Current regulator for multimode operation of solid state lighting

A method of providing power to a solid state lighting system for a selected operating mode of a plurality of operating modes, the method comprising:

• starting an energizing cycle by providing current through an inductor until a predetermined peak inductor current level is reached;
• transferring energy stored in the inductor to the solid state lighting;
• determining a reset time period as a time duration for the inductor current to decrease substantially to a zero level from the peak inductor current level;
• determining an energizing cycle time period based on the reset time period and a predetermined average current parameter;
• and
• commencing a next energizing cycle when the energizing cycle time period has elapsed.

A current regulator for providing a plurality of operating modes for solid state lighting, the current regulator couplable to a DC power supply, the current regulator comprising:

• an inductor coupled to the DC power supply and coupled to the solid state lighting;
• a switch coupled to the inductor;
• a current sensor coupled to the switch;
• a first comparator coupled to the current sensor;
• a voltage sensor coupled to the inductor;
• a second comparator coupled to the voltage sensor;
• a memory adapted to store a plurality of average current parameters;
• and
• a control circuit coupled to the memory and to the first and second comparators, the control circuit adapted to turn the switch on to commence an energizing cycle and to turn the switch off when the first comparator indicates that an inductor current has reached a predetermined peak level, to determine a reset time period when the second comparator indicates that a voltage level corresponding to the inductor current has decreased substantially to a zero level, and to determine an energizing cycle time period for providing power to the solid state lighting as proportional to a selected average current parameter of the plurality of average current parameters and the reset time period.