Electricity: power supply or regulation systems – Output level responsive – Using a three or more terminal semiconductive device as the...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-14
2001-11-13
Berhane, Adolf Deneke (Department: 2838)
Electricity: power supply or regulation systems
Output level responsive
Using a three or more terminal semiconductive device as the...
C315S360000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06316923
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to load power control circuits for controlling the power supplied to a luminaire, particularly an HID-type luminaire.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Applicant in the above-mentioned copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/482,570 (the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference) has described a load power control system particularly suited for supplying electric power to banks of luminaires (street lamps). The contents of that application are incorporated herein by reference. That system, while well suited to controlling the power supplied to banks of luminaires, would be perceived by many as being too expensive and elaborate for economic use with a single HID-type luminaire. A simpler and less expensive design approach is desirable.
Ballast circuits for single luminaires are well known, and include both a constant-wattage category and a reactor category of ballast circuits. There is a need for a simple power control circuit for use with each category.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Load power control circuits according to the invention include both retrofit circuitry and “new manufacture” circuitry for both controlled-voltage and controlled-current ballasting arrangements for principal use with single HID luminaires. The various embodiments of the invention according to these aspects are not suitable for high-power multiple-luminaire installations. However, some of the circuitry suitable for implementation of these low-power control circuits according to the invention is analogous to circuitry suitable for high-power multiple-luminaire installations.
The invention as applied to luminaire power control proceeds on the premise that the luminaire is connected into a suitable ballast circuit of the capacitor-control (current control) type, or of the reactor-control (voltage control) type.
In the capacitor-control type of ballast circuit, a control circuit according to the invention may be substituted for the conventional single capacitor in the ballast circuit; for retrofit purposes, such control circuit is conveniently provided with ballast connecting terminals that connect into the ballast circuit at precisely the same points of connection as the conventional control capacitor in such ballast circuits. The control circuit may conveniently be manufactured as a discrete modular unit for retrofit installation. Control is preferably effected under the direction of a microprocessor and is accomplished by selective switching operatively into or out of the ballast circuit one or more capacitors connected in parallel across the ballast connecting terminals. The switching is preferably accomplished by means of a triac whose gate terminal is controlled by a gate signal supplied by the microprocessor (with a suitable triac driver, and incorporating digital/analog conversion and relay or amplification as required). Alternatively, the switching may be accomplished by any other convenient switching device or circuit of this general type.
The reactor-control (voltage-control) type of control circuit is preferably interposed between the line supply and the ballast circuit. Such control circuit may include parallel-connected pairs of opposed (reverse-coupled) silicon controlled rectifiers operating under the control of a microprocessor, the SCR pairs operating to control the output of an autotransformer whose output terminals are connected across the ballast circuit. The circuitry is in many respects similar to circuitry described in applicant's above-referenced copending patent application.
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Applications of Zero Voltage Crossing Optically Isolated Triac Drivers, Motorola Semiconductor Application Note (AN982), pp. 1.6-49 to 54, No date.
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Barrigar Robert H.
Berhane Adolf Deneke
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