Three-level interface control circuit for electronically ballasted lamp
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorVictor D. Roberts
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An interface control circuit for use with a standard three-way, four-switch-position lamp socket to allow a fluorescent lamp-electronic ballast combination to be controlled to provide a selected one of four light output levels, utilizes a three-input, full-wave bridge rectifier to provide ballast/lamp operating potential and gating elements and associated level-setting circuitry to provide at least one D.C. voltage output having an amplitude dependent upon the set position of the socket switch and utilized to control the ballast to set the light output of the associated lamp to a selected one of three different levels when the ballast/lamp combination is energized.
Claims18
An interface control circuit for use with a three-way lamp socket, having a four-position switch means settable to off, dim, medium and high positions, for providing separate power and control potentials to separate power and control input terminals of a dimmable electronic ballast-lamp load from an A.C. source, comprising:
- a power supply subcircuit for supplying operating potential to said load power input terminals when said switch means is set at each one of said dim, medium and high positions;
- and
- a load level-setting subcircuit for supplying a selected one of three different level-setting potentials to said load control input terminals, each different potential being supplied responsive to said switch means being set at a different one of said dim, medium and high positions.
An interface control circuit for use with a three-way lamp socket, having a four-position switch means settable to off, dim, medium and high positions for selectably connecting first and second contacts of said socket to a first terminal of a source for providing power and control potentials to power and control input terminals at first and second control input terminals and a common line of a dimmable electronic ballast-lamp load from an A.C. source, comprising;
- a power supply subcircuit for supplying operating potential to said load power input terminals when said switch means is set at each one of said dim, medium and high positions;
- and
- a load level-setting subcircuit for supplying a selected one of three different level-setting potentials to said load control input terminals, each different potential being supplied responsive to said switch means being set at a different one of said dim, medium and high positions, said level-setting subcircuit including first and second unidirectionally-conducting elements respectively connected between one of said first and second contacts and an associated one of said first and second load control input terminals;
- a subcircuit common line connected to said load common line;
- first and second resistance elements each coupled between said common line and an associated one of said first and second load control input terminals;
- first and second filter capacitance elements each coupled in parallel with an associated one of said first and second resistance elements;
- and means coupled to said first and second load control input terminals and operating in conjunction with said first and second unidirectionally-conducting elements and said first and second resistance elements and filter capacitances for providing said different level-setting potentials at said first and second load control input terminals responsive to the energization conditions of said first and second contacts.
An interface control circuit for use with a three-way lamp socket, having a four-position switch means settable to off, dim, medium and high positions for selectably connecting first and second contacts of said socket to a first terminal of a source for providing power and control potentials to power and control input terminals at a single control input terminal and a common line of a dimmable electronic ballast-lamp load from an A.C. source, comprising;
- a power supply subcircuit for supplying operating potential to said load power input terminals when said switch means is set at each one of said dim, medium and high positions;
- and
- a load level-setting subcircuit for supplying a selected one of three different level-setting potentials to said load control input terminals, each different potential being supplied responsive to said switch means being set at a different one of said dim, medium and high positions, said level-setting subcircuit including first and second unidirectionally-conducting elements and the associated one of the first and second load control input terminals, the resistance magnitudes of said first through fourth resistance elements being predeterminately selected to provide predetermined values of level-setting potential at said first and second load control input terminals responsive to the energization conditions of said first and second contacts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.