Patent ID: 8212391

Claim:
A circuit array for controlling operation of two loads that operate with a rectified AC voltage, the circuit array comprising: a first current path that includes a first load of the two loads; a second current path that includes a second load of the two loads; a semiconductor switch on a circuit path that includes the two loads, the semiconductor switch being electrically connected to a common node of the first current path and the second current path; and a control unit to generate a switch control signal that controls the semiconductor switch; wherein the control unit comprises: a phase detection device to detect whether a phase of the AC voltage is positive or negative, and to output a logical detection signal that is based on whether the phase is positive or negative; and a logic unit to generate the switch control signal based on one or more logical load control signals and the logical detection signal, wherein the control unit is configured to supply the first current path with a first half wave of the rectified AC voltage and to supply the second current path with a second half wave of the rectified AC voltage.