US4994718A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and means for dimming ballasted lamps
Assignee: Musco Corp
•
Filing: 1989-02-07
•
Granted: 1991-02-19
•
Expires: 2009-02-07
Abstract
Abstract A means and method for dimming ballasted lamps ensures that sufficient starting voltage is always available to the ballasted lamps, yet allows switching between maximum light output, and one or more dimmed light output levels. Each lamp is connected to a ballast and has a capacitor component in parallel between the ballast and the lamp. A selection or switching device allows control of the desired light output level. For dimmed light output levels, the selection device causes a reduction in capacitance of the capacitance component to reduce the power to each of the lamps. An optional timing device ensures that full capacitance will always be available during starting. Once the selected timing period of the timing device is expired, the selected light level is achieved by automatically changing the capacitance available to each lamp to alter the output of that lamp. The selection or switching device can control a single lamp, or an array of lamps, or multiple arrays of lamps at spaced apart locations.
Inventors
- 👤 Myron K. Gordin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 04:09
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B41/00; H05B41/14; H05B41/36; H05B41/38; H05B41/40; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S315/00; Y10S315/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
A dimming means for ballasted lamps comprising: one or more lamp means; ballast means operatively connected to each lamp means for ballasting the lamp means to provide stable starting and operating power to the lamp means; the ballast means including variable capacitor means operatively connected between the ballast means and the lamp means; and control means operatively connected to all variable capacitor means for altering the capacitance of the capacitor means to vary operating power to each lamp means to allow dimming of all lamp means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
86 words
A dimming means for ballasted lamps comprising: one or more lamp means; ballast means operatively connected to each lamp means for ballasting the lamp means to provide stable starting and operating power to the lamp means; the ballast means including variable capacitor means operatively connected between the ballast means and the lamp means; and control means operatively connected to all variable capacitor means for altering the capacitance of the capacitor means to vary operating power to each lamp means to allow dimming of all lamp means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The dimming means of claim 1 wherein the lamp means comprises a long arc metal halide lamp.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The dimming means of claim 1 wherein the lamp means comprise a high pressure sodium lamp.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The dimming means of claim 1 wherein the ballast means includes a transformer means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The dimming means of claim 1 wherein the control means includes a normally open switch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The dimming means of claim 1 wherein the capacitor means comprises an electrical component having different levels of capacitance.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The dimming means of claim 6 wherein the capacitor means comprises first and second capacitors connected in parallel to each other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The dimming means of claim 1 wherein the control means includes a time delay means for holding the variable capacitor means in a higher capacitance condition during a predetermined time period upon each actuation of the lamp means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The dimming means of claim 1 wherein the control means includes a timer means for automatically switching the variable capacitor means to a lower capacitance setting upon expiration of a predetermined time period.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The dimming means of claim 1 wherein the dimming means is applied to a plurality of lamp means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The dimming means of claim 1 wherein the control means includes a contactor relay means which is connected with the lamp means, and which is non-conducting when the control means is in a higher capacitance position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
A dimming method for one or more ballasted lamps comprising: connecting a variable capacitance means between a ballast means and a lamp means for each lamp; and decreasing the capacitance of the capacitor means to decrease electrical power to the lamp means to dim all lamp means, if desired, by utilizing a single control means to operate all variable capacitance means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
A dimming method for one or more ballasted lamps comprising: connecting a variable capacitance means between a ballast means and a lamp means for each lamp; and decreasing the capacitance of the capacitor means to decrease electrical power to the lamp means to dim all lamp means, if desired, by utilizing a single control means to operate all variable capacitance means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The dimming method of claim 12 wherein the electrical power to the lamp means is decreased by reducing capacitance of the variable capacitance means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The dimming method of claim 13 wherein the variable capacitance means comprises first and second capacitors in parallel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The dimming method of claim 14 wherein capacitance is reduced by disconnecting the electrical pathway to one of the capacitors.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The dimming method of claim 12 whereby selection between normal and dimmed light output is accomplished by manually operating a control switch associated with the control means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The dimming method of claim 12 whereby selection between normal and dimmed light output is accomplished by an automatically operating timer means associated with the control means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The dimming method of claim 13 wherein multiple dimming levels are accomplished by incrementally decreasing electrical power to the lamp means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The dimming method of claim 12 wherein full capacitance of the variable capacitance means is always provided to the lamp means for a preselected time period when starting the lamp means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The dimming method of claim 19 further comprising reducing the capacitance of the capacitor means upon expiration of the preselected time period.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
94 words
A dimming means for ballasted lamps comprising: a plurality of lamp means; ballast means operatively connected to each lamp means; capacitor means operatively connected between each lamp means and corresponding ballast means; the capacitor means comprising first and second capacitors in parallel with each other; switch means connected in series with one of the capacitor means, the switch means being normally closed; and a single control means connected to all switch means for controlling opening of all switching means for one of the capacitors to reduce the capacitance of the capacitor means when desired.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
94 words
A dimming means for ballasted lamps comprising: a plurality of lamp means; ballast means operatively connected to each lamp means; capacitor means operatively connected between each lamp means and corresponding ballast means; the capacitor means comprising first and second capacitors in parallel with each other; switch means connected in series with one of the capacitor means, the switch means being normally closed; and a single control means connected to all switch means for controlling opening of all switching means for one of the capacitors to reduce the capacitance of the capacitor means when desired.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The dimming means of claim 21 wherein the switching means is a contactor means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The dimming means of claim 21 wherein the plurality of lamp means comprises one or more arrays of lamps.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The dimming means of claim 21 wherein the control means comprises a relay means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
78 words
A dimming means for ballasted lamps comprising: two or more sets of high power lamps; a ballasting means operatively connected to each lamp of each set; a variable capacitance means operatively connected between each ballasting means and its corresponding lamp; a high voltage switching means operatively connected to each variable capacitance means to switch capacitance levels of the variable capacitance means; and a control means operatively connected to all switching means to control switching of all switching means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
78 words
A dimming means for ballasted lamps comprising: two or more sets of high power lamps; a ballasting means operatively connected to each lamp of each set; a variable capacitance means operatively connected between each ballasting means and its corresponding lamp; a high voltage switching means operatively connected to each variable capacitance means to switch capacitance levels of the variable capacitance means; and a control means operatively connected to all switching means to control switching of all switching means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
117 words
A dimming means for ballasted lamps comprising: one or more lamp means; ballast means operatively connected to each lamp means for ballasting the lamp means to provide stable starting and operating power to the lamp means; the ballast means including variable capacitor means operatively connected between the ballast means and the lamp means; and control means operatively connected to all variable capacitor means for altering the capacitance of the capacitor means to vary operating power to each lamp means to allow dimming of all lamp means, the control means including a time delay means for holding the variable capacitor means in a higher capacitance condition during a predetermined time period upon each actuation of the lamp means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
117 words
A dimming means for ballasted lamps comprising: one or more lamp means; ballast means operatively connected to each lamp means for ballasting the lamp means to provide stable starting and operating power to the lamp means; the ballast means including variable capacitor means operatively connected between the ballast means and the lamp means; and control means operatively connected to all variable capacitor means for altering the capacitance of the capacitor means to vary operating power to each lamp means to allow dimming of all lamp means, the control means including a time delay means for holding the variable capacitor means in a higher capacitance condition during a predetermined time period upon each actuation of the lamp means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
111 words
A dimming means for ballasted lamps comprising: one or more lamp means; ballasted means operatively connected to each lamp means for ballasting the lamp means to provide stable starting and operating power to the lamp means; the ballast means including variable capacitor means operatively connected between the ballast means and the lamp means; and control means operatively connected to all variable capacitor means for altering the capacitance of the capacitor means to vary operating power to each lamp means to allow dimming of all lamp means, the control means including a timer means for automatically switching the variable capacitor means to a lower capacitance setting upon expiration of a per-determined period.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
111 words
A dimming means for ballasted lamps comprising: one or more lamp means; ballasted means operatively connected to each lamp means for ballasting the lamp means to provide stable starting and operating power to the lamp means; the ballast means including variable capacitor means operatively connected between the ballast means and the lamp means; and control means operatively connected to all variable capacitor means for altering the capacitance of the capacitor means to vary operating power to each lamp means to allow dimming of all lamp means, the control means including a timer means for automatically switching the variable capacitor means to a lower capacitance setting upon expiration of a per-determined period.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
108 words
A dimming means for ballasted lamps comprising: one or more lamp means; ballast means operatively connected to each lamp means for ballasting the lamp means to provide stable starting and operating power to the lamp means; the ballast means including variable capacitor means operatively connected between the ballast means and the lamp means; control means operatively connected to all variable capacitor means for altering the capacitance of the capacitor means to vary operating power to each lamp means to allow dimming of all lamp means; and relay means connected with each lamp means, the relay means being nonconducting when the control means is in a higher capacitance position.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
108 words
A dimming means for ballasted lamps comprising: one or more lamp means; ballast means operatively connected to each lamp means for ballasting the lamp means to provide stable starting and operating power to the lamp means; the ballast means including variable capacitor means operatively connected between the ballast means and the lamp means; control means operatively connected to all variable capacitor means for altering the capacitance of the capacitor means to vary operating power to each lamp means to allow dimming of all lamp means; and relay means connected with each lamp means, the relay means being nonconducting when the control means is in a higher capacitance position.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
78 words
A dimming method for one or more ballasted lamps comprising: connecting a variable capacitance means between a ballast means and a lamp means for each lamp; decreasing the capacitance of the capacitor means to decrease electrical power to the lamp means to dim all lamp means, if desired, by utilizing a single control means to operate all variable capacitance means; and selecting between normal dimmed light output utilizing an automatically operating timer means associated with the control means.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
78 words
A dimming method for one or more ballasted lamps comprising: connecting a variable capacitance means between a ballast means and a lamp means for each lamp; decreasing the capacitance of the capacitor means to decrease electrical power to the lamp means to dim all lamp means, if desired, by utilizing a single control means to operate all variable capacitance means; and selecting between normal dimmed light output utilizing an automatically operating timer means associated with the control means.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
83 words
A dimming method for one or more ballasted lamps comprising: connecting a variable capacitance means between a ballast means and a lamp means for each lamp; decreasing the capacitance of the capacitor means to decrease electrical power to the lamp means to dim all lamp means, if desired by utilizing a single control means to operate all variable capacitance means; and providing full capacitance of the variable capacitance means to the lamp means for a preselected time period when starting the lamp means.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
83 words
A dimming method for one or more ballasted lamps comprising: connecting a variable capacitance means between a ballast means and a lamp means for each lamp; decreasing the capacitance of the capacitor means to decrease electrical power to the lamp means to dim all lamp means, if desired by utilizing a single control means to operate all variable capacitance means; and providing full capacitance of the variable capacitance means to the lamp means for a preselected time period when starting the lamp means.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
22 words
The dimming method of claim 30 further comprising: reducing the capacitance of the capacitor means upon expiration of the preselected time period.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3323013A
Cited
US3893002A
Cited
US3935505A
Cited
US3911320A
Cited
USRE31146E
Cited
US4353009A
Cited
US4348612A
Cited
US4414493A
Cited
US4559479A
Cited
US4612478A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-02-18 | 1994-08-20 | 1995-02-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-02-18 | 1998-08-20 | 1999-02-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-02-18 | 2002-08-20 | 2003-02-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |