Simple protection circuit and adaptive frequency sweeping method for CCFL inverter
First Claim
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1. A method for detecting an open lamp condition in a discharge lamp system, comprising:
- providing a DC bias voltage to a detector circuit that is coupled to a discharge lamp, said detector circuit havinga sensing resistor coupled to said discharge lamp; and
a diode coupled to said sensing resistor and to said discharge lamp;
deriving a current signal from said detector circuit having said sensing resistor and said diode, said current signal corresponding to a current of said discharge lamp and said DC bias voltage; and
if said current signal satisfies an open lamp condition, triggering an open lamp protection process.
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Abstract
A CCFL inverter circuit integrates a feedback circuit and protection circuit together. For both in-phase and out-of-phase applications, sensed lamp voltages can be used for open lamp and short lamp detection and sensed currents can be used for open lamp detection. The driving circuit adjusts the open lamp frequency by using a duty cycle control signal so that the driving circuit can always achieve the desired lamp voltage gain.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for detecting an open lamp condition in a discharge lamp system, comprising:
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providing a DC bias voltage to a detector circuit that is coupled to a discharge lamp, said detector circuit having a sensing resistor coupled to said discharge lamp; and a diode coupled to said sensing resistor and to said discharge lamp; deriving a current signal from said detector circuit having said sensing resistor and said diode, said current signal corresponding to a current of said discharge lamp and said DC bias voltage; and if said current signal satisfies an open lamp condition, triggering an open lamp protection process. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for detecting an open lamp or a shorted lamp condition in a discharge lamp system, comprising:
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providing a DC bias to a detector circuit that is coupled to a discharge lamp, said detector circuit having a sensing resistor coupled to said discharge lamp; and a diode coupled to said sensing resistor and to said discharge lamp; deriving a current signal from said detector circuit, said current signal corresponding to a current of said discharge lamp and said DC bias voltage; if said current signal satisfies an open lamp condition, triggering an open lamp protection process; and if said current signal satisfies a shorted lamp condition, triggering a shorted lamp protection process. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A circuit for detecting an open lamp condition and triggering an open lamp process in a discharge lamp system, comprising:
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a direct current (DC) bias source coupled to at least one discharge lamp, said DC bias source being configured to apply a DC voltage to said at least one discharge lamp; a detector circuit coupled to said at least one discharge lamp and to said DC bias source;
said detector circuit havinga sensing resistor coupled to said at least one discharge lamp; and a diode coupled to said sensing resistor and to said at least one discharge lamp, said sensing resistor and said diode being configured to output a current signal corresponding to a current of said at least one discharge lamp and said DC bias voltage applied to said at least one discharge lamp; and a protection triggering circuit for receiving said current signal from said detector circuit and triggering the open lamp protection process if said at least one discharge lamp is open. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for adjusting a switching frequency in a discharge lamp system, comprising:
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applying a direct current (DC) bias voltage to a discharge lamp; deriving a current signal from a detecting circuit coupled to said discharge lamp, said detector circuit having a sensing resistor coupled to said discharge lamp; and a diode coupled to said sensing resistor and to said discharge lamp; wherein said current signal corresponds to a current of said discharge lamp and to said applied DC bias voltage; comparing said current signal to a predetermined reference and generating an error signal; and adjusting said switching frequency according to said error signal. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification