US3921032A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermal regulator ballast
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1975-02-10
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Granted: 1975-11-18
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Expires: 1995-02-10
Abstract
Abstract A ballast for regulating current through at least one gaseous discharge lamp responsive to thermal conditions around the ballast. A capacity circuit including a power capacitance is utilized to provide at least a part of the current regulation. The capacity circuit is responsive to a change in temperature and is capable of switching either abruptly or gradually from one capacitance level to another capacitance level. The impedance of the capacity circuit is therefore increased as the temperature increases thereby limiting current through the at least one gaseous discharge lamp during a high temperature situation. Furthermore, this decrease in current has little, if any, overall effect on the light output of the lamp.
Inventors
- 👤 Alexander Robert Hallay
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 15:06
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B41/00; H05B41/14; H05B41/36; H05B41/38; H05B41/39; H05B41/392; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S315/00; Y10S315/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
A ballast circuit for regulating the current in at least one gaseous discharge lamp over a range of ambient temperatures comprising: a pair of input terminals for connecting said ballast circuit to a source of power; a transformer having primary and secondary windings; said pair of input terminals being connected to opposite ends of said primary winding; means for connecting said ballast circuit to the at least one lamp; a capacity circuit connected between said secondary winding of said transformer and said means for connecting said ballast circuit to the at least one lamp; said capacity circuit including a power capacitance means; said capacity circuit including means adapted to substantially decrease the effective capacitance of said capacity circuit in response to a predetermined increase in the temperature to which said ballast circuit is subjected and to substantially increase the effective capacitance of said capacity circuit in response to a predetermined decrease in the temperature to which said ballast circuit is subjected, whereby said ballast circuit is thermally regulated with no more than an insubtantial change in light output of the at least one lamp.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
A ballast circuit for regulating the current in at least one gaseous discharge lamp over a range of ambient temperatures comprising: a pair of input terminals for connecting said ballast circuit to a source of power; a transformer having primary and secondary windings; said pair of input terminals being connected to opposite ends of said primary winding; means for connecting said ballast circuit to the at least one lamp; a capacity circuit connected between said secondary winding of said transformer and said means for connecting said ballast circuit to the at least one lamp; said capacity circuit including a power capacitance means; said capacity circuit including means adapted to substantially decrease the effective capacitance of said capacity circuit in response to a predetermined increase in the temperature to which said ballast circuit is subjected and to substantially increase the effective capacitance of said capacity circuit in response to a predetermined decrease in the temperature to which said ballast circuit is subjected, whereby said ballast circuit is thermally regulated with no more than an insubtantial change in light output of the at least one lamp.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A ballast circuit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said capacity circuit further includes a second capacitance means associated with said power capacitance means, and a switch means for effectively switching said second capacitance means in and out of an electrical relationship with said capacity circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A ballast circuit as set forth in claim 2 wherein said switch means is a positive temperature coefficient resistor connected in series with said second capacitor; said series arrangement being connected in parallel with said power capacitance means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A ballast circuit as set forth in claim 3 wherein said positive temperature coefficient resistor is substantially linear resistance with respect to temperature over a predetermined temperature range.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A ballast circuit as set forth in claim 3 wherein said positive temperature coefficient resistor is of the type which abruptly and substantially changes resistance at a predetermined temperature.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
A ballast circuit as set forth in claim 2 wherein said switch means is a thermal responsive switch; said thermal responsive switch being connected in series with second capacitance means; said series arrangement being connected in parallel with said power capacitance means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A ballast circuit as set forth in claim 6 wherein said thermal responsive switch is a bi-metal switch.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
A ballast circuit as set forth in claim 2 wherein said switch means is an electronic switch having a control terminal; said electronic switch being connected in series with said second capacitance means; said series combination being connected in parallel with said power capacitance; a thermal responsive device connected to said control terminal of said electronic switch for controlling initiation of said electronic switch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
67 words
A ballast circuit as set forth in claim 2 wherein said switch means is an electronic switch having a control terminal; said second capacitance being connected in series with said power capacitance means; said electronic switch connected in parallel with said second capacitance means, and a thermal responsive device being connected to said control terminal of said electronic switch means for controlling initiation of said electronic switch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A ballast circuit set forth in claim 1 wherein said capacity circuit includes a ceramic capacitor connected in parallel with said power capacitance means; said ceramic capacitor being the type whose capacitance decreases as the temperature increases.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
A ballast circuit as set forth in claim 1 wherein the change in overall capacitance of said capacity circuit is greater than 15% with a corresponding change in light output from the lamp of less than 5%.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
160 words
A ballast circuit for regulating the current to at least one gaseous discharge lamp over a range of ambient temperatures comprising: a pair of input terminals for connecting said ballast circuit to a source of power; a transformer having primary and secondary windings, said primary winding being connected to said pair of input terminals; means for connecting said ballast circuit across the at least one lamp; a power capacity circuit connected between said secondary winding of said transformer and said means for connecting said ballast circuit to the at least one lamp; said power capacity circuit including means adapted to substantially change the effective capacitance of said power capacity circuit in response to a predetermined change in the temperature to which said ballast circuit is subjected for substantially changing the overall impedance of said ballast circuit so that said ballast circuit is thermally regulated with no more than an insubstantial change in light output of the at least one lamp.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
160 words
A ballast circuit for regulating the current to at least one gaseous discharge lamp over a range of ambient temperatures comprising: a pair of input terminals for connecting said ballast circuit to a source of power; a transformer having primary and secondary windings, said primary winding being connected to said pair of input terminals; means for connecting said ballast circuit across the at least one lamp; a power capacity circuit connected between said secondary winding of said transformer and said means for connecting said ballast circuit to the at least one lamp; said power capacity circuit including means adapted to substantially change the effective capacitance of said power capacity circuit in response to a predetermined change in the temperature to which said ballast circuit is subjected for substantially changing the overall impedance of said ballast circuit so that said ballast circuit is thermally regulated with no more than an insubstantial change in light output of the at least one lamp.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
A ballast circuit as set forth in claim 12 wherein the means for substantially changing the capacitance of said capacity circuit will cause at least a 15 percent change in capacitance in response to a predetermined change in temperature.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
A ballast circuit as set forth in claim 12 wherein said capacity circuit includes a thermal responsive switch means and a second capacitance means; said second capacitance means associated with said thermal responsive switch means and said power capacitance means whereby said thermal responsive switch means controls the overall capacitance of said capacity circuit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
154 words
A ballast circuit for regulating the current in at least one fluorescent lamp over a range of ambient temperatures comprising: a pair of input terminals for connecting said ballast circuit to a source of power; a transformer having primary and secondary windings; said pair of input terminals being connected across said primary winding; said secondary winding being connected to said primary winding; a capacity circuit including a power capacitance, a second capacitance, and a positive temperature coefficient resistor; said power capacitance being connected between said secondary winding and the at least one fluorescent lamp; said positive temperature coefficient resistor being connected in series with said second capacitance; said series combination being connected in parallel with said power capacitance; whereby the effective capacitance of said capacity circuit may be decreased by at least 15% in response to a predetermined increase in ambient temperature without a corresponding substantial decrease in light output of the fluorescent lamp.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
154 words
A ballast circuit for regulating the current in at least one fluorescent lamp over a range of ambient temperatures comprising: a pair of input terminals for connecting said ballast circuit to a source of power; a transformer having primary and secondary windings; said pair of input terminals being connected across said primary winding; said secondary winding being connected to said primary winding; a capacity circuit including a power capacitance, a second capacitance, and a positive temperature coefficient resistor; said power capacitance being connected between said secondary winding and the at least one fluorescent lamp; said positive temperature coefficient resistor being connected in series with said second capacitance; said series combination being connected in parallel with said power capacitance; whereby the effective capacitance of said capacity circuit may be decreased by at least 15% in response to a predetermined increase in ambient temperature without a corresponding substantial decrease in light output of the fluorescent lamp.
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) | 1978-11-17 | 1979-05-19 | 1979-11-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-17 | 1983-05-19 | 1983-11-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-17 | 1987-05-19 | 1987-11-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |