Configurable LED driver/dimmer for solid state lighting applications

Abstract

The disclosure is directed at a method and apparatus for configuring and powering light fixture loads for a LED low voltage distribution system. The method and apparatus include converting power being supplied for powering the set of light fixture loads and then limiting this converted power to a set of multiple current outputs supplied to the light fixture loads. The multiple current outputs are then split or regrouped prior to being delivered to the light fixture loads.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A configurable light emitting diode (LED) driver/dimmer for controlling a set of light fixture loads comprising:
 a power circuit including: 
 an inrush current limit; 
 a DC/DC converter; 
 a power factor correction (PFC) boost connected to the inrush current limit and the DC/DC converter; and  
 a regulated output voltage bus connected to the DC/DC converter; and 
 a primary controller for controlling the power circuit; 
 a set of output current drivers, each of the set of output current drivers configured to be connected to one an associated light fixture load of the set of light fixture loads for controlling the associated light fixture load; and 
 at least one power limit associated with the set of output current drivers; and  
 a secondary controller for controlling the set of output current drivers; 
 wherein the secondary controller transmits is configured to receive dimming and/or color mixing information from an external transmitter and transmit LED control information, based on the dimming and/or color mixing information, to control outputs of the set of output current drivers; and 
 wherein the secondary controller receives a program comprising an algorithm for converting an input signal to the LED control information and establishes a conversion between the input signal and the LED control information based on the algorithm. 
 
     
     
       2. The LED driver/dimmer of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a programming port associated with the secondary controller for configuring the LED driver/dimmer. 
 
     
     
       3. The LED driver/dimmer of  claim 1  further comprising a communication interface for receiving data from an external transmitter and for transmitting the data to the secondary controller wherein the data is a communication protocol. 
     
     
       4. The LED driver/dimmer of  claim 3  further comprising an isolation barrier for separating the secondary controller and the communication interface. 
     
     
       5. The LED driver/dimmer of  claim 3  wherein the communication interface is either DMX512A, 0-10 Vdc analog control, Zigbee wireless or Remote Device Management (RDM) compatible. 
     
     
       6. The LED driver/dimmer of  claim 3  further comprising an auxiliary flyback converter to provide power to the primary controller, secondary controller, and communication interface. 
     
     
       7. The LED driver/dimmer of  claim 1  wherein the algorithm LED control information is further based on one or more parameters of at least one of the power circuit, the set of light fixture loads or the set of output current drivers. 
     
     
       8. The LED driver/dimmer of  claim 7  wherein the one or more parameters is/are configurable. 
     
     
       9. The LED driver/dimmer of  claim 8  wherein the one or more configurable parameters provided to the secondary controller via the algorithm enables enable an operating mode of the LED driver/dimmer to be changed. 
     
     
       10. The LED driver/dimmer of  claim 1  wherein each of the set of output current drivers comprises a converter with hysteretic control. 
     
     
       11. The LED driver/dimmer of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a set of in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) ports, each of the set of ICSP ports associated with one of the set of output current drivers for configuration of the set of output current drivers. 
 
     
     
       12. A configurable light emitting diode (LED) driver/dimmer for controlling a set of light fixture loads comprising:
 a power circuit including: 
 an inrush current limit; 
 a DC/DC converter; 
 a power factor correction (PFC) boost connected to the inrush current limit and the DC/DC converter; and  
 a regulated output voltage bus connected to the DC/DC converter; and 
 a primary controller for controlling the power circuit; 
 a set of output current drivers, each of the set of output current drivers configured to be connected to one an associated light fixture load of the set of light fixture loads for controlling the associated light fixture load; and 
 at least one power limit associated with the set of output current drivers; and  
 a set of load controllers for controlling the set of output current drivers using respective digital control signals; 
 wherein the set of load controllers receive LED control information to control outputs of the set of output current drivers; and 
 wherein the set of load controllers receive a program comprising an algorithm for converting LED control information and establish a conversion between the LED control information and the output power channel based on the algorithm which is used to generate the respective digital control signals. 
 
     
     
       13. The LED driver/dimmer of  claim 12  further comprising:
 a programming port associated with at least one of the set of load controllers for configuring the LED driver/dimmer. 
 
     
     
       14. The LED driver/dimmer of  claim 12  further comprising a communication interface for receiving data from an external transmitter and for transmitting the data to at least one of the set of load controllers, via a secondary controller, wherein the data is a communication protocol. 
     
     
       15. The LED driver/dimmer of  claim 14  further comprising an isolation barrier for separating the set of load controllers and the communication interface. 
     
     
       16. The LED driver/dimmer of  claim 14  wherein the communication interface is either DMX512A, 0-10 Vdc analog control, Zigbee wireless or Remote Device Management (RDM) compatible. 
     
     
       17. The LED driver/dimmer of  claim 14  further comprising an auxiliary flyback converter to provide power to the primary controller and communication interface. 
     
     
       18. The LED driver/dimmer of  claim 12  wherein the algorithm is respective digital control signals are further based on one or more parameters of at least one of the set of light fixture loads or the set of output current drivers. 
     
     
       19. The LED driver/dimmer of  claim 18  wherein the one or more parameters is/are configurable. 
     
     
       20. The LED driver/dimmer of  claim 19  wherein the one or more configurable parameters provided to at least one of the set of load controllers via the algorithm enables an operating mode of the LED driver/dimmer to be changed.