Granted Patent B2

US 9,131,578 · App. 13/942,727 · Granted Sep 8, 2015

Abstract

Claims (31)

1. A light emitting diode (LED) driver, comprising:

an amplifier configured to receive a negative voltage input signal and produce a positive voltage output signal in response thereto, wherein the negative voltage input signal is representative of programming data;

a microcontroller configured to sense a value of the positive voltage output signal;

wherein the microcontroller (i) enters a programming mode when the value exceeds a threshold and (ii) produces an output current responsive to the value.

2. The LED driver of claim 1 , wherein the amplifier is further configured to receive a positive voltage input signal during normal operation; and

wherein the amplifier receives the negative voltage input signal only when the output current is to be programmed.

3. The LED driver of claim 1 , when the negative input voltage signal is an analog signal.

4. The LED driver of claim 1 , wherein the microcontroller continuously monitors an output port of the amplifier.

5. The LED driver of claim 1 , wherein the microcontroller monitors an output port of the amplifier only when a signal output from the output port exceeds a threshold.

6. The LED driver of claim 1 , wherein the producing includes providing an output instruction signal and setting the output current in response to the instruction signal.

7. A method of programming a light emitting diode (LED) driver including an amplifier and a microcontroller configured for sensing an output of amplifier, the method comprising:

receiving a negative voltage signal as an input to the amplifier, the amplifier producing a positive voltage output signal in response thereto, wherein the negative input voltage signal is representative of programming data; and

sensing, in the microcontroller, a value of positive voltage output signal;

wherein the microcontroller (i) enters a programming mode when the value exceeds a threshold and (ii) produces an output current responsive to the value.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

receiving, by the amplifier, a positive voltage input during normal operation; and

receiving, by the amplifier, the negative voltage input signal only when the output current is to be programmed.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the microcontroller continuously monitors an output port of the amplifier.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the microcontroller monitors an output port of the amplifier only when a signal output from the output port exceeds a threshold.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the producing includes providing an output instruction signal and setting the output current in response to the instruction signal.

12. A tangible computer readable media storing instructions wherein said instructions when executed are configured to execute processes within a computer system, with a method comprising:

receiving a negative voltage signal as an input to the amplifier, the amplifier producing a positive voltage output signal in response thereto, wherein the negative voltage input signal is representative of programming data; and

sensing, in the microcontroller, a value of positive voltage output signal;

wherein the microcontroller (i) enters a programming mode when the value exceeds a threshold and (ii) produces an output current responsive to the value.

13. The tangible computer readable media of claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, by the amplifier, a positive voltage input during normal operation; and

receiving, by the amplifier, the negative voltage input signal only when the output current is to be programmed.

14. The tangible computer readable media of claim 12 , wherein the microcontroller continuously monitors an output port of the amplifier.

15. The tangible computer readable media of claim 12 , wherein the producing includes providing an output instruction signal and setting the output current in response to the instruction signal.

16. The tangible computer readable media of claim 12 , wherein the negative voltage signal is within a specified negative voltage range.

17. The tangible computer readable media of claim 16 , wherein the positive voltage output signal is within a specified positive voltage range.

Assignments (11)