Patent ID: 7855708

Claim:
A light emitting diode (LED) luminance sensing system comprising: an LED mount structure having a first side and a second side; an aperture extending through the LED mount structure between the first side and the second side to define an optical path having a first end and a second end; a string of LEDs mounted on the LED mount structure first side, the string of LEDs including a sampling LED and configured to receive a current flow and, upon receipt thereof, to emit light, the sampling LED disposed directly over the first end of the aperture and entirely covering the first end of the aperture; a light sensor disposed adjacent the mount structure second side, the light sensor disposed directly over the second end of the aperture and entirely covering the second end of the aperture so that only light emitted from the sampling LED is detected by the light sensor; and a control mechanism in communication with the light sensor and configured to adjust the current flow to the string of LEDs in accordance with the light detected by said light sensor.