Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems – Periodic switch in the supply circuit – Impedance or current regulator in the supply circuit
Patent
1995-06-07
1996-08-20
Pascal, Robert
Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems
Periodic switch in the supply circuit
Impedance or current regulator in the supply circuit
315307, 315DIG5, 315DIG7, 363133, H05B 3702
Patent
active
055481892
ABSTRACT:
A power-supply and control circuit is provided for driving a fluorescent lamp from a low-voltage DC power source such as a battery. In typical lamp-driving circuits, a step-up transformer is used to apply well known magnetic techniques to achieve the low-to-high voltage conversion required by the lamp. The present invention uses a new approach, applying piezoelectric characteristics of certain ceramic materials to replace the magnetic transformer. Resonant characteristics of such ceramic materials permit them to be self-resonated. A DC-to-AC converter coupled to a switching regulator converts low DC voltage into a higher AC voltage for driving the fluorescent lamp. In one embodiment, the lamp is included in a feedback loop which includes a circuit for producing a feedback signal indicative of the magnitude of current conducted by the lamp. The feedback signal is applied to the switching regulator to produce in the lamp a regulated current and, hence, a regulated lamp intensity. A method for driving a fluorescent lamp from a low-voltage DC power source is also provided.
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Lam Leo L.
Linear Technology Corp.
Morris Robert W.
Pascal Robert
Philogene Haissa
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