Fluorescent lamp assembly

Details Fluorescent lamp assembly Fluorescent lamp assembly

1999-11-16

2001-04-10

Vu, David (Department: 2821)

Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems

Automatic substitution of the power supply

C315S087000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06215249

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a fluorescent lamp assembly, more particularly to a fluorescent lamp assembly that has lamp switches for controlling activation of sets of fluorescent lamps.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1
illustrates a first conventional fluorescent lamp assembly for mounting on a ceiling (not shown). The first conventional fluorescent lamp assembly includes a plurality of sets
10
of fluorescent lamps
100
, a plurality of control circuits
12
each connected to the power source (V
1
) and a corresponding one of the sets
10
of the fluorescent lamps
100
in parallel, and a power switch
14
connected to the power source (V
1
) and all of the control circuits
12
. When one of the fluorescent lamps
100
fails, the power source (V
1
) must be shut down during replacement of the fluorescent lamp
100
to prevent any danger of electric shock. Since the power switch
14
is opened to provide an open circuit loop, the other fluorescent lamps
100
will not generate light, thereby resulting in inconvenience because replacement of damaged fluorescent lamps
100
is performed in dark.
FIGS. 2 and 3
illustrate a second conventional fluorescent lamp assembly
2
of the aforesaid type. The second conventional fluorescent lamp assembly
2
includes a power source
20
, a power switch
201
, sets
26
(only one is shown) of fluorescent lamps
261
and control circuits
27
(only one is shown). The second conventional fluorescent lamp assembly
2
further includes batteries
21
, and test switches
28
(only one is shown). Each of the batteries
21
is connected to a corresponding one of the control circuits
27
and a corresponding one of sets
26
of the fluorescent lamps
261
, and is disposed on a ceiling
22
. Each of the test switches
28
is connected to the power switch
201
and a corresponding one of the control circuits
27
. Each of the test switches
28
has a cord
23
extending downwardly. The batteries
21
can be tested to provide electrical power to the fluorescent lamps
26
by pulling the cords
23
with the use of a rod
25
having a hook portion
24
to open the test switches
28
and disconnect the power source
20
from the control circuits
27
.
The following are some of the drawbacks of the aforesaid conventional fluorescent lamp assemblies:
1. When exchanging a broken fluorescent lamp
261
, the power switches
14
,
201
should be opened, thereby resulting in inconvenience due to the need to replace the lamps
100
,
261
in the dark. In addition, the need to operate the power switches
14
,
201
, which are normally disposed on a wall far from lamps
100
,
261
, requires the operator to run back and forth between the lamps and the power switch during the lamp replacement operation.
2. When exchanging a worn battery, a part of the ceiling
22
should be detached for taking out the worn battery
21
.
3. When testing -the batteries
21
, the rod
25
should have the hook portion
24
for lugging the cords
23
, thereby resulting in inconvenient operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The main object of the present invention is to provide an easy-to-maintain fluorescent lamp assembly having a lamp switch that can control directly a corresponding set of fluorescent lamps.
According to this invention, a fluorescent lamp assembly is adapted for connection with a power source, and includes a plurality of sets of fluorescent lamps, a plurality of control units and a main power switch.
Each of the sets of fluorescent lamps has a lamp seat for holding the fluorescent lamps.
The control units are adapted to be connected to the power source and are mounted on the lamp seats, respectively. Each of the control units is connected to a corresponding one of the sets of the fluorescent lamps in parallel for activating the corresponding set of the fluorescent lamps, and has a lamp switch for controlling activation of the corresponding set of the fluorescent lamps.
The main power switch is connected to all of the control units and is adapted to be connected to the power source for controlling the power source to provide electrical power to all of the control units.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5365145 (1994-11-01), Fields

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