Abstract: A circuit serving as a light source, the circuit comprising a first group of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), a second group of LEDs connected in anti-parallel with the first group of LEDs, wherein each of the first group of LEDs and the second group of LEDs comprises at least one LED, and a capacitor connected in parallel with the first group of LEDs and the second group of LEDs.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an integrated AC LED module comprises steps: forming a junction layer on a substrate, and defining a first growth area and a second growth area on the junction layer; respectively growing a Schottky diode and a LED on the first growth area and the second growth area; forming a passivation layer and a metallic layer on the Schottky diode, the LED and the substrate. Thereby, the Schottky diode is electrically connected with the LED via the metallic layer. Thus is promoted the reliability of electric connection of diodes, reduced the layout area of the module, and decreased the fabrication cost.

Abstract: Horticultural lighting system comprising a first string (22) of at least one light element (16, 40), a second string (24) of at least one light element (16, 40), both strings being electrically connected in parallel with each other, a power supply unit (12, 50, 60, 70) providing an AC current/voltage to the parallel circuit of the strings, and means for energizing (26, 42) the first string during a first half period of the AC voltage and the second string during a second half period of the AC voltage, so that each string radiates pulsed light, said first string and said second string being arranged such that different areas (32, 34) are irradiated. The lighting system is also to be used in an environment where living organisms are irradiated with light, or a greenhouse for exposing plants to pulsed light. A corresponding method is also claimed.

Abstract: A light-emitting system is introduced herein. The light-emitting system includes a substrate and a plurality of light-emitting units electrically-connected on the substrate. Each of the plurality of light-emitting units includes a plurality of light-emitting diodes arranged as a bridge rectifier. A first part of the plurality of light-emitting diodes emits light during positive half cycles of an AC power signal. A second part of the plurality of light-emitting diodes emits light during negative half cycles of the AC power signal. The third part of the plurality of light-emitting diodes comprising at least one light-emitting diode emits light during both the positive half cycles and the negative half cycles of the AC power signal.

Abstract: An LED driving device includes: an LED unit outputting a driving current corresponding to an external AC input voltage; and a current limiting unit receiving the driving current from the LED unit, including a parallel connection of a bypass switch and a current limiting circuit, and operable so as to permit flow of the driving current through one of the bypass switch and the current limiting circuit such that the current limiting unit has a first conduction impedance when the bypass switch is in an ON-state, and a second conduction impedance larger than the first conduction impedance when the bypass switch is in an OFF-state.

Abstract: Horticultural lighting system comprising a first string (22) of at least one light element (16, 40), a second string (24) of at least one light element (16, 40), both strings being electrically connected in parallel with each other, a power supply unit (12, 50, 60, 70) providing an AC current/voltage to the parallel circuit of the strings, and means for energizing (26, 42) the first string during a first half period of the AC voltage and the second string during a second half period of the AC voltage, so that each string radiates pulsed light, said first string and said second string being arranged such that different areas (32, 34) are irradiated. The lighting system is also to be used in an environment where living organisms are irradiated with light, or a greenhouse for exposing plants to pulsed light. A corresponding method is also claimed.

Abstract: A rare gas illumination system and method are configured to provide a sweeping illumination effect. In one embodiment, the rare gas illumination system includes a tube containing a gas and having a first electrode at a first end and a second electrode at a second end. A first boot having a first transformer is coupled to the first end of the tube. A second boot having a second transformer is coupled to the second end of the tube. The system includes a controller having a microcontroller, a memory, and an output power driver. The memory is configured to store a plurality of control codes corresponding to a plurality of illumination patterns. The microcontroller controls the illumination pattern of the tube by executing the corresponding control code to selectively activate the output driver to provide a voltage signal to at least one of the first boot and the second boot.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for A.C. operation of gas discharge lamps comprises a full-wave rectifier (1) connected to an alternating voltage source. The direct voltage is supplied to a combinatorial circuit part (3 to 8) in the form of a direct voltage converter, to which is connected a bridge circuit (9) which comprises four thyristors. The transverse branch of the bridge circuit includes the lamp (5). The full-wave rectifier (1) is followed by a smoothing capacitor (2) and an electronic switching element (14) is connected parallel to the bridge circuit (9). The switching element is switched to the conducting state in the vicinity of the zero passages of the input alternating voltage. As a result shortcircuits in the bridge circuit are avoided.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus is structured such that the output of an alternating current voltage source (1) is connected to the input of a rectifying circuit (2), a series connection of a first smoothing capacitor (3a), a diode (15) and a second smoothing capacitor (3b) is connected to the output of the rectifying circuit so that the rectifying direction of the diodes may be opposite to the rectifying direction of the rectifying circuit, a first load (4a) is connected in parallel with the series connection portion of the first smoothing capacitor and the diode, and a second load (4b) is connected in parallel with the series connection portion of the second smoothing capacitor and the diode.

Abstract: An A.C. voltage fed power supply for D.C. gas-discharge lamps is disclosed having full-wave rectifying means connected on the A.C. side to at least two phase-adjusting networks for forming mutually phase-shifted partial currents and connected together on the D.C. side to superimpose the rectified, phase-shifted partial currents. Each phase-adjusting network is connected through the full-wave rectifying means to the same load impedance at the two D.C. voltage output terminals.