Solid state light emitting device

1. A light emitting device comprising:

an LED chip array comprising a plurality of LEDs formed on a first die, and

at least one discrete LED formed on at least a second die that is separate from the first die having the LED chip array, the at least one discrete LED electrically connected in series with the LED chip array.

2. The device of claim 1 , and further comprising a package in which the first die having the LED chip array and the at least second die having at least one discrete LED are mounted.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the LED chip array is AC-drivable.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein the AC-drivable LED chip array comprises a plurality of LEDs that are configured to be AC-drivable.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the LEDs are configured such that positive and negative half wave periods of an AC drive are mapped onto oppositely connected LEDs such that oppositely connected LEDs are alternately operable on a respective half wave period.

6. The device of claim 4 , wherein the AC-drivable LED chip array comprise at least two LEDs connected in parallel in opposite polarity.

7. The device of claim 4 , wherein the LEDs are connected in a bridge configuration.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the LED chip array and the at least one discrete LED are operable to emit light of substantially a same wavelength.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the LIED chip array and the at least one discrete LED are operable to emit light of different wavelengths.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the LED chip array is operable to emit blue light having a peak wavelength in a range 455 to 460 nm.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one LED is operable to emit blue light having a peak wavelength in a range 490 to 510 nm.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one LED is operable to emit red light having a peak wavelength in a range 620 to 670 nm.

13. The device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one phosphor that is operable to absorb at least a portion of the light emitted by the LED chip array and/or at least one discrete LED and in response emit light having a different dominant wavelength.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the at least one phosphor is operable to emit green light having a dominant wavelength in a range 550 to 570 nm.

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein the at least one phosphor is operable to emit red light having a peak wavelength in a range 620 to 650 nm.

16. The device of claim 13 , wherein the at least one phosphor is selected from the group consisting of: YAG material; a silicate material; a nitride material; a sulfate material; an aluminate material; an oxynitride material; an oxysulfate material and a mixture thereof.

17. The device of claim 1 , wherein the LED chip array comprises GaN-based LEDs.

18. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one LED is selected from the group consisting of an InN-based LEDs, a GaInAIP-based LEDs, a GaAlAs-based LEDs, a GaA 1 P-based LEDs and a GaP-based LEDs.

19. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is drivable from a drive voltage selected from the group consisting of: 40 V, 110V, 220V and 240V.

20. A light emitting device that is drivable from a selected voltage comprising:

an LED chip array comprising a plurality of LEDs formed on a first die and having a nominal drive voltage corresponding to the selected drive voltage and an actual measured drive voltage and

at least one discrete LED formed on at least a second die and electrically connected in series with the LED chip array,

wherein the number of the at least one discrete LED is selected to prevent overdriving of the LED chip array at the selected drive voltage.

21. The device of claim 20 , wherein the LED chip array is AC-drivable.

22. The device of claim 21 , wherein the AC-drivable LED chip array comprises a plurality of LEDs that are configured to be AC-drivable.

23. The device of claim 22 , wherein the LEDs are configured such that positive and negative half wave periods of an AC drive voltage are mapped onto oppositely connected LEDs such that oppositely connected LEDs are alternately operable on a respective half wave period.

24. The device of claim 22 , wherein the AC-drivable LED chip array comprises at least two LEDs connected in parallel in opposite polarity.

25. The device of claim 24 , wherein the LEDs are connected in a bridge configuration.

26. A light emitting device comprising:

an LED chip array comprising a plurality of LEDs formed on a first die and operable to emit blue light having, a peak wavelength in a range 455 to 460 nm, and

at least one discrete LED formed on at least a second die that is separate from the first die having the LED chip array, and the at least one discrete LED electrically connected in series with the LED chip array and operable to emit red light having a peak wavelength in a range 620 to 670 nm.

27. A light emitting device comprising:

an LED chip array comprising a plurality of LEDs formed on a first die, and

at least one discrete LED formed on at least a second die that is separate from the first die having the LED chip array connected in series with the LED chip array

wherein the device is operable directly from a drive voltage of at least 40 volts.

28. The device of claim 7 , wherein the device is operable directly from a drive voltage of at least 110 volts.

29. The device of claim 27 , wherein the device is operable directly from a drive voltage of at least 220 volts.