Granted Patent B2

US 8,373,364 · App. 12/648,610 · Granted Feb 12, 2013

Abstract

Claims (33)

1. A system, comprising:

a multiplexer component that collects input signals from one or more light emitting diode (LED) strings via a first set of monitoring pins, and generates one or more output signals based on the input signals in accordance with at least one mode of operation of a plurality of modes of operation, wherein the input signals reveal operating conditions of the one or more LED strings, and wherein a first mode of operation of the plurality of modes of operation extracts a single value of or from the collected input signals using a selective or a sequential process; and

a demultiplexer component that receives the one or more output signals generated by the multiplexer component, the one or more output signals received through a second set of monitoring pins, wherein the number of pins in the second set is smaller than the number of pins in the first set.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the number of pins in the second set of monitoring pins is unity.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein a second mode of operation in the plurality of modes of operation extracts one or more values by applying predetermined function(s) to the collected input signal.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the second mode of operation supplies an operating status of the one or more LED strings, wherein the operating status establishes normal or abnormal operation of the one or more LED strings based at least in part on monitoring logic.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the multiplexer component includes a set of logic gates embodied in a set of discrete devices, wherein the logic gates implement one of Boolean logic or fuzzy logic.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the multiplexer component autonomously produces operation intelligence for the one or more LED strings based at least in part on historical data related to the collected input signals.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the demultiplexer component autonomously configures the at least one mode of operation in the plurality of modes of operation for the multiplexer.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the autonomous configuration is based at least in part on artificial intelligence methodologies and includes generation of satisfactory time(s) at which to receive the one or more output signals generated by the multiplexer component.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the satisfactory time(s) are synchronized with operation of an apparatus that exploits the one or more LED strings.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the satisfactory time(s) represent(s) the time(s) for adjusting reception of the one or more output signals generated by the multiplexer component, wherein the satisfactory time(s) correspond(s) to at least one of timing requirements or availability of operation of an apparatus that utilizes the one or more LED strings.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the demultiplexer component discards at least a portion of the received output signal based at least in part on at least the one mode of operation.

12. A method, comprising:

receiving an indication to operate in a mode of operation of a plurality of modes of operation;

collecting input signal(s) from a set of light emitting diode (LED) string(s), wherein the collecting act is enabled at least in part by a first set of monitoring pins;

extracting one or more output signals by processing the collected input signal(s) in accordance at least in part with the mode of operation, wherein the mode of operation extracts a single value of or from the collected input signal(s) using a selective or a sequential process; and

delivering the one or more output signals through a second set of monitoring pins, wherein the number monitoring pins in the second set is smaller than the number of monitoring pins in the first set.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein, as part of the processing act, the mode of operation produces a single value of the collected input signal(s).

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein, as part of the processing act, the mode of operation produces one or more values that are predetermined function(s) of the collected input signal(s).

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising: generating operation intelligence for at least a portion of the set of LED strings based at least in part on at least one of the collected input signal(s) or the processed input signal(s).

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

conveying a configuration of the mode of operation;

receiving output signal(s) extracted in accordance with the configuration; and

if the output signal(s) include(s) more than one value, masking a portion of the received output signal(s) in accordance with one or more criteria to process the received output signal(s).

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein conveying a configuration of the mode of operation, further comprises:

conveying a directive to function in intelligence collection mode; and

receiving intelligence on operation of at least one LED string in the set of LED strings, the intelligence generated in response at least in part to the configured intelligence collection mode.

18. A system, comprising:

means for receiving an indication to operate in a mode of operation of a plurality of modes of operation;

means for collecting input signal(s) from a set of light emitting diode (LED) strings, wherein the collecting act is enabled at least in part by a first set of monitoring pins;

means for extracting one or more output signals by processing the collected input signal(s) in accordance at least in part with the specific mode of operation, wherein the mode of operation extracts a single value of or from the collected input signal(s) using a selective or a sequential process; and

means for delivering the one or more output signals through a second set of monitoring pins, the number monitoring pins in the second set is smaller than the number of monitoring pins in the first set.

Assignments (20)