IP Library Granted Patent US 8,203,524
Granted Patent B2
US 8,203,524 · App. 12/557,128 · Granted Jun 19, 2012

Light-emitting element driving circuit

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 8,203,524
App. No.
12/557,128
Granted
Jun 19, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A light-emitting element driving circuit ( 10 ) comprises a luminosity determining unit ( 70 ) which determines luminosity, outputs a luminosity determination result, and outputs brightness change information, a brightness setting unit ( 60 ) which outputs brightness setting information and outputs brightness change information, a light-emitting element driving unit ( 40 ) which drives a light-emitting element with a current of a current value corresponding to the brightness setting information, a detecting and comparing unit ( 50 ) which compares a terminal voltage of the light-emitting element and a predetermined voltage, a voltage boost determining unit ( 30 ) which determines whether or not a terminal voltage of the light-emitting element is to be boosted based on at least one of the luminosity change information and the brightness change information, and a voltage boosting circuit section ( 20 ) which boosts the terminal voltage of the light-emitting element when it is determined that the voltage is to be boosted and does not boost the terminal voltage of the light-emitting element when it is determined that the voltage is not to be boosted.

Claims (16)

1. A light-emitting element driving circuit comprising:

a luminosity determining unit which acquires luminance information from a luminance sensor, determines luminosity, outputs a luminosity determination result, and outputs luminosity change information;

a brightness setting unit which sets brightness based on the luminosity determination result of the luminosity determining unit, outputs brightness setting information, and outputs brightness change information;

a light-emitting element driving unit which drives a light-emitting element with a current of a current value corresponding to the brightness setting information from the brightness setting unit;

a detecting and comparing unit which detects a terminal voltage of a first terminal of the light-emitting element and compares with a predetermined voltage;

a voltage boost determining unit which determines whether or not a terminal voltage of a second terminal of the light-emitting element is to be boosted based on at least one of the luminosity change information and the brightness change information, and an output of the detecting and comparing unit; and

a voltage boosting circuit section which boosts the terminal voltage of the second terminal of the light-emitting element when the voltage boost determining unit determines that the voltage is to be boosted and which does not boost the terminal voltage of the second terminal of the light-emitting element when the voltage boost determining unit determines that the voltage is not to be boosted.

2. The light-emitting element driving circuit according to claim 1 , wherein

the voltage boosting circuit section comprises:

a voltage boosting circuit which is driven by a power supply circuit and which boosts the terminal voltage of the second terminal of the light-emitting element;

a through connection signal line which enables connection of the power supply circuit and the second terminal of the light-emitting element; and

a switching circuit which enables the voltage boosting circuit to function and does not connect the power supply circuit and the second terminal of the light-emitting element by the through connection signal line when the voltage boost determining unit determines that the voltage is to be boosted, and which connects the power supply circuit and the second terminal of the light-emitting element by the through connection signal line and does not enable the voltage boosting circuit to function when the voltage boost determining unit determines that the voltage is not to be boosted.

3. The light-emitting element driving circuit according to claim 2 , wherein

when the luminosity change information indicates that a state has changed from a bright state to a dark state, the voltage boost determining unit determines that the terminal voltage of the second terminal of the light-emitting element is not to be boosted, and the switching circuit connects the power supply circuit and the second terminal of the light-emitting element by the through connection signal line and does not enable the voltage boosting circuit to function, and then, based on the output of the detecting and comparing unit, it is determined whether or not the terminal voltage of the second terminal of the light-emitting element is to be boosted.

4. The light-emitting element driving circuit according to claim 2 , wherein

when the brightness change information indicates that a state has changed from a high brightness state to a low brightness state, the voltage boost determining unit determines that the terminal voltage of the second terminal of the light-emitting element is not to be boosted, and the switching circuit connects the power supply circuit and the second terminal of the light-emitting element by the through connection signal line and does not enable the voltage boosting circuit to function, and then, based on the output of the detecting and comparing unit, it is determined whether or not the terminal voltage of the second terminal of the light-emitting element is to be boosted.

Assignments (9)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT REEL 038620, FRAME 0087 Recorded Jun 22, 2023
From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC; FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064070/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT PATENT NUMBER 5859768 AND TO RECITE COLLATERAL AGENT ROLE OF RECEIVING PARTY IN THE SECURITY INTEREST PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 038620 FRAME 0087. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Aug 25, 2016
From: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 039853/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 15, 2016
From: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH
Reel/Frame 038620/0087 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNOR NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 033813 FRAME: 0420. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jan 21, 2015
From: SYSTEM SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
To: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 034816/0510 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 3, 2014
From: SANYO SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD
To: SYSTEM SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 034537/0044 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 24, 2014
From: SANYO SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
To: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 033813/0420 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT #12/577882 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 026594 FRAME 0385. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded May 6, 2014
From: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD
To: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 032836/0342 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2011
From: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
To: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 026594/0385 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2009
From: YOSHIDA, TOMOSHI; OHTAKA, NOBUYUKI
To: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.; SANYO SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 023227/0257 →