US4459516A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Line operated fluorescent lamp inverter ballast
Assignee: ENERGY EFFICIENT LIGHTING Co
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Filing: 1982-06-25
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Granted: 1984-07-10
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Expires: 2002-06-25
Abstract
Abstract Applicant has provided a ballast circuit for fluorescent lights made up of the combination of (1) a source of electrical energy, (2) a resonant circuit, (3) a switch means for connecting the source of electricity to the resonant circuit, (4) means to connect the resonant circuit to a load, (5) a resonant current monitor controlling the switch means in synchronism with the resonant current so that the switch means switches the resonant current when the resonant current passes through zero. The resonant current monitor is a current transformer having a primary winding connected in series with the resonant circuit and two secondary windings connected to the bases of the two switching transistors in a two transistor inverter circuit at a polarity that will switch one of the transistors on and the other off at the time current passes through zero. This is the optimum time to switch the transistors since the current flowing through the transistors is passing through zero at that time and therefore the transistors operate at maximum efficiency and there are minimum switching losses and improves the efficiency of the circuit. The circuit will automatically adjust the switching frequency to the changed resonant frequency should the value of the inductor or the capacitor degrade and therefore change, and the switching losses will therefore be maintained at minimum.
Inventors
- 👤 William B. Zelina
- 👤 Francis J. Zelina
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 21:11
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B41/00; H05B41/14; H05B41/26; H05B41/28; H05B41/282; H05B41/2825; H05B41/16; H05B41/20; H05B41/23; H05B41/232; H05B41/295
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
277 words
A circuit for driving a load comprising, a resonant circuit, a power supply, an inverter circuit, control means for actuating said inverter, a first transformer having a winding, a second transformer having a primary winding, a first secondary winding and a second secondary winding, said primary winding having a few turns only, a condenser, a first electronic valve having an actuating means, a second electronic valve having an actuating means, said resonant circuit comprising said first transformer winding, said second transformer primary winding and said condenser connected in series with one another and adapted to carry resonant circuit current, said second transformer being a current transformer, said inverter comprising said first electronic valve and said second electronic valve, said first electronic valve being connected to said power supply and to said resonant circuit, said second electronic valve being connected in series with said resonant circuit forming a loop, said first secondary winding of said second transformer being connected to said actuating means on said first electronic valve, said second secondary winding of said second transformer being connected to said actuating means of said second electronic valve, said control means for actuating said inverter consisting of said second transformer, said second transformer first secondary being adapted to actuate said first electronic valve connecting said power supply to said resonant circuit to charge said condenser to a first polarity, said second transformer second secondary winding being adapted to actuate said second electronic valve connecting said resonant circuit into a loop allowing current to flow in said loop to charge said condenser to a second polarity, and means on said circuit for connecting said first transformer winding to a load.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
277 words
A circuit for driving a load comprising, a resonant circuit, a power supply, an inverter circuit, control means for actuating said inverter, a first transformer having a winding, a second transformer having a primary winding, a first secondary winding and a second secondary winding, said primary winding having a few turns only, a condenser, a first electronic valve having an actuating means, a second electronic valve having an actuating means, said resonant circuit comprising said first transformer winding, said second transformer primary winding and said condenser connected in series with one another and adapted to carry resonant circuit current, said second transformer being a current transformer, said inverter comprising said first electronic valve and said second electronic valve, said first electronic valve being connected to said power supply and to said resonant circuit, said second electronic valve being connected in series with said resonant circuit forming a loop, said first secondary winding of said second transformer being connected to said actuating means on said first electronic valve, said second secondary winding of said second transformer being connected to said actuating means of said second electronic valve, said control means for actuating said inverter consisting of said second transformer, said second transformer first secondary being adapted to actuate said first electronic valve connecting said power supply to said resonant circuit to charge said condenser to a first polarity, said second transformer second secondary winding being adapted to actuate said second electronic valve connecting said resonant circuit into a loop allowing current to flow in said loop to charge said condenser to a second polarity, and means on said circuit for connecting said first transformer winding to a load.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The circuit recited in claim 1 wherein said second transformer is a current transformer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The circuit recited in claim 1 wherein said first transformer winding is primary winding and said means connecting said circuit to a load comprises a secondary winding on said first transformer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
111 words
The inverter circuit recited in claim 1 wherein said first transformer has a second secondary winding and a third secondary winding and said load means comprises a fluorescent lamp connected to said first secondary winding of said first transformer and having a first heater and a second heater, said second secondary transformer winding of said first transformer being connected to said first heater means and said third transformer winding of said first transformer being connected to said second heater means on said fluorescent lamp, said voltage in said secondary windings being adapted to reduce to a substantially low value during the time that the gas in said fluorescent lamp is ionized.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The circuit recited in claim 1 wherein said load is an ionizable gas lamp.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The circuit recited in claim 1 wherein said load is a fluorescent lamp.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The circuit recited in claim 5 wherein said fluorescent lamp has heating elements, said second winding is connected to said heating means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A circuit for driving a load comprising, a resonant circuit, a power supply, an inverter circuit, control means for actuating said inverter, a first transformer having a winding, a second transformer having a primary winding, a first secondary winding and a second secondary winding,
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
A circuit for driving a load comprising, a resonant circuit, a power supply, an inverter circuit, control means for actuating said inverter, a first transformer having a winding, a second transformer having a primary winding, a first secondary winding and a second secondary winding,
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
251 words
a condenser, a first electronic valve having an actuating means, a second electronic valve having an actuating means, said resonant circuit comprising said first transformer winding, said second transformer primary winding and said condenser connected in series with one another and adapted to carry resonant circuit current, said inverter comprising said first electronic valve and said second electronic valve, said first electronic valve being connected to said power supply and to said resonant circuit, said second electronic valve being connected in series with said resonant circuit forming a loop, said first secondary winding of said second transformer being connected to said actuating means on said first electronic valve, said second secondary winding of said second transformer being connected to said actuating means on said second electronic valve, said control means for actuating said inverter consisting of said second transformer, said second transformer first secondary being adapted to actuate said first electronic valve connecting said power supply to said resonant circuit to charge said condenser to a first polarity, said second transformer second secondary winding being adapted to actuate said second electronic valve connecting said resonant circuit into a loop allowing current to flow in said loop to charge said condenser to a second polarity, and means on said circuit for connecting it to a load, said load is a fluorescent lamp, said fluorescent lamp has heating elements, said second winding is connected to said heating means, said first transformer is a high leakage reactance transformer magnetically coupled to said secondary winding.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
251 words
a condenser, a first electronic valve having an actuating means, a second electronic valve having an actuating means, said resonant circuit comprising said first transformer winding, said second transformer primary winding and said condenser connected in series with one another and adapted to carry resonant circuit current, said inverter comprising said first electronic valve and said second electronic valve, said first electronic valve being connected to said power supply and to said resonant circuit, said second electronic valve being connected in series with said resonant circuit forming a loop, said first secondary winding of said second transformer being connected to said actuating means on said first electronic valve, said second secondary winding of said second transformer being connected to said actuating means on said second electronic valve, said control means for actuating said inverter consisting of said second transformer, said second transformer first secondary being adapted to actuate said first electronic valve connecting said power supply to said resonant circuit to charge said condenser to a first polarity, said second transformer second secondary winding being adapted to actuate said second electronic valve connecting said resonant circuit into a loop allowing current to flow in said loop to charge said condenser to a second polarity, and means on said circuit for connecting it to a load, said load is a fluorescent lamp, said fluorescent lamp has heating elements, said second winding is connected to said heating means, said first transformer is a high leakage reactance transformer magnetically coupled to said secondary winding.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The circuit recited in claim 8 wherein said first transformer comprises a magnetic core in the form of a magnetic structure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The circuit recited in claim 9 wherein said second transformer has a core made of a material having the magnetic properties of ferrite.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
272 words
A circuit for driving a load comprising, a resonant circuit, a power supply, an inverter circuit, control means for actuating said inverter, a first transformer having a winding, a second transformer having a primary winding, a first secondary winding and a second secondary winding, a condenser, a first electronic valve having an actuating means, a second electronic valve having an actuating means, said resonant circuit comprising said first transformer winding, said second transformer primary winding and said condenser connected in series with one another, said inverter comprising said first electronic valve and said second electronic valve, said first electronic valve being connected to said power supply and to said resonant circuit, said second electronic valve being connected in series with said resonant circuit forming a loop, said first secondary winding of said second transformer being connected to said actuating means on said first electronic valve, said second secondary winding of said second transformer being connected to said actuating means of said second electronic valve, said control means for actuating said inverter consisting of said second transformer, said second transformer first secondary being adapted to actuate said first electronic valve connecting said power supply to said resonant circuit to charge said condenser to a first polarity, said second transformer second secondary winding being adapted to actuate said second electronic valve connecting said resonant circuit into a loop allowing current to flow in said loop to charge said condenser to a second polarity, and means on said circuit for connecting it to a load, said second transformer is a current transformer having an annular core made of a material having the properties of ferrite.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
272 words
A circuit for driving a load comprising, a resonant circuit, a power supply, an inverter circuit, control means for actuating said inverter, a first transformer having a winding, a second transformer having a primary winding, a first secondary winding and a second secondary winding, a condenser, a first electronic valve having an actuating means, a second electronic valve having an actuating means, said resonant circuit comprising said first transformer winding, said second transformer primary winding and said condenser connected in series with one another, said inverter comprising said first electronic valve and said second electronic valve, said first electronic valve being connected to said power supply and to said resonant circuit, said second electronic valve being connected in series with said resonant circuit forming a loop, said first secondary winding of said second transformer being connected to said actuating means on said first electronic valve, said second secondary winding of said second transformer being connected to said actuating means of said second electronic valve, said control means for actuating said inverter consisting of said second transformer, said second transformer first secondary being adapted to actuate said first electronic valve connecting said power supply to said resonant circuit to charge said condenser to a first polarity, said second transformer second secondary winding being adapted to actuate said second electronic valve connecting said resonant circuit into a loop allowing current to flow in said loop to charge said condenser to a second polarity, and means on said circuit for connecting it to a load, said second transformer is a current transformer having an annular core made of a material having the properties of ferrite.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The circuit recited in claim 11 wherein second transformer has a core made of an annular member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The circuit recited in claim 12 wherein said annular member has an opening there through and said windings wound on said annular member through said opening.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
249 words
A circuit for driving a load comprising, a resonant circuit, a power supply, an inverter circuit, control means for actuating said inverter, a first transformer having a winding, a second transformer having a primary winding, a first secondary winding and a second secondary winding, a condenser, a first electronic valve having an actuating means, a second electronic valve having an actuating means, said resonant circuit comprising said first transformer winding, said second transformer primary winding and said condenser connected in series with one another, said inverter comprising said first electronic valve and said second electronic valve, said first electronic valve being connected to said power supply and to said resonant circuit, said second electronic valve being connected in series with said resonant circuit forming a loop, said first secondary winding of said second transformer being connected to said actuating means on said first electronic valve, said second secondary winding of said second transformer being connected to said actuating means of said second electronic valve, said control means for actuating said inverter consisting of said second transformer, said second transformer first secondary being adapted to actuate said first electronic valve connecting said power supply to said resonant circuit to charge said condenser to a first polarity, said second transformer second secondary winding being adapted to actuate said second electronic valve connecting said resonant circuit into a loop allowing current to flow in said loop to charge said condenser to a second polarity, said second transformer primary has a single turn.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
249 words
A circuit for driving a load comprising, a resonant circuit, a power supply, an inverter circuit, control means for actuating said inverter, a first transformer having a winding, a second transformer having a primary winding, a first secondary winding and a second secondary winding, a condenser, a first electronic valve having an actuating means, a second electronic valve having an actuating means, said resonant circuit comprising said first transformer winding, said second transformer primary winding and said condenser connected in series with one another, said inverter comprising said first electronic valve and said second electronic valve, said first electronic valve being connected to said power supply and to said resonant circuit, said second electronic valve being connected in series with said resonant circuit forming a loop, said first secondary winding of said second transformer being connected to said actuating means on said first electronic valve, said second secondary winding of said second transformer being connected to said actuating means of said second electronic valve, said control means for actuating said inverter consisting of said second transformer, said second transformer first secondary being adapted to actuate said first electronic valve connecting said power supply to said resonant circuit to charge said condenser to a first polarity, said second transformer second secondary winding being adapted to actuate said second electronic valve connecting said resonant circuit into a loop allowing current to flow in said loop to charge said condenser to a second polarity, said second transformer primary has a single turn.
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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) | 1987-07-10 | 1988-01-09 | 1988-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-07-10 | 1992-01-09 | 1992-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-07-10 | 1996-01-09 | 1996-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |