US3824428A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High frequency fluorescent tube lighting circuit and a-c driving circuit therefor
Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co Inc
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Filing: 1971-09-07
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Granted: 1974-07-16
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Expires: 1991-09-07
Abstract
Abstract A sinusoidal voltage source in series with a fluorescent, mercury vapor, sodium vapor device, etc. is pulsed at a given pulse repetition rate with the pulse having a given conduction time. Two or more tubes can sequentially conduct pulses with the current input being a continuous sinusoid. A particular pulsing circuit contains a modified pulse-forming network consisting of one or more stages of a closed series connection of a choke and two capacitors. The chokes of each stage are connected in series. The modified pulse-forming network is used as a frequency converter per se, as a d-c to a-c converter, or specifically is in parallel with a fluorescent tube load.
Inventors
- 👤 Joel S Spira
- 👤 Joseph Licata
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 16:40
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B41/00; H05B41/14; H05B41/26; H05B41/28; H05B41/282; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B20/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A gas discharge lamp energizing circuit comprising, in combination: a voltage source, a pulse modulator means and a gas discharge lamp having terminals; said voltage source, pulse modulator means and gas discharge lamp connected in series; said pulse modulator means being continuously alternately conductive and nonconductive throughout the entire operation of said gas discharge lamp and being permanently connected to said gas discharge lamp terminals, thereby to continuously apply voltage pulses of short duration less than about 100 microseconds to said gas discharge lamp, whereby said gas discharge lamp has a relatively high effective impedance; and a current limiting impedance means connected in series with said gas discharge lamp and said pulse modulator means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
A gas discharge lamp energizing circuit comprising, in combination: a voltage source, a pulse modulator means and a gas discharge lamp having terminals; said voltage source, pulse modulator means and gas discharge lamp connected in series; said pulse modulator means being continuously alternately conductive and nonconductive throughout the entire operation of said gas discharge lamp and being permanently connected to said gas discharge lamp terminals, thereby to continuously apply voltage pulses of short duration less than about 100 microseconds to said gas discharge lamp, whereby said gas discharge lamp has a relatively high effective impedance; and a current limiting impedance means connected in series with said gas discharge lamp and said pulse modulator means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
121 words
A gas discharge lamp energizing circuit comprising, in combination: a voltage source, a pulse modulator means and a gas discharge lamp having terminals; said voltage source, pulse modulator means and gas discharge lamp connected in series; said pulse modulator means being continuously alternately conductive and nonconductive throughout the entire operation of said gas discharge lamp and being permanently connected to said gas discharge lamp terminals; thereby to continuously apply voltage pulses of short duration less than about 100 microseconds to said gas discharge lamp; and filament heater circuit means for heating the filaments of said gas discharge lamp; said filament heater circuit means including transformer means connected to said energizing circuit and tuned to the frequency of said pulse modulator means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
121 words
A gas discharge lamp energizing circuit comprising, in combination: a voltage source, a pulse modulator means and a gas discharge lamp having terminals; said voltage source, pulse modulator means and gas discharge lamp connected in series; said pulse modulator means being continuously alternately conductive and nonconductive throughout the entire operation of said gas discharge lamp and being permanently connected to said gas discharge lamp terminals; thereby to continuously apply voltage pulses of short duration less than about 100 microseconds to said gas discharge lamp; and filament heater circuit means for heating the filaments of said gas discharge lamp; said filament heater circuit means including transformer means connected to said energizing circuit and tuned to the frequency of said pulse modulator means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
104 words
A gas discharge lamp energizing circuit comprising, in combination: a voltage source, a pulse modulator means and a gas discharge lamp having terminals; said voltage source, pulse modulator means and gas discharge lamp connected in series; said pulse modulator means being continuously alternately conductive and nonconductive and being permanently connected to said gas discharge lamp terminals, thereby to continuously apply voltage pulse of short duration less than about 100 microseconds to said gas discharge lamp; and a second gas discharge lamp, and switching means for sequentially and alternately connecting said pulse modulator means between said gas discharge lamp and said second gas discharge lamp.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
104 words
A gas discharge lamp energizing circuit comprising, in combination: a voltage source, a pulse modulator means and a gas discharge lamp having terminals; said voltage source, pulse modulator means and gas discharge lamp connected in series; said pulse modulator means being continuously alternately conductive and nonconductive and being permanently connected to said gas discharge lamp terminals, thereby to continuously apply voltage pulse of short duration less than about 100 microseconds to said gas discharge lamp; and a second gas discharge lamp, and switching means for sequentially and alternately connecting said pulse modulator means between said gas discharge lamp and said second gas discharge lamp.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
92 words
A gas discharge lamp energizing circuit comprising, in combination: a voltage source, a pulse modulator means and a gas discharge lamp having terminals; said voltage source, pulse modulator means and gas discharge lamp connected in series; said pulse modulator means being continuously alternately conductive and nonconductive and being permanently connected to said gas discharge lamp terminals, thereby to continuously apply voltage pulses of short duration less than about 100 microseconds to said gas discharge lamp; control means connecteD to said pulse modulator means for adjustably controlling the pulse length of said pulses.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
92 words
A gas discharge lamp energizing circuit comprising, in combination: a voltage source, a pulse modulator means and a gas discharge lamp having terminals; said voltage source, pulse modulator means and gas discharge lamp connected in series; said pulse modulator means being continuously alternately conductive and nonconductive and being permanently connected to said gas discharge lamp terminals, thereby to continuously apply voltage pulses of short duration less than about 100 microseconds to said gas discharge lamp; control means connecteD to said pulse modulator means for adjustably controlling the pulse length of said pulses.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
106 words
A gas discharge lamp energizing circuit comprising, in combination: a voltage source, a pulse modulator means and a gas discharge lamp having terminals; said voltage source, pulse modulator means and gas discharge lamp connected in series; said pulse modulator means being continuously alternately conductive and nonconductive and being permanently connected to said gas discharge lamp terminals, thereby to continuously apply voltage pulses to said gas discharge lamp; said phase modulator means being connected directly to said lamp by low impedance connection means; said pulse modulator means having a conduction time sufficiently short to limit the average current flow to said lamp to below a given value.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
106 words
A gas discharge lamp energizing circuit comprising, in combination: a voltage source, a pulse modulator means and a gas discharge lamp having terminals; said voltage source, pulse modulator means and gas discharge lamp connected in series; said pulse modulator means being continuously alternately conductive and nonconductive and being permanently connected to said gas discharge lamp terminals, thereby to continuously apply voltage pulses to said gas discharge lamp; said phase modulator means being connected directly to said lamp by low impedance connection means; said pulse modulator means having a conduction time sufficiently short to limit the average current flow to said lamp to below a given value.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
The device substantially as set forth in claim 4 which further includes coupling means for coupling said control means to said voltage source for varying said pulse length in accordance with variation in the voltage of said voltage source for regulating the output light of said gas discharge lamp.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
The device substantially as set forth in claim 4 which further includes coupling means for coupling said control means to said voltage source for varying said pulse length in accordance with variation in the voltage of said voltage source for regulating the output light of said gas discharge lamp.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The circuit of claim 5 wherein said conduction time is less than about 10 microseconds.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The circuit of claim 7 wherein said conduction time is less than 100 microseconds.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
88 words
A gas discharge lamp energizing circuit comprising, in combination: a voltage source, a pulse modulator means and a gas discharge lamp having terminals; said voltage source, pulse modulator means and gas discharge lamp connected in series; said pulse modulator means being continuously alternately conductive and nonconductive and being permanently connected to said gas discharge lamp terminals, thereby to continuously apply voltage pulses of short duration to said gas discharge lamp control means connected to said pulse modulator means for adjustably controlling the pulse repetition frequency of said pulses.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
88 words
A gas discharge lamp energizing circuit comprising, in combination: a voltage source, a pulse modulator means and a gas discharge lamp having terminals; said voltage source, pulse modulator means and gas discharge lamp connected in series; said pulse modulator means being continuously alternately conductive and nonconductive and being permanently connected to said gas discharge lamp terminals, thereby to continuously apply voltage pulses of short duration to said gas discharge lamp control means connected to said pulse modulator means for adjustably controlling the pulse repetition frequency of said pulses.
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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) | 1977-07-15 | 1978-01-14 | 1978-07-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-15 | 1982-01-14 | 1982-07-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-15 | 1986-01-14 | 1986-07-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |