Light emitting diode driver having cascode structure

摘要

A driver circuit for driving light emitting diodes (LEDs). The driver circuit includes: a string of LEDs divided into n groups, the n groups of LEDs being electrically connected to each other in series, a downstream end of group m−1 being electrically connected to the upstream end of group m, where m is a positive number equal to or less than n. The driver circuit also includes a power source coupled to an upstream end of group 1 and operative to provide an input voltage and a plurality of current regulating circuits, each of the current regulating circuits being coupled to the downstream end of a corresponding group at one end and coupled to a ground at the other end and including a sensor amplifier and a cascode having first and second transistors.

主权项

1. A method for driving light emitting diodes (LEDs), comprising:
providing a string of LEDs divided into groups, the groups being electrically connected to each other in series; providing a power source electrically connected to the string of LEDs; coupling each of the groups to a ground through a current regulating circuit, the current regulating circuit including a cascode structure having first and second transistors, a source of the first transistor being directly connected to a drain of the second transistor so that the source of the first transistor and the drain of the second transistor have a same voltage potential during operation; and increasing an input voltage from the power source to turn on the groups in a downstream sequence.