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. 13, 2014
Filed:
Feb. 25, 2010
Peter Hubertus Franciscus Deurenberg, S-Hertogenbosch, NL;
Gert-jan Koolen, Aarle Rixtel, NL;
Gian Hoogzaad, Mook, NL;
Radu Surdeanu, Roosbeek, BE;
Pascal Bancken, Opwijk, BE;
Benoit Bataillou, Lyons, FR;
Viet Nguyen Hoang, Leuven, BE;
Peter Hubertus Franciscus Deurenberg, S-Hertogenbosch, NL;
Gert-Jan Koolen, Aarle Rixtel, NL;
Gian Hoogzaad, Mook, NL;
Radu Surdeanu, Roosbeek, BE;
Pascal Bancken, Opwijk, BE;
Benoit Bataillou, Lyons, FR;
Viet Nguyen Hoang, Leuven, BE;
NXP B.V., Eindhoven, NL;
Abstract
A method is disclosed of controlling a LED, comprising driving the LED with a DC current for a first time, interrupting the DC current for a second time such that the first time and the second time sum to a period, determining at least one characteristic of the LED while the DC current is interrupted, and controlling the DC current during a subsequent period in dependence on the at least one characteristic. The invention thus benefits from the simplicity of DC operation. By operating at the LED in a DC mode, rather than say in a PWM mode, the requirement to be able to adjust the duty cycle is avoided. By including interruptions to the DC current, it is possible to utilize the LED itself to act as a sensor in order to determine a characteristic of the LED. The need for additional sensors is thereby avoided.