The present disclosure relates to a fail-safe LED system including an LED circuit arrangement. The LED circuit arrangement includes a plurality of LED strings arranged in parallel with respect to each other. The LED circuit arrangement is supplied with electrical current from a constant current power supply. The fail-safe LED system includes structure for detecting a in at least one of the LED strings a failure that causes increased current to pass through remaining operational LED strings of the plurality of LED strings. The fail-safe LED system also includes a current correction string arranged in parallel with respect to the plurality of LED strings. When activated in response to the detection of a failure, the current correction string accommodates current from the constant current power supply such that the current passing through each operational LED string is reduced to a corrected current level.

Systems and methods for maintaining the illumination intensity of one or more LEDs above a minimal intensity level. The systems and methods may include: (1) a current regulator for regulating the current in a circuit; (2) a voltage source for applying current to a circuit; (3) an LED with a minimal intensity level that correlates to a set-point temperature; and (4) a thermal sensor that is in proximity to the LED and adapted to sense a temperature proximal to the LED. The thermal sensor may transmit a signal to the current regulator if the sensed temperature exceeds the set-point temperature. Thereafter, the current regulator may take steps to regulate the current in order to maintain the LED illumination intensity above the minimal intensity level.

A light-emitting-diode-driving device includes a control circuit that is configured to perform constant current control with a DC-DC converter so that a value of a current detected by a current detection unit agrees with a prescribed reference current value to be supplied to a light source. The control circuit includes a reference-current-instruction unit, a threshold-voltage-setting unit, and a comparator circuit. The reference-current-instruction unit is configured to set the prescribed reference current value. The threshold-voltage-setting unit is configured to set a threshold voltage for determining a short circuit failure in the light source. The comparator circuit is configured to compare, with the threshold voltage, a value of a voltage that is detected by a voltage detection unit. The control circuit is configured to make the threshold-voltage-setting unit reduce the threshold voltage, when the reference-current-instruction unit reduces the prescribed reference current value.

An analogue dimmer driver for driving an LED lighting element (54) to generate coded light comprises an output component (54) which provides a primary current (i.sub.pr), a capacitor (53) connected to the output component, a switch (S1) via which the lighting element is connectable to the current source in parallel with the capacitor. Switching is performed by periodically opening and closing the switch to code information into light generated by the lighting element. The output component has an input configured to receive a dimming signal. Responsive to a change in the dimming signal: i) the primary current is increased so as to increase the average power of the generated light and ii) the duty cycle of the switching is increased by an amount sufficient to prevent the peak level of the current though the lighting element when the switch is closed (i.sub.pr+i.sub.dis) from exceeding a predetermined level (i.sub.nom).

A circuit to provide power to a load includes a first diode having a cathode connectable to a second terminal of a PTC thermistor and an anode connectable to a first node of the load. The anode of a second diode is connectable to the second terminal of the PTC thermistor and the cathode thereof is connectable to a second node of the load. The anode of a third diode is connectable to the anode of the first diode and the first node of the load and the cathode thereof is connectable to a neutral line of an AC power source. The anode of a fourth diode is connectable to the neutral line of the AC power source and the cathode thereof is connectable to the cathode of the second diode and the first node of the load.

An LED lamp A1 includes a plurality of LED modules 1 and a substrate 2 on which the LED modules 1 are mounted in a row. A light guide 3 covering the LED modules 1 is provided on the substrate 2. The light guide 3 is held in close contact with each of the LED modules. With this arrangement, a proper amount of light is obtained with the use of a smaller number of LED modules 1 or with less power consumption.

A thermal management system for reducing or eliminating heat-mediated degradation of LED performance and/or operating life. The system may include a thermal controller arranged to respond to an LED operating condition, and to responsively limit temperature in the LED. The thermal controller in one implementation includes a bypass circuit containing a bypass control element, such as a varistor, Zener diode, or antifuse device, and arranged to divert current from flowing to the LED so that the LED remains in a cool state, e.g., below 75° C. The system may be arranged to (I) at least partially attenuate the power supplied to an LED so as to reduce heat generation in such LED and maintain the LED below a threshold temperature and/or (II) remove heat from the LED to maintain temperature of the LED below a threshold temperature.

The current regulation system, providing fine dimming control, has an under-voltage circuit, an over-temperature control circuit, and sometimes a variable resistor (VR) control circuit. The under-voltage and over-temperature controls (first and second control signals) pass through voltage limiters such that the lowest level voltage control signal is applied to the voltage reference signal IREF input of LED IC driver. IC driver has a voltage reference input IREF which controls an IC output current for an load demand. The VR control generates a third control signal at the junction to reduce the voltage reference signal under control of the VR. The lowest level control signal dims the LED lamps. Since low level voltage control signals are used, a low voltage turn OFF circuit applies an IC disablement signal to the LED IC driver input control based upon sensing a. very low voltage at the junction.

The current regulation system, providing fine dimming control, has an under-voltage circuit, an over-temperature control circuit, and sometimes a variable resistor (VR) control circuit. The under-voltage and over-temperature controls (first and second control signals) pass through voltage limiters such that the lowest level voltage control signal is applied to the voltage reference signal IREF input of LED IC driver. IC driver has a voltage reference input IREF which controls an IC output current for an load demand. The VR control generates a third control signal at the junction to reduce the voltage reference signal under control of the VR. The lowest level control signal dims the LED lamps. Since low level voltage control signals are used, a low voltage turn OFF circuit applies an IC disablement signal to the LED IC driver input control based upon sensing a. very low voltage at the junction.

A self-healing overtemp circuit is described and illustrated comprising a temperature sensing circuit, a voltage sensing circuit, and optionally, a current sensing circuit. A lower cost, simplified alternative overtemp circuit is also discussed. The self-healing overtemp circuit is designed to ramp down power in an LED lighting system (or other electrical circuit) in response to a sensed or impending thermal runaway (and optionally, overcurrent) event. Said thermal runaway and overcurrent events may be a result of failure of one or more components (e.g., driver, active cooling means) of the lighting system. The self-healing overtemp circuit further comprises means of restoring power to said LEDs in a manner that avoids (i) a perceivably bright flash of light or (ii) increased risk of component failure.