Automatic PWM controlled driver circuit and method
First Claim
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1. A load driver circuit, comprising:
- an output transistor configured to drive a load, having a first terminal configured to be coupled to a power supply, a second terminal configured to be coupled to the load, and a control terminal;
a power supply evaluation circuit configured to sense a characteristic of the power supply when coupled thereto, and generate a control signal in response thereto; and
a controller circuit configured to drive the output transistor with a pulse width modulation signal coupled to the control terminal, wherein a duty cycle of the pulse width modulation signal is a function of the control signal of the power supply evaluation circuit.
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Abstract
A load driver circuit includes an output transistor configured to drive a load. The circuit further includes a power supply, and a power supply evaluation circuit configured to sense a characteristic of the power supply, and generate a control signal in response thereto. In addition, a controller circuit is provided and is configured to drive the output transistor with a pulse width modulation signal coupled to the control terminal, wherein a duty cycle of the pulse width modulation signal is a function of the control signal of the power supply evaluation circuit.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A load driver circuit, comprising:
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an output transistor configured to drive a load, having a first terminal configured to be coupled to a power supply, a second terminal configured to be coupled to the load, and a control terminal;
a power supply evaluation circuit configured to sense a characteristic of the power supply when coupled thereto, and generate a control signal in response thereto; and
a controller circuit configured to drive the output transistor with a pulse width modulation signal coupled to the control terminal, wherein a duty cycle of the pulse width modulation signal is a function of the control signal of the power supply evaluation circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A pulse width modulation driver system, comprising:
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a power transistor comprising a first terminal configured to couple to a battery, a second terminal configured to couple to a light bulb, and a control terminal;
a battery evaluation circuit configured to monitor a state of the battery, and generate a control signal in response thereto; and
a controller circuit configured to drive the control terminal of the power transistor with a pulse width modulation signal having a duty cycle that is a function of the control signal of the battery evaluation circuit. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A pulse width modulation lamp driver system, comprising:
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switching means for driving a lamp based on a pulse width modulation signal;
means for monitoring a power supply operably associated with the switching means when operably coupled thereto, and providing a control signal in response thereto; and
controller means for altering a duty cycle of the pulse width modulation signal to the switching means in response to the control signal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. An intelligent lamp driver system, comprising:
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a lamp operable to provide interior or exterior illumination;
a drive transistor operably coupled to the lamp, and operable to selectively drive the lamp, and configured to be coupled to a battery, wherein a power delivered to the lamp by the drive transistor is a function of a magnitude of a voltage of the battery;
a battery voltage detection circuit configured to monitor the voltage magnitude of the battery when coupled thereto, and generate a control signal in response thereto; and
a controller circuit configured to receive the control signal and generate a pulse width modulation signal having a duty cycle that is a function of the control signal, wherein the pulse width modulation signal drives the drive transistor, and wherein a change in the duty cycle of the pulse width modulation signal varies an average power delivered to the lamp. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of driving a load, comprising:
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monitoring a characteristic associated with a power supply associated with the load; and
altering a duty cycle of a pulse width modulation signal that is fed to a drive transistor that is employed to drive the load based on the monitored characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of driving an exterior or interior lamp in an automotive system, comprising:
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driving the lamp with a drive transistor, wherein an average power delivered to the lamp is a function of an automotive battery condition;
monitoring a characteristic associated with the automotive battery; and
controlling a duty cycle associated with a pulse width modulation signal at a control terminal of the drive transistor based on the monitored characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification