Bypass circuitry for serially coupled light emitting diodes and associated methods of operation

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(11)

EP 2 427 033 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	23.05.2012 Bulletin 2012/21

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	07.03.2012 Bulletin 2012/10

(21)	Application number: 11180344.1

(22)	Date of filing: 07.09.2011

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International Patent Classification (IPC):

H05B 33/08^(2006.01)

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR
	Designated Extension States:
	BA ME

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Priority:

07.09.2010 US 380646 P
18.03.2011 US 51437
15.09.2010 CN 201010285957

(71)	Applicant: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
	San Jose, CA 95120-5000 (US)

(72)	Inventors:
	Yang, Eric Saratoga, CA California 95070 (US) Yao, Kaiwei San Jose, CA California 95132 (US) Xi, Frank Chengdu, Sichuan (CN) Zhang, Zhengwei Chengdu, Sichuan (CN)

(74)	Representative: Leach, James et al
	Mewburn Ellis LLP 33 Gutter Lane London EC2V 8AS London EC2V 8AS (GB)

(54)	Bypass circuitry for serially coupled light emitting diodes and associated methods of operation

(57) The present technology is generally related to LED bypass circuits and associated methods of operation. In one embodiment, an LED bypass circuit includes a monitoring circuit and a switch. The monitoring circuit is coupled to the LED to monitor the differential voltage across the LED. The switch is coupled to the LED in parallel. When an open status is detected by the monitoring circuit, the switch is turned on to bypass the LED.

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