AN376

Application Note
Single Stage Output Ripple Current and the
Effect on Load Current in an LED Driver
1. Introduction
LED lighting requires a switched-mode power supply (LED driver) to provide the low-voltage DC required for the
LEDs from the AC mains supply. Figure 1 illustrates the sinusoidal AC line voltage pulse width modulated to a low
voltage for the output of the LED driver. To determine the amount of output ripple in a given design, a thorough understanding of the physics behind the PFC converter and the very nature of sinusoidal current in the AC line is required. To approach the output ripple voltage analysis, first assume that the power factor of the converter is equal
to 1. Second, assume that there is enough output capacitance to maintain the operation of the LEDs above the forward voltage of the LED string and that the output voltage of the converter is a DC voltage.

IOUT

AC Line
Voltage

AC/DC
LED
Driver

COUT

LED
Lighting

Figure 1. Rectified AC on Output

This application note details the interaction of the output capacitor with AC line voltage and the effect of this on output current ripple. The design example (see section Design Example on page 3) demonstrates the relationship between a specified ripple current and the RC filter circuit. The CS1615 example (see section CS1615 Example on
page 5) uses the Cirrus Logic CRD1615-8W reference design to illustrate the attenuation of the output current ripple.
See the CS1615/16 Single Stage Dimmable Offline AC/DC Controller for LED Lamps data sheet for more details
about the CS1615/16 IC. See the CRD1615-8W 8 Watt Reference Design and CRD1616-8W 8 Watt Reference Design data sheets for more details regarding the reference designs. For more information, see section References
on page 6.

Cirrus Logic, Inc.

http://www.cirrus.com

Copyright Cirrus Logic, Inc. 2013

(All Rights Reserved)

JUL13
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2. Design Process
Since the assumption is that the power factor is equal to 1 and the current obtained from the AC line is sinusoidal,
then the troughs of a rectified sinusoid line voltage deliver a current to the load that is also in a trough.

2.1 Design Considerations

The resulting current delivery to the LED load is equivalent to a [sin(t)]2 function. The squared sine is transformed into a double angle equivalent using the trigonometric identity in Equation 1:
2
1 cos 2t
1 1
sin t = ---------------------------------- = --- --- cos 2t
2
2 2

[Eq. 1]

The power-reduction function is partitioned into two components: a DC component, and an AC component at
two times the line frequency. The amplitude of the AC component is equal to the amplitude of the DC component
(see Figure 2). Analysis indicates that a relationship exists between the RMS current and the DC current of the
output current IOUT. The RMS of the output current IRMS is calculated using Equation 2:
1 1
I RMS = --- --- cos 2t
2 2

RMS

2
2
1
1
---
--- 1
---
= 0.61
2 + 2 2

[Eq. 2]

Equation 2 can be used to identify the DC portion, current IDC, of the output current, which is a sine wave with
a DC offset. Equation 3 defines the DC current to be approximately 82% of the RMS value of the output
current IOUT.
I DC
0.5
-----------= ----------- = 0.82
I RMS
0.61

[Eq. 3]

For the purpose of determining the ripple on the load current ILED flowing through the LEDs, only the AC component is of interest. The AC component of the output current IOUT has an amplitude equal to the amplitude of
the DC current IDC and must be reduced by placing additional capacitance COUT on the output of the converter.

IOUT

ILED

IPK

IDC

IOUT

COUT

ILED

RLED

IDC

Figure 2. Model of LED Driver Output Circuit

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For a given capacitance COUT and resistance RLED, the amount of attenuation can be calculated by recognizing
that the output stage can be modeled as an ideal AC current source with an RC filter for the output stage.
Equation 4 defines the transfer function of the RC network:
1
H = -----------------------1 + jRC

[Eq. 4]

Since the AC line voltage is rectified, creating a ripple current with a frequency that is double the line frequency,
the RC filter in Equation 4 is evaluated at two times the line frequency fline:
1
H 4f line = ------------------------------------------1 + j 4f line RC

[Eq. 5]

To determine the required output capacitance that provides a specified output ripple current, the output characteristics of the LED string must be understood at the full current operating point. To calculate the attenuation of
the RC circuit with a chosen LED resistive load, the magnitude of Equation 5 needs to be determined:
1
1
H 4f line = ------------------------------------------ = --------------------------------------------------------------------------------2
1 + j 4f line RC
1 + 4f line R LED C OUT

[Eq. 6]

Solving for capacitance COUT using Equation 7:

C OUT

1
-------------------------------1
2
H 4f line
= ---------------------------------------------------4f line R LED

[Eq. 7]

The important parameters for capacitor COUT are the RMS current rating and voltage rating. For a single stage
LED driver, it is probable for high RMS currents to flow into the RC filter. As a result, the output capacitor COUT
may need to be selected for its RMS current rating, as over-current stress can degrade the output capacitors
reliability. Although the voltage rating is directly related to the RMS current rating, verify that the output capacitor
COUT is rated for an output voltage plus some guard band.

2.2 Design Example

The LED drivers input AC line voltage is 120VAC with a line frequency fline equal to 60Hz. The RC filter transfer
function defined in Equation 5 on page 3 is evaluated at two times the line frequency fline:
1
1
H 4f line = ------------------------------------------- = ----------------------------------1 + j 4f line RC
1 + j 754 RC

[Eq. 8]

For a design specification of 250mA RMS output current IRMS, there is a DC component and a peak sinusoidal
component. Since the amplitude of the DC current IDC is equal to the amplitude of the sinusoidal peak
current IPK, Equation 3 on page 2 is used to calculate the peak output current IPK:
I PK = 0.82 I RMS = 0.82 250mA = 205mA

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[Eq. 9]

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For the design example, the maximum ripple current Iripple specification is 40% on the RMS output current of
250mA, which is equal to 100mA peak. Equation 10 derives the attenuation factor required by the RC filter to
reduce the output peak current IPK to the specified maximum ripple peak current of 100mA:
I ripple
--------------- = 100mA
------------------- = 0.49
I PK
205mA

[Eq. 10]

To determine the required output capacitance COUT for the RC filter, the forward current versus forward voltage
characteristics of an LED light engine using ten Philips LUMILEDS DS61 LED assembled in series is required.
For example, assume that the full-scale output current of the converter is 250mA. The chart plotted in Figure 3
can be used to estimate the effective resistance of one LED by creating the tangent at the operating point.
Therefore, at the intersection of the operating point of 250mA and the LED current-to-voltage curve, the estimated effective resistance is approximately 0.46.
400

Effective Resistance
~ 0.46
:
Forward Current (mA)

300

250 mA

200
Leading-edge
Dimmer
100
Trailing-edge
Dimmer

0
2.4

2.45

2.5

2.55

2.6

2.65

2.7

2.75

2.8

2.85

Forward Voltage (V)

Figure 3. Effective Resistance of a DS61 LED

It should be noted that the forward voltage of an LED drops with temperature, which will affect the final ripple
current. Since the total output resistance for the LED string is approximately 4.6, Equation 7 on page 3 is used
to calculate the required output capacitance COUT:

C OUT

1
1 -------------------------------1
------------1
2
2
H 4f line
0.49
= ---------------------------------------------------- = ----------------------------- = 513F
754 4.6
754 R LED

[Eq. 11]

2.3 CS1615 Example

The CRD1615-8W is a 120VAC, 60Hz LED driver with an output voltage of 27.9V and an output current of
250mA. In the design of the CRD1615-8W, the output capacitor was selected as a standard value of 680F.

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Equation 6 on page 3 is used to calculate the attenuation factor:
1
1
1
H 4f line = ------------------------------------------------------------------------- = --------------------------------------------------------------------------- = -------2.5
2
2
1 + 754 4.5 680F
1 + 754 R LED C OUT

[Eq. 12]

Since the RC network attenuates the sinusoidal component by 40%, the resulting AC current in the LEDs is calculated using Equation 10 on page 4:
I ripple = I PK 0.4 = 205mA 0.4 = 82mA

[Eq. 13]

Therefore the LED string current ILED is a 164mA peak-to-peak sinusoidal on a DC offset. For this design, the
typical current ripple is approximately 33% on the 250mA RMS output current.

2.3.1 Measured Results

The measured output voltage of the CRD1615-8W is 28V at an RMS output current of 250mA. The switching
mode power supply is driving 10 Philips LUMILEDS DS61 LEDs in series. Figure 4 illustrates the attenuation of
the RC filter implemented in the CRD1615-8W. The final ripple current on the LED current, I_LED, is measured
at approximately 170mA peak-to-peak.

Notes:

The current to voltage relationship is 100mA:20mV

Current I_LED is representative of the current flowing through the LED string

Figure 4. CRD1615-8W Measured Results

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3. Summary
As a starting point, calculate the RC filter attenuation factor to reduce the ripple current before selecting the final
output capacitor. The variations in system components, specifically the LED load, determine the final LED driver
specifications and tolerances. Designers need to be aware that they have to account for this and use analytical and
empirical evaluation to ensure that their designs meet specification.

4. Appendix
4.1 References

Cirrus Logic, 2013. CS1615/16 Single Stage Dimmable Offline AC/DC Controller for LED Lamps,
DS961F1, JUL 2013.
Cirrus Logic, 2013. AN375 Design Guide for a CS1615 and CS1616 Single Stage Dimmable Offline
AC/DC Controller for LED Lamps, AN375REV4, JUL 2013.
Cirrus Logic, 2013. CRD1615-8W 8 Watt Reference Design, DS1002RD3, JUL 2013.
Philips Lumileds, 2012. Luxeon Rebel ES. [online] Philips. Available at
<http://pdf.directindustry.com/pdf/philips-lumileds-lighting-company/technical-datasheetds61/Show/30998-177894-_16.html> [Accessed 13 February 2013]

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4.2 CRD1615-8W Schematic

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Revision History

Revision

Date

Changes

REV1

APR 2013

Initial release.

REV2

JUL 2013

Content updated using PCBA Rev C.

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Contacting Cirrus Logic Support

For all product questions and inquiries contact a Cirrus Logic Sales Representative. To find the one nearest to you
go to www.cirrus.com
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