Abstract: A method supplies a lighting device with electrical energy, wherein the lighting device includes at least two integrated circuits with at least one LED group by a current source associated with this LED group. The method includes generating a supply voltage by a voltage regulator, adjusting a LED group current passing the LED groups by one of the respective current sources , detecting the voltage drops across the current sources, selecting one voltage drop of each integrated circuit as a characteristic voltage drop, generating a control value of the respective integrated circuit, according to the characteristic voltage drop, reducing the control voltage when the control voltage is greater than a control value of the respective integrated circuit, and controlling the output voltage in accordance with the control voltage and/or in accordance with a control bus voltage derived from the control voltage.

Abstract: A device includes a voltage regulator, circuits, and a current bus. Each of the circuits includes at least one LED driver. The voltage regulator supplies electrical energy to a plurality of LED groups. Each of the circuits includes a voltage measuring circuit for detecting voltage drops across the LED drivers. The LED drivers set the currents through the LED groups. Each of the circuits includes a local controller. The local controller withdraws a current from the control bus in dependence on the detected voltage drops of the LED drivers included in the circuit. A bias current source injects a bias current into the control bus. The control bus sums the currents in the current bus. The output of the regulator is controlled based on the summed current.

Abstract: A device comprises a voltage regulator, circuits, a voltage-to-current converter, a control bus, a resistor and a resistor network. Each of the circuits has at least one LED connector and one LED driver. Each of the circuits has a measuring circuit for detecting voltage differences between the potentials of LED terminals and a reference potential. Further, each of the circuits includes a local controller. The local controller withdraws a current from the control bus in dependence on the detected voltage differences. Bias current sources inject bias currents into the control bus in form of a sum current of the injected bias currents. The resistor performs a current-to-voltage conversion of the sum current to a control voltage. The voltage-to-current converter converts the control voltage into a current. The resistor network converts the current into a voltage value. An output voltage of the voltage regulator depends on the voltage value.

Abstract: A device comprises a voltage regulator, circuits, a voltage-to-current converter, a control bus, a resistor and a resistor network. Each of the circuits has at least one LED connector and one LED driver. Each of the circuits has a measuring circuit for detecting voltage differences between the potentials of LED terminals and a reference potential. Further, each of the circuits includes a local controller. The local controller withdraws a current from the control bus in dependence on the detected voltage differences. Bias current sources inject bias currents into the control bus in form of a sum current of the injected bias currents. The resistor performs a current-to-voltage conversion of the sum current to a control voltage. The voltage-to-current converter converts the control voltage into a current. The resistor network converts the current into a voltage value. An output voltage of the voltage regulator depends on the voltage value.

Abstract: A method supplies a lighting device with electrical energy, wherein the lighting device includes at least two integrated circuits with at least one LED group by a current source associated with this LED group. The method includes generating a supply voltage by a voltage regulator, adjusting a LED group current passing the LED groups by one of the respective current sources, detecting the voltage drops across the current sources, selecting one voltage drop of each integrated circuit as a characteristic voltage drop, generating a control value of the respective integrated circuit, according to the characteristic voltage drop, reducing the control voltage when the control voltage is greater than a control value of the respective integrated circuit, and controlling the output voltage in accordance with the control voltage and/or in accordance with a control bus voltage derived from the control voltage.