Multiple level dimming circuit for fluorescent lamp
AssigneeGTE Products Corporation
InventorsCarlo S. Bessone, William J. Roche
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A dimming circuit for operating a fluorescent lamp in an incandescent-to-fluorescent adapter at two selectable current levels. The circuit includes a choke which is series connected between the center contact of a three-contact incandescent base and one of the lamp filament coils, and a capacitor connected between the ring contact and center contact of the base. A bleeder resistor of the PTC type is connected across the capacitor. For use with an incandescent lamp fixture having a four-position, three-way switch, the circuit further includes a current limiting discharge resistor connected in series with the capacitor.
Claims11
A multiple level dimming circuit for use with a fluorescent lamp operated from a voltage supply source comprising, in combination:
- inductive ballast means having a first terminal adapted to be selectively connected to said supply source and a second terminal adapted to be connected to said fluorescent lamp;
- a third terminal adapted to be selectively connected to said supply source;
- means including a discharge resistor and a capacitor ballast means series connected in that order between said third terminal and said first terminal;
- bleeder resistance means connected across said capacitor ballast means;
- and
- said voltage supply source including a single-pole multiple-throw switch having a common terminal connected to one side of said supply source and at least first and second position contacts and a third position contact means, said first and third terminals being connectable to said first and second position contacts, respectively, and said third position contact means being connected to both said first and second position contacts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.