it is obvious that this circuit structure is not suitable for some countries adopting low voltage standards (e.g., 110V). From <CIT> a lighting device driving circuit is known that has the features of the preamble of claim <NUM> and whose operation implements the features of the preamble of claim <NUM>. A further lighting driving circuit is described in <CIT>.

The present invention is related to a lighting device driving circuit with high operating efficiency. According to the present invention, the lighting device driving circuit includes the features of claim <NUM>. Further embodiments are subject-matter of the claims dependent on claim <NUM>. The lighting device driving circuit includes a rectifying module, a constant-voltage module, an input signal collecting module, a constant-voltage signal collecting module and a constant-voltage control module. The rectifying module receives a power signal from a power source input terminal to generate a rectified voltage signal. The constant-voltage module receives the rectified voltage signal to generate a constant-voltage signal. The input signal collecting module receives the power signal or the rectified voltage signal to generate a first feedback signal. The constant-voltage signal collecting module receives the first feedback signal and the constant-voltage signal to generate a second feedback signal. The constant-voltage control module generates a control signal according to the second feedback signal so as to control the constant-voltage module to adjust the constant-voltage signal and drive a load.

The second feedback signal is the integrated signal of the first feedback signal and the constant-voltage signal.

In one embodiment, the lighting device further includes a voltage reduction module. The voltage reduction module receives the constant-voltage signal to generate a driving signal in order to drive the load.

In one embodiment, the load is a light-emitting diode lamp or other similar elements.

In one embodiment, the rectifying module is a bridge rectifier or other similar elements.

The present invention is related to a method for improving an operating efficiency of a lighting device driving circuit. According to the present invention, the method includes the features of claim <NUM>. Further embodiments are subject-matter of the claims dependent on claim <NUM>. The method includes the following steps: receiving a power signal from a power source input terminal by a rectifying module to generate a rectified voltage signal; receiving the rectified voltage signal by a constant-voltage module to generate a constant-voltage signal; receiving the power signal or the rectified voltage signal by an input signal collecting module to generate a first feedback signal; receiving the first feedback signal and the constant-voltage signal by a constant-voltage signal collecting module to generate a second feedback signal; and generating a control signal according to the second feedback signal by a constant-voltage control module so as to control the constant-voltage module to adjust the constant-voltage signal and drive a load.

The step of receiving the first feedback signal and the constant-voltage signal by the constant-voltage signal collecting module to generate the second feedback signal further includes the following step: integrating the first feedback signal with the constant-voltage signal by the constant-voltage signal collecting module to generate the second feedback signal.

In one embodiment, the method further includes the following step: receiving the constant-voltage signal by a voltage reduction module to generate a driving signal in order to drive the load.

The lighting device driving circuit with high operating efficiency and the method thereof in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention may have the following advantages:.

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention and wherein:.

It should be understood that, when it is described that an element is "coupled" or "connected" to another element, the element may be "directly coupled" or "directly connected" to the other element or "coupled" or "connected" to the other element through a third element. In contrast, it should be understood that, when it is described that an element is "directly coupled" or "directly connected" to another element, there are no intervening elements.

Please refer to <FIG>, which is a circuit diagram of a lighting device driving circuit with high operating efficiency in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in <FIG>, the lighting device driving circuit <NUM> with high operating efficiency includes a rectifying module <NUM>, a constant-voltage module <NUM>, an input signal collecting module <NUM>, a constant-voltage signal collecting module <NUM>, a constant-voltage control module <NUM> and a voltage reduction module <NUM>.

The rectifying module <NUM> receives a power signal Ps from a power source input terminal ACin to generate a rectified voltage signal Rs. In one embodiment, the rectifying module <NUM> may be, but not limited to, a bridge rectifier. In another embodiment, the rectifying module <NUM> may be other similar circuits having the rectifying function.

The constant-voltage module <NUM> receives the rectified voltage signal Rs to generate a constant-voltage signal Vs. In one embodiment, the constant-voltage module <NUM> may be a constant-voltage circuit or other similar circuits.

The voltage reduction module <NUM> receives the constant-voltage signal Vs to generate a driving signal Ds in order to drive a load L. In one embodiment, the voltage reduction module <NUM> may be, but not limited to, a buck converter. In another embodiment, the voltage reduction module <NUM> may be other similar circuits.

In addition, the input signal collecting module <NUM> receives the rectified voltage signal Rs to generate a first feedback signal Fs1.

The constant-voltage collecting module <NUM> receives the first feedback signal Fs1 and the constant-voltage signal Vs to generate a second feedback signal Fs2. In this embodiment, the constant-voltage collecting module <NUM> may integrate the first feedback signal Fs1 with the constant-voltage signal Vs to generate an integrated signal. The integrated signal can serve as the second feedback signal Fs2.

Afterward, the constant-voltage control module <NUM> generates a control signal Cs according to the second feedback signal Fs2 with a view to control the constant-voltage module <NUM> to adjust the constant-voltage signal Vs. Then, the voltage reduction module <NUM> receives the adjusted constant-voltage signal Vs to generate the driving signal Ds so as to drive the load L.

Via the above mechanism, the second feedback signal Fs2 can simultaneously have the characteristics of the rectified voltage signal Rs outputted by the rectifying module <NUM> and the constant-voltage signal Vs outputted by the constant-voltage module <NUM> in order to effectively enhance the voltage following effect of the lighting device driving circuit <NUM>. In this way, the operating efficiency of the lighting device driving circuit <NUM> can be dramatically optimized.

Besides, the lighting device driving circuit <NUM> of this embodiment can satisfy the requirements of different countries and can be applied to various types of lighting devices. Thus, the lighting device driving circuit <NUM> not only can be more comprehensive in application, but also can conform to actual needs.

The embodiment just exemplifies the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

Please refer to <FIG>, which is a circuit diagram of the input signal collecting module and the constant-voltage signal collecting module of the lighting device driving circuit with high operating efficiency in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> illustrates one of the circuit designs of the input signal collecting module <NUM> and the constant-voltage signal collecting module <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the input signal collecting module <NUM> includes a plurality of resistors R1 and a capacitor C1. The constant-voltage signal collecting module <NUM> includes a plurality of resistors R2, a transistor T1 and a capacitor C2. The constant-voltage signal collecting module <NUM> is connected to a plurality of resistors R0 (G stands for the ground point).

The input signal collecting module <NUM> performs voltage dividing for the rectified voltage signal Rs to generate the first feedback signal Fs1 in order to control the transistor T1. When the base voltage of the transistor T1 is <NUM>~V1, the transistor T1 is in off state. When the base voltage of the transistor T1 is V1~V2, the transistor T1 can be considered a variable resistor. When the base voltage of the transistor T1 is greater than V2, the transistor T1 is in on state (V2>V1><NUM>).

When the base voltage of the transistor T1 is <NUM>~V1 (off state), the signal received by the constant-voltage signal collecting module <NUM> is the divided voltage signal caused by the resistors R0 and the resistors R2. When the base voltage of the transistor T1 is V1~V2, the signal received by the constant-voltage signal collecting module <NUM> is the divided voltage signal caused by the resistors R0, the resistors R2 and the transistor T1 (one of the resistors R2 is connected to the transistor T1 in series and the two elements are connected to the other of the resistors R2 in parallel). When the base voltage of the transistor T1 is greater than V2 (on state), the signal received by the constant-voltage signal collecting module <NUM> is the divided voltage signal caused by the resistors R0 and the resistors R2 connected to each other in parallel.

Therefore, the constant-voltage collecting module <NUM> can generate the second feedback signal Fs2 simultaneously having the characteristics of the constant-voltage signal Vs and the rectified voltage signal Rs.

The input signal collecting module <NUM> and the constant-voltage signal collecting module <NUM> can also be realized by other circuit designs.

Please refer to <FIG>, which is a flow chart of a method for improving the operating efficiency of the lighting device driving circuit in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. The method for improving the operating efficiency of the lighting device driving circuit of the embodiment includes the following steps:.

It is worthy to point out that the difference between the operating efficiency of a currently available driving circuit structure operating in the high input voltage and the operating efficiency of this driving circuit structure operating in the low input voltage may be up to <NUM>%, which significantly decreases the operating efficiency of this driving circuit structure. On the contrary, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the input signal collecting module of the lighting device driving circuit with high operating efficiency can receive a power signal or a rectified voltage signal to generate a first feedback signal and the constant-voltage signal collecting module thereof can receive the first feedback signal and a constant-voltage signal to generate a second feedback signal. Then, the constant-voltage control module of the lighting device driving circuit can control the constant-voltage module thereof to adjust the constant-voltage signal according to the second feedback signal. The above mechanism can enhance the voltage following effect of the lighting device driving circuit, so the operating efficiency thereof can be significantly increased.

Further, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the lighting device driving circuit with high operating efficiency can enhance the voltage following effect thereof via a special circuit design and a great operating mechanism so as to improve the operating efficiency thereof. Therefore, the operating efficiency of the lighting device driving circuit operating in the high input voltage can be close to that of the lighting device driving circuit operating in the low input voltage. As a result, the lighting device driving circuit can satisfy the requirements of different countries, which can be more comprehensive in application.

Moreover, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the lighting device driving circuit can effectively improve the operating efficiency thereof and can be applied to various types of lighting devices. Thus, the lighting device driving circuit can be more flexible in application and can conform to actual needs.

Furthermore, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the circuit design of the lighting device driving circuit is simple and can achieve high performance, so the lighting device driving circuit can achieve the desired technical effects without significantly increasing the cost thereof. Therefore, the lighting device driving circuit can have high commercial value. As described above, the lighting device driving circuit according to the embodiments of the present invention can really achieve great technical effects.

Please refer to <FIG>, which is a circuit diagram of a lighting device driving circuit with high operating efficiency in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in <FIG>, the lighting device driving circuit <NUM> with high operating efficiency includes a rectifying module <NUM>, a constant-voltage module <NUM>, an input signal collecting module <NUM>, a constant-voltage signal collecting module <NUM>, a constant-voltage control module <NUM> and a voltage reduction module <NUM>.

The rectifying module <NUM> receives a power signal Ps from a power source input terminal ACin to generate a rectified voltage signal Rs. The constant-voltage module <NUM> receives the rectified voltage signal Rs to generate a constant-voltage signal Vs. The voltage reduction module <NUM> receives the constant-voltage signal Vs to generate a driving signal Ds in order to drive a load L.

The difference between this embodiment and the previous embodiment is that the input signal collecting module <NUM> receives the power signal Ps to generate a first feedback signal Fs1, and then the constant-voltage signal collecting module <NUM> receives the first feedback signal Fs1 and the constant-voltage signal Vs to generate a second feedback signal Fs2. In this way, the constant-voltage signal collecting module <NUM> can integrate the first feedback signal Fs1 and the constant-voltage signal Vs to generate an integrated signal, which can serve as the second feedback signal Fs2. Afterward, the constant-voltage control module <NUM> can generate a control signal Cs according to the second feedback signal Fs2 in order to control the constant-voltage module <NUM> to adjust the constant-voltage signal Vs. Finally, the voltage reduction module <NUM> receives the adjusted constant-voltage signal Vs to generate the driving signal Ds so as to drive the load L.

Via the above mechanism, the second feedback signal Fs2 can simultaneously have the characteristics of the power signal Ps outputted by the power source input terminal ACin and the constant-voltage signal Vs outputted by the constant-voltage module <NUM>, which can effectively enhance the voltage following effect of the lighting device driving circuit <NUM>. Accordingly, the operating efficiency of the lighting device driving circuit <NUM> can be greatly improved.

Please refer to <FIG>, which is a flow chart of a method for improving the operating efficiency of the lighting device driving circuit in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. The method for improving the operating efficiency of the lighting device driving circuit of the embodiment includes the following steps:.

To sum up, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the input signal collecting module of the lighting device driving circuit with high operating efficiency can receive a power signal or a rectified voltage signal to generate a first feedback signal and the constant-voltage signal collecting module thereof can receive the first feedback signal and a constant-voltage signal to generate a second feedback signal. Then, the constant-voltage control module of the lighting device driving circuit can control the constant-voltage module thereof to adjust the constant-voltage signal according to the second feedback signal. The above mechanism can enhance the voltage following effect of the lighting device driving circuit, so the operating efficiency thereof can be significantly increased.

Furthermore, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the circuit design of the lighting device driving circuit is simple and can achieve high performance, so the lighting device driving circuit can achieve the desired technical effects without significantly increasing the cost thereof. Therefore, the lighting device driving circuit can have high commercial value.

Claim 1:
A lighting device driving circuit (<NUM>), comprising:
a rectifying module (<NUM>), configured to receive a power signal (Ps) from a power source input terminal to generate a rectified voltage signal (Rs);
a constant-voltage module (<NUM>), configured to receive the rectified voltage signal (Rs) to generate a constant-voltage signal (Vs);
characterised by
an input signal collecting module (<NUM>), configured to receive the power signal or the rectified voltage signal (Rs) to generate a first feedback signal (Fs1); and
a constant-voltage signal collecting module (<NUM>), configured to receive the first feedback signal (Fs1) and the constant-voltage signal (Vs) to generate a second feedback signal (Fs2); and
a constant-voltage control module (<NUM>), configured to generate a control signal according to the second feedback signal (Fs2) so as to control the constant-voltage module (<NUM>) to adjust the constant-voltage signal (Vs) and drive a load,
wherein the second feedback signal (Fs2) is an integrated signal of the first feedback signal (Fs1) and the constant-voltage signal (Vs).