The results aren’t really comparable, since the H17F’s host had quite a bit more thermal mass than a D4. I’d have to measure them in the same host, or at least the same model, for comparable results. It might happen at some point, but that’s a lot of effort just to satisfy my curiosity about whether the H17F can adjust any faster or if what I saw was its fastest speed.
Hey don’t look backwards at what you are doing. Just drive forwards. Whilst understanding the back history.
I think there is a lot more to come with firmware/driver integration, but the driver hardware will have to become a lot better, not sure if this is understood, or whether anyone cares.
I don't see the reason why it couldn't have a nice boost driver. I can see a cheaper, not too-hot-on-high with PID being possible. The sc62w has it all on one board (with LED) with a $3 buck/boost driver from TI (although I read its fairly complex and 4 layered with copper core). I don't think that you have to make it super powerful for a smaller light. With scale it can drop it down. But the design of the firmware will be more difficult I believe.
This is the part from mouser: https://www.mouser.com/Texas-Instruments/Switching-Voltage-Regulators/TPS63030-Series/_/N-1z0zls6Z668jtZ1yyuq05
Still, making a small aluminum isn't impossible if you don't ask for too many lumens. I know this is BLF and we love lumens (my first loved light was the A6), but a small light like the D4 just cannot be used reasonably at its high. It burns paper. It dedomes itself. It can destroy itself from being used. I personally don't want that to happen, although I wouldn't mind more lumens on a thrower, I don't see the point of a flooder/muti much. A D4/SC6x sized light with side switch, nice buck boost driver (or even just boost), PID, killer interface with ramping, programmable modes or groups, some sort of low lumen modes, fits 18650, side switch and modability would be awesome.
I'm so excited that we are moving away from linear regulated drivers, then some into MOSFET, and now boost drivers all while getting smaller and smaller.
Thanks to this forum, there have been so many advances from the always draining incandescent, to the primitive strobing drivers with ugly tints, and now we have nice tints, way better interfaces, and are now even working on efficiency! Its so exciting!