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:
May. 21, 2002
Filed:
May. 02, 2001
Albert L. Runau, Marion, IA (US);
Ryan J. Rand, Mt. Vernon, IA (US);
Rockwell Collins, Inc., Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
Abstract
The present invention is a system and method for directing the flow of current supplied for a collection of light emitting diodes to provide for rapid flashing of the light emitting diodes and a wide dimming range. A fixed amount of current may be available to the collection of light emitting diodes where the flow of the current may be controlled by an alternating periodic signal such that current passes through the light emitting diodes for predefined and discrete periods. During periods of time that current is not flowing through light emitting diodes, the current may be directed to flow in another area of the circuit. The duty cycle of the signal may be adjusted in order to vary the dimming capability of the backlight.