Abstract:
A lamp assembly configured to inductively receive power from a primary coil. The lamp assembly includes a lamp circuit including a secondary and a lamp connected in series. In a first aspect, the lamp circuit includes a capacitor connected in series with the lamp and the secondary to tune the circuit to resonance. The capacitor is preferably selected to have a reactance that is substantially equal to or slightly less than the reactance of the secondary and the impedance of the lamp. In a second aspect, the lamp assembly includes a sealed transparent sleeve that entirely encloses the lamp circuit so that the transparent sleeve is fully closed and unpenetrated. The transparent sleeve is preferably the lamp sleeve itself, with the secondary, capacitor and any desired starter mechanism disposed within its interior.
Abstract:
Apparatus and methods for measuring cathode fall in fluorescent lamps are disclosed. Together with measurements of cathode temperature, such measurements of cathode fall may inform a determination of cathode heater voltage as a function of discharge current (i.e., a cathode-heating-profile) that avoids both sputtering and excess-evaporation.
Abstract:
An electronic ballast capable of extending life of the fluorescent lamp is disclosed. The electronic ballast according to the present invention comprises a DC/AC converter, a fluorescent lamp, a transformer, a preheating transformer and an AC switch. Wherein, the AC switch is turned off during a preheating period of time for the fluorescent lamp. Due to adoption of a preheating transformer in the secondary side and an AC switch for the electronic ballast according to the present invention, the voltage drop across the fluorescent lamp can be reduced during the preheating period of time, and accordingly no glow current would appear. Therefore, life of the electronic ballast can be effectively extended.
Abstract:
In a current fed electronic ballast multiple lamps are operated in a parallel circuit arrangement. The ballast provides pre-heating to the cathodes of the lamps for a period of time before an open circuit voltage is ramped up to the preferred starting voltage of the lamps. An open circuit voltage controller times coordinates the pre-heating and the operating voltage. After the pre-heating phase, current is removed from the cathodes of the lamps so that electricity is not wasted to the cathodes while the lamps are lit. A single switch is used to switch cathode pre-heating on and off, regardless of how many lamps the ballast operates. A decoupling array of diodes allows the single switch to coordinate pre-heating to all the lamps.
Abstract:
A ballast for fluorescent tubes and the use thereof for producing fluorescent tube lighting fixtures using a novel gas excitation mode in which light is generated by means of controlled pulses leading to an increased power efficiency, with a data collection and transmission functionality, are disclosed.
Abstract:
A lamp assembly configured to inductively receive power from a primary coil. The lamp assembly includes a lamp circuit including a secondary and a lamp connected in series. In a first aspect, the lamp circuit includes a capacitor connected in series with the lamp and the secondary to tune the circuit to resonance. The capacitor is preferably selected to have a reactance that is substantially equal to or slightly less than the reactance of the secondary and the impedance of the lamp. In a second aspect, the lamp assembly includes a sealed transparent sleeve that entirely encloses the lamp circuit so that the transparent sleeve is fully closed and unpenetrated. The transparent sleeve is preferably the lamp sleeve itself, with the secondary, capacitor and any desired starter mechanism disposed within its interior.
Abstract:
An electronic ballast capable of extending life of the fluorescent lamp is disclosed. The electronic ballast according to the present invention comprises a DC/AC converter, a fluorescent lamp, a transformer, a preheating transformer and an AC switch. Wherein, the AC switch is turned off during a preheating period of time for the fluorescent lamp. Due to adoption of a preheating transformer in the secondary side and an AC switch for the electronic ballast according to the present invention, the voltage drop across the fluorescent lamp can be reduced during the preheating period of time, and accordingly no glow current would appear. Therefore, life of the electronic ballast can be effectively extended.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a ballast for low-pressure discharge lamps, comprising a controllable inverter circuit for the generation of a high-frequency supply voltage for a discharge lamp (1), a lamp inductance (L1) connected to the inverter circuit, a lamp parallel capacitor (C1) which is serially connected to the lamp inductance (L1) and connected in parallel to the discharge lamp (1), and a preheating circuit supplying heating current to the electrodes (2, 3) of the discharge lamp (1). In order to minimize electrical losses and to enable universal use of said ballast for various types of discharge lamps the invention proposes that current is supplied to the preheating circuit via an auxiliary winding (7) arranged on the lamp inductance (L1) with said auxiliary winding (7) being connected with the preheating circuit via a controllable switch or a parallel resonant circuit (9).
Abstract:
A lighting control system provides variable arc current to one or more fluorescent gas discharge lamps and provides a heating voltage to the lamp electrodes. The system includes a start-up circuit which includes circuitry for providing a starting voltage to an output power conditioning circuit. The latter drives a switching unit to control the application of DC power to the fluorescent gas discharge lamps and to provide an operating voltage to an input power factor correction circuit. The input power factor correction circuit boosts the converted DC power and the operating voltage. The start-up circuit includes a plurality of voltage doubling rectifier circuits and a plurality of zener diodes which receive the operating voltage and are electrically connected to the input power factor correction circuit and the output power conditioning unit so as to provide a regulated bias voltage supply to the output power conditioning unit and to the input power factor correction circuit.
Abstract:
The invention relates to an electronic ballast and to a controller which drives this ballast, in which two communication protocols are provided for the digital drive.