Architecture of ballast with integrated RF interface

Abstract

The invention is a new architecture for a high frequency (HF) ballast with wireless communication interface. The new architecture integrates the RF wireless interface into the ballast. A user control transmits an RF control signal to a second antenna at the ballast site which provides the RF signal to the ballast which activates the fluorescent lamp. The ballast includes a transceiver/receiver, a communication decoder, a power control stage and a power stage. The transceiver/receiver receives the RF signal and communicates it to the communication decoder which acts as an interface to the power stage control. The power stage control controls the power stage that activates the fluorescent lamp. The communication decoder, power control stage, power stage and transceiver/receiver are located within the ballast enclosure which is an important part of the invention. If the power stage control is digital it may be combined with the communication decoder into one microprocessor or digital controller such as an ASIC. The communication decoder may be a serial interface. The transceiver/receiver is an RF integrated circuit. The ballast further includes an isolator to isolate the transceiver/receiver from the first antenna. The isolator may be capacitive.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.