Abstract: A protection circuit for lighting drivers is provided, wherein a lighting driver is coupled to an AC voltage source. The protection circuit comprises a loading circuit, coupled to the AC voltage source and operable to load it with a loading current, and a monitoring and control (M&C) circuit. The M&C circuit is coupled to the AC voltage source for detecting interference pulses thereon and causes the loading circuit to load the AC voltage source with the loading current during a certain loading time starting upon detecting an interference pulse, indiscriminately of the interference pulse polarity. The protection circuit thereby prevents the AC source current from dropping to zero in response to the interference pulse. When the AC voltage source comprises a lighting dimmer, preventing the current from dropping to zero prevents cutout of the lighting dimmer due to an interference pulse that causes a momentary drop of the AC voltage.

Abstract: Method, apparatus and system for efficient driving a lighting means. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a synchronous load for a lighting system, wherein the lighting system is fed by an AC supply that is potentially produced by a dimmer. The synchronous load is configured to load the AC supply only if the AC supply is found to be actually produced by a dimmer. In this case, the loading period comprises only the times when the AC supply voltage is lower than a given threshold and when current oscillation occurs.

Abstract: Controlled Light Emitting Diode (LED) driver comprising an AC/DC converter configured to convert an AC voltage at its input to a DC voltage at its output; at least one LED driver coupled to the output of the AC/DC converter and configured to convert the DC voltage to a pulsed output power for driving one or more LEDs that serve to provide lighting; and a local controller having a control interface. The control interface is configured to receive control information from one or more control sources coupled to it, and the local controller is further coupled to the at least one LED driver for controlling its operation by determining one or more LED driving parameters of the pulsed output power, based on the control information.