Optical Sensor System Including Series Connected Light Emitting Diodes

An optical sensor system comprising:

• a controller;
• a light source circuit coupled to the controller to drive a light source comprising a plurality of series connected light emitting diodes (LEDs) in response to control signals from the controller, the light source circuit comprising:
• a power supply to provide a regulated direct current (DC) voltage output;
• a current source coupled to the power supply and the light source to receive the regulated DC voltage output and to provide a current output;
• and
• a switch, the switch being configured to allow the current output to through the plurality of series connected LEDs from the current source when the switch is closed and to prevent the current output through the plurality of series connected LEDs when the switch is open;
• transmission optics to direct light from the light source toward an object;
• receiver optics to receive light reflected from the object;
• and
• detector circuits to convert the reflected light to one or more electrical signals;
• wherein the controller is configured to provide a data signal output representative of a distance to at least one point on the object in response to the one or more electrical signals.