Patent ID: 8547025

Claim:
A light-emitting diode (LED) lighting device, comprising: a first luminescent device for providing light according to a first current; a second luminescent device coupled in series to the first luminescent device for providing light according to a second current; a first silicon-controlled rectifier coupled in parallel to the first luminescent device and configured to conduct a third current when a voltage established across the first luminescent device exceeds a break-over voltage; a first two-terminal current controller coupled in parallel to the first luminescent device and in series to the second luminescent device and configured to regulate the second current according to the voltage established across the first two-terminal current controller, wherein: during a rising period of a rectified alternative-current (AC) voltage when the voltage established across the first luminescent device does not exceed a first voltage, the first two-terminal current controller operates in a first mode; during the rising period when the voltage established across the first luminescent device exceeds the first voltage but does not exceed a second voltage, the first two-terminal current controller operates in a second mode; during the rising period when the voltage established across the first luminescent device exceeds the second voltage, the first two-terminal current controller operates in a third mode; and the first two-terminal current controller includes: a first current limiting unit configured to: conduct a fourth current associated with the rectified AC voltage, regulate the fourth current according to the voltage established across the first luminescent device and maintain the first current at zero when the first two-terminal current controller operates in the first mode; conduct the fourth current, maintain the fourth current at a first predetermined value larger than zero and maintain the first current at zero when the first two-terminal current controller operates in the second mode; and switch off for equalizing the first current and the second current when the first two-terminal current controller operates in the third mode.