Patent ID: 8106599

Claim:
A light element array, comprising: a first light emitting element having a first terminal and a second terminal; a second light emitting element having a first terminal, and a second terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first light emitting element; a third light emitting element having a first terminal coupled to the first terminal of the first light emitting element and a second terminal; a first switch having a first terminal coupled to each of the first terminals of the first and third light emitting elements, and a second terminal coupled to the first terminal of the second light emitting element; and a second switch having a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the third light emitting element, and a second terminal coupled to each of the second terminals of the first and second light emitting elements, wherein the first terminal of the first light emitting element is coupled to a first power supply rail and the second terminal of the first light emitting element is coupled to a second power supply rail, and the first, second, and third light emitting elements are characterized by respective first, second, and third operating voltages (VOP1, VOP2, VOP3), the relative relationships of which is defined by the equation: V OP1 >V OP2 ,V OP3 the second light emitting element being adapted to receive at least a portion of current supplied to the first or second power supply rails when the first switch is in a closed state and the second switch is in an open state; and the third light emitting element being adapted to receive at least a portion of current supplied to the light element array when the first switch is in an open state and the second switch is in a closed state.