Series/Parallel Boost/Buck DC/DC Converter as a Visible Light Communication HB-LED Driver Based on Split Power

This paper presents a high-brightness LED (HB-LED) driver for visible light communication (VLC) based on two converters. The first is a high-frequency buck DC/DC converter and the second is a low-frequency boost DC/DC converter, connected in series with respect to the LED load and connected in paral...

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Main Authors: Daniel G. Aller, Diego G. Lamar, Juan R. Garcia-Mere, Marta M. Hernando, Juan Rodriguez, Javier Sebastian
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Photonics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/12/5/402
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author Daniel G. Aller
Diego G. Lamar
Juan R. Garcia-Mere
Marta M. Hernando
Juan Rodriguez
Javier Sebastian
author_facet Daniel G. Aller
Diego G. Lamar
Juan R. Garcia-Mere
Marta M. Hernando
Juan Rodriguez
Javier Sebastian
author_sort Daniel G. Aller
collection DOAJ
description This paper presents a high-brightness LED (HB-LED) driver for visible light communication (VLC) based on two converters. The first is a high-frequency buck DC/DC converter and the second is a low-frequency boost DC/DC converter, connected in series with respect to the LED load and connected in parallel at the input, forming a series/parallel boost/buck DC/DC converter. It is well known that a VLC system needs to perform two different tasks: biasing the HB-LED load and transmitting the communication signal. These typically have different power requirements; the bias power is 75%, while the communication power is 25% of the total power. The requirements of each converter are also different; the communication signal requires a fast output response and, therefore, a high switching frequency, while the biasing control does not require a converter with a high output voltage response. The proposed architecture in this paper takes advantage of the differences between the two tasks and achieves high efficiency and high communication performance by means of splitting power between the two DC/DC converters. The high-frequency buck DC/DC converter tracks the communication signal, while the low-frequency boost DC/DC converter is responsible for lighting tasks. This technique enables high efficiency because most of the power is processed by the low-frequency converter, while a minor part of the power is processed by the high-frequency converter, achieving high communication performance. To provide experimental results, the proposed VLC HB-LED driver was built and validated by reproducing a 64-QAM with a bit rate up to 1.5 Mbps, reaching 91.5% overall efficiency.
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publishDate 2025-04-01
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spelling doaj-art-3be0a035cb0f4d0baf68a91dcbf776b52025-08-20T03:47:57ZengMDPI AGPhotonics2304-67322025-04-0112540210.3390/photonics12050402Series/Parallel Boost/Buck DC/DC Converter as a Visible Light Communication HB-LED Driver Based on Split PowerDaniel G. Aller0Diego G. Lamar1Juan R. Garcia-Mere2Marta M. Hernando3Juan Rodriguez4Javier Sebastian5Airbus Crisa (an Airbus Defense and Space Company), 28760 Madrid, SpainPower Supplies Group, Electrical Engineering Department, The University of Oviedo, 33202 Gijon, SpainPower Supplies Group, Electrical Engineering Department, The University of Oviedo, 33202 Gijon, SpainPower Supplies Group, Electrical Engineering Department, The University of Oviedo, 33202 Gijon, SpainPower Supplies Group, Electrical Engineering Department, The University of Oviedo, 33202 Gijon, SpainPower Supplies Group, Electrical Engineering Department, The University of Oviedo, 33202 Gijon, SpainThis paper presents a high-brightness LED (HB-LED) driver for visible light communication (VLC) based on two converters. The first is a high-frequency buck DC/DC converter and the second is a low-frequency boost DC/DC converter, connected in series with respect to the LED load and connected in parallel at the input, forming a series/parallel boost/buck DC/DC converter. It is well known that a VLC system needs to perform two different tasks: biasing the HB-LED load and transmitting the communication signal. These typically have different power requirements; the bias power is 75%, while the communication power is 25% of the total power. The requirements of each converter are also different; the communication signal requires a fast output response and, therefore, a high switching frequency, while the biasing control does not require a converter with a high output voltage response. The proposed architecture in this paper takes advantage of the differences between the two tasks and achieves high efficiency and high communication performance by means of splitting power between the two DC/DC converters. The high-frequency buck DC/DC converter tracks the communication signal, while the low-frequency boost DC/DC converter is responsible for lighting tasks. This technique enables high efficiency because most of the power is processed by the low-frequency converter, while a minor part of the power is processed by the high-frequency converter, achieving high communication performance. To provide experimental results, the proposed VLC HB-LED driver was built and validated by reproducing a 64-QAM with a bit rate up to 1.5 Mbps, reaching 91.5% overall efficiency.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/12/5/402visible light communication (VLC)high-brightness LEDseries/parallel boost/buck DC/DC convertersplit power
spellingShingle Daniel G. Aller
Diego G. Lamar
Juan R. Garcia-Mere
Marta M. Hernando
Juan Rodriguez
Javier Sebastian
Series/Parallel Boost/Buck DC/DC Converter as a Visible Light Communication HB-LED Driver Based on Split Power
Photonics
visible light communication (VLC)
high-brightness LED
series/parallel boost/buck DC/DC converter
split power
title Series/Parallel Boost/Buck DC/DC Converter as a Visible Light Communication HB-LED Driver Based on Split Power
title_full Series/Parallel Boost/Buck DC/DC Converter as a Visible Light Communication HB-LED Driver Based on Split Power
title_fullStr Series/Parallel Boost/Buck DC/DC Converter as a Visible Light Communication HB-LED Driver Based on Split Power
title_full_unstemmed Series/Parallel Boost/Buck DC/DC Converter as a Visible Light Communication HB-LED Driver Based on Split Power
title_short Series/Parallel Boost/Buck DC/DC Converter as a Visible Light Communication HB-LED Driver Based on Split Power
title_sort series parallel boost buck dc dc converter as a visible light communication hb led driver based on split power
topic visible light communication (VLC)
high-brightness LED
series/parallel boost/buck DC/DC converter
split power
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/12/5/402
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