Digital electronic ballast control apparatus and method

An electronic ballast control for controlling a power switch in an electronic ballast to switch power to a load, comprising:

• a storage device for storing parameters to operate ballast control components;
• a control device coupled to the storage device for reading parameters from the storage device and providing the parameters to the ballast control components;
• an oscillator coupled to the control device for receiving the parameters from the control device and providing an oscillation signal based on the received parameters;
• an output section coupled to the oscillator and operable to receive the oscillation signal and produce signals for operating the power switch;
• wherein the control is implemented as a single integrated circuit;
• and
• wherein the oscillator is a digital oscillator.

An electronic ballast control for controlling a power switch in an electronic ballast to switch power to a load, comprising:

• a storage device for storing parameters to operate ballast control components;
• a control device coupled to the storage device for reading parameters from the storage device and providing the parameters to the ballast control components;
• an oscillator coupled to the control device for receiving the parameters from the control device and providing an oscillation signal based on the received parameters;
• and
• an output section coupled to the oscillator and operable to receive the oscillation signal and produce signals for operating the power switch,
• wherein the oscillator is a digital oscillator, and
• further comprising a DAC in the oscillator for converting an input digital signal to an analog signal, whereby the oscillation frequency is related to the analog signal.

A method of operating an electronic ballast, comprising:

• storing data in a storage device related to ballast control parameters;
• reading data from the storage device to obtain parameters for operating the ballast control;
• and
• applying the parameters to ballast control components to obtain selected operating points for the components, including applying a digital oscillator control signal to a digital oscillator in the control, and D/A converting said oscillator control signal to an analog signal, whereby the oscillation frequency is related to the analog signal;
• whereby the ballast control outputs a control signal based on a selection of parameters applied to the components.

A method of operating an electronic ballast, comprising:

• storing data in a storage device related to ballast control parameters;
• reading data from the storage device to obtain parameters for operating the ballast control;
• and
• applying the parameters to ballast control components to obtain selected operating points for the components,
• whereby the ballast control outputs a control signal based on a selection of parameters applied to the components,
• further comprising counting a number of events in the ballast control to determine when the number of events reach a predetermined value in a specified time period.

A method of operating an electronic ballast, comprising:

• storing data in a storage device related to ballast control parameters;
• reading data from the storage device to obtain parameters for operating the ballast control;
• and
• applying the parameters to ballast control components to obtain selected operating points for the components,
• whereby the ballast control outputs a control signal based on a selection of parameters applied to the components,
• further comprising timing one or more events to determine if a predetermined time duration is achieved for the one or more events.

An electronic ballast control for controlling a power switch in an electronic ballast to switch power to a load, comprising:

• a storage device for storing parameters to operate ballast control components;
• a control device coupled to the storage device for reading parameters from the storage device and providing the parameters to the ballast control components;
• an oscillator coupled to the control device for receiving the parameters from the control device and providing an oscillation signal based on the received parameters;
• an output section coupled to the oscillator and operable to receive the oscillation signal and produce signals for operating the power switch;
• wherein the control is implemented as a single integrated circuit;
• and
• further comprising an input section of said integrated circuit for inputting said parameters, said input section comprising only two pins of said integrated circuit for receiving a data signal and a clock signal, respectively.

An electronic ballast control for controlling a power switch in an electronic ballast to switch power to a load, comprising:

• a storage device for storing parameters to operate ballast control components;
• a control device coupled to the storage device for reading parameters from the storage device and providing the parameters to the ballast control components;
• an oscillator coupled to the control device for receiving the parameters from the control device and providing an oscillation signal based on the received parameters;
• an output section coupled to the oscillator and operable to receive the oscillation signal and produce signals for operating the power switch;
• wherein the control is implemented as a single integrated circuit;
• and
• wherein said integrated circuit has a pair of shut-down pins for inputting control parameters corresponding to a pair of loads, said control parameters enabling said control to shut down if one load is removed, and/or to continue running if one load is removed, and/or to initiate a startup operation when a removed load is replaced by a new load.