Patent ID: 8264806

Claim:
An electronic device including a protection circuit for a light-emitting device, the protection circuit comprising: a first node adapted to be coupled to an anode of the light-emitting device; a second node adapted to be coupled to a cathode of the light-emitting device; a voltage detection stage coupled between the first and second nodes, the voltage detection stage being adapted to detect an overvoltage condition between the first and second nodes; and a thyristor coupled with its anode to the first node, its cathode to the second node and to the voltage detection stage such that when the overvoltage condition is detected the thyristor is triggered to conduct so that current can flow through the thyristor, wherein the thyristor comprises a PNP transistor and an NPN transistor having a double emitter, one of the emitters of the NPN transistor being coupled to a reporting pin to indicate a condition of the thyristor.