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US4016477A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Novel multi-path leakage transformer and inverter ballast

Assignee: ISODYNE Inc
•
Filing: 1975-04-29
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Granted: 1977-04-05
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Expires: 1995-04-29
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Abstract

Abstract A highly efficient, energy saving ballasting and transfer circuit, utilizing a single high frequency inverter ballast unit, capable of powering multiple lamp loads from any direct or alternating electric power source, comprises a current feedback inverter in combination with a unique multi-path, independently controlled leakage transformer, which operates to permit coupling of the single inverter unit to any number of lamps, particularly the gas discharge type. The multi-path leakage transformer provides multiple and independent magnetic circuits to power any number of lamps from a single source which, because of its linear transfer function, achieves controlled light output of the lamps proportional to the power input.

Inventors

  • 👤 Horace Ghiringhelli

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-27 14:06
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01F; H01F38/00; H01F38/08; H01F38/10; H02; H02M; H02M7/00; H02M7/42; H02M7/44; H02M7/48; H02M7/53; H02M7/537; H02M7/5383; H02M7/53832; H02M7/53835; H05; H05B; H05B41/00; H05B41/14; H05B41/26; H05B41/28; H05B41/282; H05B41/2821; H05B41/2822; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S315/00; Y10S315/04

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim 57 words
An inverter ballast for operating multiple electric gas discharge lamps, which comprises a power conversion circuit, and a leakage transformer having a multi-path magnetic circuit, said transformer including a primary coil operated from a single source and separate secondary coils, each said secondary coil having its own independent magnetic core circuit path and its own lamp loads.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 57 words
An inverter ballast for operating multiple electric gas discharge lamps, which comprises a power conversion circuit, and a leakage transformer having a multi-path magnetic circuit, said transformer including a primary coil operated from a single source and separate secondary coils, each said secondary coil having its own independent magnetic core circuit path and its own lamp loads.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 60 words
An inverter ballast, according to claim 1, for operation at high frequencies, which comprises a current feedback inverter tuned to a high frequency for optimum power transfer to lamp loads and maximum light output and a leakage transformer, connected between the inverter and the lamps, having a multi-path magnetic circuit, said transformer including said primary coil and said secondary coils.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 18 words
An inverter ballast, according to claim 1, operating at high frequencies ranging from approximately 20 KHz and higher.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 18 words
An inverter ballast, according to claim 1, wherein the electric power source is a DC electric power source.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 20 words
An inverter ballast, according to claim 2, wherein the inverter is a current feed-back inverter tuned to an optimum frequency.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 16 words
An inverter ballast, according to claim 5, wherein the current feed-back inverter includes variable impedance networks.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 37 words
An inverter ballast, according to claim 1, wherein the secondary circuits of the multi-path leakage transformer have a high degree of leakage inductance and are tuned independently to maximize energy transfer from the inverter to the lamps.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 33 words
An inverter ballast, according to claim 1, capable of operating over a wide range of input voltages of at least one decade to permit dimming light output linearly in relation to power consumption.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 15 words
An inverter ballast, according to claim 1, wherein the gas discharge lamps are fluorescent lamps.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 69 words
An electric leakage transformer for operating multiple lamp loads from a single power source having a very high degree of magnetic loading isolation between the secondary circuits, which comprises a primary coil and multiple secondary coils corresponding to the number of lamp load sets, said secondary coils being part of separate and independent magnetic paths, which yield high leakage reactances and which pass in common through said primary coil.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 69 words
An electric leakage transformer for operating multiple lamp loads from a single power source having a very high degree of magnetic loading isolation between the secondary circuits, which comprises a primary coil and multiple secondary coils corresponding to the number of lamp load sets, said secondary coils being part of separate and independent magnetic paths, which yield high leakage reactances and which pass in common through said primary coil.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 24 words
An electric leakage transformer, according to claim 10, wherein independent secondary ballast reactances permit operation of the secondary lamp loads from a single primary.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 33 words
An inverter feeding an electric multi-path leakage transformer, according to claim 10, to power any type of multiple load which requires multiple secondaries having individually controlled and magnetically isolated leakage reactances for each.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 18 words
An inverter ballast, according to claim 1, wherein the electric power source is an AC electric power source.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 33 words
A converter, feeding an electric multi-path leakage transformer, according to claim 10, to power any type of multiple load which requires multiple secondaries having individually controlled and magnetically isolated leakage reactances for each.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 33 words
A cyclo-converter feeding an electric multi-path leakage transformer according to claim 10, to power any type of multiple load which requires multiple secondaries having individually controlled and magnetically isolated leakage reactances for each.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2289175A Cited
US2423031A Cited
US2496981A Cited
US2546968A Cited
US2971124A Cited
US3568035A Cited
US3654542A Cited
US3919595A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1980-04-04 1980-10-04 1981-04-05 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1984-04-04 1984-10-04 1985-04-05 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1988-04-04 1988-10-04 1989-04-05 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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