LED driver for LED lighting units for replacing a high-intensity discharge lamp

1. An LED driver for generating an output power for driving at least one LED from an input power, provided by a power source originally designed for powering a high-intensity discharge lamp, the LED driver comprising:

an input arrangement adapted to receive the input power from the power source;

an output arrangement adapted to provide the output power for driving the at least one LED;

first circuitry defining a first current path between the input arrangement and the output arrangement, the first circuitry comprising a first rectifying arrangement arranged to connect the input arrangement to the output arrangement;

second circuitry defining a second, different current path between the input arrangement and the output arrangement, the second circuitry comprising a second rectifying arrangement and a modifying circuit arranged to connect the input arrangement to the output arrangement;

a power source type determiner adapted to detect an occurrence of a pulse in a voltage level of the input power and adapted to determine if the power source is of:

a first type, in which the power source comprises a functional ignitor circuit able to ignite the high-intensity discharge lamp if the pulse has a length less than a predetermined length and a magnitude of more than a predetermined magnitude; or

a second type, in which the power source comprises no functional ignitor circuits able to ignite the high-intensity discharge lamp,

a controller adapted to:

direct the current of the input power down the first current path in response to the power source type determiner determining that the power source is of the first type; and

direct the current of the input power down the second current path in response to the power source type determiner determining that the power source is of the second type.

2. The LED driver of claim 1 , wherein the second circuitry comprises modifying circuitry connected between the second rectifying arrangement and the output arrangement, the modifying circuitry being adapted to modify characteristics of the input power.

3. The LED driver of claim 2 , wherein the modifying circuitry comprises a power factor correction circuit.

4. The LED driver of claim 2 , wherein the modifying circuitry comprises a boost converter.

5. The LED driver of claim 1 , wherein the first circuitry comprises a direct connection between the first rectifying arrangement and the output arrangement.

6. The LED driver of claim 1 , further comprising a shunting arrangement adapted to controllably shunt either the input or the output of the first rectifying arrangement to a ground or reference voltage,

wherein, in response to the power source type determiner determining that the power source is of the first type, the controller is adapted to control the shunting arrangement to shunt the input or output of the first rectifying arrangement for a period of time during each half cycle of an input voltage of the input power.

7. The LED driver of claim 6 , wherein the shunting arrangement comprises:

a shunting switch adapted to controllably shunt either the input or the output of the first rectifying arrangement to a ground or reference voltage; and

a mechanical switch connected in series with the shunting switch and having a greater voltage rating than the shunting switch,

wherein the controller is adapted to close the mechanical switch in response to the power source type determiner determining that the power source is of the first type and open the mechanical switch in response to the power source type determiner determining that the power source is of the second type.

8. The LED driver of claim 1 , wherein the output arrangement comprises a power converter, preferably wherein the power converter comprises a buck converter.

9. The LED driver of claim 1 , further comprising a smoothing capacitor for smoothing an output of the first circuitry or the second circuitry.

10. An LED lighting unit comprising:

the LED driver of claim 1 ; and

the at least one LED connected to draw power from the output arrangement.

11. The LED lighting unit of claim 10 , wherein the at least one LED comprises:

a first LED string;

a second LED string;

an LED switching arrangement adapted to controllably switch the first LED string and second LED string between being connected in series or being connected in parallel,

an LED control unit adapted to control the LED switching arrangement so as to connect the first LED string and second LED string in parallel in response to the power source type determiner determining that the power source is of the first type and to control the LED switching arrangement so as to connect the first LED string and second LED string in series in response to the power source type determiner determining that the power source is of the second type.

12. A method of generating an output power for driving at least one LED from an input power provided by a power source, the method comprising:

receiving the input power from the power source at an input arrangement;

determining if the power source is of a first type using a power source type determiner, adapted to detect an occurrence of a pulse in a voltage level of the input power, in which the power source comprises a functional ignitor circuit able to ignite a high-intensity discharge lamp if the pulse has a length less than a predetermined length and a magnitude of more than a predetermined magnitude or of a second type, in which the power source comprises no functional ignitor circuits that are able to ignite the high-intensity discharge lamp;

directing the current of the input power down a first current path, defined by first circuitry arranged to connect the input arrangement to the output arrangement, in response to determining that the power source is of the first type; and

directing the current of the input power down a second, different current path, defined by second circuitry arranged to connect the input arrangement to the output arrangement, in response to determining that the power source is of the second type,

wherein the output arrangement provides the output power for driving the at least one LED, wherein the power source type determiner is adapted to detect the occurrence of a pulse in a voltage level of the input power, and wherein the pulse has a length less than a predetermined length and a magnitude of more than a predetermined magnitude.