AC-DC Driver Modules for Bay Lighting Applications
An LED AC-DC Driver
Module is a packaged, functional assembly of electronic components that operates as a power
source/power supply that either adjusts to or provides a constant voltage or constant current for the
LEDs. This is configured to be an AC branch circuit supply on the input and an AC output.
Integrated Circuit Drivers for Bay Lighting Applications
An LED Integrated
Circuit (IC) Driver is a power source/power supply that adjusts
the voltage or current to LEDs, ranging in complexity from a resistor to a constant voltage
or constant current power supply.
LEDs for Bay Lighting Applications
High Power LEDs are defined as
individual components that are greater than 0.20 watts (Voltage, nominal * Current, nominal). High Power
LEDs have exploded in number over the last decade as new semiconductor technologies have allowed higher
power densities to be obtained.
High Power LEDs are generally smaller in package size and find applications where
traditional lighting sources will not fit. In addition, LEDs may consume lower power, provide longer
lifetime, be more robust and can be switched On/Off at very high rates of speed.
Thermal Protection for Bay Lighting Applications
LED lifetime is compromised by operation
at higher temperatures. To protect LEDs against heat build-up, thermal substrates may be used.
Thermal substrates may be attached to High-Power surface mount LEDs to provide an effective
and efficient thermal passage, which reduces the exposure of the LED to high temperature. A Heat
Sink is a passive component that cools a device by dissipating heat into the surrounding air by
transferring thermal energy from a higher temperature to a lower temperature. By increasing surface area
and/or increasing cool air flow across the surface of the component the level of heat transfer can be
improved. Thermal adhesives and/or thermal greases may also be used to improve heat sink
performance.
Circuit Protection for Bay Lighting Applications
One type of circuit protection is a shunt. A
shunt is a protection device which allows electric current to pass around another point in the circuit when
an LED element in an LED string fails to an open circuit. This ensures the remaining string of LEDs will
continue to function. There are many cases in which high reliability of the LED lighting must be maintained,
such as LCD backlighting, transport lighting, avionics, intrinsically safe, and low maintenance lighting.
