A Novel Electrolytic-Free Quasi-Z-Source Ćuk LED Driver for Automotive Application

Abstract

This paper proposes a novel electrolytic-free quasi-Z-Source Ćuk LED driver for automotive applications. Compared to the traditional Ćuk converter, the first merit of the novel converter is higher gain, which makes it apt to switch between multiple applications. Secondly, the proposed converter combines the inherent characteristics of LED load to operate in a wide range in Continuous Conduction Mode (CCM), so the inductors can assist in energy storage, and only small capacitance is required. Thirdly, inductors can be integrated and use only one core, and capacitors are electrolytic-free, which will benefit integration and long life. All merits are important to automotive application. Detailed analysis and design steps are presented. Then, with the help of the simulation software Saber, several key parts of the converter are simulated. Finally, a prototype controlled by the micro control unit stm32f103c8t6 is built, and the feasibility is verified by the experiment results.