Patent ID: 7915570

Claim:
A smart camera with an integrated universal current controller, the smart camera comprising: a processing unit; an imager coupled to the processing unit; and an integrated universal current controller configured to couple to one or more external light sources, wherein the integrated universal current controller is further configured to generate a current signal to control operation of the one or more external light sources, wherein the integrated universal current controller comprises: a switching power supply configured to generate the current signal to provide power to the one or more external light sources; and an active circuit configured to implement a control loop to regulate generation of the current signal, wherein the active circuit is configured to sample one or more control values of the control loop while the control loop is substantially in an active state, and wherein, in response to a control signal or a user-initiated request, the active circuit is configured to restore the one or more control values of the control loop while the control loop is substantially in an inactive state.