Patents by Inventor Mauri K. Määttä

Mauri K. Määttä has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9313853
    Abstract: A method includes providing an input signal identifying a desired brightness for one or more LEDs to first and second parallel control paths. The method also includes generating a digital modulation control signal using the first control path, generating a current control signal using the second control path, and driving the one or more LEDs using the control signals. The method further includes performing compensation in at least one of the control paths to compensate for an increased efficiency of the one or more LEDs. Generating the control signals could include (i) adjusting the digital modulation control signal while maintaining the current control signal at a substantially constant value for a range of lower LED brightness values and (ii) adjusting the current control signal while maintaining the digital modulation control signal at a maximum value or within a range of maximum values for a range of higher LED brightness values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ari K. Väänänen, Mauri K. Määttä, T. Tapani Tuikkanen
  • Publication number: 20150145430
    Abstract: A method includes providing an input signal identifying a desired brightness for one or more LEDs to first and second parallel control paths. The method also includes generating a digital modulation control signal using the first control path, generating a current control signal using the second control path, and driving the one or more LEDs using the control signals. The method further includes performing compensation in at least one of the control paths to compensate for an increased efficiency of the one or more LEDs. Generating the control signals could include (i) adjusting the digital modulation control signal while maintaining the current control signal at a substantially constant value for a range of lower LED brightness values and (ii) adjusting the current control signal while maintaining the digital modulation control signal at a maximum value or within a range of maximum values for a range of higher LED brightness values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Ari K. Väänänen, Mauri K. Määttä, T. Tapani Tuikkanen
  • Patent number: 8872810
    Abstract: A method includes providing an input signal identifying a desired brightness for one or more LEDs to first and second parallel control paths. The method also includes generating a digital modulation control signal using the first control path, generating a current control signal using the second control path, and driving the one or more LEDs using the control signals. The method further includes performing compensation in at least one of the control paths to compensate for an increased efficiency of the one or more LEDs. Generating the control signals could include (i) adjusting the digital modulation control signal while maintaining the current control signal at a substantially constant value for a range of lower LED brightness values and (ii) adjusting the current control signal while maintaining the digital modulation control signal at a maximum value or within a range of maximum values for a range of higher LED brightness values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Ari K. Väänänen, Mauri K. Määttä, T. Tapani Tuikkanen
  • Publication number: 20120086701
    Abstract: A method includes providing an input signal identifying a desired brightness for one or more LEDs to first and second parallel control paths. The method also includes generating a digital modulation control signal using the first control path, generating a current control signal using the second control path, and driving the one or more LEDs using the control signals. The method further includes performing compensation in at least one of the control paths to compensate for an increased efficiency of the one or more LEDs. Generating the control signals could include (i) adjusting the digital modulation control signal while maintaining the current control signal at a substantially constant value for a range of lower LED brightness values and (ii) adjusting the current control signal while maintaining the digital modulation control signal at a maximum value or within a range of maximum values for a range of higher LED brightness values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Ari K. Väänänen, Mauri K. Määttä, T. Tapani Tuikkanen