CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application No. 093129568, filed on Sep. 30, 2004, Taiwanese Application No. 094200841, filed on Jan. 17, 2005, and Taiwanese Application No. 094202391, filed on Feb. 5, 2005.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an inverter transformer, more particularly to an inverter transformer adapted to be connected to discharge lamps to form a lamp assembly that has uniform illumination among the lamps.
2. Description of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display (LCD) uses discharge lamps, such as cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFL), as a source of backlight illumination. The discharge lamps are driven by an inverter circuit, which usually includes an inverter transformer, in order to meet the requirement of high voltage outputs.
A conventional inverter transformer includes a core, a bobbin, and primary and secondary windings wound around the bobbin. The primary and secondary windings are adapted to be connected electrically and respectively to an electrical source and a load, which is the CCFL in this case.
As LCDs increase in physical size, the required length and number of CCFLs also increases, and the power required for driving the lamps increases accordingly.
In order to minimize production costs, the secondary winding is connected in the prior art to two CCFLs that are in parallel. Under ideal loading conditions, the CCFL exhibits negative thermal impedance characteristics, which can result in different actual impedances between individual lamps. Therefore, the current, and thus illumination, in individual lamps differ from each other during actual operation.
The CCFL comes in various configurations, such as L-shaped and U-shaped, depending on a particular application. The difference in illumination among individual lamps is more noticeable for the L-shaped and U-shaped lamps, and therefore, control over regulating the currents in the lamps is necessary. Although an impedance matching coil has been proposed heretofore to facilitate regulating the currents in the lamps that are connected to the same secondary winding, this regulating scheme not only increases production cost, but also takes up valuable space in circuit boards inside the LCDs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an inverter transformer that is adapted to supply balanced current outputs to discharge lamps in a lamp assembly so as to ensure uniform illumination.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an inverter transformer that includes a coil unit including a bobbin and a plurality of windings, and a transformer core unit. The bobbin is formed with a core-receiving compartment, and includes first, second and third coil winding portions. The windings are wound around the first, second and third coil winding portions, respectively. The transformer core unit has an internal core part that extends into the core-receiving compartment.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an inverter transformer that includes a plurality of coil units and a plurality of transformer core units. Each of the coil units includes a bobbin and a plurality of windings. The bobbin is formed with a core-receiving compartment, and includes first, second and third coil winding portions. The windings include primary, secondary and tertiary windings wound around the first, second and third coil winding portions, respectively. Each of the transformer core units has an internal core part that extends into the core-receiving compartment of a respective one of the coil units.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lamp assembly that includes a pair of lamp loads and an inverter transformer. The inverter transformer includes first and second coil units connected respectively to the lamp loads, and first and second transformer core units. Each of the first and second coil units includes a bobbin and a plurality of windings. The bobbin is formed with a core-receiving compartment, and includes first, second and third coil winding portions. The windings include primary, secondary and tertiary windings wound around the first, second and third coil winding portions, respectively. Each of the first and second transformer core units has an internal core part that extends into the core-receiving compartment of a respective one of the first and second coil units.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of an inverter transformer according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary schematic side view of the first preferred embodiment, illustrating magnetic coupling between adjacent windings;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary schematic side view of the second preferred embodiment of an inverter transformer according to the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the third preferred embodiment of an inverter transformer according to the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary schematic side view of the fourth preferred embodiment of an inverter transformer according to the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary schematic side view of the fifth preferred embodiment of an inverter transformer according to the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary schematic bottom view of the fifth preferred embodiment;
FIG. 8 is a top view of the sixth preferred embodiment of an inverter transformer according to the present invention;
FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the seventh preferred embodiment of an inverter transformer according to the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a partly cutaway, assembled perspective view of the seventh preferred embodiment;
FIG. 11 is a top view of the eighth preferred embodiment of an inverter transformer according to the present invention;
FIG. 12 is a top view of the ninth preferred embodiment of an inverter transformer according to the present invention;
FIG. 13 is a schematic view of a transformer core unit that includes two E-shaped cores;
FIG. 14 is a schematic view of a transformer core unit that includes two U-shaped cores;
FIG. 15 is a schematic view of a transformer core unit that includes an I-shaped core and an U-shaped core;
FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a transformer core unit that includes an I-shaped core and a hollow U-shaped core;
FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of a lamp assembly according to the tenth preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 18 a schematic electric circuit diagram of the tenth preferred embodiment;
FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram of a lamp assembly according to the eleventh preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram of a lamp assembly according to the twelfth preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 21 is a schematic electric circuit diagram of a lamp assembly according to the thirteenth preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 22 is a schematic electric circuit diagram of a lamp assembly according to the fourteenth preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 23 is a schematic electric circuit diagram of a lamp assembly according to the fifteenth preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 24 is a schematic electric circuit diagram of a lamp assembly according to the sixteenth preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram of a lamp assembly according to the seventeenth preferred embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram of a lamp assembly according to the eighteenth preferred embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted herein that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure.
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the first preferred embodiment of an inverter transformer 100 according to the present invention includes a transformer core unit 2, and a coil unit including a bobbin 1 and a plurality of windings 3.
The bobbin 1 is formed with a core-receiving compartment 11, and is sectioned into first, second, and third coil winding portions 13, 14, 15. In this embodiment, the windings 3 include primary, secondary, and tertiary windings 33, 34, 35 wound around the first, second, and third coil winding portions 13, 14, 15, respectively. The second coil winding portion 14 is disposed between the first and third coil winding portions 13, 15. The bobbin 1 extends in a horizontal direction, and is further provided with a plurality of lead terminals 12 on opposite ends for external connection purposes.
The transformer core unit 2 includes internal and external core parts 21, 22, disposed respectively inside and outside the core-receiving compartment 11 of the bobbin 1 to provide a magnetic circuit path for the inverter transformer 100. In this embodiment, the internal and external core parts 21, 22 are configured as I-shaped and hollow U-shaped cores, respectively.
As shown in FIG. 2, the inverter transformer 100 is further provided with a magnetic shield 110 that surrounds the bobbin 1 for protection against electromagnetic interference. When the primary winding 33 is supplied with electric current from an external electric source (not shown), magnetic couplings (A), (B) are established through the transformer core unit 2 between the primary and secondary windings 33, 34, and between the secondary and tertiary windings 34, 35. The magnetic couplings (A), (B) help stabilize outputs of the inverter transformer 100, such that when the inverter transformer 100 is connected to discharge lamps (not shown), illumination matching is ensured among the lamps.
As shown in FIG. 3, the second preferred embodiment of an inverter transformer 100a according to the present invention differs from the first preferred embodiment in that the bobbin 1a includes a plurality of the second coil winding portions 14 disposed between the first and third coil winding portions 13, 15, and the windings 3a include a plurality of the secondary windings 34 that are wound around the second coil winding portions 14, respectively. The number of the secondary coil winding portions 14 included in the bobbin 1a depends on the load conditions and power utilization for a particular application.
As shown in FIG. 4, the third preferred embodiment of an inverter transformer 100b according to the present invention includes two of the coil units (shown in FIG. 1) in the first preferred embodiment, so that the inverter transformer 100b can be adapted to drive two or more discharge lamps. The number of coil units included in the third preferred embodiment depends on the requirements of a particular application.
As shown in FIG.5, the fourth preferred embodiment of an inverter transformer 100c according to the present invention differs from the second preferred embodiment (shown in FIG. 3) in that the bobbin 1c includes a fourth coil winding portion 16 disposed between an adjacent pair of the second coil winding portions 14. In addition, the windings 3c include a pair of the primary windings 33 that are wound around the first and fourth coil winding portions 13, 16, respectively. When the inverter transformer 100c is applied to a lamp assembly, the magnetic couplings between adjacent pairs of the primary, secondary, and tertiary windings 33, 34, 35 provide a plurality of magnetic circuit loops, such that a plurality of discharge lamps can be illuminated by the inverter transformer 100c.
As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the fifth preferred embodiment of an inverter transformer 100d according to the present invention differs from the first preferred embodiment (shown in FIG. 1) in that the bobbin 1d extends in an upright direction, and that the lead terminals 12 are provided only on a bottom end of the bobbin 1d.
As shown in FIG. 8, the sixth preferred embodiment of an inverter transformer 100e according to the present invention includes a coil unit including a bobbin 5 and windings 3e, and a transformer core unit 6.
The bobbin 5 is formed with a core-receiving compartment 51 (refer to FIG. 9), and is sectioned into first, second and third coil winding portion 53, 54, 55. The windings 3e include primary, secondary, and tertiary windings 33, 34, 35 that are wound respectively around the first, second, and third coil winding portion 53, 54, 55. The bobbin 5 is further provided with a plurality of lead terminals 52 (refer to FIG. 9) on opposite ends.
The transformer core unit 6 includes first and second core parts 61, 62, which are configured as two E-shaped cores having reverse orientations. The first and second core parts 61, 62 have protrusion segments 611, 621 that extend respectively from the middle of the core parts 61, 62 into the core-receiving compartment 51 at positions corresponding to the first and third coil winding portions 53, 55. Air gaps (M1), (M2) are formed between the primary and secondary windings 53, 54, and the secondary and tertiary windings 54, 55, respectively. By adjusting the widths of the air gaps (M1), (M2), induced currents in the windings 3e can be adjusted for lamp impedance matching.
As shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the seventh preferred embodiment of an inverter transformer 100f according to the present invention differs from the sixth preferred embodiment in that the transformer core unit 6f further includes an internal core part 63 configured as an I-shaped core and disposed in the core-receiving compartment 51. In this embodiment, the internal core part 63 interconnects the protruding portions 611, 621 of the first and second core parts 61, 62. Similar to the first preferred embodiment, when the primary winding 33 is supplied with electric current from an external electric source (not shown), magnetic couplings (A′), (B′) are established through the transformer core unit 6f between the primary and secondary windings 33, 34, and between the secondary and tertiary winding 34, 35 to stabilize outputs of the inverter transformer 100f.
It should be noted that there can be spaces between the internal core part 63 and the adjacent protrusions 621, 622 to form air gaps in other embodiments of the present invention. The widths of the air gaps can be adjusted so as to adjust the induced currents in the windings for lamp impedance matching.
As shown in FIG. 11, the eighth preferred embodiment of an inverter transformer 100g according to the present invention differs from the first preferred embodiment (shown in FIG. 1) in that the external core part 22g of the transformer core unit 2g is configured as an E-shaped core and has a protrusion 221g, and that the internal core part 21g extends through and out of the core-receiving compartment 11, and is connected to the external core part 22g. In addition, the bobbin 1g further includes a spacer portion 17 between an adjacent pair of the first, second, and third coil winding portions 13, 14, 15 and having none of the windings 3g wound therearound. In this embodiment, the spacer portion 17 is disposed between the second and third coil winding portions 14, 15. The protruding portion 221g forms air gaps (M) with the secondary and tertiary windings 34, 35, respectively.
Similarly, as shown in FIG. 12, the ninth preferred embodiment of an inverter transformer 100h according to the present invention differs from the eighth preferred embodiment in that the bobbin 1h has a pair of the second coil winding portions 14 disposed between the first and third winding portions 13, 15, and that the spacer portion 17 is disposed between the pair of the second coil winding portions 14. The protruding portion 221h of the external core part 22h of the transformer core unit 2h forms air gaps (M) with each of the secondary windings 34 of the windings 3h.
Shown in FIG. 13 to FIG. 16 are various configurations of the transformer core unit 2′, 2″, 2′″, 2″″ to illustrate possible arrangements for the inverter transformer and possible locations of the air gap (M). The bobbins 1 are presented using the dotted lines in these figures. Since the feature of the present invention does not reside in the particular configuration of the transformer core unit 2, and in the location of the air gap (M), the same should not be relied upon to limit the scope of the present invention.
Therefore, as shown in the previous embodiments, the present invention uses specific configurations of the first, second, and third coil winding portions 13, 14, 15, with the possible addition of the fourth coil winding portion 17 to stabilize the outputs of the inverter transformer 100, such that when connected to discharge lamps, the illumination among individual lamps can be made uniform. The present invention also allows variations in the number, length, and orientation of components in the inverter transformer 100 so as to drive a plurality of discharge lamps to suit the requirements of a particular application.
As shown in FIG. 17 and FIG. 18, a lamp assembly 700 according to the tenth preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a pair of lamp loads 120 and the inverter transformer 100b (shown in FIG. 4) of the third preferred embodiment. The inverter transformer 100b includes first and second coil units 7, 7′ connected respectively to the lamp loads 120, and first and second transformer core units 9, 9′. Each of the first and second coil units 7, 7′ includes a bobbin 1 and a plurality of windings 3. The bobbin 1 is formed with a core-receiving compartment (not shown), and includes first, second, and third coil winding portions 13, 14, 15. The second coil winding portion 14 is disposed between the first and third coil winding portions 13, 15. The windings 3 include primary, secondary, and tertiary windings 33, 34, 35 wound around the first, second, and third coil winding portions 13, 14, 15, respectively.
Each of the first and second transformer core units 9, 9′ has internal and external core parts 901, 902. The internal core part 901 is an I-shaped core, and extends into the core-receiving compartment of a respective one of the first and second coil units 7, 7′. The external core part 902 is an U-shaped core and is coupled to the bobbin 1.
In this embodiment, the tertiary windings 35 of the first and second coil units 7, 7′ are interconnected in parallel to form a closed loop.
When the primary winding 33 of each of the first and second coil units 7, 7′ is connected to an electric source (Vi) and to ground at opposite ends, a magnetic field is induced by primary currents (i1, i1′) flowing in the primary windings 33. Secondary current (i2, i2′) is then induced in the secondary winding 34 of each of the first and second coil units 7, 7′ by the induced magnetic field. Since each of the secondary windings 34 interconnects a respective lamp load 120, which is the CCFL 120 in this embodiment, and ground, the secondary current (i2, i2′) flows to the CCFL 120 and forms a load circuit loop. After the CCFLs 120 start to discharge, due to their negative thermal impedance characteristics, the impedances vary between individual CCFLs 120. However, the change in magnetic flux in the tertiary winding 35 and that in the secondary winding 34 are in an intrinsic repulsive relationship. Since the tertiary windings 35 of the first and second coil units 7, 7′ are interconnected in parallel to form a closed loop, the first and second transformer core units 9, 9′ are coupled electromagnetically, so as to establish balanced current outputs to the CCFLs 120, thereby ensuring uniform illumination.
As shown in FIG. 19, a lamp assembly 700a according to the eleventh embodiment of the present invention includes four lamp loads 120, and an inverter transformer 100i that includes four of the coil units and four of the transformer core units 9. The tertiary windings 35 of the coil units are interconnected to form a closed circuit loop. Since the operating principles remain unchanged as compared to those described hereinabove in connection with the tenth preferred embodiment, further details are omitted herein for the sake of brevity.
As shown in FIG. 20, a lamp assembly 700b according to the twelfth preferred embodiment of the present invention differs from the eleventh preferred embodiment in that the lamp assembly 700b further comprises an impedance component 130 that forms a part of the closed circuit loop. The impedance component 130 can be resistive, capacitive, or inductive, and is a resistor in this embodiment. In particular, first and second ends 361, 363 of the closed circuit loop are connected directly to ground, and the resistor 130 is connected between the second end 363 and an internal node 362 of the closed circuit loop. The output of the inverter transformer 100i can be adjusted by using the internal node 362 as a current detection terminal in cooperation with a drive circuit (not shown), so that the illumination brightness of the CCFLs 120 can be adjusted accordingly. It should be noted herein that the number of impedance components 130 included in the lamp assembly 700b depends on a particular application, and should not be limited to one.
As shown in FIG. 21, a lamp assembly 700c according to the thirteenth preferred embodiment of the present invention differs from the tenth preferred embodiment (shown in FIG. 17) in that the secondary winding 34 (34′) of each of the first and second coil units 7, 7′ interconnects in series a respective one of the lamp loads 120 (120′) and the tertiary winding 35 (35′) of the other one of the first and second coil units 7, 7′.
For the following detailed description of this embodiment, the secondary and tertiary windings of the second coil unit 7′ are denoted by 34′, 35′, and the CCFL connected to the second coil unit 7′ is denoted by 120′. In addition, each secondary winding 34 (34′) has first and second ends 341 (341′), 342 (342′), while each tertiary winding 35 (35′) has third and fourth ends 351 (351′), 352 (352′).
In particular, the first end 341 of the secondary winding 34 of the first coil unit 7 is connected to one end of the CCFL 120. The second end 342 of the secondary winding 34 of the first coil unit 7 is connected to the fourth end 352′ of the tertiary winding 35′ of the second coil unit 7′. The third end 351′ of the tertiary winding 35′ of the second coil unit 7′ is connected directly to ground. The other end of the CCFL 120 is grounded through a resistor 130′. Accordingly, the first end 341′ of the secondary winding 34′ of the second coil unit 7′ is connected to one end of the CCFL 120′. The second end 342′ of the secondary winding 34′ of the second coil unit 7′ is connected to the fourth end 352 of the tertiary winding 35 of the first coil unit 7. The third end 351 of the tertiary winding 35 of the first coil unit 7 is connected directly to ground. The other end of the CCFL 120′ is grounded through the resistor 130′.
An internal node (I) between the resistor 130′ and the CCFLs 120, 120′ acts as a current detection terminal. The potential detected at node (I) is fed back into a server circuit 140 for voltage adjustments, and voltage inputs are fed into the inverter transformer 100b through a drive circuit 150, thereby maintaining stable voltage inputs for uniform illumination among the CCFLs 120, 120′.
As shown in FIG. 22, a lamp assembly 700d according to the fourteenth preferred embodiment of the present invention differs from the thirteenth preferred embodiment (shown in FIG. 21) in that there are four lamp loads 120 and the inverter transformer includes four coil units. Since the connections among the CCFLs 120 and the windings 34, 35 of the coil units are in the same manner as those shown in the thirteenth preferred embodiment, further details are omitted herein for the sake of brevity.
As shown in FIG. 23, a lamp assembly 700e according to the fifteenth preferred embodiment of the present invention differs from the thirteenth embodiment (shown in FIG. 21) in that each of the CCFLs 120, 120′ is connected in series between the secondary winding 34 (34′) of the respective one of the first and second coil units 7, 7′, and the tertiary winding 35′ (35) of the other one of the first and second coil units 7, 7′.
In particular, the CCFL 120 interconnects the second end 342 of the secondary winding 34 of the first coil unit 7, and the fourth end 352′ of the tertiary winding 35′ of the second coil unit 7′. The first end 341 of the secondary winding 34 of the first coil unit 7 is connected directly to ground. The third end 351′ of the tertiary winding 35′ of the second coil unit 7′ is connected to ground through a resistor 130. Accordingly, the CCFL 120′ interconnects the second end 342′ of the secondary winding 34′ of the second coil unit 7′, and the fourth end 352 of the tertiary winding 35 of the first coil unit 7. The first end 341′ of the secondary winding 34′ of the second coil unit 7′ is connected directly to ground. The third end 351 of the tertiary winding 35 of the first coil unit 7 is connected to ground through a resistor 130.
An internal node (II) between the third end 351 (351′) and the resistor 130 acts as a current detection terminal. The mechanism in maintaining uniform illumination between the CCFLs 120, 120′ is the same as that mentioned in the thirteenth preferred embodiment, so the same are omitted herein for the sake of brevity.
As shown in FIG. 24, a lamp assembly 700f according to the sixteenth preferred embodiment of the present invention differs from the fifteenth preferred embodiment in that there are four lamp loads 120 and the inverter transformer includes four coil units. Since the connections among the CCFLs 120 and the windings 34, 35 of the coil units are in the same manner as those shown in the fifteenth preferred embodiment, further details are omitted herein for the sake of brevity.
As shown in FIG. 25, a lamp assembly 700g according to the seventeenth preferred embodiment of the present invention differs from the tenth preferred embodiment (shown in FIG. 17) in that the tertiary windings 35 of the first and second coil units 7, 7′ are connected in series, where two ends 351, 352 are to grounded to form a closed circuit loop.
Therefore, as illustrated in the tenth to the seventeenth preferred embodiments, the present invention utilizes the intrinsic repulsive relationship between magnetic fluxes of the secondary and tertiary windings 34, 35 in each of the coil units 7 to ensure balanced current outputs to the CCFLs 120 in the lamp assembly, thereby ensuring uniform illumination. In addition, as illustrated in the twelfth to the sixteenth preferred embodiments, the lamp assembly can further include the resistor 130 for detection of potential, which can be fed back to the server circuit 140 for voltage adjustments, so as to maintain stable voltage inputs into the lamp assembly for uniform illumination among the CCFLs 120.
As shown in FIG. 26, a lamp assembly 700h according to the eighteenth preferred embodiment of the present invention differs from the tenth preferred embodiment (shown in FIG. 17) in that the bobbin 1j of each of the coil units 7j, 7j′ further includes a fourth coil winding portion 16j disposed adjacent to the third coil winding portion 15, and the windings 3j include a pair of the primary windings 33, 36 wound around the first and fourth coil winding portions 13, 16j, respectively. Due to the intrinsic repulsive relationship between the first and tertiary windings 36, 35, and between the secondary and tertiary windings 34, 35, and since the tertiary windings 35 of the first and second coil units 7j, 7j′ are connected in parallel to form a closed loop, the first and second transformer core units 9j, 9j′ are coupled electromagnetically. Therefore, balanced current outputs to the CCFLs 120 are established, thereby ensuring uniform illumination.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation and equivalent arrangements.
Patent Application
20060066246
