A high-power PCCM LED driver based on GaN eHEMT with hybrid dimming modes

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to design a more flexible and larger range of the dimming circuit that achieves the independence of multiple LED strings drive and can time-multiplex the power circuit.

Design/methodology/approach

The state-space method is used to model the BUCK circuit working in Pseudo continuous conduction mode, analyze the frequency characteristics of the system transfer function and design the compensation network. Build a simulation platform on the Orcad PSPICE platform and verify the function of the designed circuit through the simulation results. Use Altium Designer 16 to draw the printed circuit board, complete the welding of various components and use the oscilloscope, direct current (DC) power supply and a signal generator to verify the circuit function.

Findings

A prototype of the proposed LED driver is fabricated and tested. The measurement results show that the switching frequency can be increased to 1 MHz, Power inductance is 2.2 µH, which is smaller than current research. The dimming ratio can be set from 10% to 100%. The proposed LED driver can output more than 48 W and achieve a peak conversion efficiency of 91%.

Originality/value

The proposed LED driver adopts pulse width modulation (PWM) dimming at a lower dimming ratio and adopts DC dimming at a larger dimming ratio to realize switching PWM dimming to analog dimming. The control strategy can be more precise and have a wide range of dimming.

Citation

Lin, X., Zhang, Y., Zhang, Y. and Rong, G. (2022), "A high-power PCCM LED driver based on GaN eHEMT with hybrid dimming modes", Circuit World, Vol. 48 No. 2, pp. 251-264. https://doi.org/10.1108/CW-12-2020-0350