Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
A fluorescent lamp system comprising: a power source (101, 102, 103, 108, 109, 110, 111, 114); a reference voltage (126); a fluorescent lamp (117, 118); a resonant circuit (119, 120), coupled to the fluorescent lamp (117, 118), the resonant circuit (119, 112) having a first end and a second end; a first capacitance (122) coupled between the first end of the resonant circuit and the reference voltage (126); a second capacitance (121) coupled between the first end of the resonant circuit and the power source; a first switch (116) coupled between the second end of the resonant circuit and the reference voltage (126); a second switch (115) coupled between the second end of the resonant circuit and the power source; and, control means (113), coupled to the first switch (116) and the second switch (115) for operating the first switch and the second switch so that the resonant circuit (119, 120) operates at near resonant frequency.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
35 words
A fluorescent lamp system as in claim 1 wherein the control means (113, 213), the first switch (116, 216) and the second switch (115, 215) are all integrated on a single integrated circuit (112, 212).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A fluorescent lamp system as in claim 1 wherein the control means (313) and the first switch (316) are integrated on a single integrated circuit (312), and the second switch (315) is not integrated on the single integrated circuit (312).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A fluorescent lamp system as in claim 1 wherein the control means (413) is integrated on a single integrated circuit (412) and the first switch (416) and the second switch (415) are not integrated on the single integrated circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
107 words
A fluorescent lamp system as in claim 1 wherein the power source includes: an AC power signal source (101) providing an AC power signal; rectifying means (103), coupled to the AC power signal source for rectifying the AC power signal; capacitance means (108; 109), connected to the reference (126), for storing a charge creating a voltage potential; capacitance charging means (110, 111, 114), coupled to the capacitance means (108, 109) and the rectifying means (103), for transferring charge from the rectifying means (103) to the capacitance means (108), the capacitance charging means including a switch (114), operated by the control means (113) to optimize power factor correction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A fluorescent lamp system as in claim 5 wherein the control means (213) is integrated on a single integrated circuit (212) and the third switch (214) is not integrated on the single integrated circuit (212).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A fluorescent lamp system as in claim 5 wherein the control means (113; 313; 413) and the third switch (114; 314; 414) are integrated on a single integrated circuit (112; 312; 412).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A fluorescent lamp system as in claim 7 wherein the first switch (116, 216) and the second switch (115, 215) are also integrated on the single integrated circuit (112, 212).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A fluorescent lamp system as in claim 7 wherein the first switch (316) is integrated on the single integrated circuit (312), and the second switch (315) is not integrated on the single integrated circuit (312).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A fluorescent lamp system as in claim 7 wherein the first switch (416) and the second switch (416) are not integrated on the single integrated circuit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A fluorescent lamp system as in claim 5 wherein the control means (113, 213, 313, 413) is integrated on a single integrated circuit (112, 212, 312, 412) and the rectifying means (103, 203, 303, 403) is not integrated on the single integrated circuit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A fluorescent lamp system as in any of claims 1-11 wherein the resonant circuit includes a capacitance (120) and an inductance (119) coupled in series.