IP Library Granted Patent US 8,786,348
Granted Patent B2
US 8,786,348 · App. 13/152,326 · Granted Jul 22, 2014

Control circuit of light-emitting element

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,786,348
App. No.
13/152,326
Granted
Jul 22, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A control circuit of a light-emitting element comprises a rectifying unit which full-wave rectifies an alternating current power supply, a clock generator which generates and outputs a clock signal (CLK), a first comparator which compares a comparison voltage (CS) corresponding to a current flowing to the light-emitting element and a reference voltage (REF), and a switching element which is set to an ON state in synchronization with the clock signal (CLK) and which is set to an OFF state when the comparison voltage (CS) becomes greater than the reference voltage (REF) at the first comparator, to switch the current flowing to the light-emitting element. In this structure, a period of the clock signal (CLK) generated in the clock generator is varied, to reduce or inhibit noise.

Claims (23)

1. A control circuit of a light-emitting element which controls a light-emission intensity of the light-emitting element, comprising:

a rectifying unit which full-wave rectifies an alternating current power supply;

a clock generator which generates and outputs a clock signal;

a first comparator which compares a comparison voltage corresponding to a current flowing to the light-emitting element and a first reference voltage; and

a switching element which is set to an ON state in synchronization with the clock signal and which is set to an OFF state when the comparison voltage becomes greater than or equal to the first reference voltage at the first comparator, to switch the current flowing to the light-emitting element by a voltage rectified by the rectifying unit,

wherein the clock generator comprises:

a counter which changes a counter value in synchronization with the clock signal;

a capacitor which switches between charging and discharging in synchronization with the clock signal;

a reference voltage selector unit which selects one of a plurality of terminal voltages as a second reference voltage based on a counter value of the counter;

a second comparator which compares the second reference voltage which is selected by the reference selector unit and a terminal voltage of the capacitor, and wherein

the second comparator outputs a pulse as the clock signal by switching an output state according to a comparison result of the second reference voltage and a voltage according to the terminal voltage of the capacitor.

2. A control circuit of a light-emitting element which controls a light-emission intensity of the light-emitting element, comprising:

a rectifying unit which full-wave rectifies an alternating current power supply;

a clock generator which generates and outputs a clock signal;

a first comparator which compares a comparison voltage corresponding to a current flowing to the light-emitting element and a first reference voltage; and

a switching element which is set to an ON state in synchronization with the clock signal and which is set to an OFF state when the comparison voltage becomes greater than or equal to the first reference voltage at the first comparator, to switch the current flowing to the light-emitting element by a voltage rectified by the rectifying unit,

wherein the clock generator comprises:

a counter which changes a counter value in synchronization with the clock signal;

a reference current source which changes an amount of current for charging or discharging according to the counter value of the counter;

a capacitor which switches between the charging and the discharging in synchronization with the clock signal and is charged and discharged by the current for the charging or the discharging supplied from the reference current source;

a reference voltage output unit which selects one of a plurality of voltages in accordance with a counter value of the counter and outputs the selected voltage as a second reference voltage; and

a second comparator which compares a terminal voltage of the capacitor and the second reference voltage, and

the second comparator outputs a pulse as the clock signal by switching an output state according to a comparison result of the second reference voltage and a voltage according to the terminal voltage of the capacitor.

Assignments (6)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2014
From: ON SEMICONDUCTOR TRADING SARL
To: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 032035/0470 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 23, 2014
From: ON SEMICONDUCTOR TRADING, LTD.
To: ON SEMICONDUCTOR TRADING SARL
Reel/Frame 032143/0286 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 17, 2011
From: KAWAI, SHUHEI; FUJIMURA, YOSHIO
To: ON SEMICONDUCTOR TRADING, LTD.
Reel/Frame 026478/0868 →