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US 2010/0320915 A1Published application
Flourescent lighting system
AssigneeVAXO Technologies, LLC
InventorsJohn T. Martin, Lucien Tournie, Douglas Gene Lockie
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for providing a Fluorescent Lighting System are disclosed. In one embodiment, the present invention may be used as a fluorescent lamp ballast which is controlled using a non-resonant circuit that allows the ballast to lower to fifty percent the light output of the lamp while providing a corresponding fifty percent reduction in energy used.
Claims43
A method comprising the steps of:
- supplying a sealed enclosure for providing illumination;
- said enclosure containing a plurality of molecules of a gas;
- said enclosure having an interior surface;
- said interior surface being at least partially coated with a light emitting substance;
- said enclosure including a first and a second electrode;
- applying a first electrical signal across said first and said second electrodes to excite some of said plurality of molecules of a gas and to produce an ionized cloud within said enclosure;
- and
- applying a second electrical signal across said first and said second electrodes along with said first electrical signal to maintain said ionized cloud within a set of predetermined limits to optimize the production of visible light from said light emitting substance on said interior surface of said enclosure.
5 more elements
A method comprising the steps of:
- confining a plasma;
- stimulating said plasma with electrical energy to form a conductive plasma channel;
- measuring the state of said conductive plasma channel by determining a mean impedance characteristic of said conductive plasma channel;
- and
- managing said plasma channel to optimize its electrical impedance to provide efficient illumination.
2 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a power factor correction power supply for supplying power;
- a microcontroller connected to said power factor correction power supply for controlling said power factor correction power supply;
- a switchable resistance;
- said switchable resistance connected to said switchable filter for varying the output impedance of said power factor correction power supply;
- a switchable filter;
- said switchable filter connected to said power factor correction power supply for filtering the output of said electrical switch;
- a lamp;
- said lamp connected to said output relay;
- said lamp for providing illumination;
- an electrical switch;
- said electrical switch connected to said power factor correction power supply for controlling the operation of said lamp;
- and
- an output relay;
- said output relay connected to said switchable filter for changing the polarity of energy applied to said lamp.
11 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a power factor correction power supply means for providing power;
- a microcontroller means connected to said power factor correction power supply for controlling said power factor correction power supply means;
- a switchable filter means for enabling switchable filtering;
- said switchable filter means being connected to said power factor correction power supply means;
- a switchable resistance means for providing a switchable resistance;
- said switchable resistance means being connected to said switchable filter means;
- an output relay means for furnishing a controlled output;
- said output relay means connected to said switchable filter means;
- a lamp means for providing illumination;
- said lamp means being connected to said output relay means;
- and
- an electrical switch means for supplying on and off control;
- said electrical switch means connected to said lamp means.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.