1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a backlight system, and more particularly relates to using optical and temperature feedbacks to control the brightness of the backlight.
2. Description of the Related Art
Backlight is used in liquid crystal display (LCD) applications to illuminate a screen to make a visible display. The applications include integrated displays and projection type systems, such as a LCD television, a desktop monitor, etc. The backlight can be provided by a light source, such as, for example, a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL), a hot cathode fluorescent lamp (HCFL), a Zenon lamp, a metal halide lamp, a light emitting diode (LED), and the like. The performance of the light source (e.g., the light output) is sensitive to ambient and lamp temperatures. Furthermore, the characteristics of the light source change with age.
One embodiment of the present invention is an illumination control circuit which allows a user to set a desired brightness level and maintains the desired brightness level over temperature and life of a light source (e.g., a fluorescent lamp). The illumination control circuit uses an optical sensor (e.g., a visible light sensor) to maintain consistent brightness over lamp life and over extreme temperature conditions. The illumination control circuit further includes a temperature sensor to monitor lamp temperature and prolongs lamp life by reducing power to the fluorescent lamp when the lamp temperature is excessive. In one embodiment, the illumination control circuit optionally monitors ambient light and automatically adjusts lamp power in response to variations for optimal power efficiency.
The brightness (or the light intensity) of the light source (e.g., CCFL) is controlled by controlling a current (i.e., a lamp current) through the CCFL. For example, the brightness of the CCFL is related to an average current provided to the CCFL. Thus, the brightness of the CCFL can be controlled by changing the amplitude of the lamp current (e.g., amplitude modulation) or by changing the duty cycle of the lamp current (e.g., pulse width modulation).
A power conversion circuit (e.g., an inverter) is generally used for driving the CCFL. In one embodiment, the power conversion circuit includes two control loops (e.g., an optical feedback loop and a thermal feedback loop) to control the lamp current. A first control loop senses the visible light produced by the CCFL, compares the detected visible light to a user defined brightness setting, and generates a first brightness control signal during normal lamp operations. A second feedback loop senses the temperature of the CCFL, compares the detected lamp temperature to a predefined temperature limit, and generates a second brightness control signal that overrides the first brightness control signal to reduce the lamp current when the detected lamp temperature is greater than the predefined temperature limit. In one embodiment, both of the control loops use error amplifiers to perform the comparisons between detected levels and respective predetermined levels. The outputs of the error amplifiers are wired-OR to generate a final brightness control signal for the power conversion circuit.
In one embodiment, an illumination control circuit includes an optical or a thermal feedback sensor integrated with control circuitry to provide adjustment capabilities to compensate for temperature variations, to disguise aging, and to improve the response speed of the light source. For example, LCD computer monitors make extensive use of sleep functions for power management. The LCD computer monitors exhibit particular thermal characteristics depending on the sleep mode patterns. The thermal characteristics affect the “turn on” brightness levels of the display. In one embodiment, the illumination control circuit operates in a boost mode to expedite the display to return to a nominal brightness after sleep mode or an extended off period.
In one embodiment, a light sensor (e.g., an LX1970 light sensor from Microsemi Corporation) is coupled to a monitor to sense the perceived brightness of a CCFL used in the backlight or display. For example, the light sensor can be placed in a hole in the back of the display. The light sensor advantageously has immunity to infrared light and can accurately measure perceived brightness when the CCFL is in a warming mode. The output frequency of the CCFL shifts from infrared to the visible light spectrum as the temperature increases during the warming mode.
In one embodiment, the output of the light sensor is used by a boost function controller to temporary increase lamp current to the CCFL to reach a desired brightness level more quickly than using standard nominal lamp current levels. The light sensor monitors the CCFL light output and provides a closed loop feedback method to determine when a boost in the lamp current is desired. In an alternate embodiment, a thermistor is used to monitor the temperature of the CCFL lamp and to determine when boosted lamp current is desired.
In one embodiment, an inverter is used to drive the CCFL. The inverter includes different electrical components, and one of the components with a temperature profile closely matching the temperature profile of the CCFL is used to track the warming and cooling of a LCD display. The component can be used as a reference point for boost control functions when direct access to lamp temperature is difficult.
Providing a boost current to the CCFL during initial activation or reactivation from sleep mode of the display improves the response time of the display. For example, the display brightness may be in the range of 40%-50% of the nominal range immediately after turn on. Using a normal start up current (e.g., 8 mA) at 23 degrees C., the 90% brightness level may be achieved in 26 minutes. Using a 50% boost current (e.g., 12 mA), the 90% brightness level may be achieved in 19 seconds. The boost level can be adjusted as desired to vary the warm-up time of the display. The warm-up time is a function of the display or monitor settling temperature. For example, shorter sleep mode periods mean less warm-up times to reach the 90% brightness level.
In one embodiment, the boost control function can be implemented with low cost and low component count external circuitry. The boost control function enhances the performance of the display monitor for a computer user. For example, the display monitor is improved by reducing the time to reach 90% brightness by 50 to 100 times. The boost control function benefits office or home computing environments where sleep mode status is frequent. Furthermore, as the size of LCD display panels increase in large screen displays, the lamp length and chassis also increase. The larger lamp and chassis leads to system thermal inertia, which slows the warm-up time. The boost control function can be used to speed up the warm-up time.
In one embodiment, a light sensor monitors an output of a CCFL. A boost control circuit compares an output of the light sensor to a desired level. When the output of the light sensor is less than the desired level, the CCFL is operated at a boost mode (e.g., at an increased or boosted lamp current level). As the output of the light sensor reaches the desired level, indicating that the brightness is approaching a desired level, the boosted lamp current is reduced to a preset nominal current level.
In one embodiment, the boost control circuit is part of the optical feedback loop and facilitates a display that is capable of compensating for light output degradation over time. For example, as the lamp output degrades over usage hours, the lamp current level can be increased to provide a consistent light output. LCD televisions and automotive GPS/Telematic displays can offer substantially the same brightness provided on the day of purchase after two years of use.
For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage of group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.
Various embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the drawings.
The power conversion circuit of
In one embodiment, the dual feedback loops control the brightness of the CCFL 106 and include an optical feedback loop and a lamp temperature feedback loop. The dual feedback loops generate the brightness control input signal to the controller 102. The brightness of the CCFL 106 is a function of the root mean square (RMS) level of the lamp current, ambient temperature of the CCFL 106, and life of the CCFL 106. For example,
Lamp brightness decreases as the CCFL 106 ages (or when the lamp temperature decreases) even though the RMS level of the lamp current remains the same. The dual feedback loops facilitate consistent lamp brightness over lamp life and varying lamp temperature by compensating with adjusted RMS levels of the lamp current. The dual feedback loops further facilitate prolonged lamp life by monitoring the temperature of the CCFL 106.
As shown in
The first error amplifier 114 outputs a first brightness control signal used to adjust the lamp drive current to achieve the desired lamp intensity. For example, the lamp current is regulated by the optical feedback loop such that the modified optical feedback signal at the inverting input of the first error amplifier 114 is substantially equal to the first reference signal. The optical feedback loop compensates for aging of the CCFL 106 and lamp temperature variations during normal operations (e.g., when the lamp temperature is relatively cool). For example, the optical feedback loop may increase the lamp drive current as the CCFL 106 ages or when the lamp temperature drops.
There is a possibility that an aged lamp in hot ambient temperature may be driven too hard and damaged due to excessive heat. The lamp temperature feedback loop monitors the lamp temperature and overrides the optical feedback loop when the lamp temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature threshold. In one embodiment, the lamp temperature feedback loop includes a lamp temperature sensor 108 and a second error amplifier 116. The lamp temperature sensor 108 can detect the temperature of the CCFL 106 directly or derive the lamp temperature by measuring ambient temperature, temperature of a LCD bezel, amount of infrared light produced by the CCFL 106, or variations in the operating voltage (or lamp voltage) across the CCFL 106. In one embodiment, select components (e.g., switching transistors or transformers) in the inverter 100 can be monitored to track lamp temperature.
The lamp temperature sensor 108 outputs a temperature feedback signal indicative of the lamp temperature to an inverting input of the second error amplifier 116. A second reference signal (LAMP TEMPERATURE LIMIT) indicative of the predetermined temperature threshold is provided to a non-inverting input of the second error amplifier 116. The second error amplifier 116 outputs a second brightness control signal that overrides the first brightness control signal to reduce the lamp drive current when the lamp temperature exceeds the predetermined temperature threshold. Reducing the lamp drive current helps reduce the lamp temperature, thereby extending the life of the CCFL 106.
In one embodiment, the output of the first error amplifier 114 and the output of the second error amplifier 116 are wire-ORed (or coupled to ORing diodes) to generate the brightness control input signal to the controller 102. For example, a first diode 118 is coupled between the output of the first error amplifier 114 and the controller 102. A second diode 120 is coupled between the output of the second error amplifier 116 and the controller 102. The first diode 118 and the second diode 120 have commonly connected anodes coupled to the brightness control input of the controller 102. The cathode of the first diode 118 is coupled to the output of the first error amplifier 114, and the cathode of the second diode 120 is coupled to the output of the second error amplifier 116. Other configurations or components are possible to implement an equivalent ORing circuit to accomplish the same function.
In the above configuration, the error amplifier with a relatively lower output voltage dominates and determines whether the optical feedback loop or the lamp temperature feedback loop becomes the controlling loop. For example, the second error amplifier 116 have a substantially higher output voltage during normal operations when the lamp temperature is less than the predetermined temperature threshold and is effectively isolated from the brightness control input by the second diode 120. The optical feedback loop controls the brightness control input during normal operations and automatically adjusts the lamp drive current to compensate for aging and temperature variations of the CCFL 106. Control of the brightness control input transfers to the lamp temperature feedback loop when the temperature of the CCFL 106 becomes too high. The temperature of the CCFL 106 may be excessive due to relatively high external ambient temperature, relatively high lamp drive current, or a combination of both. The lamp temperature feedback loop reduces (or limits) the lamp drive current to maintain the lamp temperature at or below a predetermined threshold. In one embodiment, the first and second error amplifiers 114, 116 have integrating functions to provide stability to the respective feedback loops.
In one embodiment, the brightness control input signal is a substantially DC control voltage that sets the lamp current. For example, the RMS level of the lamp current may vary with the level of the control voltage. A pull-up resistor 122 is coupled between the brightness control input of the controller 102 and a pull-up control voltage (MAX-BRITE) corresponding to a maximum allowable lamp current. The pull-up control voltage dominates when both of the outputs of the respective error amplifiers 114, 116 are relatively high. The output of the first error amplifier 114 may be relatively high during warm-up or when the CCFL 106 becomes too old to produce the desired light intensity. The output of the second error amplifier 116 may be relatively high when the temperature of the CCFL 106 is relatively cold.
In one embodiment, an optical feedback loop or a temperature feedback loop is used to decrease the warm-up time. For example, a controller controlling illumination of the display panel can operate in overdrive or a boost mode to improve response of the display brightness. The boost mode provides a higher lamp drive current than normal operating lamp current to speed up the time to reach sufficient panel brightness (e.g., 90% of steady-state). In one embodiment, the brightness control input signal described above can be used to indicate to the controller when boost mode operation is desired.
In one embodiment, the feedback current is provided to a preliminary low pass filter comprising a first capacitor 1102 coupled between the output of the visible light sensor 1100 and ground and a resistor divider 1104, 1106 coupled between the supply voltage and ground. The filtered (or converted) feedback current is provided to an inverting input of an integrating amplifier. For example, the output of the visible light sensor 1100 is coupled to an inverting input of the error gain amplifier 1110 via a series integrating resistor 1108. An integrating capacitor 1112 is coupled between the inverting input of the error gain amplifier 1110 and an output of the error gain amplifier 1110.
In one embodiment, a desired intensity (or dimming) level is indicated by presenting a reference level (DIM INPUT) at a non-inverting input of the integrating amplifier. The reference level can be variable or defined by a user. The reference level can be scaled by a series resistor 1116 coupled between the reference level and the non-inverting input of the error amplifier 1110 and a resistor divider 1114, 1118 coupled to the non-inverting input of the error amplifier 1110. The output of the error amplifier 1110 can be further filtered by a series resistor 1120 with a resistor 1122 and capacitor 1124 coupled in parallel at the output of the automatic brightness control circuit to generate the control signal for adjusting the operating lamp current.
Although described above in connection with CCFLs, it should be understood that a similar apparatus and method can be used to drive light emitting diodes, hot cathode fluorescent lamps, Zenon lamps, metal halide lamps, neon lamps, and the like
While certain embodiments of the invention have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, novel methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the methods and systems described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.
This is a continuation application based on U.S. application Ser. No. 10/937,889, filed Sep. 9, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,183,727, which claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/505,074 entitled “Thermal and Optical Feedback Circuit Techniques for Illumination Control,” filed on Sep. 23, 2003, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
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