Method of sampling a modulated signal driven channel

1. An automated method of sampling an electrical condition of each of a plurality of channels so as to rapidly sample all of the plurality of channels, the method comprising:

driving each of the plurality of channels with a modulated signal;

providing a settable flag associated with each of the plurality of channels;

selecting one of the plurality of channels;

identifying if said settable flag associated with said selected one of the plurality of channels is set;

in the event that said settable flag associated with said selected one of the plurality of channels is not set, and said modulated signal of said selected one of the plurality of channels is active:

sampling an electrical condition of said selected one of the plurality of channels; and

setting said provided settable flag associated with said selected one of the plurality of channels;

in the event that either said settable flag associated with said selected one of the plurality of channels is set or said modulated signal of said selected one of the plurality of channels is not active, selecting a next one of the plurality of channels; and

clearing, only in the event that all of said plurality of settable flags have been set, all of said plurality of settable flags, thereby rapidly completing the sampling of all of the plurality of channels.

2. An automated method according to claim 1 , wherein said of said modulated signal being active further comprises said modulated signal being stably driven through said selected one of the plurality of channels.

3. An automated method according to claim 1 , wherein said modulated signal is a pulse width modulated signal, said method further comprising:

providing a plurality of pulse width modulation generators; and

associating each of the plurality of channels with a particular one of said provided pulse width modulation generators,

said driving of each of the plurality of channels with said pulse width modulated signal being responsive to said provided pulse width modulation generator associated therewith.

4. An automated method according to claim 1 , further comprising subsequent to said sampling and prior to said setting said provided settable flag:

confirming if said modulated signal of said selected one of the plurality of channels remains active,

said setting of said provided settable flag associated with said selected one of said channels being only if said modulated signal of said selected one of the plurality of channels is confirmed as active.

5. An automated method according to claim 1 , wherein said electrical condition comprises an indication of current through the selected one of the plurality of channels.

6. An automated method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

providing for each of the plurality of channels a current limiter arranged to limit current through the driven channel,

wherein said electrical condition comprises a voltage drop across said current limiter.

7. An automated method according to claim 1 , wherein each of said provided plurality of channels comprises a light emitting diode string.

8. A circuitry for sampling an electrical condition of a plurality of channels, the circuitry comprising:

a control circuitry;

a plurality of modulated signal generators in communication with said control circuitry, each of said modulated signal generators outputting a modulated signal and a function of said modulated signal;

a plurality of settable flags in communication with said control circuitry; and

a plurality of channel drivers, each of said plurality of channel drivers responsive to, and associated with, a particular one of said plurality of modulated signal generators and arranged to drive a particular one of the plurality of channels responsive to said respective modulated signal,

said control circuitry arranged to:

associate each of said channel drivers with a particular one of said plurality of settable flags;

select one of said plurality of channel drivers;

identify, if said settable flag associated with said selected one of said plurality of channel drivers is set;

in the event said settable flag associated with said selected one of said plurality of channel drivers is not set, and said function of said modulated signal associated with said selected one of said plurality of channel drivers is indicative that said modulated signal associated with said selected one of said plurality of channel drivers is active:

sample an electrical condition of one of said selected one of said plurality of channel drivers and the particular channel associated therewith; and

set said settable flag associated with said selected one of said plurality of channel drivers;

in the event that either said settable flag associated with said selected one of said plurality of channel drivers is set or said function of said modulated signal associated with said selected one of said plurality of channel drivers is indicative that said modulated signal associated with said selected one of said plurality of channel drivers is not active, select a next one of said plurality of channel drivers; and

clear, only in the event that all of said plurality of settable flags have been set, all of the plurality of settable flags, thereby rapidly completing the sampling of all of the plurality of channels.

9. A circuitry according to claim 8 , wherein said control circuitry is further arranged subsequent to said sampling of said electrical condition and prior to said setting said settable flag, to confirm that said function of said modulated signal associated with said selected one of said plurality of channel drivers is indicative that said modulated signal associated with said selected one of said plurality of channel drivers remains active,

said setting of said settable flag associated with said selected one of said plurality of channel drivers being only if said function of said modulated signal associated with said selected one of said plurality of channel drivers is indicative that said modulated signal associated with said selected one of said plurality of channel drivers confirmed as active.

10. A circuitry according to claim 8 , wherein said plurality of modulated signal generators are pulse width modulation generators and said modulated signals of said pulse width modulation generators are pulse width modulated signals.

11. A circuitry according to claim 8 , wherein said electrical condition comprises an indication of current through the particular channel.

12. A circuitry according to claim 8 , wherein each of said plurality of channel drivers comprises a current limiter, and wherein said electrical condition comprises a voltage drop across said current limiter.

13. A circuitry according to claim 8 , wherein each of said plurality of channels comprises a light emitting diode string.

14. A circuitry according to claim 8 , wherein said function of said modulated signal comprises a signal condition lasting a predetermined time period, said signal condition ending substantially coincident with the end of an active portion of said modulated signal.

15. A circuitry according to claim 8 , wherein said function of said modulated signal comprises a signal condition lasting a predetermined time period in relation to the end of an active portion of said modulated signal.

16. A circuitry according to claim 8 , wherein said function of said modulated signal being active comprises a signal condition indicative that current is being stably driven through said selected one of said plurality of channel drivers.

17. A light emitting diode (LED) string driver comprising:

a control circuitry;

a plurality of pulse width modulated electrical signals in communication with said control circuitry;

a plurality of settable flags in communication with said control circuitry; and

a plurality of LED string drivers, each of said plurality of LED string drivers responsive to, and associated with, a particular one of said plurality of pulse width modulated electrical signals,

said control circuitry arranged to:

associate each of said plurality of LED string drivers with a particular one of said settable flags;

select one of said plurality of LED string drivers;

identify, if said settable flag associated with said selected one of said plurality of LED string drivers is set;

identify, in the event said settable flag associated with said selected one of said plurality of LED string driver is not set, if said pulse width modulated electrical signal associated with said selected one of said plurality of LED string drivers is active and stable;

in the event said settable flag associated with said selected one of said plurality of LED string driver is not set and said pulse width modulated electrical signal associated with said selected one of said plurality of LED string drivers is active and stable:

sample an electrical condition of said selected one of said plurality of LED string drivers and the particular channel associated therewith; and

set said settable flag associated with said selected one of said plurality of LED string drivers;

in the event that either:

said settable flag associated with said selected one of said plurality of LED string drivers is set; or

said pulse width modulated signal associated with said selected one of said plurality of LED string drivers is not active and stable:

select a next one of said plurality of LED string drivers; and

clear, only in the event that all of said plurality of settable flags have been set, all of said plurality of settable flags, thereby rapidly completing the sampling of all of said plurality of LED string drivers.

18. A light emitting diode string driver according to claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of pulse width modulated generators each generating a respective one of said plurality of pulse width modulated signals and in communication with said control circuitry, each of said pulse width modulated generators further outputting to said control circuitry a stability signal indicative of a predetermined time period ending substantially coincidentally with the end of the active portion of said pulse width modulated electrical signal, said stability signal indicating that said LED string driver is active and stable.

19. A light emitting diode string driver according to claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of pulse width modulated generators each generating a respective one of said plurality of pulse width modulated signals and in communication with said control circuitry, each of said pulse width modulated generators further outputting to said control circuitry a stability signal indicative of a predetermined time period in relation to the end of the active portion of said pulse width modulated electrical signal, said stability signal indicating that said LED string driver is active and stable.