Circuit for obtaining a wide dimming ratio from a royer inverter

• US 6,215,680 B1
• Filed: 05/24/2000
• Issued: 04/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garmin Corporation (Garmin Limited)
• Original Assignee: Garmin Corporation (Garmin Limited)
• Inventors: Rolston, Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): STERRETT, JEFFREY L
• Application Number:
  US09/577,868
• Time in Patent Office: 321 Days
• Field of Search: 363/22, 363/23, 363/49, 363/133
• US Class Current: 363/133
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/53835 of the parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/2824 using control circuits for the switching element H05B41/2822 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/3927 by pulse width modulation H05B41/3922 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention relates to a circuit for obtaining a wide dimming ratio from a Royer inverter and, more particularly, to a circuit that allows a back light to have wide dimming ratio without having unwanted current spikes that would significantly reduce the life of the back light bulbs. The invention is directed to a DC-to-AC inverter circuit for obtaining a wide dimming ratio in a display back light. The DC-to-AC inverter circuit consists of a voltage source, a Royer inverter circuit and switch circuit to turn on the Royer inverter. The Royer inverter is configured to receive a DC pulse modulated (PWM) signal that is coupled a transformer to produce an output AC PWM signal that is sent to the display back light. The configuration creates an imbalance in the Royer circuit that in turn prevents current spikes that occur when rapidly turning on the Royer inverter.

Claims

1. A DC-to-AC inverter circuit for obtaining a wide dimming ratio in a display back light, said DC-to-AC inverter circuit adapted to receive power from a power source, said DC-to-AC inverter circuit comprising:

an inverter circuit,

wherein said inverter circuit further comprises;

a first transistor having a collector, base and emitter;

a second transistor having a collector, base and emitter;

a resistor coupled to said emitter of only one of said first transistor and second transistor; and

a transformer having a base winding having a first lead coupled to said base of said first transistor and a second lead coupled to said base of said second transistor, a primary winding having a first lead coupled to said collector of said first transistor, a second lead coupled to said collector of said second transistor, and a center-tap lead coupled to said power source, and a secondary winding coupled to said back light.

2. The DC-to-AC inverter circuit of claim 1, wherein said inverter circuit comprises a Royer inverter circuit.

3. The DC-to-AC inverter circuit of claim 2, further comprising a switch circuit coupled to said power source and said Royer inverter circuit to turn on said Royer inverter circuit.

4. The DC-to-AC inverter circuit of claim 1, wherein said inverter circuit has an inductor coupled between said power source and said center-tap lead of said primary winding of said transformer.

5. The DC-to-AC inverter circuit of claim 1, wherein said inverter circuit includes a capacitor and zener diode circuit coupled between said collectors of said first and second transistors and said first and second leads of said primary winding.

6. The DC-to-AC inverter circuit of claim 1, wherein said resistor is of sufficient value to prevent current spikes in said DC-to-AC inverter circuit during turn-on.

7. The DC-to-AC inverter circuit of claim 1, wherein said resistor comprises at least two resistors connected in series with each other.

8. The DC-to-AC inverter circuit of claim 1, wherein said resistor comprises at least two resistors connected in parallel with each other.

9. A DC-to-AC inverter circuit for obtaining a wide dimming ratio in a display back light, said DC-to-AC inverter circuit adapted to receive power from a power source, said DC-to-AC inverter circuit comprising:

an inverter circuit,

wherein said inverter circuit further comprises;

a first transistor having a collector, base, emitter and saturation characteristic;

a second transistor having a collector, base, emitter, and saturation characteristic,

wherein said second transistor saturation characteristic is different from said first transistor saturation characteristic and, wherein said difference in saturation characteristic between said first transistor and second transistor is of sufficient value to prevent current spikes in said DC-to-AC inverter circuit during turn-on; and

a transformer having a base winding having a first lead coupled to said base of said first transistor and a second lead coupled to said base of said second transistor, a primary winding having a first lead coupled to said collector of said first transistor, a second lead coupled to said collector of said second transistor, and a center-tap lead coupled to said power source, and a secondary winding coupled to said back light.

10. The DC-to-AC inverter circuit of claim 9, wherein said inverter circuit comprises a Royer inverter circuit.

11. The DC-to-AC inverter circuit of claim 10, further comprising a switch circuit coupled to said power source and said Royer inverter circuit to turn on said Royer inverter circuit.

12. The DC-to-AC inverter circuit of claim 9, wherein said inverter circuit includes a capacitor and zener diode circuit coupled between said collectors of said first and second transistors and said first and second leads of said primary winding.

13. The DC-to-AC inverter circuit of claim 9, wherein said inverter circuit has an inductor coupled between said power source and said center-tap lead of said primary winding of said transformer.