Controllable electronic ballast
OwnerOle K. Nilsseninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In an electronic ballast for fluorescent lamps, means are provided by which the lamps are powered at their normal level whenever power line voltage is initially connected to the ballast. However, if the power line voltage is disconnected and then re-connected within about two seconds, the lamps will be powered at a lower-than-normal level; which lower-than-normal level will remain in effect until the power line voltage is once again disconnected and not re-connected until more than about two seconds have passed.
Claims14
An arrangement comprising:
- a power line operative to provide an AC power line voltage at a pair of power line terminals;
- a switch means connected between the power line terminals and a pair of power input terminals;
- the switch means being operative, in response to controllable switching actions, to cause the power input terminals at certain times to be connected with, and at other times to be disconnected from, the power line terminals;
- the power input terminals being connected with the power line terminals prior to a first point in time;
- starting at this first point in time, the power input terminals are disconnected for a brief period of time from the power line terminals;
- after this brief period of time, the power input terminals are again connected with the power line terminals;
- a lamp having a pair of lamp terminals;
- and
- a power conditioner circuit connected with the power input terminals and having a pair of power output terminals connected with the lamp terminals;
- the power conditioner being characterized by:
- (i) prior to the first point in time, providing a first level of power to the lamp;
- (ii) after the brief period of time, providing a second level of power to the lamp;
- and (iii) the second level of power being lower than the first level of power provided the brief period of time is no longer than a certain pre-determined duration.
In a lighting system powered via a pair of power distribution conductors from the power line voltage on an ordinary electric utility power line, the lighting system including control means operative to cause the power line voltage supplied to the power distribution conductors to be switched ON and OFF from time to time, the improvement comprising:
- a lighting fixture having a pair of power input terminals connected with the power distribution conductors and including:
- (a) a lamp having a pair of lamp terminals;
- and
- (b) a power conditioner circuit connected with the power input terminals and having a pair of power output terminals connected with the lamp terminals;
- the power conditioner being characterized by:
- (i) prior to a given point in time, providing a first level of power to the lamp;
- (ii) after that given point in time, in the event the supply of power line voltage were to be removed for but a brief period of time, providing a second level of power to the lamp after such event;
- and (iii) the second level of power being lower than the first level of power as long as the brief period of time be shorter than a pre-determined duration.
In a lighting fixture having a pair of power input terminals connected with a pair of power distribution conductors being controllably supplied with the power line voltage from an ordinary electric utility power line;
- from time to time, the power line voltage being removed from the power input terminals for a brief period of time;
- the improvement comprising:
- a gas discharge lamp having a pair of lamp terminals;
- and
- a power conditioner circuit connected with the power input terminals and having a pair of power output terminals connected with the lamp terminals;
- the power conditioner being characterized by:
- (i) prior to a given point in time, providing a first level of power to the lamp;
- (ii) after that given point in time, in an event during which the supply of power line voltage were to be removed for a brief period of time, providing a second level of power to the lamp after such event;
- (iii) the second level of power being lower than the first level of power in case the brief period of time be shorter than a predetermined duration;
- and (iv) the second level of power being the same as the first level of power in case the brief period of time be longer than the pre-determined duration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.