THE PUBLISHING HOUSE PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROMANIAN ACADEMY, Series A,

OF THE ROMANIAN ACADEMY Volume 16, Number 2/2015, pp. 226234

RESEARCH CONCERNING UNIFIED ELECTRONIC LIGHTING DEVICES

Petre-Dorel TEODOSESCU , Mircea BOJAN, Ioana-Cornelia VESE, Richard MARSCHALKO

Technical University of Cluj-Napoca

E-mail: petre.teodosescu@emd.utcluj.ro

This research paper presents a theoretical approach regarding a common ground technology for
energy saving lighting bulbs, like CFLs and LED based devices. In the last decade, the CFL
electronic ballast has obtained very good performances in terms of good reliability, good efficiency
and last but not least, low cost of production. The new LED based lighting devices can take advantage
of these outcomes leading to a device that has the reliability of the CFLs ballast combined with the
high performances of the LEDs. These transformations will be presented in this paper by means of
analytical approach and Orcad/PSpice simulations.
Key words: CFL (compact fluorescent lamp), LED (light emitting diode), unified technology.

1. INTRODUCTION

The incandescent bulb has been one of the first artificial lighting system fed from electric energy and
for decades was the most used lamp in industrial and residential lighting application. The low efficiency of
the incandescent lamp combined with the worldwide exponentially increase in energy consumption lead to
the necessity to find and promote alternative, more efficient lighting devices [2]. For the last 10 years this
option was the compact fluorescent lamp also known as energy saving bulb. This solution has not been so
well recognized by the consumers to be a good overall incandescent lamp replacement, because of poor light
quality aspects and environmental issues like mercury vapors [1, 3]. In the last years, a new, very strong
trend has energized the artificial lighting industry and that is the light emitting diodes (LED). According to
[4, 5, 14] these new lighting semiconductor components represent a breakthrough in terms of low energy
consumption, long expected lifetime, qualitative light , small size with less negative environmental aspects.

2. STATE OF THE ART IN CFL AND LED LIGHTING

A generalized CFL technology is based on an electronic ballast and a compact fluorescent tube, both
mounted in an Edison type enclosure. The generalized schematics depicted in Fig. 1 represents the most
common found ballast topology which is the self-oscillating half-bridge inverter [11]. This is used in CFLs
by the great majority of producing companies.
Regarding the LED based lamps, constant current behavior of the electronic converter is a necessity in
order to fulfill the quality aspects in different environmental conditions (constant light output regardless of
temperature) and long lifespan of the LEDs [8, 14]. According to [8, 14], the LED drivers are usually
composed by DC-DC converters in Buck, Boost, Buck-Boost or Flyback configuration working as a current
source with a special constant current control loop. For low power application, fed from the mains, the
Flyback topology is preferred because of simplicity and the possibility of adding power factor correction in a
single stage converter [14]. This configuration has the disadvantage of relative low efficiency, less than 85%.
For high power LED applications, resonant converters can be used for high efficiency and reliability [13].
The control used in this situation and the relative high complexity of the circuit, limit this solution to be
applied in low power application.
2 Research concerning unified electronic lighting devices 227

3. CFL BASED LIGHTING DEVICES

A fluorescent tube working at high frequency has a resistive behavior [6, 7]. In the case of an 11 W
compact fluorescent tube, the value for the equivalent tube resistance, is around Rt = 1 k. In order to
analyze the CFL system, a mathematical model of the electronic schematics has to be developed at a level
where we can apply with adequate accuracy the analytical relations. According to Fig. 2, the input alternative
voltage supply, the low frequency rectifier and the low pass LC filter will be considered as an ideal
continuous voltage supply. As presented in Fig. 3, the self-oscillating inverter will be a half-bridge constant
frequency controlled converter.

Fig. 1 Electronic schematics of a classic CFL.

Fig. 2 Model of the CFL input schematics. Fig. 3 Modelling the self-oscillating inverter.

After the above assumptions, the resulted equivalent circuit is presented in Fig. 4. This shows a high
frequency inverter in half bridge configuration, a resonant tank (L, C) and the resistive load, Rt. The inverter
generates a rectangular bipolar alternative voltage, as can be seen in Fig. 5.
The electrical behavior of the circuit from Fig. 4 will be analyzed in two steps:
1. The behavior of the circuit for the first half of a cycle could be represented by the differential
equation:
Ud di (t )
= L S + 1 i (t )d(t ), (1)
2 d(t ) C C

where the time interval is defined like 0 < t T/2, the switch S1 is in ON state and the switch S2 is in OFF
state.
228 Petre-Dorel Teodosescu, Mircea Bojan, Ioana-Cornelia Vese, Richard Marschalko 3

ic (t)

is (t)
u s (t )
iRt(t)

Fig. 4 Equivalent schematics of a CFL.

Ud
2

T T
2
Ud

2

Fig. 5 Ideal waveform of the CFL inverter output voltage.

Figure 4 indicates that when the switch S1 is closed the voltage of the condenser C1 is applied on the
resonant tank. Because both capacitors, C1 and C2 have the same values, the voltage on C1 is equivalent to
half of the input Ud voltage. The voltage on the condenser C is equal to the load voltage, uc(t) = uRt(t). As a
result:
1 i (t )d(t ) = R i (t ).
C C
t Rt (2)

During this time-interval the inductor L current, iS (t ) is:

i S (t ) = i Rt (t ) + iC (t ) . (3)
2. The transient behavior of the circuit for the other half of a cycle could be represented by the
differential equation:
Ud di (t )
= L S + 1 i (t )d(t ), (4)
2 d(t ) C C

where the time interval is defined like T/2 < t < T, the switch S2 is in ON state and the switch S1 is in OFF
state.
From Fig. 4 we can see that the condenser C2 voltage is applied on the resonant tank, but with reversed
polarity. The analytical relations for the load voltage and the inductor current are kept the same as for the
first half of the cycle:
1 i (t )d(t ) = R i (t ),
C C
t Rt (5)

iS (t ) = iRt (t ) + iC (t ). (6)
With the help of the equations (1)(6), an Orcad/PSpice model of the circuit was developed. This
model is presented in Fig. 6. The input voltage is set to 300V and the frequency of the control signals of the
switches S1 and S2 is 57 kHz, like in the case of the actual CFL ballasts. The inductor L and the condenser C
have the same values as in the original circuit.
4 Research concerning unified electronic lighting devices 229

Figure 7 presents the simulated results of the modeled circuit. The signals investigated are: the
fluorescent tube current, I(Rt); the capacitor current, I(C); the inductor current, I(L); the fluorescent tube
voltage, V(Rt); the voltage on the switch S1, V(S1) and the voltage on the switch S2, V(S2).
400mA

S1
VOFF = 2 SEL>>
OFFTIME = 8.75uS DSTM2 VON = 4 -400mA
ONTIME = 8.75uS CLK + +
C32 DELAY = 8.75us
- - DBOOST I(Rt) I(C) -I(L)
47n STARTVAL = 0 DIODE_BHAVE 400V
OPPVAL = 1 S
V1
300Vdc 0V
L C
0 1 2
2.44mH
-400V
S2
VOFF = 2 2.4n V(Rt:1,Rt:2)
OFFTIME = 8.75uS DSTM1 VON = 4 400V
C33 ONTIME = 8.75uS CLK + + Rt
47n DELAY = 0
- - 0V
STARTVAL = 0
OPPVAL = 1 S 1k

DBOOST1 -400V
0 DIODE_BHAVE V(S1:3,S1:4)
400V

0V

-400V
0
10.00ms 10.02ms 10.04ms
V(S2:3,S2:4)
Fig. 6 Orcad/PSpice model of the equivalent CFL schematics model. Fig. 7 Simulated waveforms for the equivalent CFL.

The simulation results, regarding now the original system depicted in Fig. 8 without any modification,
are presented in Fig. 9. The signals investigated are: the fluorescent tube current, I(Rt); the capacitor current,
I(C); the inductor current, I(L); the fluorescent tube voltage, V(Rt); the collector-emitter voltage of the
transistor U1, V(U1); and the collector-emitter voltage of the transistor U2, V(U2).
400mA
K K2
K_Linear
0A
COUPLING = 0.8

FREQ = 50 C32 -400mA

L3
VAMPL = 324V
I(Rt) I(C) -I(L)
VOFF = 0 R58 47n
2.2mH C Rt
400V
U1 2.4n
22 1k
Qmje13003
D36 D35 R32 2 0V
D1N4007 D1N4007 C30 R30 2 100
L
1n 400k
V1 D39 L6 2.44mH -400V
D1N4007 20uH
R34 V(Rt:1,C:2)
C35 1
2.8u 2
L4
1 1 400V
1
400 I
D37 R31
D38 D41 200uH 0V
D1N4007 660k D42
D1N4007 D1N4007
U2
Qmje13003 -400V
D40 DIAC R33
D1N4007 1 100 V(U1:C,U1:E)
C31 C33
L5 47n 400V
0.5n R35
20uH
1

2 SEL>>
-400V
10.00ms 10.02ms 10.04ms
0
V(U2:C,U2:E)

Fig. 8 Orcad/PSpice model of the real CFL model. Fig. 9 Simulated waveforms for the real CFL model.

A careful comparison between Fig. 7 and Fig. 9 indicates that the modeling of the CFL is satisfactorily.
The insignificant differences come from the fact that the input voltage of the real inverter has a big ripple,
while the input voltage for the equivalent circuit is a constant one.

4. LED OPERATION WITH MODIFIED CFL DRIVER

In agreement with the basic aims of this paper, the research was focused on the analytical
reconfiguration of the CFL ballast for the use in LED lighting applications.
230 Petre-Dorel Teodosescu, Mircea Bojan, Ioana-Cornelia Vese, Richard Marschalko 5

Now, the electronic circuit of the ballast will have as load the electrical representation of a light
emitting diode. In this way, the actual CFL ballast becomes a LED driver with a minimum number of
changes in the electronic schematics. These presumptions will be analyzed by means of mathematical model
approach and Orcad/Pspice simulations.
From the electric representations of a LED [9, 10], depicted in Fig. 10, the semiconductor device could
be seen as a voltage source in series with a resistor and a diode or like a Zenner diode.

Fig. 10 Equivalent electronic models for LEDs.

Figure 11 presents the proposed electronic schematics, where the resistance of the fluorescent tube is
replaced by a high frequency, full bridge rectifier and the equivalent electronic model of the LED. Further,
according to Fig. 12, the full bridge rectifier and the Zenner diode, representing the LED, are replaced by
two Zenner diodes. Using the same modeling steps like in the case of the CFL, the electronic schematic was
transformed into the equivalent model from Fig. 13.

Fig. 11 Electronic schematics of a LED controlled by CFL ballast.

uS1 (t )
ic (t)

Ud
iLED (t )
uS2(t)
is (t)
u s (t )

Fig. 12 Modeling of the high frequency rectifier bridge and the Fig. 13 Equivalent schematics of a LED controlled by CFL
LED load. ballast.
6 Research concerning unified electronic lighting devices 231

Fig. 14 Presumptive time steps for a commutation period; red waveform reversed Zener current (LED current);
blue waveform reversed condenser C current; green waveform inductor L current;
blue waveform (upper picture) inverter output voltage.

Referring to the Fig. 5 and the presumptive Fig. 14, the electrical behavior of the circuit depicted in
Fig. 13 could be analyzed in the following steps:

1. For the time interval t0 < t t1 , the switch S1 is in the ON state, the switch S2 is in the OFF state
and the converter equation becomes:
Ud di (t )
= L S + uC (t ). (7)
2 d(t )
Now, the Zenner diode is not conductive and the circuit is working under resonant LC conditions:

uC (t ) = 1 i (t )d(t ) . (8)
C C
The output current is equal to the condenser C current:
i S (t ) = i LED (t ) + iC (t ) , where: iLED (t ) 0. (9)
2. For the time interval defined as t1 < t t2; the switch S1 is in the ON state and the switch S2 is in the
OFF state; the output current and resonant tank condenser voltage is controlled by the forward voltage of the
LED or the reversed voltage of the Zenner diode:
Ud di (t )
= L S + uC (t ). (10)
2 d(t )
Regarding the above relation the uc(t) = ULED = UZ + UAK0 is constant. The UZ is the reversed Zenner diode
voltage (or the forward voltage of the LED), while the UAK0 is the forward voltage of the Zenner diode. We
consider UAK0 small enough to be negligible and form (10) we can write with good precision:
Ud
U LED
diS (t ) 2 (11)
= const.
d(t ) L
The output load of the circuit is composed by the inductor L in series with the conducting reversed Zener
diode:
232 Petre-Dorel Teodosescu, Mircea Bojan, Ioana-Cornelia Vese, Richard Marschalko 7

iS (t ) = iLED (t ) + iC (t ) , where iC (t ) 0. (12)

3. For the time interval defined by t2 < t T/2, the switch S2 is in the ON state and the switch S1 is in
the OFF state. The differential equation that describes the behavior of output circuit is:

Ud di (t )
= L S + uC (t ). (13)
2 d(t )
From (13) and uc(t) = ULED = UZ + UAK0, we can also write:

Ud
+ U LED
diS (t )
= 2 const. (14)
d(t ) L

Because the Zenner diode is conducting the inductor current is equal to the LED current:
iS (t ) iLED (t ) . (15)

At the time t = T 2 the inductor current reaches the value 0.

i S (T 2) = i LED (T 2) + iC (T 2) = 0 . (16)

The next 3 time intervals are the same as the first 3 explained in the above relations, and we consider
irrelevant to present them, as the conclusions will be the same.
In the model simulation were taken into account two direct with two reversed 18V Zenner diodes,
connected in series, modeling a 36V LED. In the Fig. 15 we illustrate the Orcad/PSpice simplified model,
while in Fig. 16 we point out the simulation results. The signals investigated are: LED current or the Zenner
diode reverse current, I(Dz); condenser C current, I(C); inductor L current, I(L); condenser and Zenner diode
voltage, V(C); voltage on the switch S1, V(S1) and the voltage on the switch S2, V(S2).

L3
D51 D48 500mA
D46 D50

2.2mH S1
D1N4746 D1N4746
VOFF = 2
D1N4746
D1N4746
SEL>>
OFFTIME = 8.75uS
DSTM2 VON = 4
ONTIME = 8.75uSCLK -600mA
+ +
C32 DELAY = 8.75us I(Dz) I(C) -I(L)
- -
47n STARTVAL = 0 D
OPPVAL = 1 S DIODE_BHAVE
50V
V1
300Vdc
L C 0V
C35
W 2.8u
0 1 2
400 2.44mH -50V
S2
2.4n
VOFF = 2 V(C:1,C:2)
OFFTIME = 8.75uS
DSTM1 VON = 4
C33 ONTIME = 8.75uSCLK 400V
+ +
47n DELAY = 0
- -
STARTVAL = 0
OPPVAL = 1 S D 0V
DIODE_BHAVE
0 -400V
V(S2:3,S2:4)
400V

0V

0 -400V
4.600ms 4.625ms 4.650ms
V(S1:3,S1:4)

Fig. 15 Equivalent Orcad/PSpice model of a LED Fig. 16 Simulation waveforms for a LED controlled by
controlled by CFL ballast. CFL ballast; Equivalent model.

In Fig. 17 the real circuit model is illustrated, while in Fig. 18 we point out the simulation results. The
signals investigated are: LED current or the Zener diode reverse current I(Dz); condenser C current, I(C);
inductor L current, I(L); condenser and Zener diode voltage, V(C); the collector-emitter voltage of the
transistor U1,V(U1), and the collector-emitter voltage of the transistor U2V(U2).
8 Research concerning unified electronic lighting devices 233

Dz3 500mA
C36
D1N4746
L3
FREQ = 50 Dz2 0A
VAMPL = 324V R58 D1N4746
2.2mH 47n C
VOFF = 0
22
U1 2.4n -500mA
Qmje13003 Dz
D36 D35 R32
I(Dz1) I(C) -I(L)
D1N4746
D1N4007 D1N4007 C30 R30 2 100 2 50V
L Dz1
V1 D39 1n 400k L6 D1N4746
D1N4007 20uH 2.44mH 0V
R34
1
L4
C35
1
2 1
1
-50V
2.8u
D37 R31 V(Dz3:2,C36:1)
D38 D41 200uH
D1N4007 660k 400V
D1N4007 D1N4007 D42

Qmje13003
D40 DIAC R33
D1N4007 1 100 C33 SEL>>
C31 47n
-400V
0.5n L5 R35 V(U2:C,U2:E)
20uH 1
400V
2
K K2 0V
K_Linear
COUPLING = 1
0 -400V
4.60ms 4.62ms 4.64ms
V(U1:C,U1:E)

Fig. 17 Orcad/PSpice model of a LED controlled by CFL ballast Fig. 18 Simulation waveforms for a LED controlled
by CFL ballast; Actual model.

For the LED based load the switching frequency is now decreased because of the self-oscillating
control of the inverter. The frequency is variable between 25 kHz and 35 kHz, due to the input voltage
ripple. From Fig. 16 and Fig. 18 we can see that, apart from the difference in the commutation frequency, the
reconfigured circuit and the proposed electronic circuit is behaving the same.
When working with LED based load, the proposed circuit is acting like a constant current drive. If the
LED is not conductive, the circuit is in resonant LC stage. When the breakdown of the LED appears, from
(11) we can write:

Ud Ud
U LED u LED (C ) U LED
diS (t ) 2 (17)
= 2 = const.
d(t ) L L

where, uLED (C) is the change of the LED forward voltage with the junction temperature. We can admit that:
uLED (temp) << Ud/2 + ULED. Considering that the inductivity of the coil L is high enough, from (17), we
obtain the constant average current behavior of the circuit.

5. CONCLUSIONS AND OUTLOOK

In this paper, a new theoretical approach in controlling LEDs is presented by means of mathematical
analyses and Orcad/PSpice simulations of an electronic circuit, usually used for CFL lighting. This circuit is
characterized through low cost, high reliability and good efficiency. These advantages indirectly arrive from
the hard research and development that took place, in the last decade, in the CFL market. This has led to a
generalized worldwide use and acceptance of the CFL schematics presented in the paper. The LED driver is
using almost the same schematics, so the low cost and the high reliability is proven. According to [11] the
electric efficiency is more than 90%, value that exceeds the efficiency of other specific circuits used in low
power application. For LED based lamps the constant current feature is very important and this necessity is
fulfilled by the natural behavior of the quasi-resonant inverter investigated in this paper.
The analytical approach used in this paper is proving that the CFL electronic ballast, with a simple
output high frequency rectifier, can be used to control an LED or a series of LEDs. This represents a good
opportunity not only for research but to the practical point of view too, leading to a CFL-LED unified
technology that can be used in the near future artificial light devices. Also, this device can easily be
introduced in low cost, high mass production by the actual CFL producers with a minimum of technological
effort and with guaranteed reliability. The theoretical approach of the idea presented in this paper is
confirmed by the laboratory practical experiments [11, 12].
234 Petre-Dorel Teodosescu, Mircea Bojan, Ioana-Cornelia Vese, Richard Marschalko 9

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Received August 5, 2013