Patent US3863104A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3863104A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Arrangement for the controllable supply of at least two groups of electric lamps
Assignee: US Philips Corp
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Filing: 1973-04-04
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Granted: 1975-01-28
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Expires: 1993-04-04
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for controlling the energization of at least two groups of lamps each of which is in series with a thyristor wherein the control signal for all thyristors is generated in a common control signal generator. An auxiliary control signal generator is provided for each lamp group to control the lamp energy in the event of a failure of the main control signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Pieter Jan Bolhuis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 18:19
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05F; G05F1/00; G05F1/10; G05F1/12; G05F1/40; G05F1/44; G05F1/45; G05F1/455; H; H02; H02M; H02M1/00; H02M1/08; H02M1/088; H02M1/092; H05; H05B; H05B41/00; H05B41/14; H05B41/36; H05B41/38; H05B41/39; H05B41/392; H05B41/3921; H05B41/3924
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
Apparatus for controlling the illumination of at least two groups of electric lamps comprising, means connecting the lamps of each group in series with a controlled semiconductor switching element, two input terminals for coupling a source of electric energy to said lamps, means connecting the combination of a lamp group and its series controlled semiconductor switching element in a branch across the two input terminals of the apparatus, a first control signal generator common to all of the semiconductor switching elements and having a connection to a control electrode of each of the controlled semiconductor switching elements, each lamp group including an auxiliary electric energy supply source for controlling said lamp group and an auxiliary control signal generator, said auxiliary control signal generator being responsive to the absence of a control signal across the connection to the common control signal generator so that the relevant auxiliary supply source and the relevant auxiliary control signal generator generate an auxiliary control signal for the control electrode of its respective controlled semiconductor switching element such that the lamp luminosity assumes a fixed value which at a maximum is equal to that which occurs in the continuously conducting condition of the semiconductor switching element and which at a minimum is equal to 10 percent of said maximum value.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
214 words
Apparatus for controlling the illumination of at least two groups of electric lamps comprising, means connecting the lamps of each group in series with a controlled semiconductor switching element, two input terminals for coupling a source of electric energy to said lamps, means connecting the combination of a lamp group and its series controlled semiconductor switching element in a branch across the two input terminals of the apparatus, a first control signal generator common to all of the semiconductor switching elements and having a connection to a control electrode of each of the controlled semiconductor switching elements, each lamp group including an auxiliary electric energy supply source for controlling said lamp group and an auxiliary control signal generator, said auxiliary control signal generator being responsive to the absence of a control signal across the connection to the common control signal generator so that the relevant auxiliary supply source and the relevant auxiliary control signal generator generate an auxiliary control signal for the control electrode of its respective controlled semiconductor switching element such that the lamp luminosity assumes a fixed value which at a maximum is equal to that which occurs in the continuously conducting condition of the semiconductor switching element and which at a minimum is equal to 10 percent of said maximum value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the connection between the common control signal generator and a control electrode of one of the controlled semiconductor switching elements includes an opto-electronic coupling element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
98 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a separate measuring section present near a lamp group for indicating the presence or absence of a control signal across the connection to the common control signal generator, said measuring section comprising a series arrangement of a capacitor and a resistor with means connecting said series arrangement to the auxiliary supply source only in the presence of a control signal, a discharge circuit for the capacitor connected in circuit such that the charge condition of the capacitor is a measure of the presence of absence of the control signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which the auxiliary supply source is a direct voltage source and the discharge circuit includes means connecting one of the terminals of the capacitor to the base of a transistor and the other terminal of the capacitor to a main electrode of said transistor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
118 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the auxiliary control signal generator includes two gating circuits in which an input of the first gating circuit is connected to a main electrode of the transistor and a first input of the second gating circuit is connected to an output of the first gating circuit and a second input of the second gating circuit is connected to a point in the measuring section which indicates the presence or absence of said control signal, both gating circuits having the property that an input signal of low voltage results in an output signal of high voltage and that the output voltage is low when the two inputs receive a high voltage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the output of the second gating circuit is connected to the control electrode of the controlled semiconductor switching element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the input terminals are adapted for connection to an alternating current supply and in which each lamp group includes two thyristors connected in anti-parallel, each for one current direction, and an auxiliary control signal generator is present for each thyristor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the energy source coupled to the input terminals also serves as the auxiliary supply source.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
82 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 further comprising a measuring section presEnt near a lamp group for indicating the presence or absence of a control signal across the connection to the common control signal generator, characterized in that in the absence of the control signal a branch comprising a primary winding of a transformer is connected to the auxiliary supply source and that two secondary windings of said transformer are connected to control electrodes of two anti-parallel arranged controlled semiconductor rectifiers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the connection between the common control signal generator and the control electrodes includes a second primary winding of the transformer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
212 words
An electric supply apparatus for a plurality of electric lamps comprising, a pair of input terminals for coupling a source of electric energy to the lamps, a plurality of controlled semiconductor switching elements, means connecting a first switching element in series with at least one lamp in a first branch across said input terminals, means connecting a second switching element in series with at least one other lamp in a second branch across said input terminals, a control signal generator common to all of the switching elements, means connecting the output signal of said signal generator to the control electrodes of said switching elements to control the supply of electric energy to the lamps, a plurality of auxiliary control generators each individually coupled to a control electrode of a respective switching element for generating an auxiliary control signal therefor in the absence of the output control signal of the common signal generator at a particular switching element control electrode, and means responsive to the absence of the primary output control signal at one of more switching element control electrodes for activating the relevant auxiliary control generators to supply said auxiliary control signals to its associated switching elements so that the associated lamps are energized to emit a fixed value of luminance energy.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
212 words
An electric supply apparatus for a plurality of electric lamps comprising, a pair of input terminals for coupling a source of electric energy to the lamps, a plurality of controlled semiconductor switching elements, means connecting a first switching element in series with at least one lamp in a first branch across said input terminals, means connecting a second switching element in series with at least one other lamp in a second branch across said input terminals, a control signal generator common to all of the switching elements, means connecting the output signal of said signal generator to the control electrodes of said switching elements to control the supply of electric energy to the lamps, a plurality of auxiliary control generators each individually coupled to a control electrode of a respective switching element for generating an auxiliary control signal therefor in the absence of the output control signal of the common signal generator at a particular switching element control electrode, and means responsive to the absence of the primary output control signal at one of more switching element control electrodes for activating the relevant auxiliary control generators to supply said auxiliary control signals to its associated switching elements so that the associated lamps are energized to emit a fixed value of luminance energy.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said activating means includes means for limiting the electric energy supplied to a lamp under auxiliary control to a fixed value which is a fraction of the energy supplied while the lamp is under the control of the common control signal generator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said output signal connecting means comprises opto-electronic coupling means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said auxiliary control generators include an RC circuit coupled to a DC voltage source and including a capacitor whose charge level is determined by the condition of the opto-electronic coupling means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-01-27 | 1978-07-29 | 1979-01-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-27 | 1982-07-29 | 1983-01-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-27 | 1986-07-29 | 1987-01-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |