IP Library Granted Patent US 7,145,546
Granted Patent B2
US 7,145,546 · App. 10/606,015 · Granted Dec 5, 2006

Apparatus of driving light source for display device

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,145,546
App. No.
10/606,015
Granted
Dec 5, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus of driving a light source for a display device includes a switching unit for selectively transmitting a DC input voltage, an oscillator for converting the DC input voltage into an AC voltage, and a transformer including a primary coil and a secondary coil for boosting the converted AC voltage using mutual inductance and for providing the boosted voltage for the light source. The driving apparatus further includes a current sensor for sensing a current in the oscillator or the secondary coil, and a light controller for controlling the switching unit based on the sensed current by the current sensor and a dimming control signal from an external device. Therefore, the current in the light source can be detected without a separate wire for connecting the light source and the light controller.

Claims (24)

1. An apparatus of driving a light source for a display device, the apparatus comprising:

an electricity supplying unit supplying electricity to the light source;

a current sensor detecting a current outputted from the electricity supplying unit; and

a light controller controlling the electricity supplying unit based on a signal from the current sensor and a dimming control signal from an external device;

wherein the electricity supplying unit comprises a transformer including a primary coil and a secondary coil and applies a voltage induced in the secondary coil to the light source;

wherein the electricity supplying unit further comprises:

a switching unit switching an input voltage from an external device under the control of the light controller; and

an oscillator generating an AC voltage based on the input voltage from the switching unit and supplies the generated AC voltage to the primary coil of the transformer;

wherein the current sensor is connected to the oscillator and senses a current in the oscillator.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the current sensor comprises a capacitor and a diode connected in parallel between the electricity supplying unit and a predetermined voltage and a voltage divider connected to the capacitor and the diode and to the light controller.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light source includes a fluorescent lamp.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light controller controls the switching unit in a pulse width modulation manner based on the dimming control signal and the signal from the current sensor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light controller determines an overcurrent in the light source on the basis of the signal from the current sensor and turns on/off the switching unit based on the determination of the overcurrent.

6. An apparatus of driving a light source for a display device, the apparatus comprising:

an electricity supplying unit supplying electricity to the light source;

a current sensor detecting a current outputted from the electricity supplying unit; and

a light controller controlling the electricity supplying unit based on a signal from the current sensor and a dimming control signal from an external device;

wherein the electricity supplying unit comprises a transformer including a primary coil and a secondary coil and applies a voltage induced in the secondary coil to the light source;

wherein the current sensor is directly connected to the secondary coil of the transformer and senses a current in the secondary coil of the transformer; and

wherein the light source is directly connected to the secondary coil.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the light controller controls a switching unit in a pulse width modulation manner based on the dimming control signal and the signal from the current sensor.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the light controller determines an overcurrent in the light source based on the signal from the current sensor and turns on/off a switching unit based on the determination of the overcurrent.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the current sensor comprises a capacitor and a diode connected in parallel between the electricity supplying unit and a predetermined voltage and a voltage divider connected to the capacitor and the diode and to and the light controller.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the light source includes a fluorescent lamp.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2012
From: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
To: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 028984/0774 →