Development of a programmable DC-DC converter module for driving a scalable LED array

This paper presents programmable DC-DC converter modules which provide stable power to drive multiple high-power LEDs. When high-power LEDs are used to form a light source, which consists of various types of intensity and wavelengths, DC-DC converter modules can be used to drive the LEDs which then provide optical energy to test photovoltaic cells. To provide similar optical spectrums as seen by solar rays, the power supply for each LED will need to supply a specific voltage and current accordingly. The described module consists of a programmable controller and DC-DC power converters. Each controller manages three DC-DC converters by adjusting the feedback resistances of the converters through a microcontroller. Additional modules can be added to drive an LED array of any size. To verify the operation and performance, a prototype of six modules consisting of eighteen DC-DC converters has been built and tested. The results show that all of eighteen individual LEDs are successfully driven by six modules and eighteen converters.