# US 10,455,662 B2 · Lighting system including a protection circuit, and corresponding method for protecting light sources from electrostatic discharges > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,455,662 B2 - Document ID: US10455662B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/116,228 - Filed: 2014-11-26 - Published: 2017-01-12 - Granted: 2019-10-22 - Earliest claimed: 2014-02-14 - Assignees: OSRAM GmbH - Applicants: Osram GmbH - Inventors: Alessio Griffoni; Lorenzo Baldo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10455662B2 ## CPC - H05B 45/10: Controlling the intensity of the light - H02H 9/045: {adapted to a particular application and not provided for elsewhere} - H05B 45/48: having LEDs organised in strings and incorporating parallel shunting devices - H05B 45/54: in a series array of LEDs - H10D 89/60: Integrated devices comprising arrangements for electrical or thermal protection, e.g. protection circuits against electrostatic discharge [ESD] - H10W 42/60: protecting against electrostatic charges or discharges, e.g. Faraday shields (integrated devices comprising arrangements for electrical protection H10D89/60) - Y02B 20/30: Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED] - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - H02H: EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS (indicating or signalling undesired working conditions G01R, e.g. G01R31/00, G08B; locating faults along lines G01R31/08; emergency protective devices H01H) - H10D: INORGANIC ELECTRIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES - H10W: GENERIC PACKAGES, INTERCONNECTIONS, CONNECTORS OR OTHER CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10 - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract Various embodiments may relate to a lighting system including a string of light sources connected in series between a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein at least one electrical contact of the string of light sources is accessible. The system further includes a protection circuit that protects the light sources from an electrostatic discharge applied to the electrical contact that is accessible. In particular, the protection circuit includes at least one TVS diode or set of antiparallel diodes connected to the second terminal, and for each electrical contact a respective capacitor connected between the respective electrical contact and a TVS diode or set of antiparallel diodes, in such a way that an electrostatic event applied to an electrical contact is discharged through the respective capacitor and the respective TVS diode or set of antiparallel diodes towards the second terminal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lighting system comprising: a first terminal and a second terminal; a string of light sources connected in series between said first terminal and said second terminal; and a protection circuit configured for protecting said light sources from an electrostatic discharge applied to at least one electrical contact of said string of light sources, wherein said protection circuit comprises: one set of antiparallel diodes connected to said second terminal; and a respective capacitor connected between said at least one electrical contact and one set of antiparallel diodes, in such a way that an electrostatic event applied to an electrical contact is discharged through the respective capacitor and the set of antiparallel diodes towards said second terminal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein said protection circuit comprises a single set of antiparallel diodes for all electrical contacts. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein said light sources are solid-state lighting sources. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system according to claim 3, wherein said light sources are LEDs. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the electrical contacts between said light sources are not protected, and wherein associated to each light source is a respective capacitor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein said lighting system comprises a current regulator connected in series to said light sources, and wherein a further capacitor is associated to said current regulator. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein said lighting system is configured in such a way that said first terminal is a positive terminal and said second terminal is a negative terminal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein said system is integrated in a lighting module. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, further comprising an electronic converter configured for supplying said string of light sources through said first terminal and said second terminal. ### Claim 10 A method for protecting light sources of a string of light sources from electrostatic discharges applied to at least one electric contact of said string of light sources, wherein said light sources are connected in series between a first terminal and a second terminal, the method comprising: connecting one set of antiparallel diodes to said second terminal; and connecting a capacitor between each of said at least one electrical contact and one set of antiparallel diodes, in such a way that an electrostatic event applied to an electrical contact is discharged through the respective capacitor and the set of antiparallel diodes towards said second terminal.