The present disclosure relates to an LED light string, and more particularly to a parallel sequenced LED light string.
The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and do not necessarily constitute prior art.
Since light-emitting diode (LED) has the advantages of high luminous efficiency, low power consumption, long life span, fast response, high reliability, etc., LEDs have been widely used in lighting fixtures or decorative lighting, such as Christmas tree lighting, lighting effects of sport shoes, etc. by connecting light bars or light strings in series, parallel, or series-parallel.
Take the festive light for example. Basically, a complete LED lamp includes an LED light string having a plurality of LEDs and a drive unit for driving the LEDs. The drive unit is electrically connected to the LED light string, and controls the LEDs by a pixel control manner or a synchronous manner by providing the required power and the control signal having light data to the LEDs, thereby implementing various lighting output effects and changes of the LED lamp.
According to the present technology, in order to drive the LEDs of the LED light string to diversify light emission, the LEDs have different address sequence data. The LEDs receive light signals including light data and address data. If the address sequence data of the LEDs are the same as the address data of the light signals, the LEDs emit light according to the light data of the light signals. If the address sequence data of the LEDs are not the same as the address data of the light signals, the LEDs ignore the light data of the light signals.
At present, most of the LED sequence methods of the LED light string are complicated and/or difficult. For example, before the LEDs are combined into an LED light string, it is necessary to burn different address sequence data for each LED. Afterward, the LEDs are sequentially arranged and combined into the LED light string according to the address sequence data. If the LEDs are not arranged in sequence according to the address sequence data, the diversified light emission of the LEDs cannot be correctly achieved.
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a parallel sequenced LED light string to solve the problem of using address as the sequence of LEDs.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the parallel sequenced LED light string includes a plurality of LED modules. The plurality of LED modules is connected in parallel through a power wire with a plurality of wire resistances. Each of the LED modules includes an impedance component capable of providing an impedance characteristic. The parallel-connected LED modules receive a supply power, and the LED modules respectively get different voltages through the wire resistances and the impedance components from the supply power so as to sequencing the LED modules.
In one embodiment, the different voltages compare with a plurality of voltage ranges to determine the sequence the LED modules.
In one embodiment, the voltage ranges are built in a look-up table.
In one embodiment, the different voltages are determined according to the supply power, the number of the LED modules, the wire resistances, and the impedance component.
In one embodiment, the supply power is a constant-voltage source. Each of the impedance components is a controllable resistor with an adjustable resistance, and a resistance of the controllable resistor is designed to be decreased.
In one embodiment, a voltage generated by a front LED module is greater than a voltage generated by a rear LED module.
In one embodiment, the supply power is a constant-current source. Each of the impedance components is a controllable resistor with an adjustable resistance, and a resistance of the controllable resistor is designed to be increased.
In one embodiment, a voltage generated by a front LED module is less than a voltage generated by a rear LED module.
In one embodiment, the parallel sequenced LED light string further includes a signal generation unit. The signal generation unit provides a sequence signal. Each of the impedance components is a controllable resistor with an adjustable resistance.
In one embodiment, the sequence of the LED modules is determined according to a cycle of the sequence signal. The supply power is a constant-voltage source; when the sequence of one of the LED modules is completed, the corresponding impedance component is turned off, and the resistances of the remaining impedance components corresponding to the un-sequenced LED modules are decreased.
In one embodiment, the sequence of the LED modules is determined according to a cycle of the sequence signal. The supply power is a constant-current source; when the sequence of one of the LED modules is completed, the corresponding impedance component is turned off, and the resistances of the remaining impedance components corresponding to the un-sequenced LED modules are increased.
In one embodiment, the parallel sequenced LED light string further includes a switch unit. The switch unit is connected to the controllable resistor in series.
In one embodiment, each of the LED modules includes a plurality of resistors and a plurality of switch units. The plurality of switch units is correspondingly connected to the resistors in series.
In one embodiment, the parallel sequenced LED light string further includes a compensation unit. The compensation unit is coupled to the last LED module in parallel. The compensation unit includes a controllable resistor with an adjustable resistance.
In one embodiment, the supply power is a constant-voltage source. When the LED modules are sequentially sequenced, the adjustable resistance of the controllable resistor is sequentially decreased.
In one embodiment, the supply power is a constant-current source. When the LED modules are sequentially sequenced, the adjustable resistance of the controllable resistor is sequentially increased.
Accordingly, the voltage range information provided by the built-in look-up table is used for corresponding the detected voltage, and the voltage difference is provided to determine the sequence of the LED modules, thereby simplifying the circuit design and quickly completing the sequencing of the LED light string, and the controllable resistor with adjustable resistance, the compensation unit with adjustable resistance, or the parallel-connected resistors is/are used to increase the accuracy of comparison, determination, and identification between the detected voltage and the voltage ranges of the look-up table.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the present disclosure as claimed. Other advantages and features of the present disclosure will be apparent from the following description, drawings and claims.
The present disclosure can be more fully understood by reading the following detailed description of the embodiment, with reference made to the accompanying drawings as follows:
Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe the present disclosure in detail. It will be understood that the drawing figures and exemplified embodiments of present disclosure are not limited to the details thereof.
Please refer to
As shown in
At the time of power-on, since the circuits in each of the LED modules 11,12, . . . ,1N have not been started or operated, each of the LED modules 11,12, . . . ,1N may be equivalent to the corresponding resistances R1,R2, . . . ,RN. For the convenience of description, the wire resistance RL1 and the wire resistance RL1′ may be equivalent to the single-wire wire resistance RL1. Similarly, the wire resistance RL2 and the wire resistance RL2′ may be equivalent to the single-wire wire resistance RL2, . . . , and the wire resistance RLN and the wire resistance RLN′ may be equivalent to the single-wire wire resistance RLN.
After the time of power-on, the supply power Vdc supplies power to the LED modules 11,12, . . . ,1N. Due to the voltage difference caused by the current flowing through the wire resistances RL1,RL2, . . . ,RLN, the voltages generated on the LED modules 11,12, . . . ,1N are different. In this embodiment, the voltage difference caused by the power supply Vdc of the constant-voltage source through the wire resistances RL1,RL2, . . . ,RLN is the voltage drop. Please refer to
In one embodiment, it can be implemented by means of a built-in corresponding look-up table. For example, the circuit designer may build the look-up table in advance according to the power supply Vdc, the number of the LED modules 11,12, . . . ,1N, the (estimated) wire resistances RL1,RL2, . . . ,RLN, and the resistances R1,R2, . . . ,RN for the different generated voltages V1,V2, . . . ,VN, thereby sequencing the LED modules 11,12, . . . ,1N.
The following is an implementation of the look-up table, in which 100 LED modules 11,12, . . . ,1N are taken as an example for description.
When the LED light string is powered on, the supply power Vdc supplies power to the LED modules 11,12, . . . ,1N. Therefore, the first voltage V1 is generated on the first LED module 11, the second voltage V2 is generated on the second LED module 12, . . . , and the Nth voltage VN is generated on the Nth LED module 1N. For example, when the voltage (for example, the first voltage V1) acquired by a certain LED module (for example, the first LED module 11) is 5.00 volts, since the voltage is within the voltage range (5.10-4.90 volts) of the first sequence (#1), the LED module is sequenced as the first LED module 11. Similarly, when the voltage (for example, the second voltage V2) acquired by a certain LED module (for example, the second LED module 12) is 4.80 volts, since the voltage is within the voltage range (4.90-4.70 volts) of the second sequence (#2), the LED module is sequenced as the second LED module 12. Similarly, when the voltage (for example, the sixth voltage V6) acquired by a certain LED module (for example, the sixth LED module 16) is 4.20 volts, since the voltage is within the voltage range (4.26-4.14 volts) of the sixth sequence (#6), the LED module is sequenced as the sixth LED module 16.
Therefore, after the LED light string is powered on, the sequence of each of the LED modules 11,12, . . . ,1N can be acquired according the corresponding voltage ranges in the look-up table by detecting the voltages V1,V2, . . . ,VN generated by the LED modules 11,12, . . . ,1N. However, the above-mentioned voltage ranges in the look-up table are not limited by the voltage values of the examples, which can be built according to the power supply Vdc, the number of the LED modules 11,12, . . . ,1N, the (estimated) wire resistances RL1,RL2, . . . ,RLN, the resistances R1,R2, . . . ,RN, or other parameters.
Please refer to
At the time of power-on, since the circuits in each of the LED modules 11,12, . . . ,1N have not been started or operated, each of the LED modules 11,12, . . . ,1N may be equivalent to the corresponding resistances R1,R2, . . . ,RN. For the convenience of description, the wire resistance RL1 and the wire resistance RL1′ may be equivalent to the single-wire wire resistance RL1. Similarly, the wire resistance RL2 and the wire resistance RL2′ may be equivalent to the single-wire wire resistance RL2, . . . , and the wire resistance RLN and the wire resistance RLN′ may be equivalent to the single-wire wire resistance RLN.
After the time of power-on, the supply power Idc supplies power to the LED modules 11,12, . . . ,1N. Due to the voltage difference caused by the current flowing through the wire resistances RL1,RL2, . . . ,RLN, the voltages generated on the LED modules 11,12, . . . ,1N are different. In this embodiment, the voltage difference caused by the power supply Idc of the constant-current source through the wire resistances RL1,RL2, . . . ,RLN is the voltage rise. Please refer to
The following is an implementation of the look-up table, in which 100 LED modules 11,12, . . . ,1N are taken as an example for description.
When the LED light string is powered on, the supply power Idc supplies power to the LED modules 11,12, . . . ,1N. Therefore, the first voltage V1 is generated on the first LED module 11, the second voltage V2 is generated on the second LED module 12, . . . , and the Nth voltage VN is generated on the Nth LED module 1N. For example, when the voltage (for example, the first voltage V1) acquired by a certain LED module (for example, the first LED module 11) is 2.34 volts, since the voltage is within the voltage range (2.36-2.32 volts) of the first sequence (#1), the LED module is sequenced as the first LED module 11. Similarly, when the voltage (for example, the second voltage V2) acquired by a certain LED module (for example, the second LED module 12) is 2.38 volts, since the voltage is within the voltage range (2.40-2.36 volts) of the second sequence (#2), the LED module is sequenced as the second LED module 12. Similarly, when the voltage (for example, the sixth voltage V6) acquired by a certain LED module (for example, the sixth LED module 16) is 2.64 volts, since the voltage is within the voltage range (2.68-2.60 volts) of the sixth sequence (#6), the LED module is sequenced as the sixth LED module 16.
Therefore, after the LED light string is powered on, the sequence of each of the LED modules 11,12, . . . ,1N can be acquired according the corresponding voltage ranges in the look-up table by detecting the voltages V1,V2, . . . ,VN generated by the LED modules 11,12, . . . ,1N. However, the above-mentioned voltage ranges in the look-up table are not limited by the voltage values of the examples, which can be built according to the power supply Idc, the number of the LED modules 11,12, . . . ,1N, the (estimated) wire resistances RL1,RL2, . . . ,RLN, the resistances R1,R2, . . . ,RN, or other parameters.
Take the first embodiment shown in
Furthermore, in circuit applications, due to the constant-voltage source of the power supply Vdc and the equivalent resistance effect, the rear (down-stream) current is smaller and a voltage difference between the two rear (down0stream) LED modules is smaller. As shown in
In order to avoid decreasing the accuracy of comparison, determination, and identification between the detected voltage and the voltage ranges of the look-up table due to the lower voltage difference between LED modules, the parallel sequenced LED light string of the present disclosure adjusts the values of the resistances R1,R2, . . . ,RN to maintain the same current so that the voltage difference between any two LED modules is fixed, thereby increasing the accuracy of comparison, determination, and identification between the detected voltage and the voltage ranges of the look-up table. The manner adopted is achieved by adjusting the value of each of the resistances R1,R2, . . . ,RN through a sequence signal. The specific description is as follows.
The sequence signal is a pulse signal, namely, a signal with high and low level interleaving changes, and each high level (or low level) may be used as a basis for the sequence. That is, the first cycle may be regarded as the first sequence, the second cycle may be regarded as the second sequence, and the rest may be deduced by analogy.
Therefore, when the power is turned on for the first time, since the resistances R1,R2, . . . ,RN are connected in parallel, the equivalent resistance value is the smallest so the current flowing through is the largest. The magnitude of the first voltage V1 corresponding to the first sequence (first cycle) of the pulse signal can be acquired.
When the (first time) power-on is finished, the current flowing through the first resistance R1 approaches zero by turning off the first resistance R1 for example, the value of the first resistance R1 is adjusted to a relatively large value, which is like an open circuit for current, or by turning off a switch connected to the first resistance R1 to make the current flowing through the first resistor R1 is zero. In addition, the value of the second resistance R2 of the second LED module 12 to the value of the last resistance of the last LED module (for example, 100th LED module), namely, the 99 remaining resistances are decreased, for example but not limited to 1/100 of the original resistance. Therefore, since the values of the remaining resistances are all decreased, the equivalent resistance values after the parallel connection will be the same so that the current flowing through may be the same. When the power is turned on again, the magnitude of the second voltage V2 corresponding to the second sequence (second cycle) of the pulse signal can be acquired.
Similarly, when the (second time) power-on is finished, the currents flowing through the first resistance R1 and the second resistance R2 approach zero by turning off the first resistance R1 and the second resistance R2, for example, the value of the first resistance R1 and the value of the second resistance R2 are adjusted to relatively large values, which is like an open circuit for current, or by turning off switches connected to the first resistance R1 and the second resistance R2 to make the currents flowing through the first resistor R1 and the second resistance R2 are zero. In addition, the value of the third resistance R3 of the third LED module 13 to the value of the last resistance of the last LED module (for example, 100th LED module), namely, the 98 remaining resistances are decreased, for example but not limited to 1/100 of the original resistance. Therefore, since the values of the remaining resistances are all decreased, the equivalent resistance values after the parallel connection will be the same so that the current flowing through may be the same. When the power is turned on again, the magnitude of the second voltage V3 corresponding to the third sequence (third cycle) of the pulse signal can be acquired. Accordingly, the sequence signal may be used as the basis of the sequence, and the values of the remaining resistances can be adjusted (decreased) to maintain the same current so that the voltage difference between any two LED modules is maintained constant, thereby increasing the accuracy of comparison, determination, and identification between the detected voltage and the voltage ranges of the look-up table.
In comparison with the constant-voltage power supply shown in
Please refer to
The major difference between the LED light string shown in
Therefore, when the power is turned on for the first time, since the resistances R1,R2, . . . ,RN are connected in parallel, the equivalent resistance value is the smallest so the current flowing through is the largest. The magnitude of the first voltage V1 corresponding to the first sequence (first cycle) of the pulse signal can be acquired.
When the (first time) power-on is finished, the first resistance R1 is turned off and the impedance of the compensation unit 20 is decreased (i.e., the impedance compensation of the compensation unit 20 is performed) so that the equivalent resistance values after the parallel connection will be the same and the current flowing through may be the same. When the power is turned on again, the magnitude of the second voltage V2 corresponding to the second sequence (second cycle) of the pulse signal can be acquired.
Similarly, when the (second time) power-on is finished, the first resistance R1 and the second resistance R2 are turned off and the impedance of the compensation unit 20 is further decreased so that the equivalent resistance values after the parallel connection will be the same. In other words, when both the first resistance R1 and the second resistance R2 are turned off, the impedance of the compensation unit 20 is smaller than the impedance when only the first resistance R1 is turned off so that the current flowing through may be the same. When the power is turned on again, the magnitude of the second voltage V3 corresponding to the third sequence (third cycle) of the pulse signal can be acquired. Accordingly, the sequence signal may be used as the basis of the sequence, and the impedance of the compensation unit 20 is adjusted (decreased) to maintain the same current so that the voltage difference between any two LED modules is maintained constant, thereby increasing the accuracy of identifying the detected voltage.
In comparison with the constant-voltage power supply shown in
Please refer to
Please refer to
Please refer to
In summary, the present disclosure has the following features and advantages:
1. The voltage range information provided by the built-in look-up table is used for corresponding the detected voltage, and the voltage difference is provided to determine the sequence of the LED modules, thereby simplifying the circuit design and quickly completing the sequencing of the LED light string.
2. The controllable resistor with adjustable resistance, the compensation unit 20 with adjustable resistance, or the parallel-connected resistors is/are used to increase the accuracy of comparison, determination, and identification between the detected voltage and the voltage ranges of the look-up table.
Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the details thereof. Various substitutions and modifications have been suggested in the foregoing description, and others will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, all such substitutions and modifications are intended to be embraced within the scope of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims.