Method of controlling an LED, and an LED controller
US8723443B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 25, 2010 |
| Grant date | May 13, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 25, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH05B45/28
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method is disclosed of controlling a LED, comprising driving the LED with a DC current for a first time, interrupting the DC current for a second time such that the first time and the second time sum to a period, determining at least one characteristic of the LED while the DC current is interrupted, and controlling the DC current during a subsequent period in dependence on the at least one characteristic. The invention thus benefits from the simplicity of DC operation. By operating at the LED in a DC mode, rather than say in a PWM mode, the requirement to be able to adjust the duty cycle is avoided. By including interruptions to the DC current, it is possible to utilize the LED itself to act as a sensor in order to determine a characteristic of the LED. The need for additional sensors is thereby avoided.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.