Patent ID: 8179055

Claim:
An AC-driven LED circuit comprising: a first circuit having LEDs, each LED having an input and an output, and the circuit having at least first and second branches connecting at first and second common points, the common points providing input and output for an AC driving voltage for the circuit; the first branch having at least a first, a second, and a third LED, and the second branch having at least a fourth, a fifth, and a sixth LED; the first LED is connected to the second LED in opposing series relationship and one of the first or the second LEDs is connected in series with the third LED, with the inputs of the first and second LEDs defining a first branch junction; the fourth LED is connected to the fifth LED in opposing series relationship and one of the fourth or fifth LEDs is connected in series with the sixth LED, with the outputs of the fourth and fifth LEDs defining a second branch junction, the first and second branches are connected to one another such that the output of the first LED is connected to the input of the fourth LED at the first common point and the output of the third LED is connected to the input of the sixth LED at the second common point; and, a first cross-connecting circuit branch having at least a seventh LED, the first cross-connecting circuit branch being configured such that the input of the seventh LED is connected to the second branch junction and the output is connected to the first branch junction, wherein at least one additional LED is connected in series with the second LED between the second common point and the first branch junction than is connected in series with the first LED between the first common point and the first branch junction, or the first LED between the first common point and the first branch junction than is connected in series with the second LED between the second common point and the first branch junction.