Patent ID: 7490957

Claim:
A light emitting diode (LED) lamp for mounting to an existing fixture for a fluorescent lamp having a ballast assembly including ballast opposed electrical contacts, comprising: a tube having tube ends, at least one LED positioned within said tube between said tube ends, electrical circuit means for providing electrical power from the ballast assembly to said at least one LED, means for electrically connecting said electrical circuit means with the ballast opposed electrical contacts, said electrical circuit means including an LED electrical circuit including at least one electrical string positioned within said tube and generally extending between said tube ends, said at least one LED being in electrical connection with said at least one electrical string, said at least one LED being positioned to emit light through said tube, means for supporting and holding said at least one LED and said LED electrical circuit, means for controlling the delivery of said electrical power to said at least one LED, means for detecting the level of daylight around the illumination area of said at least one LED, a signal relating to the detected level of daylight emanating from said means for detecting, means for transmitting said signal to said means for controlling, and a voltage surge suppressor device that both reduces excess voltage from the ballast assembly during the start-up mode of the electrical system and suppresses transient voltage surge during the operating mode of the electrical system.