Light emitting diode multiphase driver circuit and method

1. A method for driving light emitting diodes (LEDs) in multiphase, comprising:

providing a string of LEDs divided into groups, said groups of LEDs being electrically connected to each other in series;

providing a power source electrically connected to the string of LEDs;

separately coupling each of the groups to a ground through separate conductive paths;

providing a phase switch in each of the separate conductive paths;

increasing an input voltage from the power source to turn on the LEDs, group by group in a sequence downstream the string.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

monitoring a phase voltage of each group;

turning off the phase switch of an upstream group, when the phase voltage of a next group downstream said upstream group reaches a predetermined value.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

monitoring a phase voltage of each group;

turning off the phase switch of a group, when the phase voltage of said group reaches a predetermined value.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

monitoring the input voltage from the power source;

turning off the phase switch of a first group, when the input voltage reaches a first predetermined value;

turning off the phase switch of a second group, when the input voltage reaches a second predetermined value;

repeating the turning-off step until all phase switches that are designed to be turned off are turned off.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing an additional group of LEDs connected in series to a last group of the string, wherein the additional group is not turned on under a designed normal range of the input voltage so as to protect against over-voltage or over-power.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

monitoring the input voltage;

turning off all phase switches providing, if the input voltage is higher than a predetermined value.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

monitoring a phase voltage of a last group in the string;

turning off the phase switches of all groups, if the phase voltage is higher than a predetermined value.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

turning off an upstream group before a next group immediately downstream the upstream group is turned on.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

turning off an upstream group after a next group immediately downstream the upstream group is turned on.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

decreasing the input voltage from the power source to turn off the LEDs, group by group in a reverse sequence upstream the string.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

regulating a phase current flowing through the phase switch, so that when the phase current reaches a regulated value programmed by a reference, it follows the reference with the increase of the input voltage; and

reducing the phase current of an upstream group to a minimal level or turning off the phase switch of the upstream group, when the phase current of a next group downstream said upstream group reaches its regulated value with the increase of the input voltage.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the reference of each phase switch is kept substantially constant.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the reference of each phase switch is set to substantially follow the shape of the input voltage so as to provide power factor correction (PFC).

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the phase current of the upstream group is gradually reduced to said minimal level, as the phase current of next group downstream the upstream group is gradually reaching the regulated value.

15. A driver circuit for driving light emitting diodes (LEDs) in multiphase, comprising:

a string of LEDs divided into n groups, said n groups of LEDs being electrically connected to each other in series in a sequence from group 1 to group n, each group having an upstream end and a downstream end, and the downstream end of group m−1 being electrically connected to the upstream end of group m, where m is a positive integer equal to or less than n;

a power source coupled to the upstream end of group 1 to provide an input voltage;

a plurality of phase switches, each of the phase switches being coupled to the downstream end of a corresponding group at one end and coupled to a ground at the other end.

16. The driver circuit of claim 15 , wherein the groups contain LEDs and resistors of the same or different kind, color, and value, connected in parallel or in series or combination thereof.

17. The driver circuit of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the phase switches is connected to a resistor in series.

18. The driver circuit of claim 15 , wherein the phase switch comprises a N-Channel MOSFET, or a P-Channel MOSFET, or a NPN bipolar transistor, or a PNP bipolar transistor, or an Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT), or an analog switch, or a relay.

19. The driver circuit of claim 15 , wherein the phase switch of group n is capable of tolerating a relatively larger power than that of groups 1 to n−1.

20. The driver circuit of claim 15 , further comprising an active current control circuit to control a phase current flowing through each phase switch.

21. The driver circuit of claim 15 , further comprising a dimming circuit.

22. The driver circuit of claim 15 , further comprising a PFC circuit.

23. The driver circuit of claim 15 , further comprising an over-voltage protection circuit.

24. A driver circuit for driving light emitting diodes (LEDs) with over-voltage protection, comprising:

a group of LEDs;

a power source coupled to an upstream end of the group to provide an input voltage;

a phase switch coupling a downstream end of the group at one end and coupled to a ground at another end, the phase switch comprising a transistor;

a over voltage protection circuit coupled between a gate of the transistor of the phase switch and a downstream end of the group.