US5327070A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Power supply circuit for driving a light emitting element
Assignee: Seiko Precision Inc
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Filing: 1992-04-27
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Granted: 1994-07-05
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Expires: 2012-04-27
Abstract
Abstract In a step-up circuit for causing the emission of light of a distance measuring light emitting element, the step-up circuit outputs a step-up voltage from one terminal of a step-up capacitor. A step-up voltage level changeover circuit applies a step-up voltage to the capacitor every time the distance measuring light emitting element emits light that is higher than the step-up voltage in the normal state. The number of parts is reduced by eliminating a separate capacitor for light emission, the space for the circuit is reduced by using the capacitor having a small capacity, the soldering steps for fabrication of the circuit are automated; and the costs for assembly are ameliorated owing to the automation.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoichi Seki
- 👤 Shinichi Endo
- 👤 Hiroyuki Saito
- 👤 Akira Ito
- 👤 Michio Kawai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 10:43
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B45/00; H05B45/30; H05B45/37; H05B45/3725; H05B45/38; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B20/00; Y02B20/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
A power supply circuit for driving a light emitting element, comprising: a step-up capacitor having two terminals; a step-up circuit connected to said step-up capacitor to apply a step-up voltage of a first level thereto; a step-up voltage level changeover means connected to both of the terminals of said step-up capacitor for changing over the step-up voltage level applied to said step-up capacitor to a second step-up voltage level that is higher than the first step-up voltage level; a distance measuring light emitting element connected to both terminals of said step-up capacitor for selectively receiving the voltages of first and second step-up voltage applied thereto; an operating means generating a step-up voltage changeover signal which is the first step-up voltage when said distance measuring light emitting element does not emit and the second step-up voltage when said light emitting element emits; and a control means connected between said operating means and said step-up voltage changeover means, and communicating said step-up voltage to said changeover signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
A power supply circuit for driving a light emitting element, comprising: a step-up capacitor having two terminals; a step-up circuit connected to said step-up capacitor to apply a step-up voltage of a first level thereto; a step-up voltage level changeover means connected to both of the terminals of said step-up capacitor for changing over the step-up voltage level applied to said step-up capacitor to a second step-up voltage level that is higher than the first step-up voltage level; a distance measuring light emitting element connected to both terminals of said step-up capacitor for selectively receiving the voltages of first and second step-up voltage applied thereto; an operating means generating a step-up voltage changeover signal which is the first step-up voltage when said distance measuring light emitting element does not emit and the second step-up voltage when said light emitting element emits; and a control means connected between said operating means and said step-up voltage changeover means, and communicating said step-up voltage to said changeover signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
169 words
A power supply circuit for driving a light emitting element, comprising: a step-up capacitor having two terminals; a step-up circuit connected to both of the terminals of said step-up capacitor to apply a step-up voltage across said step-up capacitor; a step-up voltage level changeover means connected to control said step-up circuit to selectively generate a step-up voltage of a first level, and a step-up voltage of a second level, the step-up voltage corresponding to said second level being higher than the step-up voltage corresponding to said first level; a distance measuring light emitting element; means connecting said light emitting element to receive the voltage across said step-up capacitor; an operating means generating a step-up voltage changeover signal which is the first step-up voltage when said distance measuring light emitting element does not emit and is the second step-up voltage when said light emitting element emits; and a control means connected between said operating means and said step-up voltage changeover means, and communicating said step-up voltage to said changeover signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
169 words
A power supply circuit for driving a light emitting element, comprising: a step-up capacitor having two terminals; a step-up circuit connected to both of the terminals of said step-up capacitor to apply a step-up voltage across said step-up capacitor; a step-up voltage level changeover means connected to control said step-up circuit to selectively generate a step-up voltage of a first level, and a step-up voltage of a second level, the step-up voltage corresponding to said second level being higher than the step-up voltage corresponding to said first level; a distance measuring light emitting element; means connecting said light emitting element to receive the voltage across said step-up capacitor; an operating means generating a step-up voltage changeover signal which is the first step-up voltage when said distance measuring light emitting element does not emit and is the second step-up voltage when said light emitting element emits; and a control means connected between said operating means and said step-up voltage changeover means, and communicating said step-up voltage to said changeover signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
The power supply circuit of claim 2 wherein said changeover means comprises first and second reference supplies, select means for selecting one of said reference supplies, and voltage comparing means; said comparing means comprising means for outputting to said step-up circuit, the signal which is compared to the voltage across said step-up capacitor with one of the voltages of said first or second reference supplies which is selected by said selecting means,
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The power supply circuit of claim 2 wherein said means connecting said light emitting element to receive the voltage across said step-up capacitor comprises switch means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The power supply circuit of claim 4 further comprising a control circuit connected to control said switch means and step-up level changeover means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
203 words
A power supply circuit for driving a light emitting element, comprising: a step-up capacitor having two terminals; a step-up circuit connected to said step-up capacitor to apply a step-up voltage thereto; a step-up voltage level changeover means connected to said step-up circuit for controlling said step-up to selectively apply step-up voltages of first and second levels to said step-up capacitor; a distance measuring light emitting element, and means connecting said light emitting element to the terminals of said step-up capacitor to receive voltages applied to said step-up capacitor; an operating means generating a first step-up voltage changeover signal when said distance measuring light emitting element does not emit and second step-up voltage changeover signal when said light emitting element emits; and means connected to apply said first an second step-up voltage changeover signals to said step-up voltage level changeover means; said step-up voltage level changeover means being responsive to receipt of said first step-up voltage changeover signal for controlling said step-up circuit to apply said voltage of said first level to said step-up capacitor, and means responsive to receipt of said second step-up voltage changeover signal for controlling said step-up circuit to apply said voltage of said second level to said step-up capacitor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
203 words
A power supply circuit for driving a light emitting element, comprising: a step-up capacitor having two terminals; a step-up circuit connected to said step-up capacitor to apply a step-up voltage thereto; a step-up voltage level changeover means connected to said step-up circuit for controlling said step-up to selectively apply step-up voltages of first and second levels to said step-up capacitor; a distance measuring light emitting element, and means connecting said light emitting element to the terminals of said step-up capacitor to receive voltages applied to said step-up capacitor; an operating means generating a first step-up voltage changeover signal when said distance measuring light emitting element does not emit and second step-up voltage changeover signal when said light emitting element emits; and means connected to apply said first an second step-up voltage changeover signals to said step-up voltage level changeover means; said step-up voltage level changeover means being responsive to receipt of said first step-up voltage changeover signal for controlling said step-up circuit to apply said voltage of said first level to said step-up capacitor, and means responsive to receipt of said second step-up voltage changeover signal for controlling said step-up circuit to apply said voltage of said second level to said step-up capacitor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
The power supply circuit of claim 6 wherein said step-up changeover means comprises first and second reference voltage source, means for selectively comparing said first and second reference voltages with the voltage across said step-up capacitor, and means for controlling said step-up circuit to selectively charge said step-up capacitor to said voltages of said first and second levels, respectively, thereto.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The power supply means of claim 7 wherein said means for selectively comparing comprises a changeover switch, and means responsive to said first and second step-up voltage changeover signals for selectively comparing said first and second reference voltages with said voltage across said step-up capacitor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
The power supply means of claim 6 wherein said operating means comprises a CPU, said CPU is further connected to selectively control said means connecting said light emitting element to the terminals of said step-up capacitor to permit current from said step-up capacitor to flow through said distance measuring light emitting element.
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