Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems – Periodic switch in the supply circuit – Impedance or current regulator in the supply circuit
Reexamination Certificate
2008-03-25
2008-03-25
Sherry, Michael (Department: 2836)
Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems
Periodic switch in the supply circuit
Impedance or current regulator in the supply circuit
C315S225000, C361S018000
Reexamination Certificate
active
07348734
ABSTRACT:
A method (700) for protecting a ballast from an output ground-fault condition includes the steps of applying power to the ballast (step710), providing a startup delay period for a DC-to-DC converter (step730), monitoring a voltage across a DC blocking capacitor (step740), preventing startup of the DC-to-DC converter in response to the voltage across the DC blocking capacitor being greater than a threshold value during the startup delay period (step750), and allowing startup of the DC-to-DC converter in response to the voltage across the DC blocking capacitor being less than the threshold value throughout the startup delay period (step760). Preferably, the steps of monitoring (step740), preventing (step750), and allowing (step760) are implemented by a microcontroller, and the DC-to-DC converter is preferably implemented as either a Sepic converter or a buck converter.
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European Search Report, Application No. EP 06 01 3142, dated Jul. 18, 2007, 3 pgs.
Bessone Carlo S.
Osram Sylvania Inc.
Patel Dharti H
Sherry Michael
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