Infineon Technologies Ag

Infineon Technologies Austria Ag

Franco Mignoli

Fabrizio Cortigiani

Maurizio Galvano

Hans-Peter Kreuter

Silvia Solda

Andrea Logiudice

Marco Pamato

Gianluca Ragonesi

Andrea Scenini

Damiano Sartori

Alfonso Nasciuti

Luca Mengani

Adolfo De Cicco

Christof Michenthaler

Roberto Filippo

Gianmaria Furlan

Salvatore Sanna

Christopher Gabriel

In some examples, this disclosure describes a light-emitting diode (LED) driver circuit comprising a set of LED drivers, wherein each LED driver of the set of LED drivers is configured to control one or more LEDs of a set of LEDs. Additionally, the LED driver circuit comprises a core computing device configured to receive LED control information, compare primary path LED driver control output data with secondary path LED driver control output data to detect whether one or more error conditions are present in the core computing device, receive channel status feedback information, compare the secondary path LED driver control output data with the channel status feedback information to detect whether one or more error conditions are present in the set of LED drivers or in the set of LEDs, and trigger, based on determining that one or more error conditions are present, one or more remedial actions.

Core computing device for detecting error conditions in light emitting diode (LED) driver circuit

In some examples, this disclosure describes a light-emitting diode (LED) driver circuit configured to: control a set of LED channels; receive, from each LED channel of the set of LED channels, channel status information that indicates whether the respective LED channel is activated or deactivated; and determine, based on the channel status information corresponding to each LED channel of the set of LED channels, a channel status of the respective LED channel. Additionally, the LED driver circuit is configured to output, to a master computing device, the channel status corresponding to each LED channel of the set of LED channels; and output, to the master computing device, channel mapping information, wherein the master computing device is configured to determine, based on the channel status information and the channel mapping information, whether one or more error conditions are present in the set of LED channels.

Detecting error conditions in a plurality of LED channels

A controller circuit for a set of light emitting diodes (LEDs) includes a linear current source, channel circuitry, and supervisor circuitry. The linear current source is configured to regulate a first current from a supply along a first series path to the set of LEDs. The channel circuitry is configured to control a second current from the supply along a second series path to the set of LEDs, the second series path being in parallel with the first series path and the second series path comprising a drop element coupled in series with the supply and the set of LEDs. The supervisor circuitry is configured to regulate a total current supplied to the set of LEDs using the linear current source and the channel circuitry, the total current comprising the first current and the second current.

Power offloading for linear current source

This disclosure includes systems, methods, and techniques for detecting one or more short connections in a plurality of light-emitting diode (LED) channels. For example, a circuit includes processing circuitry configured to control a plurality of driving devices in order to cause a pair of LED channels of the plurality of LED channels to operate in a first state during a first period of time and operate in a second state during a second period of time. Additionally, the processing circuitry is configured to compare a first electrical signal corresponding to the first state of the pair of LED channels and a second electrical signal corresponding to the second state of the pair of LED channels and determine, based on the comparison of the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal, if a short connection exists between the pair of LED channels.

Detecting short connections in a plurality of LED channels

A method for driving a set of light emitting diodes (LEDs) may include receiving a write access frame by a driver via a bus configured for connection with a controller and the driver. The write access frame includes brightness information. The method may further include controlling, by the driver, the set of LEDs based on the brightness information and determining, by the driver, safety information while controlling the set of LEDs based on the brightness information. The method may further include outputting, by the driver and at the bus, the safety information to acknowledge receipt of the write access frame.

Driver using safety information

A laser diode module is described herein. In accordance with a first exemplary embodiment, the laser diode module includes a first semiconductor die including at least one electronic switch, and a second semiconductor die including at least one laser diode. The second semiconductor die is bonded on the first semiconductor die using a chip-on-chip connecting technology to provide electrical connection between the electronic switch and the laser diode.

Laser diode module

According to one exemplary embodiment, a light-emitting diode driver is provided, having: a differential first interface, a single-ended second interface, wherein the light-emitting diode driver is configured to use the first interface to communicate according to a bidirectional differential bus communication protocol as a slave, to use the second interface to communicate according to a single-ended bus protocol and to transpose signals between the first interface and the second interface, and to supply one or more light-emitting diodes with electric power on the basis of signals received via the first interface.

Light-emitting diode driver, light-emitting diode module and corresponding system

A driver circuit for driving a laser diode is described herein. In accordance with a first exemplary embodiment the driver circuit includes a first electronic switch connected to an output node that is configured to be operably connected to a laser diode. The electric connection between the first electronic switch and the output node has a first inductance. The driver circuit further includes a bypass circuit that is coupled to the output node and configured to take over, when activated, the current supplied to the output node via the first electronic switch, thus magnetizing the first inductance.

Circuit and method for driving a laser diode

A method includes sequentially coupling, by a switching module of a circuit, each cell of a plurality of cells to a driver module. Each cell of the plurality of cells includes a light emitting diode (LED) configured to activate based on a control voltage at a respective cell of the plurality of cells. The method includes driving, by the driver module, the control voltage of the respective cell based on a reference current when the switching module sequentially couples the respective cell to the driver module.

Driver for light emitting devices using sequential coupling

A driver circuit, in accordance with one example, includes a controllable current source operably coupled to the load and configured to sink or source a first current in accordance with a control signal. A controllable switch is responsive to an input signal, operably coupled to the current source, and configured to take over, or not, the first current in accordance with an input signal. The first current is directed as a load current through the load when the controllable switch is driven into a blocking state. The first current is directed through the controllable switch when the controllable switch is driven into a conducting state thus bypassing the load. An input signal includes a first series of pulses defining the desired load current waveform in accordance with a desired modulation scheme.

Low EMI driver circuit

A method controls a power MOS transistor having a control terminal and a load path, the load path connected in series with a load between voltage supply terminals, wherein a power supply voltage between the voltage supply terminals imposes a load voltage across the load and a load path voltage across the load path of the power MOS transistor. The method includes generating a control current for the control terminal during a switching process when the power MOS transistor changes switching states. The control current is dependent on the power supply voltage and on at least one of the group consisting of the load path voltage and the load voltage.

Low EMC/EMI emissions' gate driver for wide supply voltage ranges

Embodiments of the invention are related to a power transistor and a method for controlling a power transistor. In one embodiment a power transistor comprises a power semiconductor body with a plurality of power transistor cells each having a control electrode and a current path. The power transistor furthermore comprises a temperature sensor formed by at least one transistor cell in the power semiconductor body whose control electrode is coupled to one electrode of the current path forming a reversed biased pn-junction.

Power transistor and method for controlling a power transistor

A circuit includes a MOS transistor having a control electrode and a control capacitance, and including a control circuit for the MOS transistor. The control circuit includes an input to supply a control signal and an output to supply a drive signal, the output being connected to the control electrode of the MOS transistor. A calibration circuit is connected to the control electrode of the MOS transistor, and generates a calibration signal dependent on the capacitance value of the control capacitance. A drive circuit generates the drive signal with an amplitude dependent on the calibration signal as determined by the control signal.

Growing community of inventors

Verona, Italy

Franco Mignoli