IP Library Granted Patent US 7,427,838
Granted Patent B2
US 7,427,838 · App. 11/111,707 · Granted Sep 23, 2008

Light source controlling circuit and portable electronic apparatus

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 7,427,838
App. No.
11/111,707
Granted
Sep 23, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

A light source controlling circuit controls a light source outputting continuous light. The light source controlling circuit has a power supply circuit supplying an electric power to the light source, a light source monitoring circuit monitoring a state of the light source, and a control circuit outputting a first control signal to control the light source is controlled. The light source monitoring circuit outputs a second control signal to control the light source in correspondence to a state of the light source. A portable electronic apparatus has a light source outputting continuous light, an image pickup device, and the light source controlling circuit. The light source controlling circuit, for example, controls ON/OFF of the light source in accordance with a temperature of the light source detected by the light source monitoring circuit.

Claims (107)

1. A light source controlling circuit that controls a light source that outputs continuous light, comprising:

a power supply circuit that supplies an electric power to the light source;

a light source monitoring circuit that monitors a state of the light source; and

a control circuit that outputs a first control signal to control the light source;

wherein the light source monitoring circuit outputs a second control signal to control the light source in correspondence to the state of the light source,

wherein the light source monitoring circuit comprises:

a first resistor disposed in series between the control circuit and the power supply circuit;

a voltage division resistor portion having a thermistor and a second resistor, the voltage division resistor portion being connected to the control circuit; and

a field effect transistor having a gate terminal to which a divided voltage is inputted and a drain terminal connected to the power supply circuit.

2. A light source controlling circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the first control signal is inputted to the power supply circuit through the light source monitoring circuit.

3. A light source controlling circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode (LED).

4. A light source controlling circuit according to claim 1 , wherein when the light source monitoring circuit detects malfunction of the light source, the light source monitoring circuit outputs the second control signal to the control circuit to stop an operation of the control circuit.

5. A light source controlling circuit according to claim 4 , wherein the light source monitoring circuit comprises a temperature detecting element that detects a temperature of the light source, and when a temperature of the light source is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, judges that the light source malfunctions.

6. A light source controlling circuit that controls a light source that outputs continuous light, comprising:

a power supply circuit that supplies an electric power to the light source;

a light source monitoring circuit that monitors a state of the light source; and

a control circuit that outputs a first control signal to control the light source;

wherein the light source monitoring circuit outputs a second control signal to control the light source in correspondence to the state of the light source,

wherein the light source monitoring circuit comprises:

a first resistor disposed in series between the control circuit and the power supply circuit;

a voltage division resistor portion having a thermistor and a second resistor, the voltage division resistor portion being connected to the control circuit; and

a field effect transistor having a gate terminal to which a divided voltage is inputted and a drain terminal connected to the power supply circuit,

wherein when the light source monitoring circuit detects malfunction of the light source, the light source monitoring circuit outputs the second control signal directly to the power supply circuit to stop an operation of the power supply circuit.

7. A light source controlling circuit according to claim 6 , wherein the light source monitoring circuit comprises a temperature detecting element for detecting a temperature of the light source, and when a temperature of the light source is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, judges that the light source malfunctions.

8. A light source controlling circuit that controls a light source that outputs continuous light, comprising:

a power supply circuit that supplies an electric power to the light source;

a light source monitoring circuit that monitors a state of the light source; and

a control circuit that outputs a first control signal to control the light source;

wherein the light source monitoring circuit outputs a second control signal to control the light source in correspondence to the state of the light source,

wherein the light source monitoring circuit comprises:

a first resistor disposed in series between the control circuit and the power supply circuit;

a voltage division resistor portion having a plurality of resistors, the voltage division resistor portion being connected to the control circuit; and

a field effect transistor having a gate terminal to which a divided voltage is inputted and a drain terminal connected to the power supply circuit;

wherein the voltage division resistor portion monitors at least one of a voltage that is fed back from the light source to the power supply circuit and a current supplied to the light source.

9. A light source controlling circuit that controls a light source that outputs continuous light, comprising:

a power supply circuit that supplies an electric power to the light source;

a light source monitoring circuit that monitors a state of the light source; and

a control circuit that outputs a first control signal to control the light source;

wherein the light source monitoring circuit outputs a second control signal to control the light source in correspondence to the state of the light source,

wherein the light source monitoring circuit comprises:

a first resistor disposed in series between the control circuit and the power supply circuit;

a voltage division resistor portion having a thermistor and a second resistor, the voltage division resistor portion being connected to the control circuit; and

a field effect transistor having a gate terminal to which a divided voltage is inputted and a drain terminal connected to the control circuit.

10. A light source controlling circuit that controls a light source that outputs continuous light, comprising:

a power supply circuit that supplies an electric power to the light source;

a light source monitoring circuit that monitors a state to the light source; and

a control circuit that outputs a first control signal to control the light source;

wherein the light source monitoring circuit outputs a second control signal to control the light source in correspondence to the state of the light source,

wherein the light source monitoring circuit comprises:

a first resistor disposed in series between the control circuit and the power supply circuit;

a voltage division resistor portion including a plurality of resistors, the voltage division resistor portion being connected to the control circuit; and

a field effect transistor having a gate terminal to which a divided voltage is inputted and a drain terminal connected to the control circuit; and

wherein the voltage division resistor portion monitors at least one of a voltage that is fed back from the light source to the power supply circuit and a current supplied to the light source.

11. A portable electronic apparatus, comprising:

an imaging device;

a light source that outputs continuous light;

a power supply circuit that supplies an electric power to the light source;

a light source monitoring circuit that monitors a state of the light source; and

a control circuit that outputs a first control signal to control the light source,

wherein the light source monitoring circuit outputs a second control signal to control the light source in correspondence to the state of the light source,

wherein the light source monitoring circuit comprises:

a first resistor disposed in series between the control circuit and the power supply circuit;

a voltage division resistor portion having a thermistor and a second resistor, the voltage division resistor portion being connected to the control circuit; and

a field effect transistor having a gate terminal to which a divided voltage is inputted and a drain terminal connected to the power supply circuit.

12. A portable electronic apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the first control signal is inputted to the power supply circuit through the light source monitoring circuit.

13. A portable electronic apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode (LED).

14. A portable electronic apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the portable electronic apparatus is a mobile telephone.

15. A portable electronic apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the control circuit controls the portable electronic apparatus.

16. A portable electronic apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein when the light source monitoring circuit detects malfunction of the light source, the light source monitoring circuit outputs the second control signal to the power supply circuit to stop an operation of the power supply circuit.

17. A portable electronic apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the light source monitoring circuit comprises a temperature detecting element that detects a temperature of the light source, and when a temperature of the light source is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, judges that the light source malfunctions.

18. A portable electronic apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein when the light source monitoring circuit detects malfunction of the light source, the light source monitoring circuit outputs the second control signal to the control circuit to stop an operation of the control circuit.

19. A portable electronic apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein the light source monitoring circuit comprises a temperature detecting element that detects a temperature of the light source, and when a temperature of the light source is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, judges that the light source malfunctions.

20. A portable electronic apparatus comprising:

an imaging device;

a light source that outputs continuous light;

a power supply circuit that supplies an electric power to the light source;

a light source monitoring circuit that monitors a state of the light source; and

a control circuit that outputs a first control signal to control the light source,

wherein the light source monitoring circuit outputs a second control signal to control the light source in correspondence to the state of the light source,

wherein the light source monitoring circuit comprises:

a first resistor disposed in series between the control circuit and the power supply circuit;

a voltage division resistor portion comprising a plurality of resistors, the voltage division resistor portion being connected to the control circuit; and

a field effect transistor having a gate terminal to which a voltage obtained through voltage division is inputted and a drain terminal connected to the power supply circuit;

wherein the voltage division resistor portion monitors at least one of a voltage that is fed back from the light source to the power supply circuit and a current supplied to the light source.

21. A portable electronic apparatus comprising:

an imaging device;

a light source that outputs continuous light;

a power supply circuit that supplies an electric power to the light source;

a light source monitoring circuit that monitors a state of the light source; and

a control circuit that outputs a first control signal to control the light source,

wherein the light source monitoring circuit outputs a second control signal to control the light source in correspondence to the state of the light source,

wherein the light source monitoring circuit comprises:

a first resistor disposed in series between the control circuit and the power supply circuit;

a voltage division resistor portion including a thermistor and a second resistor, the voltage division resistor portion being connected to the control circuit; and

a field effect transistor having a gate terminal to which a divided voltage is inputted and a drain terminal connected to the control circuit.

22. A portable electronic apparatus comprising:

an imaging device;

a light source that outputs continuous light;

a power supply circuit that supplies an electric power to the light source;

a light source monitoring circuit that monitors a state of the light source; and

a control circuit that outputs a first control signal to control the light source,

wherein the light source monitoring circuit outputs a second control signal to control the light source in correspondence to the state of the light source,

wherein the light source monitoring circuit comprises:

a first resistor disposed in series between the control circuit and the power supply circuit;

a voltage division resistor portion having a plurality of resistors, the voltage division resistor portion being connected to the control circuit; and

a field effect transistor having a gate terminal to which a divided voltage is inputted and a drain terminal connected to the control circuit;

wherein the voltage division resistor portion monitors at least one of a voltage that is fed back from the light source to the power supply circuit and a current supplied to the light source.

Assignments (5)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Dec 11, 2015
From: WARREN & LEWIS INVESTMENT CORPORATION; COMMIX SYSTEMS, LLC
To: NEC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 037266/0335 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2015
From: CPA GLOBAL, LTD.
To: WARREN AND LEWIS INVESTMENT CORPORATION; COMMIX SYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 036960/0351 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 18, 2015
From: WARREN AND LEWIS INVESTMENT CORPORATION; COMMIX SYSTEMS, LLC
To: CPA GLOBAL LIMITED
Reel/Frame 035662/0735 →
NOTICE OF TERMINATION Recorded Nov 14, 2014
From: WARREN & LEWIS INVESTMENT CORPORATION
To: NEC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 034244/0623 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2012
From: NEC CORPORATION
To: WARREN & LEWIS INVESTMENT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 029216/0855 →