Light-emitting diode (LED) driver, LED lighting apparatus, and method of operating LED lighting apparatus

A light-emitting diode (LED) driver comprising:

• an LED current controller configured to control an LED current, which flows through an LED array comprising a plurality of LEDs, such that the LED current is maintained at a constant level;
• a comparer configured to compare a sensing signal, which corresponds to a magnitude of the LED current, and a reference signal, and to generate a first output signal based on a result of the comparison;
• and
• a dimming controller configured to modify the first output signal to obtain a second output signal for controlling a dimming of the plurality of LEDs, and to provide the second output signal to the LED current controller, wherein:
• the dimming controller comprises a voltage divider that is connected to an output terminal of the comparer;
• and
• the voltage divider is configured to divide the first output signal to thereby obtaining the second output signal.

A light-emitting diode (LED) dimming apparatus comprising:

• an LED array comprising a plurality of LEDs;
• an LED current controller configured to control an LED current, which flows through the LED array, such that the LED current is maintained at a constant level;
• a comparer configured to compare a sensing signal, which corresponds to a magnitude of the LED current, and a reference signal, and to obtain a first output signal based on a result of the comparison;
• and
• a dimming controller configured to modify the first output signal to obtain a second output signal for controlling a dimming of the plurality of LEDs, and to provide the second output signal to the LED current controller,
• wherein:
• the dimming controller comprises a voltage divider that is connected to an output terminal of the comparer;
• and
• the voltage divider is configured to divide the first output signal to obtain the second output signal.

A method of controlling current provided to an LED array comprising a plurality of LEDs, the method comprising:

• comparing a sensing signal, which corresponds to a magnitude of an LED current flowing through the LED array, and a reference signal;
• obtaining a first output signal based on the comparing;
• and
• modifying the obtained first output signal to obtain a second output signal for controlling a dimming of the plurality of LEDs such that the LED current is maintained at a constant level,
• wherein the modifying the obtained first output signal comprises dividing the first output signal to thereby obtain the second output signal.