Ballast circuit for starting fluorescent lamps
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsEdward E. Hammer, Eugene Lemmers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved ballast circuit for fluorescent lamps includes an electronic bilateral triggering device and a capacitor connected in series combination across the secondary winding output terminals of a ballasting transformer and in shunt with the fluorescent lamps. The triggering device and the capacitor operate to produce high frequency oscillations superimposed on the high AC voltage applied across the lamp cathodes to improve the capacitive coupling between the lamps and their mounting fixture during starting. The triggering device becomes nonconductive to effectively remove itself and the capacitor from the starting circuit while the lamps are lit.
Claims16
An improved rapid-start ballast circuit for a fluorescent lamp having a cathode disposed at each end thereof, said ballast circuit comprising:
- a ballasting transformer having a secondary winding for developing a high AC voltage across a pair of output terminals respectively connected to the lamp cathodes;
- and
- a high frequency oscillator including an electronic bilateral triggering device and a capacitor connected in series combination across the fluorescent lamp cathodes, said electronic bilateral triggering device and said capacitor generating high frequency oscillations superimposed on the high AC voltage applied across the lamp cathodes thereby to achieve efficient and reliable starting of the lamp, said device becoming non-conductive after the lamp has started.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.