Circuit arrangement for different color light emission

• US 4,420,711 A
• Filed: 06/11/1982
• Issued: 12/13/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Abbott Laboratories Incorporated, Victor Company of Japan Limited 3-12 Moriya-Cho Kanagawa-Ku
• Original Assignee: Victor Company of Japan Limited (JVC Kenwood Corporation)
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Susumu, Takahashi, Soichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Laroche, Eugene R.
• Application Number:
  US06/387,432
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 315/201, 315/208, 315/291, 315/296, 315/312, 315/324, 307/242, 307/311, 362/800, 340/701, 340/704, 340/762, 340/782
• US Class Current: 315/296
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/40 Visual indication of stereophonic sound image
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

A circuit arrangement for different color light emission, comprises first series circuit of a first light-emitting element having a given color, a diode, and a resistor; and a second series circuit of a second light-emitting element having another color and a collector-emitter path of a transistor, where the transistor is responsive to an input control signal so as to change a current flowing therethrough. The first and second series circuits are connected in parallel and are interposed between two terminals of a power source. The impedance of the first series circuit is selected to be much greater than that of the second series circuit when the transistor is conductive. When the voltage of the input control signal is below a predetermined level, the transistor is kept nonconductive so that only the first light-emitting element is energized. As the voltage of the input control signal exceeds the predetermined level, a current start flowing through the transistor to cause both the first and second light-emitting elements to emit light. As the voltage further rises, only the second light-emitting element is energized. The different color light from the two light-emitting elements may be mixed to produce third color light.

Claims

1. A circuit arrangement for different color light emission, comprising:

(a) first series circuit of a first light-mitting element having a given color, a diode and a resistor; and

(b) a second series circuit of a second light-emitting element having another color, and an active element, said active element being responsive to an input control signal so as to change a current flowing therethrough, said first and second series circuits being connected in parallel and interposed between two terminals of a power source, the impedance of said first series circuit being selected to be much greater than that of said second series circuit when said active element is conductive.

2. A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said active element comprises a transistor arranged to be controlled by said input control signal.

3. A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a transparent or translucent package for receiving said two light-emitting elements.

4. A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said two light-emitting elements comprises a light-emitting diode.

5. A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein the electrodes of said two light-emitting diodes are positioned side by side with a short distance therebetween.

6. A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein said package is made of an epoxy resin.