Multiple discharge load electronic ballast system
AssigneeNicollet Technologies Corporation
InventorChristopher P. Henze
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An embodiment of the present invention pertains to a multiple discharge load electronic ballast system, including a distribution bus and a plurality of electronic ballasts. The distribution bus has a nominal distribution power rating. The plurality of electronic ballasts are operatively coupled to the distribution bus. A respective electronic ballast comprises adaptations for DC voltage control and an alternating current (AC) output, and has a maximum ballast power rating. A sum of the maximum ballast power ratings of the plurality of electronic ballasts is greater than the nominal distribution power rating of the distribution bus.
Claims32
A multiple discharge load electronic ballast system, comprising:
- a utility interface comprising a utility input, a direct current (DC) distribution output, and a nominal distribution power rating at the DC distribution output;
- a distribution bus, operatively coupled to the DC distribution output;
- and
- a plurality of electronic ballasts, operatively coupled to the distribution bus, wherein a respective electronic ballast comprises adaptations for respective local DC voltage control and an alternating current (AC) end output and has a maximum ballast power rating at the AC end output, wherein a sum of the maximum ballast power ratings of the plurality of electronic ballasts is greater than the nominal distribution power rating of the utility interface.
A multiple discharge load electronic ballast system, comprising:
- means for receiving electrical power from a utility source and responsively providing a direct current (DC) distribution voltage having a nominal distribution power;
- means for distributing the DC distribution voltage to multiple distributed outputs;
- means for converting the DC distribution voltage at each distributed output into a respective local DC voltage output;
- and
- means for inverting each respective local DC voltage output into a respective alternating current (AC) end output having a peak power, wherein the nominal distribution power is less than a sum of the peak power of each of the AC end outputs.
A method of providing electrical power to multiple discharge loads, comprising the steps of:
- converting electrical power from a utility source to a DC distribution output, having a nominal distribution power;
- distributing the DC distribution output to a plurality of electronic ballasts, each of which has a maximum ballast power rating, wherein the nominal distribution power is less than a sum of the maximum ballast power ratings;
- receiving the DC distribution output at each electronic ballast, converting the DC distribution output into a respective local DC voltage output and responsively generating a respective AC ballast output having a voltage and a current that are sufficient for igniting and operating a discharge load;
- and
- providing each of the discharge loads with one of the AC ballast outputs.
A multiple discharge load electronic ballast system, comprising:
- a distribution bus having a nominal distribution power rating;
- and
- a plurality of electronic ballasts, operatively coupled to the distribution bus, wherein a respective electronic ballast comprises adaptations for respective local DC voltage control and an alternating current (AC) output, and has a maximum ballast power rating;
- and wherein a sum of the maximum ballast power ratings of the plurality of electronic ballasts is greater than the nominal distribution power rating of the distribution bus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.