Ericsson Gmbh

Earl R Wingrove

John Mitten

An electronic device includes an indicator that generates an indication of an event responsive to an indicator control signal from an indicator control circuit coupled between a processor and the indicator. The processor generates an indicator off-time value and an indicator on-time value from the processor. The indicator control circuit includes an off-time register, an on-time register, and an indicator control circuit. The off-time register stores the off-time value generated by a processor, and the on-time register stores the on-time value generated by the processor. The indicator control signal generator alternatingly enables and disables the indicator control signal based on the time values stored in the registers.

Electronic devices including indicator control circuits and related methods of controlling indicators

An electronic device includes an indicator that generates an indication of an event responsive to an indicator control signal from an indicator control circuit coupled between a processor and the indicator. The processor generates an indicator off-time value and an indicator on-time value when an indication is desired, and the indicator control circuit receives the indicator off-time value and the indictor on-time value from the processor. More particularly, the indicator control circuit includes an off-time register, an on-time register, and an indicator control circuit. The off-time register stores the off-time value generated by the processor, and the on-time register stores the on-time value generated by the processor. The indicator control signal generator alternatingly enables the indicator control signal for a period of time determined by the on-time value stored in the on-time register and disables the indicator control signal for a period of time determined by the off-time value stored in the off-time register. The electronic device can also include an indicator pulse-duty register and a pulse width modulation circuit. The indicator pulse-duty register can be coupled to the processor and store an indicator pulse-duty generated by the processor. The pulse width modulation circuit can be coupled to the indicator pulse-duty register wherein the pulse width modulation circuit modulates a pulse width of the enabled indicator control signal in response to the indicator pulse-duty stored in the indicator pulse-duty register.

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Durham, NC, United States of America

Earl R Wingrove