US4928039A — Electronic ballast with lamp pre-conditioning

Claim 1

Independent Claim 113 words

A fluorescent lamp and ballasting arrangement comprising: a source operable to provide an AC voltage at an output; an L-C circuit resonant at or near the frequency of this AC voltage and effectively series-connected across said output; a fluorescent lamp that requires pre-conditioning before being operable to effectively absorb power, said lamp having a power input connected with said L-C circuit, as well as an auxiliary input by which to effect said pre-conditioning; conditioner means connected with this auxiliary input and operable to effect said pre-conditioning; and means to prevent the source from providing the AC voltage at said output, and thereby across the L-C circuit, until after the pre-conditioning has been effected.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 113 words

A fluorescent lamp and ballasting arrangement comprising: a source operable to provide an AC voltage at an output; an L-C circuit resonant at or near the frequency of this AC voltage and effectively series-connected across said output; a fluorescent lamp that requires pre-conditioning before being operable to effectively absorb power, said lamp having a power input connected with said L-C circuit, as well as an auxiliary input by which to effect said pre-conditioning; conditioner means connected with this auxiliary input and operable to effect said pre-conditioning; and means to prevent the source from providing the AC voltage at said output, and thereby across the L-C circuit, until after the pre-conditioning has been effected.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 20 words

The ballast of claim 1 wherein the source comprises a frequency converting means connected with an ordinary electric power line.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 26 words

The ballast of claim 2 wherein the frequency of said AC voltage is substantially higher than that of the voltage normally present on said power line.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 24 words

The ballast of claim 1 comprising means operative to remove said AC voltage in the event that the lamp ceases to effectively absorb power.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 24 words

The ballast of claim 1 wherein said AC voltage is of a relatively high frequency and substantially 100% amplitude-modulated at a relatively low frequency.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 33 words

The ballast of claim 1 wherein said auxiliary input requires a substantive amount of power to effect said conditioning, and where said conditioner means is operable to supply this substantive amount of power.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 50 words

The ballast of claim 6 wherein the lamp does not require conditioning after it has started to effectively absorb power by way of said power input, and wherein said conditioner means ceases to supply power to the auxiliary input as soon as the lamp has started to effectively absorb power.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 97 words

A ballasting arrangement for a fluorescent lamp, said lamp having main input terminals adapted to receive lamp operating voltage and auxiliary input terminals adapted to receive lamp conditioning power, said lamp conditioning power being operable to permit the lamp to effectively absorb operating power from said operating voltage, said arrangement comprising: supply operable to provide lamp conditioning power; source operable in response to trigger pulses to provide, for each trigger pulse, lamp operating voltage for a brief period; and trigger means operative controllably to provide said trigger pulses, thereby controllably providing brief periods of lamp operating voltage.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 97 words

A ballasting arrangement for a fluorescent lamp, said lamp having main input terminals adapted to receive lamp operating voltage and auxiliary input terminals adapted to receive lamp conditioning power, said lamp conditioning power being operable to permit the lamp to effectively absorb operating power from said operating voltage, said arrangement comprising: supply operable to provide lamp conditioning power; source operable in response to trigger pulses to provide, for each trigger pulse, lamp operating voltage for a brief period; and trigger means operative controllably to provide said trigger pulses, thereby controllably providing brief periods of lamp operating voltage.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 24 words

The arrangement of claim 8 wherein, within each of said brief periods, the lamp operating voltage exhibits a plurality of cycles of alternating polarity.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 34 words

The arrangement of claim 8 wherein said trigger means is operable to provide said trigger pulses on a periodic basis, thereby to provide brief periods of lamp operating voltage on a correspondingly periodic basis.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 33 words

The arrangement of claim 10 wherein said brief periods of lamp operating voltage occur periodically at a relatively low frequency while the lamp operating voltage is an AC voltage of relatively high frequency.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 43 words

The arrangement of claim 8 wherein said source comprises frequency converter means connected with an ordinary electric power line and wherein the lamp operating voltage is an AC voltage of frequency substantially higher than the frequency of the voltage on said power line.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 31 words

The arrangement of claim 8 comprising means whereby, if the lamp fails to absorb operating power from said lamp operating voltage, said trigger means is prevented from providing said trigger pulses.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 51 words

An arrangement to power a fluorescent lamp, comprising: source adapted in response to trigger pulses to provide, for each trigger pulse, power to the lamp for a brief period; and means operative controllably and periodically to provide said trigger pulses, thereby controllably to provide periodic brief periods of lamp operating power.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 51 words

An arrangement to power a fluorescent lamp, comprising: source adapted in response to trigger pulses to provide, for each trigger pulse, power to the lamp for a brief period; and means operative controllably and periodically to provide said trigger pulses, thereby controllably to provide periodic brief periods of lamp operating power.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 45 words

The arrangement of claim 14 wherein said source comprises frequency conversion means connected with an ordinary electric power line and operable to provide said power by way of an AC voltage of frequency substantially higher than the frequency of the voltage on said power line.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 28 words

The arrangement of claim 14 wherein said power is provided to the lamp by way of a voltage having a plurality of polarity reversals during said brief period.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 24 words

The arrangement of claim 14 wherein, if said power fails to exceed a pre-determined level, said means is prevented from providing said trigger pulses.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 40 words

The arrangement of claim 14 wherein said source is connected with an ordinary electric power line and wherein said trigger pulses are provided at a frequency equal to twice that of the frequency of the voltage on said power line.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 143 words

An arrangement comprising: rectifier means connected with an ordinary electric utility power line and operable to provide a DC voltage at a DC output; inverter means connected with said DC output and controllably operable to provide an AC voltage at an AC output; an L-C circuit resonant at or near the frequency of this AC voltage and effectively series-connected across this AC output, said L-C circuit representing a potentially destructive short circuit to said AC output except if being effectively loaded; fluorescent lamp operable to effectively load said L-C circuit, but only after having received conditioning by way of an auxiliary input said conditioning requiring a period of time before becoming effective; a conditioner means connected with this auxiliary input and operable to accomplish said conditioning; and means to prevent the inverter from providing the AC voltage until said conditioning has become effective.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 143 words

An arrangement comprising: rectifier means connected with an ordinary electric utility power line and operable to provide a DC voltage at a DC output; inverter means connected with said DC output and controllably operable to provide an AC voltage at an AC output; an L-C circuit resonant at or near the frequency of this AC voltage and effectively series-connected across this AC output, said L-C circuit representing a potentially destructive short circuit to said AC output except if being effectively loaded; fluorescent lamp operable to effectively load said L-C circuit, but only after having received conditioning by way of an auxiliary input said conditioning requiring a period of time before becoming effective; a conditioner means connected with this auxiliary input and operable to accomplish said conditioning; and means to prevent the inverter from providing the AC voltage until said conditioning has become effective.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 115 words

An arrangement comprising: a gas discharge lamp having: (i) a pair of main input terminals adapted to receive lamp operating current, and (ii) a set of auxiliary input terminals adapted to receive lamp conditioning current; the lamp requiring conditioning current prior to being properly operable to receive operating current; first means connected with the auxiliary input terminals and operative to provide lamp conditioning current; and second means connected with the main input terminals and operative to provide lamp operating current, but only after conditioning current has been provided for a brief period; there being substantially no current flowing between the main input terminals until after the conditioning current has been provided for said brief period.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 115 words

An arrangement comprising: a gas discharge lamp having: (i) a pair of main input terminals adapted to receive lamp operating current, and (ii) a set of auxiliary input terminals adapted to receive lamp conditioning current; the lamp requiring conditioning current prior to being properly operable to receive operating current; first means connected with the auxiliary input terminals and operative to provide lamp conditioning current; and second means connected with the main input terminals and operative to provide lamp operating current, but only after conditioning current has been provided for a brief period; there being substantially no current flowing between the main input terminals until after the conditioning current has been provided for said brief period.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 130 words

An arrangement comprising: a gas discharge lamp having: (i) a pair of main input terminals conditionally adapted to draw a lamp operating current from a lamp operating voltage, and (ii) a set of auxiliary input terminals adapted to receive lamp conditioning power; the lamp requiring conditioning power prior to being properly adapted to draw the lamp operating current; first means connected with the auxiliary input terminals and operative to provide lamp conditioning power; and second means connected with the main input terminals and operative to provide the lamp operating voltage, but only after conditioning power has been provided for a given brief period of time; there being substantially no current flowing between the main input terminals until after the conditioning current has been provided for said brief period of time.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 130 words

An arrangement comprising: a gas discharge lamp having: (i) a pair of main input terminals conditionally adapted to draw a lamp operating current from a lamp operating voltage, and (ii) a set of auxiliary input terminals adapted to receive lamp conditioning power; the lamp requiring conditioning power prior to being properly adapted to draw the lamp operating current; first means connected with the auxiliary input terminals and operative to provide lamp conditioning power; and second means connected with the main input terminals and operative to provide the lamp operating voltage, but only after conditioning power has been provided for a given brief period of time; there being substantially no current flowing between the main input terminals until after the conditioning current has been provided for said brief period of time.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 116 words

An arrangement comprising: a set of auxiliary terminals; a pair of main terminals; a gas discharge lamp connected with the auxiliary and main terminals; the lamp being operative to draw conditioning power from the auxiliary terminals and operating power from the main terminals; first supply means connected with the auxiliary terminals and operative to supply conditioning power thereto; and second supply means connected with the main terminals and operative to supply operating power thereto, but only after conditioning power has been provided to the auxiliary terminals for a brief period of time; there being substantially no current flowing between the main terminals until after the conditioning power has been supplied for said brief period of time.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 116 words

An arrangement comprising: a set of auxiliary terminals; a pair of main terminals; a gas discharge lamp connected with the auxiliary and main terminals; the lamp being operative to draw conditioning power from the auxiliary terminals and operating power from the main terminals; first supply means connected with the auxiliary terminals and operative to supply conditioning power thereto; and second supply means connected with the main terminals and operative to supply operating power thereto, but only after conditioning power has been provided to the auxiliary terminals for a brief period of time; there being substantially no current flowing between the main terminals until after the conditioning power has been supplied for said brief period of time.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1993-05-21	1993-11-20	1994-05-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1997-05-21	1997-11-20	1998-05-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2001-05-21	2001-11-20	2002-05-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Electronic ballast with lamp pre-conditioning

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