Patent US5396153A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5396153A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Protection circuit for electronic ballasts which use charge pump power factor correction
Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc
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Filing: 1993-12-09
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Granted: 1995-03-07
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Expires: 2013-12-09
Abstract
Abstract A protection circuit for electronic ballasts which use charge pump power factor correction includes a switch with an overvoltage sensor, a resistor and a diode. In the event of a fault condition, the switch disables the charge pump power factor correction, while the resistor and diode prevent the switch dissipating unduly large amounts of energy.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter W. Shackle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:03
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B41/00; H05B41/14; H05B41/26; H05B41/28; H05B41/16; H02; H02M; H02M1/00; H02M1/42; H02M1/4208; H02M1/4275; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B70/00; Y02B70/10; Y10; Y10S; Y10S315/00; Y10S315/05; Y10S315/07
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A circuit for powering a gas discharge lamp from a source of AC power comprising: a first rectifier having a first rectifier input and a first rectifier output, the first rectifier input coupled to the source of AC power; a smoothing capacitor coupled in parallel with the first rectifier output; a diode with a shunt resistor; a second rectifier having a second rectifier input and a second rectifier output; the second rectifier input coupled to a source of high frequency power; a switch across the second rectifier output; a storage capacitor in parallel with an inverter for driving a gas discharge lamp; the smoothing capacitor, the diode with shunt resistor, the energy storage capacitor and the second rectifier output connected in series.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
A circuit for powering a gas discharge lamp from a source of AC power comprising: a first rectifier having a first rectifier input and a first rectifier output, the first rectifier input coupled to the source of AC power; a smoothing capacitor coupled in parallel with the first rectifier output; a diode with a shunt resistor; a second rectifier having a second rectifier input and a second rectifier output; the second rectifier input coupled to a source of high frequency power; a switch across the second rectifier output; a storage capacitor in parallel with an inverter for driving a gas discharge lamp; the smoothing capacitor, the diode with shunt resistor, the energy storage capacitor and the second rectifier output connected in series.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The circuit of claim 1 including a sensor for sensing conditions when the voltage on the energy storage capacitor is excessively high.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The circuit of claim 2 where the switch is open during normal operation and where the sensor is coupled to the switch such that the switch is closed when the voltage on the energy storage capacitor is excessively high.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The circuit of claim 1 where the source of high frequency AC power is derived from the inverter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The circuit of claim 1 where the inverter includes a coupling circuit for coupling to the gas discharge lamps, and where the source of high frequency AC power is derived from the coupling circuit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
136 words
A circuit for powering a gas discharge lamp from a source of AC power comprising: a first rectifier having a first rectifier input and a first rectifier output, the first rectifier input coupled to the source of AC power; a smoothing capacitor coupled in parallel with the first rectifier output; a diode with a shunt resistor; a second rectifier having a second rectifier input and a second rectifier output; the second rectifier input coupled to a high frequency inverter; a switch across the second rectifier output; a storage capacitor in parallel with an inverter for driving a gas discharge lamp; a sensor for sensing conditions when the voltage on the energy storage capacitor is excessively high; the smoothing capacitor, the diode with shunt resistor, the energy storage capacitor and the second rectifier output connected in series.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
136 words
A circuit for powering a gas discharge lamp from a source of AC power comprising: a first rectifier having a first rectifier input and a first rectifier output, the first rectifier input coupled to the source of AC power; a smoothing capacitor coupled in parallel with the first rectifier output; a diode with a shunt resistor; a second rectifier having a second rectifier input and a second rectifier output; the second rectifier input coupled to a high frequency inverter; a switch across the second rectifier output; a storage capacitor in parallel with an inverter for driving a gas discharge lamp; a sensor for sensing conditions when the voltage on the energy storage capacitor is excessively high; the smoothing capacitor, the diode with shunt resistor, the energy storage capacitor and the second rectifier output connected in series.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The circuit of claim 2 where the switch is open during normal operation and where the sensor is coupled to the switch such that the switch is closed when the voltage on the energy storage capacitor is excessively high.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The circuit of claim 1 where the inverter includes a coupling circuit for coupling to the gas discharge lamps, and where the source of high frequency AC power is derived from the coupling circuit.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of a powering a gas discharge lamp from a source of AC power at a first frequency comprising the steps of: rectifying the AC power into a first DC power; inverting the first DC power into AC power at a second higher frequency; rectifiying some of the AC power at a second high frequency into a second DC power; storing some of the first DC power and second DC power in an energy storage capacitor; energizing the gas discharge lamp with the AC power at the second frequency; sensing when the voltage on the energy storage capacitor is excessively high disabling the rectifying of some of the AC power at a second higher frequency into a second DC power if the voltage on the energy storage capacitor is excessively high.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of a powering a gas discharge lamp from a source of AC power at a first frequency comprising the steps of: rectifying the AC power into a first DC power; inverting the first DC power into AC power at a second higher frequency; rectifiying some of the AC power at a second high frequency into a second DC power; storing some of the first DC power and second DC power in an energy storage capacitor; energizing the gas discharge lamp with the AC power at the second frequency; sensing when the voltage on the energy storage capacitor is excessively high disabling the rectifying of some of the AC power at a second higher frequency into a second DC power if the voltage on the energy storage capacitor is excessively high.
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) | 1998-03-06 | 1998-09-05 | 1999-03-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-03-06 | 2002-09-05 | 2003-03-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-03-06 | 2006-09-05 | 2007-03-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |