Patent US4581562A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4581562A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Extra-high-efficiency fluorescent lamp ballast
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1983-06-21
•
Granted: 1986-04-08
•
Expires: 2003-06-21
Abstract
Abstract Subject invention relates to an inverter-type electronic fluorescent lamp ballast wherein a series-resonant LC circuit connected across the inverter's output is used for matching the inverter's operating characteristics to those of the fluorescent lamp. The fluorescent lamp, combined with a Varistor, is connected in parallel with the tank-capacitor of this LC circuit. Thus, the starting voltage provided for the lamp is limited by the voltage-clamping-effect of the Varistor; and before the fluorescent lamp starts, all the output current from the ballast flows through this Varistor. After the lamp has started, however, the ballast output current shifts away from the Varistor and over to the lamp--leaving only a negligible amount of current to flow through the Varistor on a continuous basis. The essential aspect of subject invention relates to using the current flowing through the Varistor--with the help of an isolating current transformer--for providing heating power to the lamp cathodes. That way, the starting of the fluorescent lamp is accomplished in a normal rapid-start or trigger-start fashion; but, after the lamp has started, the power provided to the cathodes diminishes to a negligible level. Consequently, without the use of overt switching means, etc., subject ballast gains the efficiency-advantage associated with removing the cathode heating power after the lamp has started.
Inventors
- 👤 Ole K. Nilssen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 09:01
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B41/00; H05B41/14; H05B41/26; H05B41/28; H05B41/295; H05B41/298; H05B41/2981; H05B41/2986; H05B41/282; H05B41/285; H05B41/2851; H05B41/2856; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S315/00; Y10S315/07
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
A ballasting means for a fluoroscent lamp, said lamp characteized by having a pair of thermionic cathodes which requires therebetween initially a lamp-starting voltage of relatively high magnitude for effecting lamp starting and subsequently a lamp-operating-voltage of relatively low magnitude for effecting continous lamp operation, said cathodes having each a pair of cathode input terminals, said ballasting means comprising: a source of lamp-supply-voltage having an internal impedance, the magnitude of said lamp-supply-voltage being larger than that of said lamp-starting-voltage, said internal impedance being operative to limit the magnitude of the current available from said source to that required for proper operation of said lamp; voltage-clamping-means connected in circuit between said pair of cathodes and operative to limit the magnitude of the voltage therebetween to that of said lamp-starting-voltage; and cathode-heating-means connected in circuit with said voltage-clamping-means and operative by way of said cathode input terminals to provide electric heating power to said cathodes in response to current flowing through said voltage-clamping-means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
A ballasting means for a fluoroscent lamp, said lamp characteized by having a pair of thermionic cathodes which requires therebetween initially a lamp-starting voltage of relatively high magnitude for effecting lamp starting and subsequently a lamp-operating-voltage of relatively low magnitude for effecting continous lamp operation, said cathodes having each a pair of cathode input terminals, said ballasting means comprising: a source of lamp-supply-voltage having an internal impedance, the magnitude of said lamp-supply-voltage being larger than that of said lamp-starting-voltage, said internal impedance being operative to limit the magnitude of the current available from said source to that required for proper operation of said lamp; voltage-clamping-means connected in circuit between said pair of cathodes and operative to limit the magnitude of the voltage therebetween to that of said lamp-starting-voltage; and cathode-heating-means connected in circuit with said voltage-clamping-means and operative by way of said cathode input terminals to provide electric heating power to said cathodes in response to current flowing through said voltage-clamping-means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The ballasting means of claim 1 wherein said voltage-clamping-means comprises a power-dissipative means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The ballasting means of claim 2 wherein said voltage-clamping-means comprises a Varistor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The ballasting means of claim 2 wherein a thermal cut-out-means is thermally coupled with said power dissipative-means and electrically coupled with said source of lamp-supply-voltage, and operative to remove said lamp-supply-voltage whenever the temperature of said power-dissipative-means exceeds a pre-established threshold.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The ballasting means of claim 1 wherein said cathode-heating-means comprises a transformer-means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The ballasting means of claim 5 wherein said transformer-means has a primary winding coupled in circuit with said voltage-clamping means and secondary windings coupled in circuit with said cathode input terminals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
130 words
A ballast for a fluorescent lamp, said lamp having two thermionic cathodes, each with a pair of input terminals, said ballast comprising: a source of lamp-supply-voltage having an internal impedance, the magnitude of said lamp-supply-voltage being larger than that of the voltage required to initiate lamp-operation, said internal impedance being operative to limit the amount of current provided from said source to that appropriate for proper lamp-operation; voltage-clamping-means connected in circuit between said cathodes and operative to limit the voltage therebetween to a magnitude appropriate for effective lamp-starting; and cathode-heating-means connected in circuit with said voltage-clamping-means and operative by way of said cathode input terminals to provide electrical heating power to said cathodes for as long as said voltage-clamping-means is actively operative in limiting the voltage existing between said cathodes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
130 words
A ballast for a fluorescent lamp, said lamp having two thermionic cathodes, each with a pair of input terminals, said ballast comprising: a source of lamp-supply-voltage having an internal impedance, the magnitude of said lamp-supply-voltage being larger than that of the voltage required to initiate lamp-operation, said internal impedance being operative to limit the amount of current provided from said source to that appropriate for proper lamp-operation; voltage-clamping-means connected in circuit between said cathodes and operative to limit the voltage therebetween to a magnitude appropriate for effective lamp-starting; and cathode-heating-means connected in circuit with said voltage-clamping-means and operative by way of said cathode input terminals to provide electrical heating power to said cathodes for as long as said voltage-clamping-means is actively operative in limiting the voltage existing between said cathodes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
149 words
A loading and protective arrangements for an inverter-type power supply, said power supply being operable to convert a DC input voltage into an AC output voltage provided across a pair of output termianls, said arrangement comprising: a series-combination of an inductor and a capacitor connected across said output terminals, said series-combination being substantially resonant at the fundamental frequency of said AC voltage; load-coupling-means operative to couple a load in parallel-circuit with either the inductor or the capacitor of said series-combination; power-dissipative-means coupled in parallel circuit with either the inductor or the capacitor of said series-combination, said power-dissipative-means being operative to limit the magnitude of moltage develope thereacross; and thermally-responsive cut-out-means thermally coupled with said power-dissipative-means and electrically coupled with said power supply, said cut-out-means being responsive to the temperature of said power-dissipative-means and operative to remove said AC voltage from said series-combination whenever said temperature exceeds a pre-determined level.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
149 words
A loading and protective arrangements for an inverter-type power supply, said power supply being operable to convert a DC input voltage into an AC output voltage provided across a pair of output termianls, said arrangement comprising: a series-combination of an inductor and a capacitor connected across said output terminals, said series-combination being substantially resonant at the fundamental frequency of said AC voltage; load-coupling-means operative to couple a load in parallel-circuit with either the inductor or the capacitor of said series-combination; power-dissipative-means coupled in parallel circuit with either the inductor or the capacitor of said series-combination, said power-dissipative-means being operative to limit the magnitude of moltage develope thereacross; and thermally-responsive cut-out-means thermally coupled with said power-dissipative-means and electrically coupled with said power supply, said cut-out-means being responsive to the temperature of said power-dissipative-means and operative to remove said AC voltage from said series-combination whenever said temperature exceeds a pre-determined level.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The loading and protection arrangement of claim 8 wherein said load comprises a fluorescent lamp having a pair of thermionic cathodes, and where part of the power absorbed by said power-dissipative-means is used for providing heating of said thermionic cathodes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
145 words
A ballasting arrangement for a fluorescent lamp, said lamp having two thermionic cathodes and a requiring therebetween for proper lamp operaiton an initial lamp-starting-voltage of relatively high magnitude and asubsequent lamp-operating-voltage of relatively low magnitude, said cathodes having each a pair of cathode input terminals, said arrangement comprising: a source of lamp-operating-current, the magnitude of said lamp-operating-current being substantially equal to that of the current required for proper operation of said lamp; connect means operable to connect said lamp circuit with said source of lam-operating-current; voltage-clamping means connected in parallel-circuit with said connect means and operative to limit the magnitude of the voltage developed thereacross to that required for proper lamp starting; and cathode-heating-means connected incircuit with said voltage-clamping means and operative by way of said cathode input terminals to provide electrical heating power to said cathodes in response to current flowing through said voltage-clamping-means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
145 words
A ballasting arrangement for a fluorescent lamp, said lamp having two thermionic cathodes and a requiring therebetween for proper lamp operaiton an initial lamp-starting-voltage of relatively high magnitude and asubsequent lamp-operating-voltage of relatively low magnitude, said cathodes having each a pair of cathode input terminals, said arrangement comprising: a source of lamp-operating-current, the magnitude of said lamp-operating-current being substantially equal to that of the current required for proper operation of said lamp; connect means operable to connect said lamp circuit with said source of lam-operating-current; voltage-clamping means connected in parallel-circuit with said connect means and operative to limit the magnitude of the voltage developed thereacross to that required for proper lamp starting; and cathode-heating-means connected incircuit with said voltage-clamping means and operative by way of said cathode input terminals to provide electrical heating power to said cathodes in response to current flowing through said voltage-clamping-means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The ballasting arrangement of claim 10 wherein the current flowing through said voltage-clamping-means is of negligible magnitude after said lamp has started.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The ballasting arrangement of claim 10 wherein said source of lamp-operating-current comprises an inverter means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
The ballasting arrangement of claim 10 wherein said lamp-operating-current is an alternating current, and wherein said source comprises a series-combination of an inductor and a capacitor, said series-combination being series-resonant at the fundamental frequency of said alternating current.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
The ballasting arrangement of claim 10 wherein said voltage-limiting-means comprises a power-dissipative means as well as a thermally-responsive cut-out-means, said cut-out-means being thermally coupled with said power-dissipative-means and electrically coupled with said source, and operative to remove said lamp-operating-current whenever the temperature of said power-dissipative-means exceeds a pre-determined level.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
The ballasting arrangment of claim 14 wherein said voltage-limiting-means comprises a Varistor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-04-07 | 1989-10-07 | 1990-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-04-07 | 1993-10-07 | 1994-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-04-07 | 1997-10-07 | 1998-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |