US 12,336,070 B2
Method of multi-channel control
Marc Paul Saes, Son en Breugel (NL); Franciscus Bernardus Marie Van Horck, Son en Breugel (NL); and Tijs Versteegde, Son en Breugel (NL)
Assigned to eldoLAB Holding B.V., Son en Breugel (NL)
Appl. No. 18/272,460
Filed by eldoLAB Holding B.V., Son en Breugel (NL)
PCT Filed Jan. 26, 2022, PCT No. PCT/EP2022/051687
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 14, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/161976, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 4, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 2027385 (NL), filed on Jan. 26, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0147589 A1, May 2, 2024
Int. Cl. H05B 45/38 (2020.01); H05B 45/24 (2020.01); H05B 45/375 (2020.01)
CPC H05B 45/375 (2020.01) [H05B 45/24 (2020.01); H05B 45/38 (2020.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A multi-channel LED driver for driving an LED fixture, comprising:
a plurality of output channels, wherein each output channel is connectable to an LED or LED string of the LED fixture;
a plurality of power converters, each power converter being associated with an output channel of the plurality of output channels, wherein each power converter comprises a switch, and wherein each power converter converts an input power at an input terminal to a current at a respective output channel of the multi-channel LED driver;
a comparator configured to compare a current signal representing the current measured at the output channel by a current measurement element with a reference signal representing a current set point for the output channel, wherein the comparator generates an output signal to control the switch of the power converter associated with the output channel;
a controller arranged to:
receive an illumination set point representing a desired illumination to be generated by the LED fixture;
determine current set points, based on the illumination set point, for the plurality of output channels of the multi-channel LED driver;
wherein the controller is further arranged to determine successive, for each of the plurality of power converters associated with the plurality of output channels, a duty cycle of the respective switch of the power converter by:
providing the reference signal, representing the current set point of the output channel associated with the power converter, to the comparator;
enabling the comparator at a beginning of a measurement window, which measurement window is a part of a cycle time, to compare the current signal of the output channel with the reference signal and generate an output signal to control the switch of the power converter;
controlling the switch of the power converter using the output signal; and
determining a duty cycle of the switch of the power converter during the measurement window based on the output signal of the comparator;
wherein the measurement window of the different switches of the plurality of power converters is not overlapping in time;
and wherein the controller is further arranged to:
control the switch of the power converter outside the measurement window by:
 disabling the comparator to control the switch and
 providing a duty cycle signal, representing the duty cycle of the switch as determined during the measurement window, to the switch of the power converter to control an operation of the switch.