Patent ID: 8410717

Claim:
A method of providing power to a plurality of light emitting diodes couplable to receive an AC voltage, the plurality of light emitting diodes coupled in series to form a plurality of segments of light emitting diodes each comprising at least one light emitting diode, the plurality of segments of light emitting diodes coupled to a corresponding plurality of switches configured to switch a selected segment of light emitting diodes into or out of a series light emitting diode current path, the method comprising: monitoring a first parameter; during a first part of an AC voltage interval, in response to the first parameter having reached a first predetermined current level, switching a corresponding segment of light emitting diodes into the series light emitting diode current path; and during a second part of the AC voltage interval, in response to the first parameter having decreased to a second predetermined current level, switching the corresponding segment of light emitting diodes out of the series light emitting diode current path.