Modulation method and apparatus for dimming and/or colour mixing utilizing LEDs

1. Apparatus for controlling a set of light emitting diodes (LEDs) comprising:

at least one current source for powering said set of LEDs; and

at least one controller for controlling said at least one current source via LED control information;

wherein over a portion of a range of dimming intensity levels from 0% to 25%, said LED control information includes individual on times and off times and period for each dimming intensity level, the individual period composed of the sum of on time and off time for the associated dimming intensity level, whereby each individual on time is used to construct a single pulse;

wherein over a portion of the range of dimming intensity levels from 0% to 25%, the individual on and off times, the sum of on time and off time, and period are all variable and not held constant;

wherein over a portion of the range of dimming intensity levels from 0 to 25%, for consecutive dimming intensity levels, the change in desired intensity is less than 3%.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one controller receives dimming or colour mixing information and translates said information to said LED control information.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

a main controller for transmitting said dimming or colour mixing information to each of said at least one controller.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising:

an interface for receiving said dimming or colour mixing information and for transmitting said dimming and colour mixing information to said main controller.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

an interface for receiving said dimming or colour mixing information and for transmitting said dimming and colour mixing information to each of said at least one controller.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said set of LEDs includes a plurality of subsets of LEDs, each of said subsets of LEDs associated with one of said at least one current source and is directed connected to the at least one current source.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein each of said at least one current source and its associated controller form an individual module.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein each of said at least one current source is associated with one of said at least one controller.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein each of said at least one controller comprises:

at least one signal generator for transmitting said LED control information to said at least one current source in the form of a digital signal and an analog signal.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said LED control information further comprises desired peak levels for said at least one current source.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said desired peak level is controlled by each of said at least one controller.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said at least one controller comprises:

a signal generator for transmitting said LED control information to said at least one current source in the form of a digital signal and an analog signal.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said LED control information further comprises desired peak levels for said at least one current source.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said LED control information further comprises desired peak levels for said at least one current source.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said desired peak level is controlled by said at least one controller.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one current sense for sensing a level of output of said at least one current source and for transmitting said level of output to said at least one controller to provide a feedback loop for said at least one current source.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a current sense associated with each of said at least one current source.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said feedback loop is a digital feedback loop.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one current source comprises a buck circuit power stage with hysteretic control.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a power supply.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a main controller for transmitting said LED control information to each of said at least one controller.

22. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said LED control information comprises:

a digital signal; and

an analog signal.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said digital signal comprises said on and off time information.

24. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said analog signal comprises a peak current for said at least one current source.

25. A method of controlling a set of LEDs comprising the steps of:

receiving or generating dimming or colour mixing information;

translating said dimming or colour mixing information into LED control information based on individual on and off times and period; and

transmitting said LED control information to at least one current source for powering said set of LEDs;

wherein each individual on time is used to construct a single on pulse; and

wherein a ratio of on time to a sum of on and off time corresponds to a dimming intensity level; and

wherein over a portion of a range of dimming intensity levels from 0% to 25%, the individual on and off times, the sum of on time and off time, and period are all variable and not held constant; and

wherein over a portion of the range of dimming intensity levels from 0 to 25%, for consecutive dimming intensity levels, the change in desired intensity is less than 3%.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said step of translating comprises the steps of:

creating a digital signal; and

creating an analog signal.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein said step of creating a digital signal comprises the steps of:

determining said on and off time information; and

translating said on and off time information to said digital signal.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein said step of creating an analog signal comprises the steps of:

receiving current sensing information; and

generating said analog signal based on said current sensing information.