Patent ID: 6013988
Filing Date: 2000-01-11
Classification: H05B

Abstract:
A circuit arrangement for operating a semiconductor light source, said circuit arrangement comprising:connection terminals for connecting the circuit arrangement to outputs from a control unit for controlling the semiconductor light source;input filter means coupled to the connection terminals;a converter comprising a control circuit, said converter being coupled to output means of the input filter means; andoutput terminals for coupled to output means of said converter for connecting said circuit arrangement to the semiconductor light source,characterized in that said converter comprises a switched-mode power supply for providing power to said semiconductor light source, said switched-mode power supply having a switching element which is cyclically switched on and off by said control circuit, and the circuit arrangement further comprises a self-regulating current-conducting network coupled between said filter means and said converter, said self-regulating current-conducting network draining off a leakage current in the control unit when said control unit is in a non-conducting state.