LED driver with integrated bias and dimming control storage
View Patent ↗A LED driver IC includes a control module(s) for controlling one or more LED drive parameters and non-volatile memory for storing settings data for that control module(s). The control module(s) is fully integrated into the LED driver IC and does not require any control input from off-chip components or signals. Therefore, the space requirements for LED circuits that make use of the LED driver IC can be minimized. Also, the non-volatile memory storage of settings data eliminates the need for an initialization or configuration input each time the LED driver IC is powered on. The non-volatile memory can be a one-time programmable memory or can be a reprogrammable memory.
1. A light emitting diode (LED) driver integrated circuit (IC) comprising:
a first non-volatile memory for storing a first set of LED drive parameter settings;
a first LED control module coupled to receive the first set of LED drive parameter settings from the first non-volatile memory, wherein the first LED control module further controls a second LED drive parameter, and wherein the first set of LED drive parameter settings further determines a value for the second LED drive parameter.
2. The LED driver IC at claim 1 , wherein the first nanvolatile memory comprises a onetime programmable memory.
3. The LED driver IC of claim 1 , wherein the first nonvolatile memory comprises a reprogrammable memory.
4. The LED driver IC of claim 1 , wherein the first LED control module controls a first LED drive parameter in response to the first set of LED drive parameter settings, wherein the first set of LED drive parameter settings determines a value for the first LED drive parameter.
5. The LED driver IC of claim 4 , further comprising a first pin coupled to the first LED control module, wherein the first LED control module provides the first LED drive parameter to the first pin.
6. The LED driver IC of claim 4 , further comprising a plurality of pins coupled to the first LED central module, wherein the first LED central module provides the first LED drive parameter to each of the plurality of pins.
7. The LED driver IC of claim 6 , wherein the first LED control module provides a different value of the first LED drive parameter to each of the plurality of pins.
8. The LED driver IC of claim 4 , further comprising:
a plurality of pins; and
switching circuitry coupled between the first LED control module and the plurality of pins, wherein the switching circuitry selects one of the plurality of pins to receive the first LED drive parameter from the first LED control module.
9. The LED driver IC of claim 4 , further comprising a second LED control module coupled to receive the first set of LED drive parameter settings from the first nonvolatile memory, wherein the second LED control module controls a second LED drive parameter in response to the first set of LED drive parameter settings, wherein the first set of LED drive parameter settings further determines a value for the second LED drive parameter.
10. The LED driver IC of claim 4 , further comprising:
a second nonvolatile memory for storing a second set of LED drive parameter settings; and
a second LED control module coupled to receive the second set of LED drive parameter settings from the second nonvolatile memory, wherein the second LED control module controls a second LED drive parameter in response to the second set of LED drive parameter settings, wherein the second set of LED drive parameter settings determines a value for the second LED drive parameter.
11. The LED driver IC of claim 10 , further comprising:
a first pin coupled to the first LED control module, the first LED control module providing the first LED drive parameter to the first pin; and
a second pin coupled to the second LED control module, the second LED control module providing the second LED drive parameter to the second pin.
12. The LED driver IC of claim 11 , wherein full LED drive parameter control is provided by the first LED control module and the second LED control module.
13. The LED driver IC of claim 4 , wherein the first LED drive parameter comprises bias current, and wherein the first set of LED drive parameter settings comprises bias current value information.
14. The LED driver IC of claim 4 , wherein the first LED drive parameter comprises duty cycle, and wherein the first set of LED drive parameter settings comprises duty cycle value information.
15. The LED driver IC of claim 4 , wherein the first LED drive parameter comprises current derating, and wherein the first set of LED drive parameter settings comprises current derating factor information.
16. A light emitting diode (LED) circuit comprising:
at least one LED; and
a LED driver integrated circuit (IC) coupled to the at least one LED, the LED driver IC comprising:
a first non-volatile memory;
a first LED control module coupled to receive settings data from the first non-volatile memory; and
a first pin coupled to the first LED control module, the at least one LED being coupled to the first pin, the first LED control module providing a first LED drive parameter to the first pin, wherein the settings data from the first non-volatile memory determines a value for the first LED drive parameter, wherein the first LED control module further provides a second LED drive parameter to the first pin, the settings information from the first non-volatile memory further determining a value for the second LED drive parameter.
17. The LED circuit of claim 16 , wherein the first nonvolatile memory comprises a onetime programmable memory.
18. The LED circuit of claim 16 , wherein the first nonvolatile memory comprises a reprogrammable memory.
19. The LED circuit of claim 16 , wherein the LED driver IC further comprises:
a second nonvolatile memory; and
a second LED control module coupled to receive settings data from the second nonvolatile memory, wherein the second LED control module provides a second LED drive parameter to the first pin, and wherein the settings data from the second nonvolatile memory determines a value for the second LED drive parameter.
20. The LED circuit of claim 19 , wherein the first LED drive parameter comprises bias current and the settings for the first LED control module comprise bias current value information, and wherein the second LED drive parameter comprises duty cycle and the settings for the second LED control module comprise duty cycle value information.
21. The LED circuit of claim 16 , wherein the LED driver IC further comprises:
a second nonvolatile memory;
a second LED control module coupled to receive settings data from the second nonvolatile memory; and
a second pin coupled to the second LED control module, the at least one LED being coupled to the second pin, the second LED control module providing a second LED drive parameter to the second pin, wherein the settings data from the second nonvolatile memory determines a value for the second LED drive parameter.
22. An integrated circuit (IC) comprising:
a control circuit that controls at least one light emitting diode (LED) drive parameter; and
a nonvolatile memory coupled to the control circuit, wherein the nonvolatile memory stores settings data, wherein the settings data determines a value for the at least one LED drive parameter.
23. The IC of claim 22 , further comprising at least one pin coupled to the control circuit, the control circuit providing the at least one LED drive parameter to the at least one pin.
24. The IC of claim 23 , wherein the at least one pin is coupled to at least one LED.