CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This patent application is based upon and claims benefit of priority to U. S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 62/212,015, entitled "DFMMABLE ANALOG AC CIRCUIT," filed Aug. 31, 2015, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

LED lighting as an energy efficient lighting source is becoming more and more popular world-wide. Several ways exist regarding how to successfully operate and dim LED devices. In particular, typically line voltage is AC or alternating current voltage here the voltage and current are represented by a sine wave. One circuit that can be used to operate and dim LED lighting utilizes a rectifier and AC to DC converter in association with a pulse width modulation (PWM) device to provide diming.

In an alternative embodi ment. Applicant eliminated the AC to DC converter and need for a PWM dev ice through conditioning the AC current directly provided to the LEDs. Thi s example is shown in Applicant ^' s U. S. Patent No. 8,373,363, which is incorporated in full herein. While effective at operating and dimming, problems remain. During analog operation there are times during operation where current exists at zero cross for extended periods of time. For certain operations light is desired during this period. As one example, some flicker indexes put out by specification makers focus, not just on frequency of the AC sine wave, but also on the drop in current from peak to the val ley of the sine wave.

OVERVIEW

Thi s document pertains generally, but not by way of limitation, to LED lighting circuits. More specifically this document pertains to a circuit for providing improved operation of an LED lighting device.

A need exists in analog circuits to reduce the gap between peak current and the current at a valley to improve dimming properties and prov ide additional functionality to a lighting device. In horticulture applications. Applicant has found that low levels of green light can be beneficial to plant growth and should be used in combination with other colored lighting to optimize growth in plants.

Therefore, a principle object of the present application is to improve dimming

functionality of an AC analog circuit. Yet another object of the present application is to improve functionality on an AC analog circuit. These and other objects, features, and advantages will become apparent from the specification and claim s.

The present inventors have recognized, among other things, that The present subj ect matter can help provide a solution to these problems, such as with, a circuit with a first series interconnection of a first light-emitting diode (LED) group and a second series interconnection of a second LED group that are in series. The first series interconnection has a cathode coupled to a drain terminal of a first transistor and a source terminal of the first transistor is coupled to a first terminal of a first resistor to provide biasing voltage for the first transistor. Similarly the second series interconnection is coupled to a drain terminal of a second transistor and a source terminal of the second transistor is coupled to a first terminal of a second resistor to provide a biasing voltage for the second transistor. Ancillary circuitry i s placed within the circuit to bypass the first series interconnection and utilizes a capacitor electrically connected to an ancillary transistor that i s provided a biasing voltage from an ancil lary resistor such that current i s continuously provided to the first series interconnection throughout operation, including through a dimming process such that the first series interconnection continuously emits light during operation of the circuit.

This overview is intended to provide an overv iew of subject matter of the present patent application. It i s not intended to provide an exclusive or exhaustive explanation of the invention. The detailed description is included to prov ide further information about the present patent application .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals may describe similar components in different view s. Like numerals having different letter suffixes may represent different instances of similar components. The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, various embodiments discussed in the present document. Fig. 1 i s a schematic diagram of a circuit;

Fig. 2 is a current timing diagram showing the currents flowing through the LED groups of the circuit of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 i s a current timing diagram showing the currents flowing through the LED groups of the circuit of Fig. 1 when the circuit of Fig. 1 i s dimmed to provide 5% of relative light output.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth by way of examples in order to prov ide a thorough understanding of the relev ant teachings. However, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present teachings may be practiced without such details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and/or circuitry have been described at a relatively high-level, without detail, in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring aspects of the present teachings.

Drivi ng circuitry for powering light emitting diode (LED) lights generally rely on digital circuitry to measure the instantaneous value of a driv ing voltage, on a microprocessor to identify LEDs to activ ate based on the measured value, and on digital switches to selectively activate the identified LEDs. The digital circuitry, however, reduces the overall efficiency of the LED lighting by causing harmonic di stortion and power factor distortion in the LED light and the associated power line. In order to reduce the harmonic distortion and power factor distortion caused by the digital circuitry, a current conditioning circuit is presented for selectively routing current to v arious LED groups in a LED light. The current conditioning circuit uses analog components and circuitry for operation, and produces minimal harmonic distortion and power factor distortion.

The current conditioning circuitry is provided to selectively route current to different LED groups depending on the instantaneous v alue of an AC input v oltage. In an example embodiment, the conditioning circuitry includes only analog circuit components and does not include digital components or digital switches for operation.

The circuitry relies on depletion-mode metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) transistors for operation. In an example embodiment, the depletion MOSFET transistors have a high resistance between their drain and source terminals, and switch between conducting and non-conducting states relativ ely slowly. The depletion-mode MOSFET transistors may conduct current between their drain and source terminals when a voltage

VQS between the gate and source terminals is zero or positive and the MOSFET transistor is operating in the saturation (or active, or conducting) mode (or region, or state). The current through the depletion-mode MOSFET transistor, however, may be restricted if a negative VGS voltage i s applied to the terminals and the MOSFET transistor enters the cutoff (or nonconducting) mode (or region, or state).

The MOSFET transi stor transitions between the saturation and cutoff modes by operating in the linear or ohmic mode or region, in which the amount of current flowing through the transistor (between the drain and source terminals) is dependent on the voltage between the gate and source terminals VGS- In one example, the depletion MOSFET transistors preferably have an elevated resistance between drain and source (when operating in the linear mode) such that the transistors switch between the saturation and cutoff modes relatively slowly. The depletion MOSFET transistors switch between the saturation and cutoff modes by operating in the linear or ohmic region, thereby providing a smooth and gradual transition between the saturation and cutoff modes. In one example, a depletion-mode MOSFET transistor may have a threshold voltage of -2.6 volts, such that the depletion-mode MOSFET transistor allows substantially no current to pass between the drain and source terminals when the gate-source voltage VGS is below - 2.6 v olts. Other v alues of threshold v oltages may alternatively be used.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a conditioning circuit 100 for driving three LED groups using a rectified AC input voltage. The conditioning circuit 100 uses analog circuitry to selectively route current to the LED groups based on the instantaneous v alue of the AC input v oltage.

The conditioning ci rcuit 100 receives an AC input v oltage from an AC voltage source 101 , such as a power supply, an AC line voltage, or the like. The AC voltage source 10 1 is coupled in series with a fuse 103, and the series interconnection of the AC v oltage source 101 and the fuse 103 is coupled in parallel with a transient voltage suppressor (TVS) 105 or other surge protection circuitry. The series interconnection of the AC v oltage source 101 and the fuse 103 is further coupled in parallel with two input terminals of a v oltage rectifier 107. In one example, the voltage recti ier 107 can include a diode bridge rectifier that provides full -wave rectification of an input sinusoidal AC voltage waveform. In other examples, other types of v oltage rectification circuitry can be used. A first series interconnection of a first LED group 109, a first n-channel depletion MOSFET transi stor 1 13 (coupled by the drain and source terminals), and a first resistor 1 17 i s coupled between the output terminals of the voltage rectifier 107. The first LED group 109 has its anode coupled to the terminal (node Nl ), and its cathode coupled to the drain terminal of first depletion MOSFET transistor I 1 3 (node N2). The source terminal of first transistor 1 13 is coupled to a first terminal of resistor 1 1 7 (node N3), while both the gate terminal of transistor I 13 and the second terminal of resistor 1 1 7 are coupled to the other terminal (node N4) of the voltage rectifier 107, such that the voltage across the first resistor 1 1 7 serves as the biasing voltage V'GS between the gate and source terminal s of the first transistor 1 13.

A second series interconnection of a second LED group 1 1 1 , a second n-channel depletion MOSFET transi stor 1 1 5( coupled by the drain and source terminals), and a second resistor 1 19 is coupled between the drain and source terminals of the first transistor 1 13. In particular, the anode of second LED group 1 1 1 is coupled to node N2, while the cathode of the second LED group 1 I I is coupled at node N5 to the drain terminal of the second transistor 1 15. The source terminal of the second transistor 1 15 is coupled to a first terminal of the second re si st or I 19 at node N6, while both the gate terminal of the second transistor I 1 5 and the second terminal of the second resistor 1 19 are coupled to the other terminal of the rectifier 107 through node N7. The voltage across the second resistor I 19 thereby serves as the biasing vol tage VQS between the gate and source terminals of the second transistor 1 1 5.

This embodiment includes, in series interconnection, a third LED group 1 12, a third n- channel depletion MOSFET transistor 1 16, and a third resistor 120 coupled between the cathode of the second LED group 1 1 I and the drain of the third depletion MOSFET transistor 1 16 through N8. As with previous stages the source terminal of transi stor I 16 is coupled to a first terminal of resistor 120 (node N9), while both the gate terminal of transistor 1 16 and the second terminal of resi stor 120 are coupled to the voltage rectifier 107 v ia node N10, such that the voltage across the third resistor 120 serves as the biasing voltage VGS between the gate and source terminal s of the third transistor 1 1 6. The conditioning circuit 100 selectively routes current to zero, one, two, or all three of the LED groups depending on the instantaneous value of the rectified driving voltage V _rect .

Inserted into circuit 100 i s ancillary circuitry 130 in a pathway 1 32 in series to the rectifier 107 and bypassing the first LED group 109. In the pathway 132 through node Nl 1 i s a first capacitor 134 connected between the drain of a fourth transistor 136 and the rectifier 107 creating a twelfth node N 1 2 between the first capacitor 134 and the drain of fourth or ancillary transistor 136. The source terminal of fourth transistor 136 is coupled to a first terminal of a fourth or ancillary resistor 138 (node N13), while both the gate terminal of transi stor 1 36 and the second terminal of resistor 1 38 are coupled to the voltage rectifier 107 via node N 14, such that the voltage across the fourth resistor 138 serves as the biasing voltage VGS between the gate and source terminals of the fourth transistor 1 36. A fifth or supplemental resistor 140 i s in the pathway back to the rectifier to minimize voltage drops and improve efficiencies by

suppl ementing the second and fourth resistors 1 19 and 138, respectively.

The circuit 100 may have three voltage thresholds Vi, V ₂ , and V ₃ at which different LED groups are activated. In particular, the first LED group 109 has a driving voltage V _rect that exceeds the first voltage threshold Vi, the second LED group 1 1 1 may be activated for a period [ti, b] (Fig. 2) during which the driving voltage V _rect exceeds the second voltage threshold V ₂ , and the third LED group 1 12 may be activated for a period [t ₂ , t ₃ ] during which the driv ing voltage Vrec _t exceeds the third voltage threshold V ₃ . As voltage decrease during the period [t ₃ -t ₄ ] the driving voltage V _rect exceeds only the threshold voltage of the first and second LED groups 109 and 1 1 1 . Then this cycle repeats.

By having ancillary circuitry 130 the capacitor 1 34 provides a charge for the diodes in the first LED group 109 to ensure current is always flowing to the first LED group 109 to provide a low lev el of light output at all times. Even when dimmed through phase cutting, the first LED group 109 continues to receive current and operate to provide light during operation of the circuit 100. At no time during operation does current cease to flow through the first LED group 109, ensuring no periods of the absence of light exi st during operation, while preventing the detection of such periods, reducing the gap between the peak of the sine wave to the v alley of the sine wave, and improving flicker and dimming properties. This al so allows for increased

functionality because the first LED group can hav e a predetermined color, such as green that is known to enhance the growth of plants, while the other LED groups 1 1 1 and 1 1 2 can hav e their own predetermined color again to enhance the growth of plants, animals, aquatic life or the like.

Each of the first, second and third LED groups 109, 1 1 1 and 1 12 has a forward v oltage (or threshold v oltage). The forward voltage generally is a minimum v oltage required across the LED group in order for current to flow through the LED group, and/or for light to be emitted by the LED group. The first, second and third LED groups 109, 1 1 1 and 1 12 may have the same forward voltage (e.g., 50 volts), or the first, second and third LED groups 109, 1 1 1 and 1 12 may have different forward voltages (e.g., 60 volts, 50 volts, and 40 volts, respectively).

FIG. 2 is a current timing diagram showing the currents IQI, IG2 and IQ ₃ respectively flowing through the first, second and third LED groups 109, 1 1 I and 1 12 during one cycle of the rectified voltage V _rect . As described in relation to FIG. 2, the current Ioi through the first LED group 109 constantly as a result of axillary circuit 130 at a first value Ii . The current IQI continues to flow through the first LED group 109 from around time ti to around time t ₄ .

Between times ti and t ₂ , the current IG ₂ flows through the second LED group 1 1 1 , and reaches a second value K During the time period [ti, t ₂ ], the current I(,i increases to the value h. Between times t ₂ and t , the current L,; flows through the third LED group I 12, and reaches a fourth value I ₄ . During the time period [t ₂ , t ₃ ], the current IQI and L32 also increase to the value I ₄ .

In general, electrical parameters of the components of circuit 100 can be selected to adjust the functioning of the circuit 100. For example, the forward voltages of the first and second LED groups 109 and 1 1 1 may determine the value of the voltages V 1 and V ₂ at which the first and second LED groups are activ ated. In particular, the voltage Vi may be substantially equal to the forward voltage of the first LED group, while the voltage V ₂ may be substantially equal to the sum of the forward v oltages of the first and second LED groups. In one example, the forward voltage of the first LED group may be set to a value of 60V, for example, while the forward voltage of the second LED group may be set to a value of 40V, such that the voltage

Vi is approximately equal to 60V and the v oltage V ₂ i s approximately equal to 100 V. In addition, the value of the first resistor 1 1 7 may be set such that the first depletion MOSFET transistor 1 13 enters a non-conducting state when the voltage V _rcc , reaches a value of V ₂ . As such the value of the first resistor 1 1 7 may be set based on the threshold voltage of the first depletion MOSFET transistor 1 13, the drain-source resistance of the first depletion MOSFET transi stor, and the voltages V 1 and V ₂ . In one example, the first resistor may have a value of around 3 1 .6 ohms. Similarly the other electrical components, diodes, transi stors and resi stor may be altered and manipulated by those skilled in the art without falling outside this disclosure.

The conditioning circuit 100 of FIG. 1 can be used to provide dimmable lighting using the first, second and third LED groups 109, 1 1 1 and 1 1 2. The conditioning circuitry 100 can, in particular, provide a v ariable lighting intensity based on the amplitude of the rectified driving voltage V _rect . The amplitude of the driving voltage V _rcc , may be reduced through the activation of a potentiometer, a dimmer switch, or other appropriate means. While the amplitude of the driving voltage is reduced, the threshold voltages V i and V ₂ remain constant as the threshold voltages are set by parameters of the components of the circuit 100.

Because the driving voltage V _rccl has a lower amplitude, the driving voltage takes a time

[to, ti] to reach the first threshold voltage Vi during the first half of the first cycle that is longer than the time [to, ti]. Similarly, the driving voltage takes a time [to, t ₂ '] to reach the second threshold voltage V ₂ that is longer than the time [to, t ₂ ]. Additionally, the lower-amplitude driving voltage reaches the second threshold sooner (at a time t ₃ ', which occurs sooner than the time t ₃ ) during the second half of each cycle, and similarly reaches the first threshold sooner (at a time t ₄ ', which occurs sooner than the time t ₄ ), during the second half of each cycle. As a result, the time-period [ti', t ₄ '] during which current flows through the first LED group 109 is substantially reduced with respect to the corresponding time-period [tfj when the input voltage has full amplitude. Similarly, the time-period [t ₂ ', t ₃ '] during which current flows through the second LED group 1 1 1 is substantially reduced with respect to the corresponding time-period [t ₂ , t ₃ ] when the input voltage has full amplitude. Similarly the third LED group 1 1 2 i s affected.

Because the lighting intensity produced by each of the first second and third LED groups 109, 1 1 1 and I 12 is dependent on the total amount of current flowing through the LED groups, the shortening of the time-periods during which current flows through each of the LED groups causes the lighting intensity produced by each of the LED groups to be reduced.

In addition to prov iding dimmable lighting, the conditioning circuit 100 of FIG. 1 can be used to provide color-dependent dimmable lighting. In order to provide color-dependent dimmable lighting, the first, second and third LED groups 109, 1 1 I and 1 1 2 may include LEDs of different colors, or different combinations of LEDs having different colors. When a full amplitude voltage V _rect is provided, the light output of the conditioning circuit 100 i s provided by both the first, second and third LED groups 109, 1 1 1 and 1 12, and the color of the light output is determined based on the relative light intensity and the respective color light provided by each of the LED groups. As the amplitude of the voltage V _rcc , is reduced, however, the light intensity provided by the third LED group will be reduced more rapidly than the light intensity provided by the first and second LED groups. As a result, the light output of the conditioning circuit 100 will gradually be dominated by the light output (and the color of light) produced by the first and second LED groups. Similarly, the light intensity provided by the second LED group will be reduced more rapidly than the light intensity of the first LED group so that only the color light of the first LED group remains.

The conditioning ci rcuit 1 00 shown in FIG. 1 includes first, second and third LED groups 109, 1 1 1 and 1 1 2. Each LED group can be formed of one or more LEDs, or of one or more high- voltage LEDs. In examples in which a LED group includes two or more LEDs (or two or more high-voltage LEDs), the LEDs may be coupled in series and/or in paral lel .

FIG. 3 is a current timing diagram showing the currents ½, ¾2, and respectively flowing through the first, second, and third LED groups 109, 1 1 1 , and 1 1 2 during one cycle of operation of the circuit 100 when a phase cutting dimmer is utilized. In particular, according to the timing diagram of FIG. 3, a current Icu flows continually through the first LED group 109 during operation, while a current IQ ₂ flows through the second LED group 1 I 1 only during part of the period [t ₃ , U] not eliminated by the phase cutting dimmer. Similarly, at this point of operation by the phase cutting dimmer, no current flow through the third group of LEDs 1 1 2. Still, the ancillary circuitry 130 ensures current constantly flows to the first LED group 1 09 to prov ide continual current and thus light for the lighting device for improv ed functionality.

The conditioning circuit shown and described in this application, and shown in the figures, and the v arious modifications to conditioning circuits described in the application, are configured to driv e LED lighting circuits with reduced or minimal total harmonic distortion. By using analog circuitry which gradually and selectively routes current to various LED groups, the conditioning circuits prov ide a high lighting efficiency by driv ing one, two, or more LED groups based on the instantaneous value of the driv ing voltage.

Furthermore, by using depletion MOSFET transistors with elev ated drain-source resi stances r _ds , the depletion MOSFET transistors transition between the saturation and cutoff modes relativ ely slowly. As such, by ensuring that the transistors gradually switch between conducting and nonconducting states, the switching on and off of the LED groups and transistors follows substantially sinusoidal contours. As a result, the circuitry produces little harmonic distortion as the LED groups are gradually activ ated and deactiv ated. In addition, the first and second (or more) LED groups control current through each other: the forward voltage level of the second LED group influences the current flow through the first LED group, and the forward voltage lev el of the first LED group influences the current flow through the second LED group. As a result, the circuitry is self-controlling through the interactions between the multiple LED groups and multiple MOSFET transi stors.

In one aspect, the term "field effect transistor (FET)" may refer to any of a variety of multi-terminal transi stors generally operating on the principals of controlling an electric field to control the shape and hence the conductivity of a channel of one type of charge carrier in a semiconductor material, including, but not limited to a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET), a j unction FET (JFET), a metal semiconductor FET (MESFET), a high electron mobility transistor (HEMT), a modulation doped FET (MODFET), an insulated gate bipolar transistor ( IGBT), a fast rev erse epitaxial diode FET (FREDFET), and an ion-sensitive FET ( ISFET).

In one aspect, the terms "base, ^" "emitter, ^" and "collector ^" may refer to three terminal s of a transistor and may refer to a base, an emitter and a collector of a bipolar j unction transistor or may refer to a gate, a source, and a drain of a field effect transistor, respectively, and vice versa. In another aspect, the terms "gate, ^" "source, ^" and "drain ^" may refer to "base, ^" "emitter, ^" and "collector ^" of a transistor, respectivel , and vice versa.

Unless otherwise mentioned, various configurations described in the present di sclosure may be implemented on a Silicon, Si 1 i con-Germani um ( SiGe), Gallium Arsenide (GaAs), Indium Phosphide (InP) or Indium Gal lium Phosphide ( InGaP) substrate, or any other suitable substrate.

A reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean "one and only one ^" unless specifically so stated, but rather "one or more. ^" For example, a resi stor may refer to one or more resistors, a voltage may refer to one or more voltages, a current may refer to one or more currents, and a signal may refer to differential v oltage signals.

The word "exemplary ^" i s used herein to mean "serving as an example or illustration. ^" Any aspect or design described herein as "exemplary ^" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs. In one aspect, various alternative configurations and operations described herein may be considered to be at least equivalent.

A phrase such as an "example ^" or an "aspect ^" does not imply that such example or aspect is essential to the subject technology or that such aspect applies to all configurations of the sub j ect technology. A disclosure relating to an example or an aspect may apply to all

configurations, or one or more configurations. An aspect may provide one or more examples. A phrase such as an aspect may refer to one or more aspects and vice versa. A phrase such as an "embodiment" does not imply that such embodiment is essential to the subject technology or that such embodiment applies to all configurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to an embodiment may apply to all embodiments, or one or more embodiments. An embodiment may provide one or more examples. A phrase such as an embodiment may refer to one or more embodiments and vice versa. A phrase such as a

"configuration ^" does not imply that such configuration is essential to the subject technology or that such configuration applies to all configurations of the subject technology.

A disclosure relating to a configuration may apply to all configurations, or one or more configurations. A configuration may provide one or more examples. A phrase such a

configuration may refer to one or more configurations and vice versa.

In one aspect of the di scl osure, when actions or functions are described as being performed by an item (e.g., routing, lighting, emitting, driving, flowing, generating, activating, turning on or off, selecting, controlling, transmitting, sending, or any other action or function), it is understood that such actions or functions may be performed by the item directly or indirectly. In one aspect, when a module is described as performing an action, the module may be understood to perform the action directly. In one aspect, when a module is described as performing an action, the module may be understood to perform the action indirectly, for example, by faci litating, enabling or causing such an action.

In one aspect, unless otherwise stated, all measurements, values, ratings, positions, magnitudes, sizes, and other specifications that are set forth in this specification, including in the claims that follow, are approximate, not exact. In one aspect, they are intended to have a reasonable range that is consistent with the functions to which they relate and w ith what is customary in the art to which they pertain .

In one aspect, the term "coupled ^" , "connected ^" , "interconnected ^" , or the like may refer to being directly coupled, connected, or interconnected (e.g., directly electrically coupled, connected, or interconnected). In another aspect, the term "coupled ^" , "connected ^" , "interconnected ^" , or the like may refer to being indirectly coupled, connected, or interconnected (e.g., indirectly electrically coupled, connected, or interconnected).

The disclosure is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein . The di sclosure prov ides various examples of the subject technology, and the sub j ect technology is not limited to these examples. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects.

All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various aspects described throughout thi s di sclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term "include, ^" "have, ^" or the like is used, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term "comprise ^" as "comprise ^" is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.

The Title, Background, Overview, Brief Description of the Drawings and Abstract of the disclosure are hereby incorporated into the disclosure and are provided as illustrative examples of the disclosure, not as restrictive descriptions. It is submitted with the understanding that they will not be used to limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the Detailed

Description, it can be seen that the description provides illustrative examples and the various features are grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed subject matter requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed configuration or operation. The following cl aims are hereby incorporated into the

Detailed Description, w ith each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

VAR IOUS NOTES & EXAMPLES

Example 1 can include or use subject matter (such as an apparatus, a method, or a means for performing acts, when performed by the device, can cause the device to perform acts), such as can include or use a circuit comprising: a first series interconnection of a first light-emitting diode (LED) group, a first transistor, and a first resistor, the first series interconnection including: a cathode coupled to a drain terminal of the first transistor and a source terminal of the first transistor coupled to a first terminal of the first resistor, wherein voltage across the first re si st or provides a biasing voltage for the first transistor; a second series interconnection of a second LED group, a second transistor, and a second resistor, the second series interconnection is coupled to a drain terminal of the second transistor, and a source terminal of the second transistor is coupled to a first terminal of the second resistor, wherein voltage across the second resistor provides a biasing voltage for the second transistor; and an ancillary circuit bypassing the first series interconnection and having a capacitor to continuously provide current to the first series interconnection such that the first light-emitting diode (LED) group continuously emits light during operation of the circuit.

Example 2 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of

Example 1, to optionally include wherein the capacitor is connected between the drain of an ancillary transistor and a rectifier wherein the ancillary transi stor is coupled to a first terminal of an ancillary resistor to provide a biasing voltage for the ancillary transistor.

Example 3 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 1 or 2 to optionally include wherein the first series interconnection of the first light-emitting diode group emits a green light output.

Example 4 can include, or can optional ly be combined with the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 1 through 3 to optionally include wherein the first and second transistors are depletion MOSFET transistors.

Example 5 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 1 through 4 to optionally include a dimmer electrically connected to the first series interconnection and the second series interconnection.

Example 6 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of

Example 5, to optional ly include wherein the dimmer reduces the voltage below a threshold voltage of the second series interconnection to prevent the second series interconnection from emitting light at a time the first series interconnection emits light.

Example 7 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of

Example 6, to optional ly include wherein the dimmer is a phase cut dimmer.

Example 8 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 5 through 7 to optionally include wherein the dimmer is actuated to provide a relative light output of 5%.

Example 9 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 1 through 8 to optionally include wherein the first series interconnection has a first color characteristic and the second series interconnection has a second color characteristic.

Example 10 can include or use subject matter ( such as an apparatus, a method, or a means for performing acts, when performed by the device, can cause the device to perform acts), such as can include or use an electronic circuit, comprising: a light-emitting diode (LED) group including series-connected LEDs, the LED group including an anode end-node, a cathode end- node opposite the anode end-node, and an intermediate node; a first switching device coupled to the intermediate node and configured to energize a first group of at least two LEDs; a second switching device coupled to the cathode end-node and configured to energize a second group of at least two LEDs independent of the first group; and an ancillary circuit bypassing the first group of at least two LEDs and having a capacitor to continuously provide current to the first group of at least two LEDs such that the first group of at least two LEDs continuously emits light during operation of the circuit.

Example 1 1 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of Example 10, to optionally include wherein the first switching device includes a first transistor coupled to a first terminal of a first resistor, wherein voltage across the first resi stor provides a biasing voltage for the first transistor; and wherein the second switching device includes a second transistor coupled to a first terminal of a second resistor, wherein voltage across the second resistor provides a biasing voltage for the second transistor.

Example 12 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 1 0 or 1 1 to optionally include an additional LED group including series-connected LEDs, the additional LED group including an additional anode end-node, and an additional cathode end-node opposite the additional anode end-node, the additional anode end-node couple to the cathode end-node; a third switching device coupled to the additional cathode end-node, and configured to energize a third group of at least two LEDs independent of the first group and the second group.

Example 13 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 10 through 12 to optionally include wherein the first group of at least two LEDs emits a green light output. Example 14 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 10 through 13 to optional ly include wherein the first switching device and the second switching device include depletion MOSFET transistors.

Example 15 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 10 through 14 to optionally include wherein first group of at least two LEDs has a first color characteristic and the second group of at least two LEDs has a second color characteristic.

Example 16 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 10 through 15 to optionally include a dimmer electrically connected to the first group of at least two LEDs and the second group of at least two LEDs.

Example 1 7 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of Example 16, to optionally include wherein the dimmer is actuated to provide a relative light output of 5%.

Example 18 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of Example 16, to optionally include wherein the dimmer reduces the voltage below a threshold voltage of the second group of at least two LEDs to prevent the second group of at least tw o LEDs from emitting light at a time the first group of at least two LEDs emits light.

Example 19 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of Example 1 8, to optionally include wherein the dimmer is a phase cut dimmer.