Patent ID: 8823283

Claim:
A light emitting diode (LED) lamp comprising: a switching power converter including: a magnetic component coupled to an output voltage of a dimmer switch with phase angle switching and coupled to an output of the switching power converter, the output voltage of the dimmer switch received as the input voltage of the switching power converter; a switch coupled to the magnetic component, current through the magnetic component being generated while the switch is turned on and not being generated while the switch is turned off; and a controller configured to generate a control signal to turn on or turn off the switch at each switching cycle of the switch; wherein the controller is configured to operate the switch in a first mode to deliver electrical power to the output of the switching power converter or operate the switch in a second mode causing the switch to function as a current sink; wherein the controller is configured to estimate power dissipated by the switch during the second mode to determine whether the switch is approaching an unsafe operating condition; a current regulator coupled to the output of the switching power converter, the current regulator receiving the electrical power delivered by the switching power converter; and one or more LEDs coupled to an output of the current regulator; wherein the current regulator regulates current through the one or more LEDs based on a control signal from the controller.