Control circuit for an LED traffic light using a pulse width modulation signal

• US 7,994,937 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2008
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Hsu, Ming-Yuan
• Primary Examiner(s): HOFSASS, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US12/168,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20090267795A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,128 Days
• Field of Search: 340/907, 315/185.R, 315/193, 315/216, 315/322, 363/80, 363/89
• US Class Current: 340/907
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/327 Burst dimming
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/37 Converter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

A control circuit for traffic light includes a pulse control circuit, a control switch element, a control drive circuit, a power source, and an LED. The pulse control circuit includes a control chip is capable of outputting a low level signal and a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal by turns. The duration of the low level signal is longer than that of the PWM signal. The control drive circuit for receiving the signals output from the control chip and controlling the control switch element. The LED is connected to the power source via the control switch element. The switch element is configured to control the power source to supply power to the LED when the signals output from the control chip are high, and does not supply power to the LED when the signals output from the control chip are low.

Claims

1. A control circuit for traffic light comprising:

a pulse control circuit, comprising a control chip capable of outputting a low level signal and a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal by turns, wherein the duration of the low level signal is longer than that of the PWM signal;

a control switch element;

a control drive circuit for receiving the signals output from the control chip and controlling the control switch element, wherein the control drive circuit comprises a drive switch element, the drive switch element comprises;

a first drive switch terminal connected to the control chip;

a second drive switch terminal connected to the control switch element and also connected to a voltage source through a first drive circuit resistor; and

a third drive switch terminal that is grounded;

a power source; and

an LED connecting to the power source via the control switch element;

wherein the switch element is configured to control the power source to supply power to the LED when the signals output from the control chip are high, and not to supply power to the LED when the signals output from the control chip are low.

2. The control circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pulse control circuit further comprises:

a crystal oscillator providing a clock signal to the control chip;

wherein the control chip comprises;

two voltage pins connected to a voltage source;

an output pin connected to the first drive switch terminal of the drive switch element of the control drive circuit;

a clock input pin; and

a clock output pin;

wherein the crystal oscillator is connected between the clock input pin of the control chip and the clock output pin of the control chip.

3. The control circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pulse control circuit further comprises a first capacitor, a second capacitor, a third capacitor, a fourth capacitor, a fifth capacitor, and a resistor;

the first capacitor is connected between one end of the crystal oscillator and the ground;

the second capacitor is connected between the other end of the crystal oscillator and the ground;

the third, the fourth, and the fifth capacitors, connected in parallel, are connected between the voltage pin and ground;

the resistor is connected between the clock input pin of the control chip and the crystal oscillator.

4. The control circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control drive circuit further comprises a second drive circuit resistor, the second drive circuit resistor is connected between the output pin of the control chip and the first drive switch terminal.

5. The control circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drive switch element is a Negative-Positive-Negative (NPN) transistor;

the first drive switch terminal is the base, the second drive switch terminal is the collector, and the third drive switch terminal is the emitter of the NPN transistor.

6. The control circuit as claimed in claim 5, wherein the control switch element comprises:

a first control switch terminal connected to the collector of the transistor;

a second control switch terminal connected to the LED; and

a third control switch terminal connected to the power source.

7. The control circuit as claimed in claim 6, wherein the control switch element is a P-channel field effect transistor, the first control switch terminal is the gate, the second control switch terminal is the drain, and the third control switch terminal is the source of the P-channel field effect transistor.

8. The control circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the duty cycle of the PWM signal is 18 percent.

9. The control circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frequency of the PWM signal is greater than 50 HZ.

10. A method for controlling a traffic light, the method comprising of:

providing;

a pulse control circuit, comprising a control chip that outputs a low level signal and a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal by turns, wherein the duration of the low level signal is longer than that of the PWM signal;

a control switch element;

a control drive circuit receives the signals output from the control chip and controls the control switch element, wherein the control drive circuit comprises a drive switch element, the drive switch element comprises;

a first drive switch terminal connected to the control chip;

a second drive switch terminal connected to the control switch element and also connected to a voltage source through a first drive circuit resistor; and

a third drive switch terminal that is grounded;

a power source; and

an LED connecting to the power source via the control switch element;

wherein the switch element controls the power source that supplies power to the LED when the signals output from the control chip are high, and does not supply power to the LED when the signals output from the control chip are low.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the pulse control circuit further comprises:

a crystal oscillator providing a clock signal to the control chip;

wherein the control chip comprises;

two voltage pins connected to a voltage source;

an output pin connected to the first drive switch terminal of the drive switch element of the control drive circuit;

a clock input pin; and

a clock output pin;

wherein the crystal oscillator is connected between the clock input pin of the control chip and the clock output pin of the control chip.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the pulse control circuit further comprises a first capacitor, a second capacitor, a third capacitor, a fourth capacitor, a fifth capacitor, and a resistor;

the first capacitor is connected between one end of the crystal oscillator and the ground;

the second capacitor is connected between the other end of the crystal oscillator and the ground;

the third, the fourth, and the fifth capacitors, connected in parallel, are connected between the voltage pin and ground;

the resistor is connected between the clock input pin of the control chip and the crystal oscillator.

13. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the control drive circuit further comprises a second drive circuit resistor, the second drive circuit resistor is connected between the output pin of the control chip and the first drive switch terminal.

14. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the drive switch element is a Negative-Positive-Negative (NPN) transistor;

the first drive switch terminal is the base, the second drive switch terminal is the collector, and the third drive switch terminal is the emitter of the NPN transistor.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the control switch element comprises:

a first control switch terminal connected to the collector of the transistor;

a second control switch terminal connected to the LED; and

a third control switch terminal connected to the power source.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the control switch element is a P-channel field effect transistor, the first control switch terminal is the gate, the second control switch terminal is the drain, and the third control switch terminal is the source of the P-channel field effect transistor.

17. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the duty cycle of the PWM signal is 18 percent.

18. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the frequency of the PWM signal is greater than 50 HZ.