METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ILLUMINATING LIGHT SOURCES WITHIN AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

摘要

A method and apparatus for controlling a plurality of light sources (102,103,104,105) in an electronic device (100) is provided. In one embodiment, the plurality of light sources (102,103,104,105) is used to backlight an illuminated display (101). As switching multiple light sources on simultaneously can cause output voltages of power sources (219) to drop, thereby potentially affecting the overall operation of the electronic device (100), an illumination controller (107) distributes actuation times associated with illumination control signals (204,205,206,207) such that each actuation time is unique. A control signal generator (201) produces a control signal (202) having light source actuation information stored therein. The illumination controller (107) then generates a plurality of illumination control signals (204,205,206,207) that are capable of actuating the plurality of light sources (102,103,104,105). Each illumination control signal (204,205,206,207) has a duty cycle and actuation time associated therewith. The illumination controller (107) distributes the actuation times across the control signal (202) so as to reduce the instantaneous current drawn by the plurality of light sources (102,103,104,105).