Patent ID: 7598511

Claim:
A solid state relay, comprising: a relay circuit having a maximum turn-on time and comprising a switch, the relay circuit being configured to operate in an on state when the switch is in a first position and to operate in an off state when the switch is in a second position; an LED; an energy-conserving circuit operably connected to, and configured to drive, the LED, comprising: a control circuit configured to output a control signal in response to receiving an input signal, the output signal causing the switch to assume the first position and thereby cause the relay circuit to operate in the on state; a turn-on circuit comprising a first resistor and configured to provide a first output current at a first current level to the relay circuit for a first time period in response to the control signal causing the relay circuit to operate in the on state; and a holding circuit comprising a second resistor and configured to maintain the output current at a reduced second current level for a second time period to maintain the relay circuit in the on state; wherein the first current level is at least ten times greater than the second current level, the first time period is less than the second time period, and the first time period is greater than or equal to the maximum turn-on time.