The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 07, 1998
Filed:
Jun. 12, 1996
Joe A Ortiz, Garden Grove, CA (US);
Hughes Electronics, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Abstract
A current source that uses a regulated constant current power source to supply current to drive a load, and the load current is controlled by shunt switches. If a plurality of loads utilize less than 50% duty factor, then one current source can drive N multiple dissimilar impedance loads, each at 100%/N duty factor. The current source includes a power converter coupled between the power source and the load(s) for providing pulsed current thereto. A current sensor is provided for sensing current flowing through the loads. A controller is coupled between the sensor and the power converter for regulating the amplitude of the output current supplied to the loads. A shunt switch is coupled across the loads, and a duty factor controller is coupled to the shunt switch for setting the duty factor of the shunt switch. A laser drive circuit, or driving light emitting diode arrays is also disclosed that include a plurality of the current sources. Alternatively, if the duty factor is sufficiently low, one current source may be used to drive a plurality of arrays.