For a single input/output circuit, changing an input/output form is enabled by a simple configuration. In the input/output circuit, a circuit section includes power supply terminals and ground terminals. A switching section is switchable between a first state in which a power supply line and a ground line are coupled to one of the power supply terminals and one of the ground terminals and a second state in which the power supply line and the ground line are coupled to the other one of the power supply terminals and the other one of the ground terminals. The circuit section operates as a circuit corresponding to one of an open collector output and an open emitter output in the first state and operates as a circuit corresponding to the other one of the open collector output and the open emitter output in the second state.

An object of the present invention is to reduce a chip area of the high-side driver circuit. A high-side driver circuit of the present invention is a high-side driver circuit in which a first potential is set as a power supply potential, which includes a constant voltage circuit configured to operate with a second potential as a reference potential, and generate, from the first potential, a third potential which is lower than the first potential and higher than the second potential, a logic circuit configured to operate with the third potential as a reference potential, a level shift circuit configured to shift the reference potential of the output signal of the logic circuit from the third potential to the second potential, and a driver circuit in which the second potential is set as a reference potential, and configured to drive a switching element by the output signal.

Laser spot detecting device including a plurality of elementary optoelectronic detectors that are each connected to an elementary pulse detecting circuit, each elementary pulse detecting circuit including a comparator and a memory module that is connected to one output of the comparator, the memory modules being connected to a multiplexing circuit having an output forming a digital spatial output of the laser spot detecting device. The laser spot detecting device further more includes a global OR circuit having inputs connected to the outputs of the comparators and having an output forming a real-time digital temporal output of the laser spot detecting device. Method for detecting a laser spot implemented by such a detecting device.

An object of the present invention is to reduce a chip area of the high-side driver circuit. A high-side driver circuit of the present invention is a high-side driver circuit in which a first potential is set as a power supply potential, which includes a constant voltage circuit configured to operate with a second potential as a reference potential, and generate, from the first potential, a third potential which is lower than the first potential and higher than the second potential, a logic circuit configured to operate with the third potential as a reference potential, a level shift circuit configured to shift the reference potential of the output signal of the logic circuit from the third potential to the second potential, and a driver circuit in which the second potential is set as a reference potential, and configured to drive a switching element by the output signal.

A digital signal output device prevents a chattering phenomenon by utilizing hysteresis characteristics of two Zener diodes having different reference voltages. The device includes an input terminal for receiving an input voltage and an output terminal configured to output different digital signal values according to the on/off status of a first photocoupler. The device outputs a first digital signal value (e.g., 1) when the received input voltage increases to a voltage level greater than or equal to a first reference voltage, and to output a second digital signal value (e.g., 0) when the received input voltage having increased to the voltage level greater than or equal to the first reference voltage subsequently decreases to a voltage level less than a second reference voltage that is lover lower than the first reference voltage.

A buffer circuit receives a working supply voltage which may vary within a voltage range. The buffer circuit has a high voltage constant current buffer circuit, and in this circuit, the source of the first NMOS transistor is grounded, and drains of the first NMOS transistor and the first PMOS transistor are connected. The source of the second PMOS transistor is connected to the supply voltage input of the buffer circuit, and the drain of the second PMOS transistor is connected to the source of the first PMOS transistor. The input end of the high voltage diode connected composite transistors is connected to the supply voltage input of the buffer circuit, and the output end of the diode connected transistors is connected to the gates of first and second PMOS transistors. The first PMOS and NMOS transistors are high-voltage transistors. The second PMOS transistor is a low-voltage transistor.

Lighting control interface techniques and corresponding circuitry are provided. The techniques include receiving a first signal potentially representative of a first lighting control signal, and receiving a second signal potentially representative of a second lighting control signal, and determining if either of the first and second signals complies with a first or second lighting control protocol. The lighting control signal may be applied to the same interface connector (regardless of the protocol), thereby eliminating the need for separate dedicated interface connectors. In some cases, the techniques further include determining that a dummy control signal is manifesting in the first and/or second signals, thereby indicating that no lighting control signal is being applied. Depending on the resulting determination, the techniques may include, for example, setting output lighting power according to a pre-established value, or according to the first or second lighting control protocol.

Laser spot detecting device including a plurality of elementary optoelectronic detectors that are each connected to an elementary pulse detecting circuit, each elementary pulse detecting circuit including a comparator and a memory module that is connected to one output of the comparator, the memory modules being connected to a multiplexing circuit having an output forming a digital spatial output of the laser spot detecting device. The laser spot detecting device further more includes a global OR circuit having inputs connected to the outputs of the comparators and having an output forming a real-time digital temporal output of the laser spot detecting device. Method for detecting a laser spot implemented by such a detecting device.

A digital signal output device prevents a chattering phenomenon by utilizing hysteresis characteristics of two Zener diodes having different reference voltages. The device includes an input terminal for receiving an input voltage and an output terminal configured to output different digital signal values according to the on/off status of a first photocoupler. The device outputs a first digital signal value (e.g., 1) when the received input voltage increases to a voltage level greater than or equal to a first reference voltage, and to output a second digital signal value (e.g., 0) when the received input voltage having increased to the voltage level greater than or equal to the first reference voltage subsequently decreases to a voltage level less than a second reference voltage that is lover lower than the first reference voltage.

A buffer circuit receives a working supply voltage which may vary within a voltage range. The buffer circuit has a high voltage constant current buffer circuit, and in this circuit, the source of the first NMOS transistor is grounded, and drains of the first NMOS transistor and the first PMOS transistor are connected. The source of the second PMOS transistor is connected to the supply voltage input of the buffer circuit, and the drain of the second PMOS transistor is connected to the source of the first PMOS transistor. The input end of the high voltage diode connected composite transistors is connected to the supply voltage input of the buffer circuit, and the output end of the diode connected transistors is connected to the gates of first and second PMOS transistors. The first PMOS and NMOS transistors are high-voltage transistors. The second PMOS transistor is a low-voltage transistor.