Integrated LED dimmer controller

摘要

An integrated LED controller drives and reads a passive dimmer and controls a power circuit for the LED. The integrated LED controller detects changes in the position of the passive dimmer and causes the power circuit to brighten or dim the LED accordingly. These functions are normally performed by multiple discrete components. However, the integrated LED controller is implemented as a single integrated circuit, thus reducing the size and cost of the LED dimming system. The integrated LED controller can also include a unified timing controller that coordinates the timing of multiple functions within the controller in a manner that reduces the noise sensitivity of the controller.

主权项

1. An integrated circuit for controlling a light emitting diode (LED), comprising:
a dimmer drive circuit configured to receive a driver control signal and to output a driving signal to a passive dimmer having an adjustable control position, wherein the passive dimmer generates a dimmer signal from the driving signal, the dimmer signal representing a control position of the adjustable control position of the passive dimmer; a dimmer read circuit configured to receive a reader control signals and the dimmer signal from the passive dimmer and further configured to generate a brightness signal representing a desired brightness level of the LED based on the dimmer signal; a power controller coupled to the dimmer read circuit and configured to receive the brightness signal from the dimmer read circuit, and generate one or more power control signals, the power control signals capable of causing the LED to emit light at the desired brightness level; and a unified timing controller coupled to the dimmer drive circuit and the dimmer read circuit, the unified timing controller configured to receive one or more input signals generated by an LED power circuit coupled to the integrated circuit and a signal indicative of a change in the control position of the passive dimmer, and further configured to generate, based on the input signals, the driver control signal to control operation of the dimmer drive circuit and the reader control signals to control operation of the dimmer read circuit.