Patent · US Expired

Driver circuit for LED vehicle lamp

US7042165B2 · kind B2 · utility

43Cited by
5References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 26, 2004
Grant dateMay 9, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 1, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH05B45/54
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A first vehicle lamp driver circuit for a light emitting diode (LED) array, the LED array having a first string of four LEDs in series and a second string of four LEDs in series. A first LED driver drives the first LED string and a second LED driver drives the second LED string. In a STOP mode of operation, the current to both LED strings is controlled by the LED driver in series with the LED string. In a TAIL mode of operation, the current is provided to only one LED string via a series connected diode and resistor. When there is reduced input voltage, operation of the LED strings is provided by switching circuits that short-out one LED in each LED string. A second vehicle lamp driver circuit comprises a first LED string and a second LED string in series with a control switch having a feedback circuit for maintaining constant current regulation to control the sum of the current in each LED string and reduce switching noise.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.