US3590316A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Phase-controlled universal ballast for discharge devices
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1969-03-17
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Granted: 1971-06-29
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Expires: 1989-03-17
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for ballasting any of a plurality of discharge devices having varying voltage and current operating characteristics in order to operate a discharge device at about a predetermined wattage rating. A ballasting impedance limits the maximum current through the operating device and a semiconductor switch is closed in response to a triggering signal to vary the average wattage consumed by an operating device. The circuit includes a solidstate wattmeter having an input portion which develops a signal which is proportional to the current drawn by an operating device, as well as a signal which is proportional to the voltage drop across an operating device. These signals are combined to generate a signal which represents the logarithm of their product. The logarithmic signal is then converted into an antilogarithmic signal which in turn is averaged. The resulting averaged signal controls the triggering of the semiconductor switch to maintain the wattage input to an operating device at about its predetermined desired value.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph C Engel
- 👤 Robert T Elms
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 22:19
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B41/00; H05B41/14; H05B41/36; H05B41/38; H05B41/39; H05B41/392; H05B41/3921; H05B41/3922
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
417 words
An apparatus for ballasting any of a plurality of discharge devices having varying voltage and current operating characteristics in order to operate a ballasted device at about a predetermined wattage rating, said apparatus comprising: a. output terminals adapted to have connected thereacross any of said discharge devices, and input terminals adapted to be connected across a source of Energizing potential; b. impedance means forming a part of said apparatus to limit the maximum current therethrough; c. semiconductor switching means connected between said input terminals and said output terminals and having a high impedance open position and a low impedance closed position, said semiconductor switching means responsive to a control signal to effect a closing of said semiconductor switching means, and the relative proportion of time said semiconductor switching means is closed varying the average wattage consumed by an operating device connected across said output terminals; d. wattage-measuring means comprising a semiconductor wattmeter, said wattmeter having a voltage-responsive input portion connected in said apparatus to continuously generate a varying signal which is proportional to the varying voltage developed across said operating device, said wattmeter having a currentresponsive input portion connected in said apparatus to continuously generate a varying signal which is proportional to the varying current through said operating device, means for combining said varying signal outputs of said voltageresponsive input portion and said current responsive input portion to generate a varying electric signal which represents the logarithm of the product of said varying signal outputs, said wattmeter having an output section into which said varying logarithmic signal is fed to generate a signal which varies according to the antilogarithm of said varying logarithmic signal, and said wattmeter output section including a signalaveraging means for averaging said varying antilogarithmic signal to produce a composite signal having a magnitude which varies in accordance with the average wattage input to said operating device; and e. control signal generating means electrically connected to said wattage-measuring means and said switching means to receive and be actuated by said composite averaged signal from said wattage-measuring means and to generate a controlling signal for closing said switching means, said controlling signal varying the relative proportion of time said switching means is closed in accordance with whether said composite averaged signal from said wattage-measuring means indicates an average wattage input to said operating device as equal to that wattage desired, or greater than or less than that wattage desired, to maintain the average wattage input to said operating device at about its predetermined desired value.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
417 words
An apparatus for ballasting any of a plurality of discharge devices having varying voltage and current operating characteristics in order to operate a ballasted device at about a predetermined wattage rating, said apparatus comprising: a. output terminals adapted to have connected thereacross any of said discharge devices, and input terminals adapted to be connected across a source of Energizing potential; b. impedance means forming a part of said apparatus to limit the maximum current therethrough; c. semiconductor switching means connected between said input terminals and said output terminals and having a high impedance open position and a low impedance closed position, said semiconductor switching means responsive to a control signal to effect a closing of said semiconductor switching means, and the relative proportion of time said semiconductor switching means is closed varying the average wattage consumed by an operating device connected across said output terminals; d. wattage-measuring means comprising a semiconductor wattmeter, said wattmeter having a voltage-responsive input portion connected in said apparatus to continuously generate a varying signal which is proportional to the varying voltage developed across said operating device, said wattmeter having a currentresponsive input portion connected in said apparatus to continuously generate a varying signal which is proportional to the varying current through said operating device, means for combining said varying signal outputs of said voltageresponsive input portion and said current responsive input portion to generate a varying electric signal which represents the logarithm of the product of said varying signal outputs, said wattmeter having an output section into which said varying logarithmic signal is fed to generate a signal which varies according to the antilogarithm of said varying logarithmic signal, and said wattmeter output section including a signalaveraging means for averaging said varying antilogarithmic signal to produce a composite signal having a magnitude which varies in accordance with the average wattage input to said operating device; and e. control signal generating means electrically connected to said wattage-measuring means and said switching means to receive and be actuated by said composite averaged signal from said wattage-measuring means and to generate a controlling signal for closing said switching means, said controlling signal varying the relative proportion of time said switching means is closed in accordance with whether said composite averaged signal from said wattage-measuring means indicates an average wattage input to said operating device as equal to that wattage desired, or greater than or less than that wattage desired, to maintain the average wattage input to said operating device at about its predetermined desired value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus as specified in claim 1, wherein said input terminals are adapted to be connected across a source of AC energizing potential, said impedance means is an inductor, said switching means is an AC switch, and said control signal generating means generates a controlling signal in response to said composite averaged signal from said wattage-measuring means once each half cycle of energizing AC potential.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
93 words
The circuit as specified in claim 2, wherein said wattage-measuring means measures the wattage input to said operating device throughout each half cycle of AC energizing potential, said composite signal output of said wattage-measuring means comprises a continuing series of signals each succeeding half cycle of AC energizing potential with each signal representing the average wattage input to said operating device during several half cycles of energizing potential, and said control signal generating means is actuated by said composite average signal from said wattage-measuring means during each half cycle of AC energizing potential.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The circuit as specified in claim 3, wherein said semiconductor AC switching means is gate controlled and is gated to a closed position by said controlling signal from said control signal generating means once during each half cycle of AC energizing potential.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
99 words
The circuit as specified in claim 4, wherein said semiconductor switching means is gated to a closed position at varying times during each half cycle of energizing potential, said semicOnductor switching means being gated to a closed position in a later portion of a half cycle when said composite averaged signal indicates an average wattage input to said operating device greater than desired, and said semiconductor switching means being gated to a closed position in an earlier portion of a half cycle when said composite averaged signal indicates an average wattage input to said operating device less than desired.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
122 words
The apparatus as specified in claim 5, wherein said control signal generating means comprises a timing circuit and a trigger circuit, said timing circuit connected to the output of said wattmeter and said trigger circuit connected to the gate of said AC switch, said timing circuit including a capacitor which is charged at a rate which varies with the magnitude of the composite signal output from said wattage-measuring means, the charging rate of said capacitor serving to control the point at which said trigger circuit gates said AC switch, with a greater-than-desired wattage input to said operating device causing said AC switch to be gated at a relatively later period of time in each half cycle of energizing potential, and vice versa.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus as specified in claim 6, wherein each time the AC energizing potential passes through zero, a discharging circuit is actuated to discharge said capacitor preparatory to being recharged during the next half cycle of energizing potential.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
255 words
The circuit as specified in claim 5, wherein said wattmeter comprises a first transistor having an emitter, base and collector with its base and collector connected, and a second transistor having an emitter, base and collector with its base and collector connected, said transistors connected to each other in series additive relationship, said voltage-responsive input portion of said wattmeter having an output connected across the base and emitter of one of said transistors, said current-responsive input portion of said wattmeter having an output connected across the base and emitter of the other of said transistors, and said serially connected transistors having developed across the unconnected base and emitter thereof a voltage signal which is proportional to the instantaneous value of the log of the product of the current outputs of said voltage-responsive input portion and said current-responsive input portion, an output transistor having an emitter, base and collector, an additional transistor having an emitter, base and collector with the base and collector connected, the base of said additional transistor connected with the emitter of said output transistor, and the base of said output transistor and the emitter of said additional transistor having applied thereacross the voltage output signal of said serially connected transistors, a constant current generator having an output connected to the collector of said output transistor with the resulting current through said output transistor proportional to the instantaneous wattage input to said operating device, and a capacitor connected across the collector and emitter of said output transistor to filter the signal developed thereacross.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
88 words
The apparatus as specified in claim 2, wherein a warmup current regulator for said device is connected to said current-responsive input portion and also to the output section of said wattmeter, said warmup current regulator having a maximum current detector portion which is responsive to a maximum predetermined current passing through said operating device to actuate a signal bypass impedance to decrease the composite signal output of said wattage-measuring means and limit the current which can pass through said operating device during warmup thereof to said predetermined maximum.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
333 words
An apparatus for ballasting a discharge device having varying voltage and current operating characteristics in order to operate the ballasted device at about a predetermined wattage rating, said apparatus comprising: a. output terminals adapted to have connected thereacRoss said discharge device, and input terminals adapted to be connected across a source of energizing potential; b. impedance means forming a part of said apparatus to limit the maximum current therethrough; c. switching means connected between said input terminals and said output terminals and having a high impedance open position and a low impedance closed position, said switching means responsive to a control signal to effect a closing thereof, and the relative proportion of time said switching means is closed varying the average wattage consumed by an operating device connected across said output terminals; d. wattage-measuring means having a voltage-responsive input portion connected in said apparatus to generate a varying signal which is proportional to the varying voltage developed across said operating device, said wattage-measuring means having a current-responsive input portion connected in said apparatus to generate a varying signal which is proportional to the varying current through said operating device, means for multiplying said varying signal outputs of said voltage-responsive input portion and said current responsive input portion to produce a composite signal having a magnitude which varies in accordance with the average wattage input to said operating device; and e. control signal generating means electrically connected to said wattage-measuring means and said switching means to receive and be actuated by said composite signal from said wattage-measuring means and to generate a controlling signal for closing said switching means, said controlling signal varying the relative proportion of time said switching means is closed in accordance with whether said composite signal from said wattage-measuring means indicates an average wattage input to said operating device as equal to that wattage desired, or greater than or less than that wattage desired, to maintain the average wattage input to said operating device at about its predetermined desired value.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
333 words
An apparatus for ballasting a discharge device having varying voltage and current operating characteristics in order to operate the ballasted device at about a predetermined wattage rating, said apparatus comprising: a. output terminals adapted to have connected thereacRoss said discharge device, and input terminals adapted to be connected across a source of energizing potential; b. impedance means forming a part of said apparatus to limit the maximum current therethrough; c. switching means connected between said input terminals and said output terminals and having a high impedance open position and a low impedance closed position, said switching means responsive to a control signal to effect a closing thereof, and the relative proportion of time said switching means is closed varying the average wattage consumed by an operating device connected across said output terminals; d. wattage-measuring means having a voltage-responsive input portion connected in said apparatus to generate a varying signal which is proportional to the varying voltage developed across said operating device, said wattage-measuring means having a current-responsive input portion connected in said apparatus to generate a varying signal which is proportional to the varying current through said operating device, means for multiplying said varying signal outputs of said voltage-responsive input portion and said current responsive input portion to produce a composite signal having a magnitude which varies in accordance with the average wattage input to said operating device; and e. control signal generating means electrically connected to said wattage-measuring means and said switching means to receive and be actuated by said composite signal from said wattage-measuring means and to generate a controlling signal for closing said switching means, said controlling signal varying the relative proportion of time said switching means is closed in accordance with whether said composite signal from said wattage-measuring means indicates an average wattage input to said operating device as equal to that wattage desired, or greater than or less than that wattage desired, to maintain the average wattage input to said operating device at about its predetermined desired value.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-28 | 1974-12-28 | 1975-06-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-28 | 1978-12-28 | 1979-06-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-28 | 1982-12-28 | 1983-06-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |