A Double Stage DC/DC Converter for LED Lighting Automotive Systems

In this paper a DC/DC converter, conceived to be employed for LED lighting in automotive application, is proposed. It is composed of two stages to fit both to the constraint to be powered by a variable supply voltage and to deliver a constant output load current with reduced ripple to supply the LED. Firstly the LED has been experimentally characterized to obtain a model to be implemented on a circuit simulator. Then the design of the converter has been carried out, including the control laws, to verify the compliance with the constraints. Finally, a circuit based on commercial devices is proposed to be applied both to lighting and to direction indicators light, including current and temperature protection. Results, given in simulation, show good performance achievable with a low-cost hardware