Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a circuit that may detect a single short in a chain of loads, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs). The circuit may drive either multiple LED chains or a single LED chain to determine whether one, or more, of the LEDs in the LED chain is no longer working because of a short. The circuit determines whether the LED chain voltage satisfies a threshold based on a single LED voltage drop. Therefore, the same circuit may be used for applications regardless of the number of LEDs in an LED chain. Additionally, the circuit, according to the techniques of this disclosure may use may use no output pins, other than those used to deliver current to LED chains, regardless of the number of LED chains that the circuit drives.

Abstract: In one example, a method includes determining, by a device of a system, a voltage feedback value that represents a voltage level of a power signal being provided to a plurality of load elements that are selectively active. In this example, the method also includes adjusting, by the device and based on a quantity of load elements of the plurality of load elements that are active, the voltage level of the power signal such that the voltage feedback value remains less than or equal to an overvoltage threshold.

Abstract: A driver circuit for driving a laser diode is described herein. In accordance with a first exemplary embodiment the driver circuit includes a first electronic switch connected to an output node that is configured to be operably connected to a laser diode. The electric connection between the first electronic switch and the output node has a first inductance. The driver circuit further includes a bypass circuit that is coupled to the output node and configured to take over, when activated, the current supplied to the output node via the first electronic switch, thus magnetizing the first inductance.

Abstract: A laser diode module is described herein. In accordance with a first exemplary embodiment, the laser diode module includes a first semiconductor die including at least one electronic switch, and a second semiconductor die including at least one laser diode. The second semiconductor die is bonded on the first semiconductor die using a chip-on-chip connecting technology to provide electrical connection between the electronic switch and the laser diode.

Abstract: A device for regulating a voltage includes a first branch switch, a second branch switch, and a control module. The control module is configured to determine an instruction to change from a first state to a second state. In response to the instruction, the control module is configured to activate the second branch switch, drive a power module to increase a supply voltage to provide a supply power for activating a second set of LEDs, drive the first branch switch to dissipate a portion of the supply power to provide a target power for activating a first set of LEDs in response to determining that a current at the second branch switch does not exceed a current threshold, and deactivate the first branch switch in response to determining that the current at the second branch switch exceeds the current threshold.

Abstract: In one example, a system includes a load module, a power module, a series module, and a control module. The power module is configured to generate a supply power. The load module is configured to select a subset of light emitting diodes (LEDs) from a set of LEDs. The series module is configured to receive the supply power from the power module, dissipate a portion of the supply power, and output, to the subset of LEDs, a remaining portion of the supply power as a load power. The control module is configured to drive the series module to limit an amount of power at the subset of LEDs.

Abstract: An example method for preventing overcurrent in light-emitting diode (LED) chains comprises deactivating a current regulation control loop connected to a plurality of LED chains; regulating, via a voltage regulation control loop, a forward voltage of the plurality of LED chains; upon determining that a forward voltage of the plurality of LED chains is equal to a target operating voltage for a subset of the plurality of LED chains, bypassing at least one of the plurality of LED chains such that only the subset of the plurality of LED chains is connected to the current regulation control loop; and upon determining that an output current of the subset of the plurality of LED chains is equal to a target operating current for the subset of the plurality of LED chains: deactivating the voltage regulation control loop; and activating the current regulation control loop.

Abstract: An example method for preventing overcurrent in light-emitting diode (LED) chains comprises deactivating a current regulation control loop connected to a plurality of LED chains; regulating, via a voltage regulation control loop, a forward voltage of the plurality of LED chains; upon determining that a forward voltage of the plurality of LED chains is equal to a target operating voltage for a subset of the plurality of LED chains, bypassing at least one of the plurality of LED chains such that only the subset of the plurality of LED chains is connected to the current regulation control loop; and upon determining that an output current of the subset of the plurality of LED chains is equal to a target operating current for the subset of the plurality of LED chains: deactivating the voltage regulation control loop; and activating the current regulation control loop.

Abstract: An embodiment method for short-circuit detection includes determining a set of local reference voltages each associated with a respective load chain in a plurality of load chains, and determining a global reference voltage in accordance with the set of local reference voltages. The method also includes determining, for each load chain in the plurality of load chains, a respective per-chain reference voltage in accordance with the global reference voltage, and comparing, for each load chain in the plurality of load chains, the respective per-chain reference voltage relative to a respective measured voltage across each load chain to determine a respective short-circuit condition.

Abstract: According to an example, a device is provided for driving several light sources, wherein the device is arranged to sense a supply signal and apply a phase shift to a switching signal of at least one of the several light sources based on the sensed supply signal. Also, accordingly a method, a lighting device, a computer program product and a computer-readable medium are suggested.

Abstract: In one example, a method includes generating, by a current source of a device, a first portion of a power signal that drives one or more load elements. In this example, a second portion of the power signal is generated by one or more components that are external to the device and are in parallel to the current source such that the second portion of the power signal does not flow through the current source.

Abstract: In one example, a method includes determining, by a device of a system, a voltage feedback value that represents a voltage level of a power signal being provided to a plurality of load elements that are selectively active. In this example, the method also includes adjusting, by the device and based on a quantity of load elements of the plurality of load elements that are active, the voltage level of the power signal such that the voltage feedback value remains less than or equal to an overvoltage threshold.

Abstract: A driver circuit for light-emitting diode (LED) headlight system includes a buck-boost converter connected in series to a first plurality of branches of LEDs. Each of the plurality of branches of LEDs includes a bypass switch configured to bypass the corresponding branch of LEDs. The buck-boost converter provides a constant current with an adjustable voltage to a selectable portion of the plurality of branches of LEDs, while bypassing each of the other branches of LEDs via the corresponding bypass switches. In some examples, the circuit delivers the current to the selectable portion of the first plurality of branches of LEDs during a first portion of a duty cycle, while delivering a digitally modulated current to a second plurality of branches during a second portion of the duty cycle.

Abstract: In one example, a method includes generating, by a current source of a device, a first portion of a power signal that drives one or more load elements. In this example, a second portion of the power signal is generated by one or more components that are external to the device and are in parallel to the current source such that the second portion of the power signal does not flow through the current source.

Abstract: In one example, a method includes generating, by a current source of a device, a first portion of a power signal that drives one or more load elements. In this example, a second portion of the power signal is generated by one or more components that are external to the device and are in parallel to the current source such that the second portion of the power signal does not flow through the current source.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for regulating the temperature of a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) by monitoring the voltage drop across the LEDs. In one example, a driver circuit supplies a constant driver current to the LEDs. A temperature regulation circuit monitors the voltage drop across the LEDs to determine whether the junction temperature of the LEDs exceeds a maximum operating temperature. If the junction temperature of the LEDs exceeds the maximum operating temperature, the temperature regulation circuit uses digital pulse-width modulation (DPWM) to decrease a digital duty cycle of the driver current supplied to the LEDs.

Abstract: In one example, a system includes a load module, a voltage module, and a controller. The load module is configured to selectively bypass each load unit of a plurality of load units to form a series string of load units. The voltage module is configured to output a voltage across the series string of load units that is based on a target voltage. The controller is configured to output an indication of the target voltage, estimate a time delay for switching one or more load units of the plurality of load units, and output, after outputting the indication of the target voltage for the time delay, a control signal to switch one or more load units of the plurality of load units such that the series string of load units has the target quantity of load units.

Abstract: A modulation engine for a light-emitting-diode (LED) driver is described that includes an output port, a charge current source, a discharge current source, and an output control unit. The output control unit is configured to generate a modulation signal (e.g., a pulse-width-modulation signal) at the output port by at least alternating, based on a duty cycle of the modulation signal, between coupling the charge current source to the output port and the discharge current source to the output port to linearly shape the charge at the output port in accordance with the duty cycle.

Abstract: A modulation engine for a light-emitting-diode (LED) driver is described that includes an output port, a charge current source, a discharge current source, and an output control unit. The output control unit is configured to generate a modulation signal (e.g., a pulse-width-modulation signal) at the output port by at least alternating, based on a duty cycle of the modulation signal, between coupling the charge current source to the output port and the discharge current source to the output port to linearly shape the charge at the output port in accordance with the duty cycle.

Abstract: A device for driving several light sources is provided, wherein the several light sources are arranged in a light matrix structure, the device comprising a common circuitry and a driver matrix; wherein each cell of the driver matrix is connected to at least one cell of the light matrix structure; wherein a sense component is provided on a cell of the driver matrix, wherein the sense component determines a sense signal that is based on, and in particular dependent on or proportional to, an output signal driving the light source that is connected to this cell of the driver matrix; wherein the common circuitry comprises an adjustment circuitry that is arranged for obtaining the sense signal, for adjusting a reference signal, and for conveying the reference signal to the cell of the driver matrix that determined the sense signal; wherein the cell of the driver matrix is arranged for adjusting the output signal driving the light source based on the reference signal. Also, an according method is suggested.