Development of the Operating Circuit for a LED Lamp Based on the Cockcroft-Walton Circuit

摘要

The operating circuits for LED (light emitting diode) lamp composed of diodes and DC capacitors only are proposed. The proposed circuit is based on a double-voltage rectifier circuit and a Cockcroft-Walton circuit. The circuit can operate LED without flicker, and is free from switching noise since high frequency switching circuit is not used. To replace an AC capacitor by a DC capacitor for the ballast, a diode is connected across the capacitor in parallel, and the operating voltage of LED unit is kept at the value greater than the peak voltage of the input power source. The circuit realizes high efficiency and high input power factor compared with the operating circuits on the market. Cockcroft-Walton-type circuit can operate many LED devices in series connection. Series connection is preferable for fabricating LED unit of a constant voltage characteristic. Moreover, fairly flat waveform of LED operating current is realized by Cockcroft-Walton-type circuit, even though capacitor ballast is used.