Patent ID: 9095019
Filing Date: 2015-07-28
Classification: H05B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for driving a LED string that includes one or more LEDs, comprising: a drive circuit that supplies a current, in response to a control signal applied to the drive circuit, to the LED string to cause the LED string to emit light, wherein the current supplied by the drive circuit is a non-linear function of a control signal parameter within a first range of the control signal parameter value, and a linear function of the control signal parameter within a second range of the control signal parameter value; and a dummy load circuit in parallel with the LED string, said dummy load circuit diverting current supplied by said drive circuit to the LED string when the value of the control signal parameter applied to the drive circuit is in the first range, so that substantially no current is supplied by the drive circuit to the LED string when the control signal parameter value is within the first range.