US4649322A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Energizing arrangement for controlling the luminous intensity of at least one discharge lamp and use of such arrangement
Assignee: Omega Electronics SA
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Filing: 1985-01-23
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Granted: 1987-03-10
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Expires: 2005-01-23
Abstract
Abstract The arrangement of the invention enables control of a light emitting element comprising at least one discharge tube. Firing of the tube is effected by a generator which provides voltage pulses at predetermined periodic intervals (T r ). The luminous intensity of the tube is controlled by a D.C. source which enables application of a discharge maintenance current to the tube, the duration of application (T c ) of which depends on an instruction signal. A circuit is provided to assure synchronism between the application of the voltage pulse and the maintenance current. The arrangement may be applied in matrix displays.
Inventors
- 👤 Alberto Tellan
- 👤 Pierre Desarzens
- 👤 Philippe Deglon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 07:16
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B41/00; H05B41/14; H05B41/36; H05B41/38; H05B41/39; H05B41/392; H05B41/3921; H05B41/3927
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
An energizing arrangement for controlling, in response to at least one instruction signal, the luminous intensity of at least one light emitting element having at least one discharge lamp, said arrangement comprising a voltage pulse generator including at least a direct voltage source and a switch means connected in series with said direct voltage source and activated at predetermined periodic intervals to provide voltage pulses of short duration to said lamp in order to start the discharge in the lamp, an instruction-signal producing means for producing a controllable instruction signal and for allowing the modification of said instruction signal without changing activation of said switch means, and a direct current source of essentially constant amplitude responsive to said instruction signal and adapted to provide the lamp after each voltage pulse with a discharge maintenance current, the duration of said maintenance current after each voltage pulse being determined by said instruction signal, whereby the instruction signal can be modified to vary the duration of the maintenance current after each voltage pulse to thereby vary the luminous intensity of said light emitting element without changing said voltage pulses for starting discharge of said lamp and without otherwise changing the amplitude of said maintenance current.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
202 words
An energizing arrangement for controlling, in response to at least one instruction signal, the luminous intensity of at least one light emitting element having at least one discharge lamp, said arrangement comprising a voltage pulse generator including at least a direct voltage source and a switch means connected in series with said direct voltage source and activated at predetermined periodic intervals to provide voltage pulses of short duration to said lamp in order to start the discharge in the lamp, an instruction-signal producing means for producing a controllable instruction signal and for allowing the modification of said instruction signal without changing activation of said switch means, and a direct current source of essentially constant amplitude responsive to said instruction signal and adapted to provide the lamp after each voltage pulse with a discharge maintenance current, the duration of said maintenance current after each voltage pulse being determined by said instruction signal, whereby the instruction signal can be modified to vary the duration of the maintenance current after each voltage pulse to thereby vary the luminous intensity of said light emitting element without changing said voltage pulses for starting discharge of said lamp and without otherwise changing the amplitude of said maintenance current.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
Energizing arrangement as set forth in claim 1 wherein terminals of the lamp are connected to voltage pulse generator terminals via a resistance arranged in series therewith so as to limit the current in the lamp.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
Energising arrangement as set forth in claim 1 wherein the maintenance current is applied after each voltage pulse over a time period not exceeding the time interval separating the voltage pulses, said period having at least thirty two different values.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
Energizing arrangement as set forth in claim 1 wherein the interval separating said pulses is less than 20 ms.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
Energizing arrangement as set forth in claim 1 arranged and adapted to control a group of light emitting elements, each element including a fluorescent discharge tube emitting white light, there being as many maintenance current sources as there are tubes in order to control independently the luminous intensity emitted by each tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
74 words
Energizing arrangement as set forth in claim 1 arranged and adapted to control a light emitting element comprising at least three fluorescent discharge tubes each emitting light of a different primary colour, there being as many maintenance current sources as there are tubes in order to control independently the luminous intensity emitted by each tube thereby to obtain a resultant light output the colour of which may be varied over the entire visible spectrum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
78 words
Energizing arrangement as set forth in claim 1 arranged and adapted to control a group of light emitting elements each element including at least three fluorescent discharge tubes, each emitting light of a different primary colour, there being as many maintenance current sources as there are tubes, in order to control independently the luminous intensity emitted by each tube, thereby to obtain a matrix of points the colour of which may be varied over the entire visible spectrum.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
Energizing arrangement as set forth in claim 1 wherein there is a plurality of discharge lamps to be controlled in the form of fluorescent tubes each being provided with a single active filament, with all filaments permanently energized from a common source.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
Energizing arrangement as set forth in claim 8 comprising one voltage pulse generator only common to all tubes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
Energizing arrangement as set forth in claim 8 comprising as many maintenance current sources as there are tubes, each such source having means for manually adjusting the amplitude of the current flowing in the tube associated therewith.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
Energizing arrangement as set forth in claim 10 wherein the maintenance current sources are provided with common means for simultaneously adjusting the current amplitude in all the tubes energized by said sources.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
Energizing arrangement as set forth in claim 10 wherein the maintenance current sources are energized by a common voltage source.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
Energizing arrangement as set forth in claim 10 wherein each tube has associated therewith a first diode connected in series between the voltage pulse generator and an electrode of the tube and a second diode connected in series between the associated maintenance current source and said electrode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
Energizing arrangement as set forth in claim 11 when employed in a matrix type display either black and while or polychrome.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
66 words
An energizing arrangement as set forth in claim 1 wherein said voltage pulse generator comprises a low direct voltage source, a coil, and said switch means arranged in series, with respective terminals of the lamp being connected in parallel with said switch means so as to subject the lamp to a voltage pulse at each switch opening which is greater than said low direct voltage source.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
Energizing arrangement as set forth in claim 15 wherein the voltage pulse generator further includes a capacitor arranged at the switch terminals in order to limit the voltage pulse amplitude to a controllable value.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
52 words
An energizing arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said generator comprises a high direct voltage source and said switch means, both of these elements being connected in series with each other and in series with said lamp so as to subject said lamp to a voltage pulse at each switch closing.
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) | 1990-03-09 | 1990-09-08 | 1991-03-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-03-09 | 1994-09-08 | 1995-03-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-03-09 | 1998-09-08 | 1999-03-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |