Patent ID: RE43890

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: a plurality of light module, modules connected in series to form at least a portion of a light string that is driven by an alternating power source, said light modules comprising: a first light emitting diode having a first set of electrical characteristics comprising a first forward voltage drop ; and a second light emitting diode connected directly to said first light emitting diode in parallel such that said first light emitting diode and said second light emitting diode have the same polarity, said second light emitting diode having selected to have a second set of electrical characteristics comprising a second forward voltage drop that are different from said first set of electrical characteristics, such that said first light emitting diode carries substantially all of the current that is conducted through said light module, while said second light emitting diode remains unused until said first light emitting diode fails to conduct said current , wherein each of said first light emitting diode and said second light emitting diode have a total current rating sufficient to carry all of said current conducted through said light module .