US4686428A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High intensity discharge lamp self-adjusting ballast system with current limiters and a current feedback loop
Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC
•
Filing: 1986-06-18
•
Granted: 1987-08-11
•
Expires: 2006-06-18
Abstract
Abstract The invention comprises a self-adjusting ballast system for a high intensity discharge lamp. The ballast has a current limiter which modifies the lamp's present duty cycle to prevent damage if bulb rectification or another overcurrent condition occurs. It also has a current integration feedback loop for controlling lamp current during start-up.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald S. Kuhnel
- 👤 Sidney A. Ottenstein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 04:50
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B41/00; H05B41/14; H05B41/36; H05B41/38; H05B41/39; H05B41/392; H05B41/3921; H05B41/3922; H05B41/26; H05B41/28; H05B41/288; H05B41/292; H05B41/2921; H05B41/2925
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
A self-adjusting ballast system for mercury vapor, high intensity discharge lamps having outputs of 100 watts or greater, comprising: a direct current source; a lamp circuit containing a lamp; a high frequency oscillator; a current feedback means for sensing the current present in said lamp, comparing said current with a reference value, and outputting an output signal; a pulse width modulator responsive to said output signal of said current feedback means; a DC to AC converter that by control of at least one switch converts current of one voltage from said direct current source to alternating current of a different or the same voltage, said converter including a switch driving means for driving the at least one switch, said converter being responsive to said high frequency oscillator and to said pulse width modulator; and means for sensing the current being supplied to said lamp and for quickly limiting the current to a predetermined safe level if too much current is being supplied to said lamp.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
A self-adjusting ballast system for mercury vapor, high intensity discharge lamps having outputs of 100 watts or greater, comprising: a direct current source; a lamp circuit containing a lamp; a high frequency oscillator; a current feedback means for sensing the current present in said lamp, comparing said current with a reference value, and outputting an output signal; a pulse width modulator responsive to said output signal of said current feedback means; a DC to AC converter that by control of at least one switch converts current of one voltage from said direct current source to alternating current of a different or the same voltage, said converter including a switch driving means for driving the at least one switch, said converter being responsive to said high frequency oscillator and to said pulse width modulator; and means for sensing the current being supplied to said lamp and for quickly limiting the current to a predetermined safe level if too much current is being supplied to said lamp.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
173 words
A self-adjusting ballast system for mercury vapor, high intensity discharge lamps having outputs of 100 watts or greater, comprising: a direct current source; a lamp circuit containing a lamp; a high frequency oscillator; a current feedback means for sensing the current present in said lamp, comparing said current with a reference value, and outputting an output signal; a pulse width modulator responsive to said output signal of said current feedback means; a DC to AC converter that by control of at least one switch converts current of one voltage from said direct current source to alternating current of a different or the same voltage, said converter including a switch driving means for driving the at least one switch, said converter being responsive to said high frequency oscillator and to said pulse width modulator; and means for detecting that the current across said lamp is travelling in only a single direction and for limiting the current to said lamp to a predetermined safe level if too much current is being supplied to said lamp.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
173 words
A self-adjusting ballast system for mercury vapor, high intensity discharge lamps having outputs of 100 watts or greater, comprising: a direct current source; a lamp circuit containing a lamp; a high frequency oscillator; a current feedback means for sensing the current present in said lamp, comparing said current with a reference value, and outputting an output signal; a pulse width modulator responsive to said output signal of said current feedback means; a DC to AC converter that by control of at least one switch converts current of one voltage from said direct current source to alternating current of a different or the same voltage, said converter including a switch driving means for driving the at least one switch, said converter being responsive to said high frequency oscillator and to said pulse width modulator; and means for detecting that the current across said lamp is travelling in only a single direction and for limiting the current to said lamp to a predetermined safe level if too much current is being supplied to said lamp.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 or 2 wherein the direct current source comprises: an alternating current source of approximately 110 volts; and a full wave bridge rectifier.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, further comprising: sensing means for sensing the ambient light surrounding the lamp and for affecting the operation of said DC to AC converter by causing said converter to supply current to said lamp circuit only when the ambient light surrounding the lamp is below a preset level.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1 or 2 wherein: said current limiter limits current to said lamp by removing gate drive from said switch for a predetermined period of time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a dead time controller for controlling said at least one switch so that said switch is gated off for a predetermined period of time.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US29498A
Cited
US30296A
Cited
US3247422A
Cited
US3265930A
Cited
US3222572A
Cited
US3259797A
Cited
US3309567A
Cited
US3486070A
Cited
US3541421A
Cited
US3582708A
Cited
US3590316A
Cited
US3619713A
Cited
US3659146A
Cited
US3681654A
Cited
US3754160A
Cited
US3906302A
Cited
US3876855A
Cited
USRE29498E
Cited
US3886045A
Cited
US3753071A
Cited
US3870943A
Cited
US3927348A
Cited
US3882354A
Cited
US4023067A
Cited
US3873882A
Cited
US3890537A
Cited
US3969652A
Cited
US3927349A
Cited
US3944876A
Cited
US4004187A
Cited
US3967159A
Cited
US4016451A
Cited
USRE30296E
Cited
US4066930A
Cited
US3999100A
Cited
US4004188A
Cited
US4042856A
Cited
US4060751A
Cited
US4060752A
Cited
US4039897A
Cited
US4087702A
Cited
US4121136A
Cited
US4051413A
Cited
US4074170A
Cited
US4145636A
Cited
US4156166A
Cited
US4127789A
Cited
US4163923A
Cited
US4163923B1
Cited
US4100462A
Cited
US4127795A
Cited
US4151445A
Cited
US4240009A
Cited
US4277728A
Cited
US4236101A
Cited
US4287468A
Cited
US4204141A
Cited
US4170747A
Cited
US4236100A
Cited
US4210846A
Cited
US4253046A
Cited
US4238710A
Cited
US4245177A
Cited
US4199710A
Cited
US4234823A
Cited
US4241295A
Cited
US4219760A
Cited
US4232252A
Cited
US4237403A
Cited
US4251752A
Cited
US4350930A
Cited
US4286195A
Cited
US4259614A
Cited
US4323824A
Cited
US4316127A
Cited
US4358716A
Cited
US4370601A
Cited
US4346331A
Cited
US4378513A
Cited
US4348615A
Cited
US4388562A
Cited
US4322817A
Cited
US4464606A
Cited
US4412154A
Cited
US4415839A
Cited
US4437043A
Cited
US4498031A
Cited
US4585974A
Cited
US4511195A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-08-10 | 1991-02-09 | 1991-08-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-08-10 | 1995-02-09 | 1995-08-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-08-10 | 1999-02-09 | 1999-08-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |