# US 9,521,712 B1 · Measurements of multiple external components through a single pin of an integrated circuit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,521,712 B1 - Document ID: US9521712B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 14/445,732 - Filed: 2014-07-29 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2013-07-29 - Assignees: Cirrus Logic, Inc. - Applicants: Cirrus Logic, Inc. - Inventors: John L. Melanson; Arnab Kumar Dutta; Stephen Hodapp; Prashanth Drakshapalli - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9521712B1 ## CPC - G01R 27/2605: {Measuring capacitance (capacitive sensors G01D5/24)} - G01R 27/14: Measuring resistance by measuring current or voltage obtained from a reference source (G01R27/16, G01R27/20, G01R27/22 take precedence) - H05B 45/00: Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED] - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL ## Abstract Multiple measurements may be obtained via a single pin of an integrated circuit (IC) to set multiple control parameters of a light emitting diode (LED) controller within the IC. For example, a first input signal may be applied from the IC to two or more components via a single IC pin. A first output signal may be obtained from the two or more components via the single IC pin. A second input signal may be applied from the IC to the two or more components via the single IC pin, and a second output signal may be obtained from the two or more components via the single IC pin. A first parameter and a second parameter of the two or more components may be calculated based, at least in part, on the first output signal and the second output signal obtained via the single IC pin. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: applying, via a single pin of an integrated circuit, a first input signal from the integrated circuit to two or more components; obtaining a first output signal from the two or more components via the single pin of the integrated circuit; applying, via the single pin of the integrated circuit, a second input signal from the integrated circuit to the two or more components; obtaining a second output signal from the two or more components via the single pin of the integrated circuit; and calculating, by the integrated circuit, a first parameter of the two or more components and a second parameter of the two or more components based, at least in part, on the first output signal and the second output signal obtained via the single pin. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first parameter is a first value of a first component of the two or more components and the second parameter is a second value of a second component of the two or more components. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first parameter is a first value of a first component of the two or more components and the second parameter is a ratio of the first value to a second value of a second component of the two or more components. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the two or more components comprise at least a first resistor and a second resistor, and wherein calculating the first parameter comprises calculating a first resistance of the first resistor and calculating the second parameter comprises calculating a second resistance of the second resistor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the step of applying the first input signal comprises applying a first current input signal below a threshold level to activate a switch coupled to at least one of the two or more components, and wherein the step of applying the second input signal comprises applying a second current input signal above a threshold level to activate the switch. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the step of applying the first input signal comprises applying a zero current input signal, and wherein the step of applying the second input signal comprises applying a non-zero current input signal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the step of applying the second input signal comprises generating the second input signal based, at least in part, on a supply voltage that is also supplied to the two or more components. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the two or more components comprise at least a first resistor and a second resistor, and wherein calculating the first parameter comprises calculating a first ratio or combination of resistances of the first resistor and the second resistor and calculating the second parameter comprises calculating a second ratio or combination of resistances of the first resistor and the second resistor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the two or more components comprise at least a resistor and a capacitor, and wherein the step of calculating the first parameter comprises calculating a resistance of the resistor and the step of calculating the second parameter comprises calculating a capacitance of the capacitor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the step of applying the first input signal comprises applying a first input current, wherein the step of obtaining the first output signal occurs during the step of applying the first input signal, wherein the step of applying the second input signal comprises applying a second input current until a predetermined percentage of a voltage reference is reached, and wherein the step of obtaining the second output signal occurs after applying the second input current until the predetermined percentage of the voltage reference is reached. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying the first input signal comprises applying a first input current from a current source, and wherein the step of applying the second input signal comprises applying a second input current from the current source. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of obtaining the first output signal comprises obtaining an N-bit first output value corresponding to the first output signal, wherein N is greater than or equal to 2, wherein the step of obtaining the second output signal comprises obtaining an N-bit second output value corresponding to the second output signal, and wherein the first parameter and the second parameter comprise independent variables. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the two or more components are external and discrete components coupled to the single pin simultaneously. ### Claim 14 An apparatus comprising: an integrated circuit configured to be coupled to two or more external components through a single pin, wherein the integrated circuit is configured to: apply, via the single pin, a first input signal to the two or more components; obtain, via the single pin, a first output signal from the two or more components; apply, via the single pin, a second input signal to the two or more components; obtain, via the single pin, a second output signal from the two or more components; and calculate at least a first parameter of the two or more components and a second parameter of the two or more components based, at least in part, on the first output signal and the second output signal obtained via the single pin. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first parameter is a first value of a first component of the two or more components and the second parameter is a second value of a second component of the two or more components. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first parameter is a first value of a first component of the two or more components and the second parameter is a ratio of the first value to a second value of a second component of the two or more components. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the integrated circuit comprises: a current source coupled to the single pin and configured to apply the first input signal and to apply the second input signal to the single pin; and an amplifier coupled to the single pin and configured to obtain the first output signal and to obtain the second output signal from the single pin. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the integrated circuit is configured to obtain an N-bit first output value corresponding to the first output signal, wherein N is greater than or equal to 2, wherein the integrated circuit is configured to obtain an N-bit second output value corresponding to the second output signal, and wherein the first parameter and the second parameter comprise independent variables. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the integrated circuit comprises a light emitting diode (LED) controller for a LED-based light bulb. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the integrated circuit is configured to calculate at least one of an external temperature, a maximum inductor current, and a loop gain correction. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the two or more external components are discrete components coupled to the single pin simultaneously. ### Claim 22 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the two or more components comprise at least a first resistor and a second resistor, and wherein the first calculated parameter comprises a first resistance of the first resistor and the second calculated parameter comprises a second resistance of the second resistor. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the integrated circuit is configured to apply the first input signal by applying a first current input signal below a threshold level to activate a switch coupled to at least one of the two or more components, and wherein the integrated circuit is configured to apply the second input signal by applying a second current input signal above a threshold level to activate the switch. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the integrated circuit is configured to apply the first input signal by applying a zero current input signal, and wherein the integrated circuit is configured to apply the second input signal by applying a non-zero current input signal. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the integrated circuit is configured to apply the second input signal by generating the second input signal based, at least in part, on a supply voltage that is also supplied to the two or more components. ### Claim 26 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the two or more components comprise at least a first resistor and a second resistor, and wherein calculating the first parameter comprises calculating a first ratio or combination of resistances of the first resistor and the second resistor and calculating the second parameter comprises calculating a second ratio or combination of resistances of the first resistor and the second resistor. ### Claim 27 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the two or more components comprise at least a resistor and a capacitor, and wherein the first calculated parameter comprises a first resistance of the resistor and the second calculated parameter comprises a capacitance of the capacitor. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the integrated circuit is configured to obtain the first output signal while applying the first input signal, and wherein the integrated circuit is configured to obtain the second output signal after applying the second input signal until a predetermined percentage of a voltage reference is reached.