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:
Mar. 06, 2001
Filed:
Jun. 09, 1999
George C. Henry, Camarillo, CA (US);
Linfinity Microelectronics, Garden Grove, CA (US);
Abstract
A dimmable, backlight system provides increased light output at low temperatures and provides a full range of dimming. Both current amplitude control and current duty cycle control are used to more precisely adjust the lamp light output. During low temperatures, the lamp is overdriven using a high amplitude current source. The increased current provides increased light output at low temperatures. When the lamp temperature increases, the amount of current flowing to the lamp is reduced to prevent damage from occurring to the lamp. The lamp may be dimmed throughout the entire temperature range by adjusting the duty cycle of the current source. By dimming using the duty cycle, the light output of the lamp may be more precisely controlled. The amplitude and duty cycle may be controlled using either an analog or digital control signal.