Patent US4536680A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4536680A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Resistive lamp ballast with re-ignition circuit
Assignee: General Electric Co
•
Filing: 1984-09-20
•
Granted: 1985-08-20
•
Expires: 2004-09-20
Abstract
Abstract A discharge lamp is provided with a resistive ballast together with means for sensing lamp voltage conditions. If the lamp voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold then a control circuit operates to apply the output of a relatively high frequency oscillator to the lamp to achieve lamp re-ignition which must be accomplished twice during each alternating current cycle. Lamp re-ignition is necessitated by lamp current zero-crossing which occurs as a result of powering the lamp from an alternating current energy source.
Inventors
- 👤 Victor D. Roberts
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 17:29
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B41/00; H05B41/14; H05B41/36; H05B41/38; H05B41/39; H05B41/392
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A re-ignition circuit adapted to be connected to a discharge lamp, said discharge lamp being connected in series with a resistive element and being adapted to be coupled to an AC source, said re-ignition circuit comprising: sensing means for sensing voltage across said lamp; an oscillator coupled to said sensing means for supplying re-ignition energy across the electrodes of said lamp upon the condition during any half cycle of said AC source that said sensing means indicates that lamp voltage exceeds a predetermined value; a transformer having one winding connected between said resistive element and said lamp and having its other winding connected to the output of said oscillator; and a high frequency bypass capacitor connected across the series combination of said one winding and said lamp.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
A re-ignition circuit adapted to be connected to a discharge lamp, said discharge lamp being connected in series with a resistive element and being adapted to be coupled to an AC source, said re-ignition circuit comprising: sensing means for sensing voltage across said lamp; an oscillator coupled to said sensing means for supplying re-ignition energy across the electrodes of said lamp upon the condition during any half cycle of said AC source that said sensing means indicates that lamp voltage exceeds a predetermined value; a transformer having one winding connected between said resistive element and said lamp and having its other winding connected to the output of said oscillator; and a high frequency bypass capacitor connected across the series combination of said one winding and said lamp.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
119 words
A lighting system comprising: a discharge lamp; a resistive element coupled in series with said lamp and adapted to be coupled to an AC source; sensing means for sensing voltage across said lamp; an oscillator coupled across the electrodes of said sensing means for supplying re-ignition energy across the electrodes of said lamp upon the condition during any half cycle of said AC source that said sensing means indicates that lamp voltage exceeds a predetermined value; a transformer having one winding connected between said resistive element and said lamp and having its other winding connected to the output of said oscillator; and a high frequency bypass capacitor connected across the series combination of said one winding and said lamp.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
119 words
A lighting system comprising: a discharge lamp; a resistive element coupled in series with said lamp and adapted to be coupled to an AC source; sensing means for sensing voltage across said lamp; an oscillator coupled across the electrodes of said sensing means for supplying re-ignition energy across the electrodes of said lamp upon the condition during any half cycle of said AC source that said sensing means indicates that lamp voltage exceeds a predetermined value; a transformer having one winding connected between said resistive element and said lamp and having its other winding connected to the output of said oscillator; and a high frequency bypass capacitor connected across the series combination of said one winding and said lamp.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4350929A
Cited
US4340843A
Cited
US4376911A
Cited
US4356433A
Cited
US4331905A
Cited
US4484107A
Cited
US4471268A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-08-19 | 1989-02-18 | 1989-08-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-08-19 | 1993-02-18 | 1993-08-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-08-19 | 1997-02-18 | 1997-08-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |