System and method for supplying constant power to luminuous loads

An apparatus for supplying power to a luminous load, comprising:

• a transformer including a first primary winding configured to receive an input voltage;
• a control circuit configured to generate an alternating current through the first primary winding based on a first signal derived from the input voltage and a second signal derived from the current, wherein the transformer is configured to develop an alternating voltage across the first primary winding based on the alternating current;
• and
• a load interface circuit configured to generate an output voltage for the luminous load based on the alternating voltage from the transformer, wherein the load interface circuit comprises:
• a rectifier configured to rectify the alternating voltage;
• a capacitive element configured to filter the rectified voltage to generate the output voltage for the luminous load;
• and
• an output clamp circuit configured to at least partially shunt the luminous load if the output voltage exceeds a defined threshold.

A method for supplying power to a luminous load, comprising:

• generating an alternating current through a primary winding of a transformer based on a third signal generated at a summing node that receives a first signal derived from an input voltage, a second signal derived from the current, and a temperature-compensated reference signal;
• generating an alternating voltage across the primary winding of the transformer in response to the alternating current;
• and
• generating an output voltage for the luminous load based on the alternating voltage from the transformer.