Electronic device for operating a light-emitting diode

Abstract: In an electronic device with a circuit element to which a pulse current is applied, means (7) for limiting the time integration value of current flowing in the circuit element is connected in series to the circuit element, to prevent the latter from being overheated.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a control circuit for driving a light emitting diode or a thermistor with a pulse current. One example of a conventional electronic device of this type is a pulse oximeter. The pulse oximeter generally uses an LED. In order to increase the quantity of light of the LED, it is essential to increase the current flowing therein. However, the steady application of large current to the LED suffers from the following difficulties: Heat generated by the LED, (1) lowers the efficiency of the LED itself, (2) thermally damages the LED, and (3) damages vital tissues adjacent to the LED. Accordingly, when a large current is applied to the LED, it should be in the form of a pulse. However, it should be noted that, if the circuit which is so modified as to apply a large current in the form of a pulse to its LED, becomes out of order to allow the large current to continuously flow in the LED, then the circuit will suffer from the same difficulties. From WO-A-85/01846 a base drive circuit for a power transistor is known comprising a source of control signal which is related to the collector current of the transistor, a plurality of discrete current sources for the base element of said transistor and means responsive to said control signal for connecting an appropriate number of said discrete current sources with the base of the transistor to adjust the base current as a function of the collector current to attain saturation of the transistor. The circuit comprises an input stage having a transistor comprising a current limiting resistor in its current path to which a capacitor is connected in parallel to shape the leading edge of the current pulse output by this transistor to the base of the power transistor. From "Review of Scientific Instruments", Volume 54, No. 12, December 1983, New York, pages 1795-1796 a temperature-compensating pulsed reference light source using an LED is known which is used as a reference element in gain stabilization of scintillation detectors. Temperature effects are compensated for by a thermistor incorporated in the DC circuit of the current source. The circuit comprises a high speed switch consisting of two transistors which is operated by pulses delivered from a monostable multivibrator. The current that flows through the LED is determined by the control voltage of a transistor in series with the LED and a series resistance. Problems resulting from a possible instability of the drive source providing the driving pulses are not mentioned. As was described above, when the conventional pulse oximeter becomes out of order to cause current to continuously flow in the LED, the latter is overheated. However, the conventional pulse oximeter has no means for eliminating or preventing the difficulty. Only the pulse oximeter with the LED has been described; however, the preceding description is applicable to electronic devices having a circuit element which is driven by a pulse current and which should be prevented from being overheated. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a control a circuit by which the LED or thermistor is prevented from being overheated. The foregoing object of the invention have been achieved by the features of claim 1. A preferred embodiment of the invention is subject matter of claim 2. The nature, principle and utility of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings: FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a first embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing an equivalent circuit of the circuit of FIG. 1 which is placed in a certain state; FIGS. 3 and 4 are time charts for a description of the operation of the circuit shown in FIG. 1; and FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing another embodiment of this invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of this invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows a circuit around an LED in a pulse oximeter according to the invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 designates the LED; 2, a transistor;3, an operational amplifier; 4, 5 and 6, resistors; and 7, a capacitor. The anode of the LED 1 is connected to one connecting point of the resistor 4 and the capacitor 7. A constant voltage +E (V) is applied to the other connecting point of the resistor 4 and the capacitor 7. The cathode of the LED 1 is connected to the collector of the transistor 2. The base of the transistor 2 is connected through the resistor 6 to the output terminal of the operational amplifier 3, and the emitter is connected to the inversion input terminal (-) of the operational amplifier 3 and to one terminal of the resistor 5, the other terminal of which is held at 0 volt. A drive signal voltage V in (t) is applied to the non-inversion input terminal (+) of the operational amplifier 3. In the circuit thus organized, the parallel circuit of the resistor 4 and the capacitor 7 is a means for limiting the time integration value of current flowing in the LED 1. The operation of the circuit shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. In this connection, the voltage drop across the parallel circuit of the resistor 4 and the capacitor is represented by V c (t); the voltage drop in the forward direction of the LED 1, V d (t); the current flowing in the LED 1, I d (t); the voltage at the connecting point of the emitter of the transistor 2 and the resistor 5, V₁(t); the voltage at the anode of the LED 1, V₂(t); the resistances of the resistors 4, 5 and 6, R1, R2 and R3, respectively; and the capacitance of the capacitor 7, C. FIG. 3 shows relationships between V₁(t), V₂(t) , I d (t) and V d (t) in the case where the drive signal V in (t) is normal. As is apparent from FIG. 3, in the case where the drive signal V in (t) is a pulse wave V io in peak value, T d in pulse width and T t in period, the voltage V₂(t) changes with charge and discharge of the capacitor 7; however, the current I d (t) flowing in the LED 2 is a pulse wave synchronous with the pulse wave V in (t), not depending on the value V₂(t). The peak value I do of the current I d (t) is V io /R₂. FIG. 4 shows relationships between V₁(t), V₂(t), I d (t) and V d (t) in the case where the drive signal V in (t) is abnormal, thus being held at V io for more than a predetermined period of time T s . The period of time T s after the drive signal voltage V in (t) reaches V io , V₂(t) becomes equal to (V₁(t) + V do ). In this case, the difference between the base voltage and the collector voltage of the transistor 2 becomes zero, and the transistor 2 is saturated, thus losing its current amplifying function. From this time instant, the current I d (t) flowing in the LED 1 decreases, and after the lapse of a predetermined period of time the circuit of FIG. 1 becomes equivalent to that shown in FIG. 2. That is, the current I d (t) is held stable with I ds ≅ E/R₁. The circuit of FIG. 1 is so designated that V io /R₂> E/R₁ is established. Therefore, even if the drive signal V in (t) becomes abnormal as described above, the predetermined period of time after it is raised to V io the current I d (t) is maintained at a substantially small value E/R₁, and therefore the LED 1 will never be overheated. As is apparent from the above description, the embodiment of the invention is formed by adding the passive circuit element to the original drive circuit for driving a predetermined circuit element, and therefore it scarcely becomes out of order. That is, the electronic device provided by the invention is high in reliability. One example of the medical instruments to which the technical concept of the invention is applicable is a thermistor thermometer. The thermistor thermometer is used not only to measure a body temperature, but also to detect the number of respirations per unitary time. In the latter case, the thermistor thermometer is inserted into the nostril, so that the temperature difference between inhalation and exhalation. The operating principle of the thermistor thermometor is that current is applied to the thermistor so that the resistance of the thermistor which changes with temperature is detected as a variation in voltage. The sensitivity of measurement can be improved by increasing the amount of current applied to the thermistor; however, the method is disadvantageous in that the current thus increased raises the temperature of the thermistor element, resulting in an error in measurement. In order to eliminate this difficulty, a thermistor thermometer in which a pulse current is utilized to drive the thermistor element has been proposed. The technical concept of this invention may be applied to the thermistor thermometer thus proposed. That is, in this case, the means for limiting the time integration value of current is connected in series to the thermistor element therein. Therefore, even when the pulse current generating circuit or the like becomes out of order to allow the application of excessively large current, the trouble that the thermistor element is broken or the patient gets burned will never take place. FIG. 5 shows one example of a circuit in which the thermistor thermometer is employed as a respiration monitor. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 10 designates a thermistor; 11, an amplifier for detecting and amplifying a voltage developed across the thermistor 10; 12, a rectifier circuit for rectifying the output of the amplifier 11; and 13, a meter for indicating the output value of the rectifier circuit 12. The other circuit elements are the same as those in FIG. 1, being designated by the same reference numerals. In FIG. 5, the parallel circuit of the resistor 4 and the capacitor 7 is the means for limiting the time integration value of current flowing in the thermistor 10. Even when, in the circuit thus organized, the drive signal becomes abnormal. The thermistor 10 will never be overheated. As was described above, when an abnormal drive signal is applied to the device to allow current to flow in the circuit element for more than the predetermined period of time to which a pulse current is normally applied, the current is limited according to the invention so that the circuit element is prevented from being overheated. Accordingly, the device is prevented from damage, and can be applied to the living body with higher security.

Claims: Control circuit for driving a light emitting diode (LED) or thermistor with a pulse current, comprising means for supplying a pulse current to said LED (1) or thermistor, means for supplying a constant current to said LED (1) or thermistor when a time integration value of the pulse current exceeds a predetermined value, said pulse current supplying means and said constant current supplying means together comprising a constant voltage source (+EV), a capacitor (7) and a resistor (4) connected parallel to each other and connected between said constant voltage source (+EV) and the annode of said LED (1) or thermistor, a transistor (2) having its collector connected to the cathode of said LED (1) or thermistor and drive means (3) for supplying a drive pulse current to the base of said transistor (2), whereby said transistor (2) becomes saturated when the time integrated value of the pulse current supplied to the LED (1) or thermistor exceeds the predetermined value. Control circuit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises a differential amplifier having a positive terminal for receiving a pulse input signal and a negative terminal connected to the emitter of said transistor.

Inventors: AOYAGI TAKUO, MIYASAKA KARSUYUKI, AOYAGI, TAKUO, MIYASAKA, KARSUYUKI
Applicants: MIYASAKA KATSUYUKI, NIHON KOHDEN CORP, MIYASAKA, KATSUYUKI, NIHON KOHDEN CORPORATION
Application year: 1988
Main classification: H05B33
IPC codes: H05B33, A61B5, H01L33