US3609452A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Lamp driver circuit
Assignee: Radiant Industries Inc
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Filing: 1969-06-06
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Granted: 1971-09-28
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Expires: 1989-06-06
Abstract
Abstract An inverter or converter circuit is described for controlling the power to a suitable load such as a gas or vapor discharge lamp. The circuit includes a transformer having a secondary winding coupled to the load and a primary winding connected to a direct-current voltage source by a controlled rectifier such as a silicon-controlled rectifier. A variable-frequency trigger circuit, e.g., a relaxation oscillator, controls the switching rate of the controlled rectifier and the magnitude of the power delivered to the load. An inductive reactance independent of the transformer is connected in series with the primary winding. A capacitive reactance is connected in parallel with the inductive reactance and primary winding to form a resonant tank circuit for providing commutation of the switching device independently of the load impedance.
Inventors
- 👤 Clifford D Skirvin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 21:21
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02M; H02M7/00; H02M7/42; H02M7/44; H02M7/48; H02M7/505; H02M7/515; H02M7/523; H05; H05B; H05B41/00; H05B41/14; H05B41/26; H05B41/28; H05B41/282; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B20/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
223 words
In a lamp driver circuit, the combination which comprises: a pair of input terminals adapted to be connected to a voltage source; a gaseous discharge lamp; a transformer having primary and a secondary winding; means connecting the lamp across the secondary winding of the transformer; a controlled rectifier having a pair of current-carrying electrodes and a gate electrode, the rectifier being rendered conducting in response to the application of a control signal to the gate electrode and the application of a voltage above a first predetermined value across the current-carrying electrodes and rendered nonconducting when the voltage across the current carrying electrodes decreases below a second predetermined value; an inductive reactance independent of the transformer; means connecting the primary winding and the inductive reactance in series; a capacitive reactance connected across the primary winding and the inductive reactance for providing a tank circuit; means connecting the tank Circuit and the current-carrying electrodes of the switching means in series across the input terminals; and trigger-pulse-generating means for periodically generating and applying the control signal to the control terminal of the switching means to render the switching means conducting, the tank circuit being arranged to apply a voltage below the third predetermined value across the current carrying electrodes of the switching means after the application of the control signal to render the switching means nonconducting.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
223 words
In a lamp driver circuit, the combination which comprises: a pair of input terminals adapted to be connected to a voltage source; a gaseous discharge lamp; a transformer having primary and a secondary winding; means connecting the lamp across the secondary winding of the transformer; a controlled rectifier having a pair of current-carrying electrodes and a gate electrode, the rectifier being rendered conducting in response to the application of a control signal to the gate electrode and the application of a voltage above a first predetermined value across the current-carrying electrodes and rendered nonconducting when the voltage across the current carrying electrodes decreases below a second predetermined value; an inductive reactance independent of the transformer; means connecting the primary winding and the inductive reactance in series; a capacitive reactance connected across the primary winding and the inductive reactance for providing a tank circuit; means connecting the tank Circuit and the current-carrying electrodes of the switching means in series across the input terminals; and trigger-pulse-generating means for periodically generating and applying the control signal to the control terminal of the switching means to render the switching means conducting, the tank circuit being arranged to apply a voltage below the third predetermined value across the current carrying electrodes of the switching means after the application of the control signal to render the switching means nonconducting.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein the trigger-pulse-generating means includes means for selectively adjusting the repetition rate of the control signals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein the switching means is a semiconductor device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination as defined in claim 3 wherein the semiconductor device includes an anode and a cathode and wherein the inductive reactance is connected to the anode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination as defined in claim 4 wherein the semiconductor device is a silicon-controlled rectifier.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination as defined in claim 5 wherein the trigger pulse generating means comprises a relaxation oscillator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination as defined in claim 6 wherein the transformer includes a saturable core.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination as defined in claim 6 wherein the relaxation oscillator is arranged to provide a repetition rate within the range of 5 to 25 kHz.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination as defined in claim 8 wherein the relaxation oscillator includes a unijunction transistor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination as defined in claim 8 including a source of direct current voltage connected to the input terminals.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
178 words
In an inverter, the combination which comprises: a pair of input terminals adapted to be connected to a direct-current voltage source; a pair of output terminals adapted to be connected to a variable impedance load; a transformer having a primary and a secondary winding; means connecting the secondary winding across the output terminals; a controlled rectifier having an anode, a cathode and a gate; an inductor independent of the transformer means connecting the primary winding and the inductor in series; a capacitor connected across the primary winding and the inductor for providing a resonant tank circuit means connecting the tank circuit and the anode and cathode of the controlled rectifier in series circuit relationship across the input terminals; and trigger-pulse-generating means coupled to the gate of the controlled rectifier for periodically rendering the rectifier conducting, the tank circuit being arranged to apply an inverse voltage across the anode and cathode of the controlled rectifier to turn off the rectifier a predetermined time after the rectifier is rendered conducting, independently of the magnitude of the impedance across the output.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
178 words
In an inverter, the combination which comprises: a pair of input terminals adapted to be connected to a direct-current voltage source; a pair of output terminals adapted to be connected to a variable impedance load; a transformer having a primary and a secondary winding; means connecting the secondary winding across the output terminals; a controlled rectifier having an anode, a cathode and a gate; an inductor independent of the transformer means connecting the primary winding and the inductor in series; a capacitor connected across the primary winding and the inductor for providing a resonant tank circuit means connecting the tank circuit and the anode and cathode of the controlled rectifier in series circuit relationship across the input terminals; and trigger-pulse-generating means coupled to the gate of the controlled rectifier for periodically rendering the rectifier conducting, the tank circuit being arranged to apply an inverse voltage across the anode and cathode of the controlled rectifier to turn off the rectifier a predetermined time after the rectifier is rendered conducting, independently of the magnitude of the impedance across the output.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination as defined in claim 11 wherein the tank circuit is connected to the anode of the controlled rectifier.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination as defined in claim 12 including means for controlling repetition rate of the trigger-pulse-generating means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination as defined in claim 13 including a gas or vapor discharge lamp connected across the output terminals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination as defined in claim 14 wherein the trigger-pulse-generating means is a relaxation oscillator.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination as defined in claim 15 wherein the repetition rate is within the range of 5 to 25 kHz.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination as defined in claim 16 wherein the transformer includes a saturable core.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination as defined in claim 17 wherein the controlled rectifier is a silicon controlled rectifier.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination as defined in claim 16 or 18 wherein the inductor is connected to the anode of the controlled rectifier.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
71 words
The combination as defined in claim 19 wherein the relaxation oscillator includes a unijunction transistor; bias means connecting a first base of the transistor to the anode and a second base of the transistor to the cathode of the controlled rectifier, means including a capacitor connecting the emitter of the transistor across the controlled rectifier, and means connecting the second base of the transistor to the gate of the controlled rectifier.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination as defined in claim 19 wherein the relaxation oscillator includes a trigger diode connected to the gate of the controlled rectifier.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-27 | 1975-03-29 | 1975-09-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-27 | 1979-03-29 | 1979-09-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-27 | 1983-03-29 | 1983-09-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |