Linear solid-state lighting with low emergency power and auto-tests

A linear light-emitting diode (LED) lamp, comprising:

• at least two electrical conductors configured to couple to a line voltage from alternate-current (AC) mains;
• one or more LED arrays with a forward voltage across the one or more LED arrays;
• a rechargeable battery with a terminal voltage across thereon;
• at least one full-wave rectifier coupled to the at least two electrical conductors and configured to convert the line voltage into a primary direct-current (DC) voltage;
• a step-up regulator circuit comprising a first inductor, at least three diode rectifiers, and three or more capacitors, the step-up regulator circuit configured to energetically charge the three or more capacitors in multiple stages to convert the terminal voltage of the rechargeable battery into controllable energy pulses, followed by the three or more capacitors, thereby building a regulated output voltage greater than the forward voltage with a first LED driving current;
• a step-down regulator circuit comprising a second inductor and configured to generate a second LED driving current to power up the one or more LED arrays at a full power when the line voltage is available;
• a load control relay circuit comprising a voltage sensing coil and configured to control the second LED driving current to flow into and out of the one or more LED arrays, thereby transferring a power to the one or more LED arrays;
• a control and test circuit comprising a self-diagnostic circuit and configured to enable the step-up regulator circuit and to disable the step-down regulator circuit when either the line voltage is not available or a rechargeable battery test is initiated;
• and
• a power source configured to couple to the at least one full-wave rectifier and to provide a DC power to the control and test circuit and the rechargeable battery,
• wherein:
• the load control relay circuit further comprises a first pair of electrical terminals, a second pair of electrical terminals, and a third pair of electrical terminals;
• the first pair of electrical terminals are configured to couple to the step-down regulator circuit and to relay the second LED driving current to flow into the one or more LED arrays;
• the second pair of electrical terminals are configured to relay the second LED driving current returned from the one or more LED arrays to flow into a ground reference of the step-down regulator circuit;
• and
• the third pair of electrical terminals are configured to be interfaced between the terminal voltage of the rechargeable battery and the voltage sensing coil to operate thereof.