US Patent 10969063 Filament and lighting device

A filament includes a plurality of strings including radiation-emitting semiconductor chips electrically connected in series; and a plurality of contact structures to contact the strings, wherein the contact structures electrically connect to semiconductor chips at ends of the strings such that the strings are electrically drivable via the contact structures, and the filament is configured such that the strings are electrically drivable at least separately from one another via the contact structures.