US3873882A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Auxiliary lighting system for a gaseous discharge lamp
Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co Inc
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Filing: 1973-10-05
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Granted: 1975-03-25
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Expires: 1993-10-05
Abstract
Abstract An emergency or auxiliary lighting system for a gaseous discharge lamp is provided with an auxiliary lamp controlled by a switch which is biased to remain in a closed position. A control circuit, responsive to the voltage across the gaseous discharge lamp, produces a voltage proportional thereto which is opposed to the biasing control. During any time that the gaseous discharge lamp provides more than a minimum adequate light output, the control circuit voltage becomes greater than the biasing control to open the switch. Also, in the event of a power interruption, the control circuit closes the switch.
Inventors
- 👤 Bernard J Gershen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 10:08
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/51; H03K17/56; H03K17/72; H03K17/725; H02; H02J; H02J9/00; H02J9/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
334 words
An auxilairy lighting system for use with a primary lighting system having a gaseous discharge lamp and a ballast connecting the gaseous discharge lamp to an alternating current source of voltage for igniting and operating said gaseous discharge lamp, said auxiliary lighting system comprising: a. an auxiliary light source; b. switch means connected in series with said auxiliary light source and an output from a ballast; c. said switch means comprising an SCR and a bridge rectifier; d. biasing means connected in series with said switch means and said auxiliary light source for producing an output voltage acting on said switch means and maintaining said switch means in a conductive condition; e. said biasing means including a resistor connected between a gate electrode of said SCR and a source of positive voltage; and f. control means responsive to a voltage across the discharge lamp for producing an output proportional to said lamp voltage and opposing the output voltage of the biasing means; g. said control means includes a transformer and a rectifier connected across a gaseous discharge lamp for Producing a negative output voltage proportional to the voltage applied to said discharge lamp; h. said output voltage from the transformer and rectifier being connected to the gate electrode of the SCR; i. said control means having an output voltage which is greater in magnitude than said output voltage from the biasing means during a period of time when said gaseous discharge lamp is operating at full illumination and said SCR is in a nonconductive condition, and causing said SCR to become conductive in response to application of a starting voltage to said gaseous discharge lamp; j. said control means also including a filter circuit and a breakdown device connected between the output of the transformer and the rectifier and the gate electrode of the SCR; k. said breakdown device producing a fixed low voltage after application of a high voltage thereto in response to the application of a starting voltage to the discharge lamp.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
334 words
An auxilairy lighting system for use with a primary lighting system having a gaseous discharge lamp and a ballast connecting the gaseous discharge lamp to an alternating current source of voltage for igniting and operating said gaseous discharge lamp, said auxiliary lighting system comprising: a. an auxiliary light source; b. switch means connected in series with said auxiliary light source and an output from a ballast; c. said switch means comprising an SCR and a bridge rectifier; d. biasing means connected in series with said switch means and said auxiliary light source for producing an output voltage acting on said switch means and maintaining said switch means in a conductive condition; e. said biasing means including a resistor connected between a gate electrode of said SCR and a source of positive voltage; and f. control means responsive to a voltage across the discharge lamp for producing an output proportional to said lamp voltage and opposing the output voltage of the biasing means; g. said control means includes a transformer and a rectifier connected across a gaseous discharge lamp for Producing a negative output voltage proportional to the voltage applied to said discharge lamp; h. said output voltage from the transformer and rectifier being connected to the gate electrode of the SCR; i. said control means having an output voltage which is greater in magnitude than said output voltage from the biasing means during a period of time when said gaseous discharge lamp is operating at full illumination and said SCR is in a nonconductive condition, and causing said SCR to become conductive in response to application of a starting voltage to said gaseous discharge lamp; j. said control means also including a filter circuit and a breakdown device connected between the output of the transformer and the rectifier and the gate electrode of the SCR; k. said breakdown device producing a fixed low voltage after application of a high voltage thereto in response to the application of a starting voltage to the discharge lamp.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
An auxiliary lighting system as defined in claim 1, in which: a. the bridge rectifier is connected to the alternating current source of voltage and produces a positive voltage applied at the resistor of the biasing means;
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
An auxiliary lighting system as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. said transformer has a primary connected across the gaseous discharge lamp and a secondary having ends interconnected at a first terminal; b. said secondary having an intermediate tap providing a second terminal; c. said filter circuit comprising capacitors and resistances connected across said first and second terminals of the transformer secondary.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
An auxiliary lighting system as defined in claim 3, wherein: a. said breakdown device comprises a silicon unidirectional switch connected in parallel with one of the filter capacitors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
An auxiliary lighting system as defined in claim 3, which includes: a. a limiting resistor serially connected between the gaseous discharge lamp and the primary of said transformer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
227 words
A lighting system, which comprises: a. a gaseous discharge lamp; b. a ballast connnected to said gaseous discharge lamp and to a source of alternating current voltage for igniting and operating said discharge lamp; c. an auxiliary light source; d. rectifier means connected across said gaseous discharge lamp; e. said rectifier means producing an output; f. reed switch means comprising an electromagnetic coil enclosing a pair of movable contact elements; g. said electromagnetic coil being connected to the output from said rectifier means in parallel with a filter capacitor; h. said movable contact elements being connected in series with a limiting resistor between an anode and a gate electrode of a semi-conductor switch; i. said contact elements when closed supplying a voltage to said gate electrode and causing said semi-conductor switch to become conductive; and j. permanent magnet means positioned adjacent said electromagnetic coil and acting on the movable contact elements to hold the contacts closed; k. said electromagnetic coil when energized producing a magnetic field in opposition to the magnetic field of the permanent magnet; l. said coil and said permanent magnet having a net field holding the contacts in engagement after a power interruption and during a warm-up period of the lamp; m. said net field permitting the contacts to separate under conditions when the lamp is operating and producing an acceptable level of illumination.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
227 words
A lighting system, which comprises: a. a gaseous discharge lamp; b. a ballast connnected to said gaseous discharge lamp and to a source of alternating current voltage for igniting and operating said discharge lamp; c. an auxiliary light source; d. rectifier means connected across said gaseous discharge lamp; e. said rectifier means producing an output; f. reed switch means comprising an electromagnetic coil enclosing a pair of movable contact elements; g. said electromagnetic coil being connected to the output from said rectifier means in parallel with a filter capacitor; h. said movable contact elements being connected in series with a limiting resistor between an anode and a gate electrode of a semi-conductor switch; i. said contact elements when closed supplying a voltage to said gate electrode and causing said semi-conductor switch to become conductive; and j. permanent magnet means positioned adjacent said electromagnetic coil and acting on the movable contact elements to hold the contacts closed; k. said electromagnetic coil when energized producing a magnetic field in opposition to the magnetic field of the permanent magnet; l. said coil and said permanent magnet having a net field holding the contacts in engagement after a power interruption and during a warm-up period of the lamp; m. said net field permitting the contacts to separate under conditions when the lamp is operating and producing an acceptable level of illumination.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3679931A
Cited
US3783332A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-24 | 1978-09-23 | 1979-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-24 | 1982-09-23 | 1983-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-24 | 1986-09-23 | 1987-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |