US5214355A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Instant-start electronic ballast
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1991-12-13
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Granted: 1993-05-25
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Expires: 2011-12-13
Abstract
Abstract A half-bridge inverter is powered from a constant-magnitude DC supply voltage and provides at the inverter's output a first AC output voltage that is describable as a modified squarewave voltage. This first AC voltage is applied across a series-combination of a tank inductor and a tank capacitor, the junction between which is clamped to the DC supply voltage. As a result, a second AC voltage gets established across the tank capacitor; which second AC voltage is also describable as a modified squarewave voltage. However, the phasing of the second AC voltage is delayed by roughly 90 DEG degrees with respect to the first AC voltage; which results in the voltage across the tank inductor being of approximately sinusoidal waveform. A first and a second fluorescent lamp is connected in series with a first and a second ballast capacitor, respectively; and the two lamp-capacitor series-combinations are parallel-connected across the inductor, thereby resulting in an approximately sinusoidal current being provided to the lamps. To provide for enhanced instant-start lamp ignition, an auxiliary capacitor is connected across the tank capacitor for the initial 100 milli-seconds; which has the effect of providing more power to the lamps during the brief ignition period.
Inventors
- 👤 Ole K. Nilssen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 13:40
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02M; H02M7/00; H02M7/42; H02M7/44; H02M7/48; H02M7/53; H02M7/537; H02M7/5383; H02M7/53846; H02M7/53862; H02M7/53832; H02M7/53835; H02M7/5387; H02M7/53871; H02M7/53873; H03; H03K; H03K3/00; H03K3/02; H03K3/26; H03K3/30; H05; H05B; H05B41/00; H05B41/14; H05B41/24; H05B41/245; H05B41/26; H05B41/28; H05B41/282; H05B41/2825; H05B41/2827; H05B41/295; H05B41/36; H05B41/38; H05B41/39; H05B41/392; H05B41/3921; H05B41/3925; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S315/00; Y10S315/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
An arrangement comprising: a source providing an output voltage across a pair of output terminals; the source having internal impedance functional to limit to a certain maximum magnitude the current that can be drawn from the output terminals; a first and a second gas discharge lamp series-connected to form a lamp load connected across the output terminals; the lamp load being functional to draw current from the output terminals without at any time constituting a short circuit thereacross; the first gas discharge lamp having a pair of first lamp terminals; and circuit means connected across the pair of first lamp terminals; the circuit means being operative to constitute a short circuit for a brief period of time, whereafter it becomes an open circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
An arrangement comprising: a source providing an output voltage across a pair of output terminals; the source having internal impedance functional to limit to a certain maximum magnitude the current that can be drawn from the output terminals; a first and a second gas discharge lamp series-connected to form a lamp load connected across the output terminals; the lamp load being functional to draw current from the output terminals without at any time constituting a short circuit thereacross; the first gas discharge lamp having a pair of first lamp terminals; and circuit means connected across the pair of first lamp terminals; the circuit means being operative to constitute a short circuit for a brief period of time, whereafter it becomes an open circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the gas discharge lamps include a fluorescent lamp.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The arrangement of claim 2 wherein the fluorescent lamp is an instant-start fluorescent lamp.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the duration of the brief period is from about 20 to about 200 milli-seconds.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein, in the event the first gas discharge lamp were to fail to draw current, the circuit means cycles periodically between constituting a short circuit and constituting an open circuit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The arrangement of claims 5 wherein the circuit means cycles with a cycle period from about 20 to about 200 milli-seconds; each cycle period including a short-circuit period during which the circuit means constitutes a short circuit and an open-circuit period during which the circuit means constitutes an open circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The arrangement of claim 6 wherein the short-circuit period has a duration longer than that of the open-circuit period.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The arrangement of claim 7 wherein (i) the short-circuit period is in the range from about 20 to about 200 milli-seconds; and (ii) the open-circuit period is equal to or shorter than about 1 milli-second.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the voltage is an AC voltage of frequency substantially higher than that of the voltage on an ordinary electric utility power line.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the second gas discharge lamp is operative to provide substantially the same amount of light whether the first gas discharge lamp drawn current or not.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein: (1) during normal operation, the first and the second gas discharge lamp is each operative to emit a certain amount of luminous flux; and (ii) in the event the first lamp were to fail to draw current, the second lamp would still emit at least said certain amount of luminous flux.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
57 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein: (i) the second gas discharge lamp has a pair of second lamp terminals; and (ii) a second circuit means is connected across the pair of second lamp terminals, the second circuit means being operative to constitute a short circuit for a brief period of time, whereafter it becomes an open circuit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
64 words
The arrangement of claim 12 wherein: (i) during normal operation, the first and the second gas discharge lamp is each operative to emit a certain amount of luminous flux; and (ii) in the event that either of the two gas discharge lamps were to fail to draw current, the other gas discharge lamp would still emit at least said certain amount of luminous flux.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
58 words
The arrangement of claim 12 wherein: (i) during normal operation, an output current of a certain magnitude is drawn from the output terminals; and (ii) in the event that both gas discharge lamps were to fail to draw current, an output current of magnitude approximately equal to said certain magnitude would still be drawn from the output terminals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
The arrangement of claim 12 wherein: (i) the first gas discharge lamp has a thermionic cathode and a pair of cathode terminals; and (ii) the source has a pair of cathode output terminals connected with the cathode terminals and operative to provide cathode heating power thereto.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the circuit means is characterized by including a transistor means operative to effectuate said short circuit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the voltage is an AC voltage and the circuit means is characterized by including: (i) rectifier means; (ii) transistor means; and (iii) voltage threshold means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The arrangement of claim 17 wherein the voltage threshold means includes a Zener diode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the circuit means is characterized by including an R-C timing circuit.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein: (i) the source includes a pair of auxiliary output terminals operative to provide an auxiliary output voltage; and (ii) the circuit means includes a pair of power input terminals connected with the auxiliary output terminals.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
43 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein, upon provision of voltage across the output terminals, the second gas discharge lamp ignites within a period of about 100 milli-seconds, and the first gas discharge lamp ignites some time after a period of about 100 milli-seconds.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein, upon provision of voltage across the output terminals, the first gas discharge lamp ignites some time after the second gas discharge lamp has ignited.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
42 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein: (i) each of the gas discharge lamps is an instant-start fluorescent lamp; and (ii) the first gas discharge lamp ignites at a time distinctly different from the time at which the second gas discharge lamp ignites.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
89 words
An arrangement comprising: a source providing a voltage across a pair of output terminals; the source having internal impedance means functional to limit to a certain maximum magnitude the current that can be drawn from the output terminals; and plural instant-start gas discharge lamps series-connected across the output terminals; the arrangement being functional to cause the gas discharge lamps to be ignited sequentially and in such manner that each lamp is ignited at a time that is distinctly different from the time at which each other lamp is ignited.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
89 words
An arrangement comprising: a source providing a voltage across a pair of output terminals; the source having internal impedance means functional to limit to a certain maximum magnitude the current that can be drawn from the output terminals; and plural instant-start gas discharge lamps series-connected across the output terminals; the arrangement being functional to cause the gas discharge lamps to be ignited sequentially and in such manner that each lamp is ignited at a time that is distinctly different from the time at which each other lamp is ignited.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
98 words
An arrangement comprising: a source providing a voltage across a pair of output terminals; the source having internal impedance means functional to limit to a certain maximum magnitude the current that can be drawn from the output terminals; plural instant-start gas discharge lamps series-connected across the output terminals; each lamp having a pair of lamp terminals; and circuit means connected across the lamp terminals of each of at least two of the plural gas discharge lamps; the circuit means being operative to constitute a short circuit for a brief period of time, whereafter is becomes an open circuit.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
98 words
An arrangement comprising: a source providing a voltage across a pair of output terminals; the source having internal impedance means functional to limit to a certain maximum magnitude the current that can be drawn from the output terminals; plural instant-start gas discharge lamps series-connected across the output terminals; each lamp having a pair of lamp terminals; and circuit means connected across the lamp terminals of each of at least two of the plural gas discharge lamps; the circuit means being operative to constitute a short circuit for a brief period of time, whereafter is becomes an open circuit.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
135 words
An arrangement comprising: a source providing a voltage across a pair of output terminals; the source having internal impedance means functional to limit to a certain maximum magnitude the current that can be drawn from the output terminals; and plural gas discharge lamps being series-connected across the output terminals; each lamp having a pair of lamp terminals; and circuit means connected across the lamp terminals of each of the plural gas discharge lamps; the arrangement being functional in such manner that, if one of the lamps were to be removed or otherwise were to fail to conduct current, each of the remaining lamps would be ignited and and would provide luminous output in an amount about equal to the amount of luminous output provided from it even if said one lamp had not been removed.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
135 words
An arrangement comprising: a source providing a voltage across a pair of output terminals; the source having internal impedance means functional to limit to a certain maximum magnitude the current that can be drawn from the output terminals; and plural gas discharge lamps being series-connected across the output terminals; each lamp having a pair of lamp terminals; and circuit means connected across the lamp terminals of each of the plural gas discharge lamps; the arrangement being functional in such manner that, if one of the lamps were to be removed or otherwise were to fail to conduct current, each of the remaining lamps would be ignited and and would provide luminous output in an amount about equal to the amount of luminous output provided from it even if said one lamp had not been removed.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
98 words
An arrangement comprising: a source providing an output voltage across a pair of output terminals; the source having internal impedance means functional to limit to a certain maximum magnitude the current that can be drawn from the output terminals; at least two instant-start gas discharge lamps series-connected across the output terminals; each lamp having a pair of lamp terminals; and circuit means connected across the lamp terminals of at least one of the gas discharge lamps; the circuit means being operative to constitute a short circuit for a brief period of time, whereafter is becomes an open circuit.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
98 words
An arrangement comprising: a source providing an output voltage across a pair of output terminals; the source having internal impedance means functional to limit to a certain maximum magnitude the current that can be drawn from the output terminals; at least two instant-start gas discharge lamps series-connected across the output terminals; each lamp having a pair of lamp terminals; and circuit means connected across the lamp terminals of at least one of the gas discharge lamps; the circuit means being operative to constitute a short circuit for a brief period of time, whereafter is becomes an open circuit.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
127 words
An arrangement comprising: a source providing an output voltage across a pair of output terminals; the source having internal impedance means functional to limit to a certain maximum magnitude the current that can be drawn from the output terminals; plural instant-start gas discharge lamps series-connected across the output terminals; an instant-start gas discharge lamp being defined as a gas discharge lamp having cathodes designed to permit lamp current to flow through the lamp prior to the cathodes having become incandescent; each lamp having a pair of lamp terminals; and circuit means connected across the lamp terminals of at least one of the gas discharge lamps; the circuit means being operative to constitute a short circuit for a brief period of time, whereafter is becomes an open circuit.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
127 words
An arrangement comprising: a source providing an output voltage across a pair of output terminals; the source having internal impedance means functional to limit to a certain maximum magnitude the current that can be drawn from the output terminals; plural instant-start gas discharge lamps series-connected across the output terminals; an instant-start gas discharge lamp being defined as a gas discharge lamp having cathodes designed to permit lamp current to flow through the lamp prior to the cathodes having become incandescent; each lamp having a pair of lamp terminals; and circuit means connected across the lamp terminals of at least one of the gas discharge lamps; the circuit means being operative to constitute a short circuit for a brief period of time, whereafter is becomes an open circuit.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
121 words
An arrangement comprising: a source providing an output voltage across a pair of output terminals; the source having internal impedance means functional to limit to a certain maximum magnitude the current that can be drawn from the output terminals; a number N of instant-start gas discharge lamps series-connected across the output terminals; each lamp: (i) having a pair of lamp terminals, and (ii) requiring for proper ignition that a lamp voltage of a certain minimum magnitude be provided across its lamp terminals; electronic circuit means connected with at least some of the lamp terminals and functional to cause the lamps to be ignited even though the magnitude of the output voltage is substantially lower than N times the certain minimum magnitude.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
121 words
An arrangement comprising: a source providing an output voltage across a pair of output terminals; the source having internal impedance means functional to limit to a certain maximum magnitude the current that can be drawn from the output terminals; a number N of instant-start gas discharge lamps series-connected across the output terminals; each lamp: (i) having a pair of lamp terminals, and (ii) requiring for proper ignition that a lamp voltage of a certain minimum magnitude be provided across its lamp terminals; electronic circuit means connected with at least some of the lamp terminals and functional to cause the lamps to be ignited even though the magnitude of the output voltage is substantially lower than N times the certain minimum magnitude.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4350929A
Cited
US4751432A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-05-24 | 1996-11-23 | 1997-05-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-05-24 | 2000-11-23 | 2001-05-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-05-24 | 2004-11-23 | 2005-05-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |