Illumination – Elongated source light unit or support – With means to accommodate additional circuit element
Utility Patent
1999-03-04
2001-01-02
O'Shea, Sandra (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Elongated source light unit or support
With means to accommodate additional circuit element
C362S217060, C362S222000, C362S260000, C362S263000, C362S265000, C313S331000, C313S049000
Utility Patent
active
06168289
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The type of lighting that is most widespread worldwide is the straight fluorescent tube that has sockets on both sides, as can be found today in all offices, factories, hospitals, etc. Although in the course of the last ten years it has been determined that the operation of these gas discharge lamps—which use simple chokes that are required in order to limit the current of the gas discharge—is not the optimum solution, uncounted millions of lamps of this type are being used.
The disadvantages of straight fluorescent tubes is that in operating lamps at the customary power frequency of 50 or 60 Hz, the light flickers at this frequency and stroboscopic effects can occur, which, for example, cause running machines to look as though they are stopped. Also, the efficiency of the chokes as “inductive” ballasts is not satisfactory. The efficiency of the physical conversion of the at first invisible gas discharge into visible light can be considerably improved by a modern electronic device operating at high frequency. For equivalent light efficiency, a significant energy savings can be obtained in the process, which is not only a significant cost improvement, but also an obligation relative to the environment.
Of course the conversion of inductive lighting units to electronic high frequency operation is not only a question of the material costs of a ballast, but also the expense in installation work associated with installing such apparatus.
Quite often this latter factor prevents a technically and economically advisable conversion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a simple and cost-effective solution which makes possible the conversion to electronic high-frequency operation in a manner that is quick and without excessive installation work.
This purpose is achieved in the present invention by housing all of the structural components of an electronic ballast in one socket, or distributing these elements in two sockets located, respectively, at the right-hand and left-hand end of the fluorescent tube. The necessary electrical connections which are required for the operation of the fluorescent tubes are provided by wires linking the right-hand socket to the left-hand socket.
The electric connections are functionally provided so that they can be plugged into both sockets, in order to allow a simple mounting. This is done to the greatest extent possible using a line channel, which according to the invention can also be simultaneously constructed as a reflector.
Respectively allocated to the two pins of the socket of conventional fluorescent tubes are a connection to the power network and a connection to the starter. During electronic operation, a starter is not necessary. However, since ascertaining the allocation of the pins is not immediately apparent, it is provided according to the invention, to short circuit the two pins in the sockets. Of course, a starter that might already be present in the circuit must be removed.
The sockets proposed for use in the present invention are adapted to fit around the ends of the fluorescent tube. In order to achieve an exchanging capability, the entire length of the fluorescent tubes according to the invention, including the possibly somewhat larger socket, must correspond to the lengths standardized until now.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3953761 (1976-04-01), Giudice
patent: 4495443 (1985-01-01), Cummings
patent: 5086249 (1992-02-01), Blaisdell et al.
patent: 195 12 307 A1 (1996-10-01), None
Marshall O'Toole Gerstein Murray & Borun
Negron Ismael
O'Shea Sandra
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