A light source driving system is configured to drive multiple sets of LEDs sharing common power supply terminal. The light source driving system includes a feedback node and multiple light source driving devices coupled to the feedback node. The feedback node is configured to provide a power-supply adjustment signal to adjust a supply voltage at the power supply terminal. The multiple light source driving devices are configured to generate multiple feedback output signals to control the power-supply adjustment signal in parallel. Each light source driving device of the multiple light source driving devices is configured to drive a set of LEDs of the multiple sets of LEDs, and to generate a feedback output signal of the multiple feedback output signals based on power supply status of the set of LEDs.
H05B 45/52 - Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED] responsive to malfunctions or undesirable behaviour of LEDsCircuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED] responsive to LED lifeProtective circuits in a parallel array of LEDs
G09G 3/34 - Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix by control of light from an independent source
H05B 45/34 - Voltage stabilisationMaintaining constant voltage
H05B 45/56 - Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED] responsive to malfunctions or undesirable behaviour of LEDsCircuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED] responsive to LED lifeProtective circuits involving measures to prevent abnormal temperature of the LEDs
2.
SYSTEM AND CONTROLLER FOR CONTROLLING A LIGHT SOURCE MODULE
A controller for controlling a light source module including a first LED string and a second LED string includes a power input terminal operable for receiving electric power from a boost converter, a power output terminal operable for providing electric power to the light source module through a buck converter, a first input terminal operable for receiving a first pulse width modulation (PWM) signal, a second input terminal operable for receiving a second PWM signal, and a width monitoring terminal operable for receiving a width monitoring signal indicating a duration of a first state of the first PWM signal and a duration of a first state of the second PWM signal. The controller is operable for turning off the light source module if the width monitoring signal is greater than a width threshold signal.
H05B 45/34 - Voltage stabilisationMaintaining constant voltage
H05B 45/345 - Current stabilisationMaintaining constant current
H05B 45/375 - Switched mode power supply [SMPS] using buck topology
H05B 45/38 - Switched mode power supply [SMPS] using boost topology
H05B 45/52 - Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED] responsive to malfunctions or undesirable behaviour of LEDsCircuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED] responsive to LED lifeProtective circuits in a parallel array of LEDs
A light-source driving system includes a first controller, a switch circuit, and a second controller. The first controller is configured to control power transferred from a primary winding of a transformer to a first secondary winding and a second secondary winding of the transformer according to a load of a system circuit powered by the second secondary winding. The switch circuit is configured to enable the first secondary winding to provide a portion of the transferred power to a light source when the switch circuit is turned on. The second controller is coupled to the switch circuit and the first controller and is configured to monitor a status of the light source and control the switch circuit according to the status.
H01F 30/04 - Fixed transformers not covered by group having two or more secondary windings, each supplying a separate load, e.g. for radio set power supplies
A battery monitoring device includes a monitoring circuit, a communication port, and a control circuit. The communication port receives a sensing command from a battery management unit through a set of other battery monitoring devices. The control circuit starts timing of a preset time delay when the control circuit executes the sensing command, and controls the monitoring circuit to sense a status of a first battery module when the preset time delay expires such that the monitoring circuit senses the status of the first battery module at a time point that is synchronized with a sensing time point of the other battery monitoring devices. The control circuit controls the communication port to send information including the status of the first battery module to the battery management unit through the other battery monitoring devices.
In a bridge communication device that receives information for statuses of a battery from a monitoring device that monitors the statuses, an upstream communication port can transmit the information to an upstream bridge communication device; a downstream communication port can transmit the information to a downstream bridge communication device; a master communication module can transmit the information to a controller if the master communication module is enabled to communicate with the controller; and a slave communication module can operate in an upstream mode or a downstream mode if the master communication module is not enabled to communicate with the controller. In the upstream mode, the slave communication module transmits the information to the controller through the upstream communication port and the upstream bridge communication device. In the downstream mode, the slave communication module transmits the information to the controller through the downstream communication port and the downstream bridge communication device.
G01R 31/371 - Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC] with remote indication, e.g. on external chargers
G01R 31/382 - Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
A power management system includes a first switching regulator, a second switching regulator, and a power delivery (PD) controller. The first switching regulator is configured to convert a first input power generated by a power source circuit to a first output power provided to a first connector, and generate a synchronization signal. The second switching regulator is configured to convert a second input power generated by the power source circuit to a second output power provided to a second connector, and synchronize its operating state with an operating state of the first switching regulator according to the synchronization signal. The PD controller is configured to control the first switching regulator to adjust the first output power according to a first negotiation signal provided by the first connector, and control the second switching regulator to adjust the second output power according to a second negotiation signal provided by the second connector.
H02M 3/158 - Conversion of DC power input into DC power output without intermediate conversion into AC by static converters using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode using devices of a triode or transistor type requiring continuous application of a control signal using semiconductor devices only with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load
In a battery monitoring device, a power management unit manages the power supplied to the battery monitoring device. A monitoring circuit monitors a status of a corresponding battery and measures power consumption of the power management unit. A communication interface receives a first command and a second command from a host through an adjacent monitoring device, and transmits, to the host through the adjacent monitoring device, information for the status of the corresponding battery in response to the first command and information for the measured power consumption in response to the second command. The communication interface also receives a third command, through the adjacent monitoring device, that is generated by the host based on the information for the measured power consumption and information for power consumption of the adjacent monitoring device. A balance module adjusts the power consumption of the power management unit according to the third command.
A controller for controlling a light source module including a first LED string and a second LED string includes a power input terminal operable for receiving electric power from a boost converter, a power output terminal operable for providing electric power to the light source module through a buck converter, a first input terminal operable for receiving a first pulse width modulation (PWM) signal, a second input terminal operable for receiving a second PWM signal, and a width monitoring terminal operable for receiving a width monitoring signal indicating a duration of a first state of the first PWM signal and a duration of a first state of the second PWM signal. The controller is operable for turning off the light source module if the width monitoring signal is greater than a width threshold signal.
H05B 45/345 - Current stabilisationMaintaining constant current
H05B 45/375 - Switched mode power supply [SMPS] using buck topology
H05B 45/38 - Switched mode power supply [SMPS] using boost topology
H05B 45/46 - Details of LED load circuits with an active control inside an LED matrix having LEDs disposed in parallel lines
H05B 45/52 - Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED] responsive to malfunctions or undesirable behaviour of LEDsCircuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED] responsive to LED lifeProtective circuits in a parallel array of LEDs
In a battery monitoring circuit, a bypath circuit includes a first terminal coupled to a positive terminal of a battery cell and a second terminal coupled to a negative terminal of the battery cell. A resistive component includes a third terminal coupled to the second terminal of the bypath circuit, and includes a fourth terminal coupled to a reference signal source that controls the resistive component to generate a reference voltage. A controller controls turning on and off the bypath circuit and the reference signal source, monitors a status of the battery cell when the bypath circuit and the reference signal source are off, senses a test voltage between the first terminal and the fourth terminal when the bypath circuit and the reference signal source are on, and generates a status signal indicative of an operating status of the battery monitoring circuit according to the test voltage.
A controller for controlling a light source module including a first LED array and a second LED array includes a first driving terminal and a second driving terminal. The controller is operable for turning on a switch between a power converter and the first LED array by the first driving terminal to deliver electric power from the power converter to the first LED array in a first sequence of discrete time slots, and for turning on a second switch between the power converter and the second LED array by the second driving terminal to deliver electric power from the power converter to the second LED array in a second sequence of discrete time slots, where the first sequence of discrete time slots and the second sequence of discrete time slots are mutually exclusive.
An open cell detection system includes a battery management system. The battery management system includes a control unit that transmits an open cell detection signal, to enable a balance unit for a first time period and to disable it for a second time period, and to enable an under-voltage comparison unit and an over-voltage comparison unit for a third time period. The under-voltage comparison unit compares a voltage with a first open cell threshold and outputs a first comparison result in the third time period. The over-voltage comparison unit compares a voltage with a second open cell threshold and outputs a second comparison result in the third time period. A judging unit determines whether a connection between a first battery unit and the battery management system is inoperative based on the first and second comparison results.
H01M 10/42 - Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells
G01R 19/165 - Indicating that current or voltage is either above or below a predetermined value or within or outside a predetermined range of values
G01R 31/3835 - Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC involving only voltage measurements
G01R 31/396 - Acquisition or processing of data for testing or for monitoring individual cells or groups of cells within a battery
H02J 7/00 - Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
H03K 5/24 - Circuits having more than one input and one output for comparing pulses or pulse trains with each other according to input signal characteristics, e.g. slope, integral the characteristic being amplitude
In a status detection system, a data acquisition circuit monitors statuses of a battery to generate status data. A storage medium stores a set of lookup tables. A lookup table of the lookup tables includes a set of datasets corresponding to a set of time frames. Each dataset includes digital values of parameters of the battery obtained in a corresponding time frame of the time frames. A controller receives the status data and updates the lookup tables based on the status data. The controller also obtains a current dataset of the parameters based on the status data, searches the lookup table for a previous dataset that matches the current dataset, compares a current value of a parameter in the current dataset with a previous value of the parameter in the previous dataset, and determines whether a potential fault is present in the battery based on a result of the comparison.
G01R 31/367 - Software therefor, e.g. for battery testing using modelling or look-up tables
G01R 31/374 - Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC] with means for correcting the measurement for temperature or ageing
G01R 31/3842 - Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC combining voltage and current measurements
A controller for managing a battery pack includes: a detection terminal, for transmitting an enable signal when values of battery parameters for the battery pack satisfy a sleep condition, where the enable signal enables the detection circuit to detect whether the battery pack is connected to a load and whether the battery pack is connected to the charger; and a receiving terminal, for receiving a detection result transmitted by the detection circuit. The detection result indicates whether the battery pack is connected to at least one of the load and charger. The controller controls the battery pack to enter a sleep mode of the sleep modes based on the detection result. The controller also includes a control terminal, for transmitting a control signal to control an on/off state of a charging switch and/or a discharging switch. The control signal is generated by the controller based on the detection result.
In a portable device, a first battery has a positive terminal coupled to, through a first switch, an interface used to receive input power, and a negative terminal coupled to a reference terminal. A second battery has a positive terminal coupled to the interface, and a negative terminal coupled to the reference terminal through a second switch, and to the first battery's positive terminal through a third switch. A control circuitry controls the switches such that the device has multiple operation modes including at least a one-battery charging mode and a two-battery-in-series charging mode. In the one-battery charging mode, the circuitry turns off the third switch, and controls the other switches such that one battery is charged by the input power. In the two-battery-in-series charging mode, the control circuitry turns on the third switch and turns off the other switches, such that two batteries are charged by the input power.
An open cell detection system includes a battery management system. The battery management system includes a control unit that transmits an open cell detection signal, to enable a balance unit for a first time period and to disable it for a second time period, and to enable an under-voltage comparison unit and an over-voltage comparison unit for a third time period. The under-voltage comparison unit compares a voltage with a first open cell threshold and outputs a first comparison result in the third time period. The over-voltage comparison unit compares a voltage with a second open cell threshold and outputs a second comparison result in the third time period. A judging unit determines whether a connection between a first battery unit and the battery management system is inoperative based on the first and second comparison results.
H01M 10/42 - Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells
G01R 19/165 - Indicating that current or voltage is either above or below a predetermined value or within or outside a predetermined range of values
G01R 31/3835 - Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC involving only voltage measurements
G01R 31/396 - Acquisition or processing of data for testing or for monitoring individual cells or groups of cells within a battery
H02J 7/00 - Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
H03K 5/24 - Circuits having more than one input and one output for comparing pulses or pulse trains with each other according to input signal characteristics, e.g. slope, integral the characteristic being amplitude
16.
Controller and method for detecting battery cell voltage
A controller for detecting voltages of battery cells in a battery pack includes converters coupled to the battery cells and switching units. An anode of each battery cell is coupled to a respective converter through a respective first path, and a cathode of each battery cell is coupled to the respective converter through a respective second path. The switching units are coupled between the battery cells and the converters. The converters are coupled to anodes of the battery cells through the switching units. When a switching unit corresponding to a battery cell is turned on, an anode of the battery cell provides an operating current and a sampling current through a respective first path to a respective converter, and the operating current flows from the anode of the battery cell through the respective converter to ground.
In a portable device, a load module includes a discharge switch for discharging a battery pack, and a detection circuit that detects a protection signal to control the discharge switch. A charge module includes a charge switch for charging the battery pack, and a detection circuit that detects the protection signal to control the charge switch. The battery pack includes a protection terminal that provides the protection signal, and protection circuitry that sets the protection signal to a state according to the battery pack's status. The protection signal turns the charge switch on and the discharge switch off if the protection signal is in a first state, turns the charge switch off and the discharge switch on if it's in a second state, turns the charge and discharge switches off if it's in a third state, and turns the charge and discharge switches on if it's in a fourth state.
A controller for managing a battery pack includes: a detection terminal, for transmitting an enable signal when values of battery parameters for the battery pack satisfy a sleep condition, where the enable signal enables the detection circuit to detect whether the battery pack is connected to a load and whether the battery pack is connected to the charger; and a receiving terminal, for receiving a detection result transmitted by the detection circuit. The detection result indicates whether the battery pack is connected to at least one of the load and charger. The controller controls the battery pack to enter a sleep mode of the sleep modes based on the detection result. The controller also includes a control terminal, for transmitting a control signal to control an on/off state of a charging switch and/or a discharging switch. The control signal is generated by the controller based on the detection result.
In a status detection system, a data acquisition circuit monitors statuses of a battery to generate status data. A storage medium stores a set of lookup tables. A lookup table of the lookup tables includes a set of datasets corresponding to a set of time frames. Each dataset includes digital values of parameters of the battery obtained in a corresponding time frame of the time frames. A controller receives the status data and updates the lookup tables based on the status data. The controller also obtains a current dataset of the parameters based on the status data, searches the lookup table for a previous dataset that matches the current dataset, compares a current value of a parameter in the current dataset with a previous value of the parameter in the previous dataset, and determines whether a potential fault is present in the battery based on a result of the comparison.
G01R 31/367 - Software therefor, e.g. for battery testing using modelling or look-up tables
G01R 31/374 - Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC] with means for correcting the measurement for temperature or ageing
G01R 31/3842 - Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC combining voltage and current measurements
20.
Open cell detection method and open cell recovery detection method in a battery management system
An open cell detection method includes: (a) generating a control signal by a control unit, to turn on a first balance switch for a first time period; (b) generating the control signal with the control unit, to turn off the first balance switch for a second time period; (c) measuring a voltage value on a first capacitor, with a measure unit; (d) if the voltage value on the first capacitor is less than an open cell threshold, then determining with the control unit that the first cell has an open cell failure; (e) for each cell of the cells, repeating steps (a)-(d); and (f) if at least one cell of the cells has an open cell failure, then determining with the control unit that the battery management system has an open cell failure.
G01R 31/396 - Acquisition or processing of data for testing or for monitoring individual cells or groups of cells within a battery
G01R 31/36 - Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC]
H01M 10/42 - Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells
H01M 10/48 - Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte
H02J 7/00 - Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
21.
Battery management controllers capable of determining estimate of state of charge
In a battery management controller, analog-to-digital conversion circuitry converts analog signals, indicative of a battery voltage, a battery current, and a battery temperature, to digital signals. A memory stores a remaining-capacity lookup table that includes multiple groups of data. Each group of data includes a voltage, a current, a temperature, and a parameter associated with a remaining capacity corresponding to the voltage, the current and the temperature. A processor searches the lookup table for a current parameter value and an end-of-discharge parameter value based on the digital signals, and determines a full available charge capacity of the battery based on the current parameter value and the end-of-discharge parameter value. The processor also counts the number of charges flowing through the battery based on a battery current. The processor further determines an available state of charge of the battery according to the full available charge capacity and the number of charges.
A controller for controlling a light source module including a first LED array and a second LED array includes a first driving terminal and a second driving terminal. The controller is operable for turning on a switch between a power converter and the first LED array by the first driving terminal to deliver electric power from the power converter to the first LED array in a first sequence of discrete time slots, and for turning on a second switch between the power converter and the second LED array by the second driving terminal to deliver electric power from the power converter to the second LED array in a second sequence of discrete time slots, where the first sequence of discrete time slots and the second sequence of discrete time slots are mutually exclusive.
A method for detecting whether a battery management system is abnormal includes: calculating a value of a theoretical time constant corresponding to a first cell; determining a preset range of the theoretical time constant; controlling a first switch to turn off for a first time period, turn on for a second time period, turn off for a third time period; measuring a voltage on a first capacitor at end of first time period, to produce a measured voltage of first cell; measuring voltages on first capacitor at least at one time point in third time period, to produce measured capacitance voltages; determining a value of a measured time constant according to at least one of measured capacitance voltages and the measured voltage of first cell; and determining the battery management system is abnormal, if the value of the measured time constant exceeds the preset range of the theoretical time constant.
G01R 1/36 - Overload-protection arrangements or circuits for electric measuring instruments
G01R 31/36 - Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC]
G01R 31/385 - Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables
H01M 10/42 - Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells
H02J 7/00 - Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
A light source driving circuit includes a rectifier operable for rectifying an AC voltage from a TRIAC dimmer and providing a rectified voltage, a power converter coupled to the rectifier and operable for receiving the rectified voltage and providing an output current, a dimmer controller operable for controlling the power converter based on the rectified voltage to adjust the output current, and a light source module coupled to the power converter and powered by the output current. The light source module includes a first light source having a first color, a second light source having a second color, and a current allocation unit coupled to the first light source and the second light source. The current allocation unit is operable for adjusting a current through the first light source and a current through the second light source based on the output current.
A system for driving a light source includes a power converter and control circuitry coupled to the power converter. The power converter converts input power to an output voltage to power the light source. The control circuitry senses the output voltage and senses current of the light source. The control circuitry generates a control signal based on a voltage feedback signal indicative of a combination of said output voltage and said current of said light source, and controls the power converter by the control signal to adjust the output voltage.
A flyback converter includes a transformer and a controller. The transformer is configured to receive an input voltage from a power source. The controller is coupled to the transformer via a switch, and is configured to receive a first signal indicating a first voltage, generate a second signal indicating a second voltage according to a first current flowing through the transformer, and generate a control signal to control the switch according to a comparison result of the first signal and the second signal, where the second voltage varies inversely to variations in the input voltage.
H02M 1/08 - Circuits specially adapted for the generation of control voltages for semiconductor devices incorporated in static converters
H02M 3/325 - Conversion of DC power input into DC power output with intermediate conversion into AC by static converters using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode to produce the intermediate AC using devices of a triode or a transistor type requiring continuous application of a control signal
H02M 3/335 - Conversion of DC power input into DC power output with intermediate conversion into AC by static converters using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode to produce the intermediate AC using devices of a triode or a transistor type requiring continuous application of a control signal using semiconductor devices only
H02J 7/00 - Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
27.
A FLYBACK CONVERTER AND A METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A FLYBACK CONVERTER
A flyback converter includes a transformer and a controller. The transformer is configured to receive an input voltage from a power source. The controller is coupled to the transformer via a switch, and is configured to receive a first signal indicating a first voltage, generate a second signal indicating a second voltage according to a first current flowing through the transformer, and generate a control signal to control the switch according to a comparison result of the first signal and the second signal, where the second voltage varies inversely to variations in the input voltage.
H02M 1/08 - Circuits specially adapted for the generation of control voltages for semiconductor devices incorporated in static converters
H02M 3/335 - Conversion of DC power input into DC power output with intermediate conversion into AC by static converters using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode to produce the intermediate AC using devices of a triode or a transistor type requiring continuous application of a control signal using semiconductor devices only
H02J 7/00 - Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
A laterally-diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor (LDMOS) transistor includes a first well of a first conductivity type, a source of a second conductivity type formed in the first well, a drift region of the second conductivity type formed in the first well, and a second well of the second conductivity type formed in the first well and below the drift region. The drift region is separated from the source. The LDMOS transistor further includes a drain of the second conductivity type formed in the drift region, and includes a concentrator of the second conductivity type formed in the drift region and separated from the drain. A distance between the concentrator and the source is less than a distance between the drain and the source.
An electronic system includes a plurality of primary power sources operable for powering a load and charging a secondary power source, and a power management unit coupled to the plurality of primary power sources and the secondary power source. The power management unit is operable for selectively directing power of each of the primary power sources to the load according to a power requirement of the load. The power management unit is further operable for directing power of the secondary power source to the load if the power requirement of the load exceeds a total power capacity of the plurality of primary power sources.
A power supply system can include a primary power supply coupled to an output, and a secondary power supply coupled to the output. The primary power supply provides power to the output when a voltage level of the secondary power supply is less than a first predetermined level. The secondary power supply provides power to the output when the voltage level of the secondary power supply is greater than the first predetermined level. The secondary power supply not only provides power to the output, but also charges the primary power supply when the voltage level of the secondary power supply is greater than a second predetermined level that is greater than the first predetermined level.
The present invention is an apparatus for driving white LEDs. The apparatus includes a switchable current sink, a DC-DC converter and a reference circuit. The DC-DC converter provides a driving voltage to a plurality of LEDs. The switchable current sink regulates currents through the plurality of LEDs, and the switchable current sink further provides a first reference voltage and outputs a plurality of voltage drops. The reference circuit receives the first reference voltage and the plurality of voltage drops to provide a second reference voltage to the DC-DC converter. The DC-DC converter adjusts the driving voltage provided to the plurality of LEDs according to the second reference voltage. In this way, the driving voltage is regulated to a minimum possible value and consequently the voltage drops across the switchable current sink is minimized. Hence, the LED driving system maintains higher efficiency.
G09G 3/32 - Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix using controlled light sources using electroluminescent panels semiconductive, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED]
patents
