Gas discharge lamp ballast circuit with electronic starter

Details Gas discharge lamp ballast circuit with electronic starter Gas discharge lamp ballast circuit with electronic starter

1999-06-02

2000-11-14

Wong, Don

Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems

With cathode or cathode heater supply circuit

Pulsating or a.c. supply to the cathode or heater circuit

315106, 315224, H05B 3900

Patent

active

06147455&

ABSTRACT:
A ballast circuit with an electronic starter for a gas discharge lamp having a pair of cathodes is disclosed. The circuit comprises a main current path with a first leg connected to one cathode of the lamp and a second leg connected to the other cathode. The first leg includes an inductor. A starting current path is connected between the cathodes for enabling current build-up in the inductor during a lamp pre-start period. The starting current path includes a starter switch controllable by the voltage between a control node and a reference node of the switch. The starting current path allows cathode-to-cathode current flow when the starter switch is on. A control circuit is connected between the control node and the reference node of the switch for controlling the switch. The control circuit comprises a capacitor whose voltage is coupled between the control node and the reference node so as to control the switch, and a source of current for charging the capacitor. The control circuit further comprises a voltage-breakover (VBO) switch coupled to receive the voltage of the capacitor in order to be made conductive when that voltage reaches a sufficient level. The VBO switch is coupled between the reference node and the control node in a manner that maintains the voltage between those nodes at a sufficiently low level to keep the starter switch turned off after such switch is made conductive.

REFERENCES:
patent: 2928990 (1960-03-01), Siljeholm et al.
patent: 3504658 (1970-04-01), Chavis
patent: 3622837 (1971-11-01), Gellman
patent: 3720861 (1973-03-01), Kahanic
patent: 4234823 (1980-11-01), Charlot
patent: 4337417 (1982-06-01), Johnson
patent: 4381476 (1983-04-01), Adachi et al.
patent: 4419607 (1983-12-01), Barakitis et al.
patent: 4489255 (1984-12-01), Barakitis et al.
patent: 5010274 (1991-04-01), Phillips et al.
patent: 5057752 (1991-10-01), Grabner et al.
patent: 5059870 (1991-10-01), Choon
patent: 5097177 (1992-03-01), Chiang
patent: 5440205 (1995-08-01), Tahara et al.
patent: 5532555 (1996-07-01), Yamada
patent: 5537010 (1996-07-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 5543690 (1996-08-01), Bernicke et al.
patent: 5594308 (1997-01-01), Nuckolls et al.
patent: 5612597 (1997-03-01), Wood
patent: 5623187 (1997-04-01), Caldeira et al.
patent: 5694007 (1997-12-01), Chen
patent: 5734231 (1998-03-01), Lee et al.
patent: 5736817 (1998-04-01), Rothenbuhler et al.
patent: 6011362 (2000-01-01), Moisin
"Silicon Bidirectional Switches--Diode Thyristors", Motorola Thyristor Device Data, pp. 3-196 through 3-199.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Gas discharge lamp ballast circuit with electronic starter does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Gas discharge lamp ballast circuit with electronic starter, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Gas discharge lamp ballast circuit with electronic starter will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2068104