Adaptive switch mode LED system

A system for driving one or more light-emitting diode (LED) strings, the system comprising:

• a first LED driver device regulating current through a first LED string according to a first programmed current level and switching the first LED string on or off at a first duty cycle;
• a processing device determining the first duty cycle for the first LED string as a function of the first programmed current level, the processing device being an integrated circuit that is distinct from the first LED driver device;
• a second LED driver device regulating current through a second LED string;
• and
• a power converter providing a common voltage to the first and second LED strings,
• wherein the first LED driver device transmits a first voltage setting to the processing device and the second LED driver device transmits a second voltage setting to the processing device,
• wherein the processing device selects a lowest of the first and second voltage settings for controlling the voltage provided by the power converter.

A light-emitting diode (LED) driver device for driving one or more LED strings, the LED driver device comprising:

• a first channel regulator configured to regulate current through a first LED string according to a first programmed current level;
• a first channel switch configured to switch the first LED string on or off at a first duty cycle;
• and
• a luminance control circuit configured to receive settings for the first duty cycle and the first programmed current level from the processing device via a communication link, wherein the first duty cycle is determined as a function of the first programmed current level by the processing device, the processing device being an integrated circuit that is distinct from the LED driver device.

A light-emitting diode (LED) driver device for driving one or more LED strings, the LED driver device comprising:

• a first channel regulator configured to regulate current through a first LED string according to a first programmed current level;
• a first channel switch configured to switch the first LED string on or off at a first duty cycle, the first duty cycle determined as a function of the first programmed current level by a processing device and the LED driver device receives settings for the first duty cycle from the processing device, the processing device being an integrated circuit that is distinct from the LED driver device;
• a second channel regulator configured to regulate current through a second LED string according to a second programmed current level, the second programmed current level being different than the first programmed current level;
• and
• a second channel switch configured to switch the second LED string on or off at a second duty cycle, the second LED string having different current-voltage characteristics than the first LED string, and
• wherein the second duty cycle for the second LED string is determined by the processing device as a function of the second programmed current level.

A method for driving one or more light-emitting diode (LED) strings with a LED driver device, the method comprising:

• receiving a first setting for a first duty cycle for a first LED string, the first setting received at the LED driver device from a processing device via a communication link, the processing device being an integrated circuit that is distinct from the LED driver device;
• receiving a second setting for a first programmed current level for the first LED string, the second setting received at the LED driver device from the processing device via the communication link, the processing device determining the first duty cycle as a function of the first programmed current level;
• regulating peak current through the first LED string according to the first programmed current level for the first LED string;
• and
• switching the LED string on or off according to the first duty cycle for the first LED string.

A method for driving one or more light emitting diode (LED) strings with a LED driver device, the method comprising:

• regulating current through a first LED string according to a first programmed current level;
• receiving settings for a first duty cycle for switching the first LED string, the first duty cycle determined as a function of the first programmed current level by a processing device, the processing device being an integrated circuit that is distinct from the LED driver device;
• switching the LED string on or off according to the first duty cycle;
• regulating current through a second LED string according to a second programmed current level, the second programmed current level being different than the first programmed current level;
• receiving settings for a second duty cycle for switching the second LED string, the duty cycle determined as a function of the second programmed current level and received from the processing device;
• and
• switching the second LED string on or off at the second duty cycle.