Lighting control system with variable arc control including start-up circuit for providing a bias voltage supply

A control system for providing variable arc current control of a lighting system, said control system comprising:

• an input power factor correction means including a means for converting AC power from an AC power source into converted DC power, said input power factor correction means boosting said converted DC power so as to provide boosted converted DC power;
• at least one lamp unit comprising at least one fluorescent gas discharge lamp including electrodes;
• a main output transformer having a primary winding and at least one secondary winding, said primary winding being connected to said input power factor correction means and said at least one secondary winding being connected to said electrodes and to said at least one lamp unit;
• a switching means connected to said primary winding of said main output transformer;
• output power conditioning means, connected to said input power factor correction means, and to said switching means, for controlling said switching means to provide voltage to said primary winding of said main output transformer so as to produce a resultant voltage on said at least one secondary winding of said main output transformer and thus provide a heating voltage to said electrodes and variable arc current to said at least one lamp unit;
• and
• a start-up circuit including a starting means for providing a starting voltage to said output power conditioning means, said start-up circuit further comprising a plurality of voltage doubling rectifier circuits for providing a bias voltage supply to said output power conditioning means and to said input power factor correction means.

A control system for providing variable arc control of a lighting system including at least one lamp unit, said control system comprising:

• converting means for converting AC power from an AC power source into converted DC power, said converting means including an input power factor correction means for boosting said converted DC power to produce boosted DC power;
• switching means for controlling application of said converted DC power to the at least one lamp unit;
• output power conditioning means connected to said switching means for controlling operation of said switching means;
• and
• a start-up circuit connected to said input power factor correction means and to said output power conditioning means, said start-up circuit including:
• a starting means for providing a starting voltage to said output power conditioning means so as to control said switching means to provide an operating voltage to said input power factor correction means to produce a boosted operating voltage;
• a first voltage doubling rectifier circuit and a first zener diode electrically connected to said input power factor correction means for receiving said boosted operating voltage and for providing a regulated bias voltage supply to said input power factor correction means;
• and
• a second voltage doubling rectifier circuit and a second zener diode electrically connected to said output power conditioning means for receiving said boosted operating voltage and for providing a regulated bias voltage supply to said output power conditioning means.