US4523128A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Remote control of dimmable electronic gas discharge lamp ballasts
Assignee: Honeywell Inc
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Filing: 1982-12-10
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Granted: 1985-06-11
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Expires: 2002-12-10
Abstract
Abstract A remotely controlled dimming solid state ballast system for gas discharge lamps adapted to respond to external control signals is disclosed which includes the ballast itself along with integral controls for interfacing with an external addressing control system, which may be a powerline carrier system. The external control system includes a signal receiver for receiving, and recognizing remotely transmitted control signals addressed to said ballast. An output device is provided for generating an output control signal modulated in response to the control signals to provide the desired control setpoint of the lamps controlled by the ballast or to turn the lamps on or off.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas A. Stamm
- 👤 Zoltan Zansky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 03:56
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B41/00; H05B41/14; H05B41/26; H05B41/28; H05B41/282; H05B41/2825; H05B41/2828; H05B41/36; H05B41/38; H05B41/39; H05B41/392; H05B41/3921; H05B41/3927; H05B47/00; H05B47/10; H05B47/175; H05B47/185; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S315/00; Y10S315/04; Y10S315/07
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
A remotely controlled dimming solid state ballast system for gas discharge lamps adapted to respond to external wireless control signals comprising: solid state dimming ballast for powering one or more of said lamps, said solid state dimming ballast including control interface means for interfacing with an external wireless control system; control means for controlling said ballast means said control means further comprising, signal receiving means including decoding means for receiving and decoding remotely transmitted control signals, signal recognition means connected to said decoding means for recognizing control signals addressed to said ballast, enabling means associated with said signal recognition means for allowing transmission of recognized control signals to an output means, and output means for generating a setpoint output control signal modulated in response to said recognized control signals and indicative of the desired control setpoint of said one or more lamps controlled by said ballast, wherein said output means is connected between said enabling means and said ballast.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
159 words
A remotely controlled dimming solid state ballast system for gas discharge lamps adapted to respond to external wireless control signals comprising: solid state dimming ballast for powering one or more of said lamps, said solid state dimming ballast including control interface means for interfacing with an external wireless control system; control means for controlling said ballast means said control means further comprising, signal receiving means including decoding means for receiving and decoding remotely transmitted control signals, signal recognition means connected to said decoding means for recognizing control signals addressed to said ballast, enabling means associated with said signal recognition means for allowing transmission of recognized control signals to an output means, and output means for generating a setpoint output control signal modulated in response to said recognized control signals and indicative of the desired control setpoint of said one or more lamps controlled by said ballast, wherein said output means is connected between said enabling means and said ballast.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
89 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said control means has a unique address and wherein said signal recognition means further comprises: intermediate data receiving and transmitting means for receiving and selectively transmitting address and control signal data; address and framing recognition means including; means for receiving address data from said intermediate data receiving and transmitting means, means for recognizing a control signal address matching said unique address, and recognition output means connected to said enabling means for activating said enabling means upon the matching of said unique address.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said enabling means is a data latch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said output device further comprises a plurality of output signals including one or both of START and STOP outputs to control the starting and/or shutting down of the ballast.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said output means is a digital-to-analog converter and wherein said output control signal is an analog signal having a value related to the desired lamp light level.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said output means is a digital-to-analog converter and wherein said output control signal is an analog signal having a value related to the desired lamp light level.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said analog signal is DC.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said analog signal is DC.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said signals received by said signal receiving means are in the form of binary digital data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said data is transmitted and decoded using a mode selected from the group consisting of frequency shift keying, phase shift keying and differential phase shift keying.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said mode is differential phase shift keying.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said signal received by said receiver are powerline carrier signals.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said signals received by said signal receiving means are in the form of binary digital data.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said data is transmitted and decoded using a mode selected from the group consisting of frequency shift keying, phase shift keying and differential phase shift keying.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said mode is differential phase shift keying.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
150 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said control interface means of said ballast means further comprises: monitor means for monitoring a parameter indicative of the lamp current which is proportional to light intensity level of said lamps (V avg ), said monitor means further comprising: first signal generating means for generating an output signal, V avg , indicative of the status of said light level of said lamps; second signal generating means having an input connected to the output of said first signal generating means and another input connected to said setpoint output of said output means, wherein said second signal generating means generates an output signal indicative of any difference between said input signals; and modulation means for modulating said light level of said second signal generating means in a manner which causes said output of said first signal generating means signal to conform to said setpoint signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein both said lamp status signal and said setpoint signal are analog DC signals.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said second signal generating means is an operational amplifier.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said status signal is derived from the average current level of said one or more lamps.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said monitor means further comprises: current transformer means having at least one primary winding connected to the lamp current and a secondary winding; full-wave rectifier means connected across said secondary winding of said current transformer means, said full-wave rectifier means generating said analog status signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said ballast controls dual lamps and wherein said current transformer further comprises dual primary windings wound oppositely to null out the cathode filament current thereby transmitting only the lamp current.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said ballast further comprises: an inverter means driven by variable pulse width square wave electric power, and means for modulating the pulse width of said variable pulse width square wave electric power in response to the output signal of said second signal generating means of said control interface means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
94 words
The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said control interface means of said ballast further comprises: a power supply means adapted to drive an inverter means, wherein said power supply means includes an oscillating circuit means which requires an external START signal; and wherein said output means of said control means provides said start-up signal in the form of a timed pulse of DC voltage upon receiving an START control signal from said enabling means, said START output from said output means being connected to the oscillator drive input of said ballast control means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
103 words
The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said control interface means of said ballast further comprises: a power supply means adapted to drive an inverter means, wherein said power supply means includes an oscillating circuit means which requires an external signal to turn said power supply off; and wherein said output means of said control means provides said OFF signal in the form of a timed pulse of DC voltage upon receiving an OFF control signal from said enabling means, said OFF output from said output means being connected to a STOP input to the oscillator drive input of said ballast control means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said signal receiving means is a radio frequency receiver.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said signal receiving means is an ultrasonic receiver.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
103 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said control interface means of said ballast further comprises: a power supply means adapted to drive an inverter means, wherein said power supply means includes an oscillating circuit means which requires an external signal to turn said power supply off; and wherein said output means of said control means provides said OFF signal in the form of a timed pulse of DC voltage upon receiving an OFF control signal from said enabling means, said OFF output from said output means being connected to a STOP input to the oscillator drive input of said ballast control means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said signal receiving means is an optical receiver.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said signal receiving means is a fiber-optic receiver.
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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) | 1988-06-10 | 1988-12-10 | 1989-06-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-06-10 | 1992-12-10 | 1993-06-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-06-10 | 1996-12-10 | 1997-06-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |