# US 7,746,006 B2 · Protection architecture for multi-lamp system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,746,006 B2 - Document ID: US7746006B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/907,918 - Filed: 2007-10-18 - Published: 2009-04-23 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2007-10-18 - Assignees: Fsp Technology Inc. - Inventors: Shih An Liang; Kuo Hei Lee; Ken Chuan Hsu; Chien Chih Cher - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7746006B2 ## CPC - H05B 41/2855: {against abnormal lamp operating conditions} - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL ## Abstract The present invention discloses a protection architecture for a multi-lamp system, which applies to a multi-lamp driving system for driving a plurality of lamp loops. The present invention is characterized in that two opposite-phase loads of a loop are separately defined to be a first load and a second load, and that a voltage-division/detection loop is formed via cascading a first voltage-division element to a second voltage-division element and is coupled to between the first load and the second load to detect an abnormal current, wherein the second voltage-division element is coupled to a ground terminal, and wherein a signal-acquiring terminal is coupled to between the first voltage-division element and the second voltage-division element and acquires an abnormal voltage signal for a protection unit from the abnormal current, and wherein the protection unit detects the abnormal voltage signal and shuts off the driving system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A protection architecture for a multi-lamp system, which applies to a multi-lamp driving system comprising: a plurality of AC voltage sources outputting several different-phase voltage signals, a multi-phase transformer having a plurality of different-phase coil windings, and a plurality of loads, wherein each loop thereof has at least two of said plurality of loads having opposite polarity and one said coil winding, and each of said AC voltage source drives at least one of said loops, and wherein said protection architecture for a multi-lamp system is characterized in that two of said opposite-phase loads are separately defined to be a first load and a second load, and that a voltage-division/detection loop is formed via cascading a first voltage-division element to a second voltage-division element and is coupled to a point between said first load and said second load to acquire an abnormal current indicating that the currents flowing through the first and second loads are not equal, and said second voltage-division element is coupled to a ground terminal, and a signal-acquiring terminal is coupled to between said first voltage-division element and said second voltage-division element and acquires an abnormal voltage signal for a protection unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The protection architecture for the multi-lamp system according to claim 1, wherein said first load or said second load is a single lamp. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The protection architecture for the multi-lamp system according to claim 1, wherein said first load or said second load is a plurality of lamps connected in series. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The protection architecture for the multi-lamp system according to claim 1, wherein said first load or said second load is a plurality of lamps connected in parallel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The protection architecture for the multi-lamp system according to claim 1, wherein said first load or said second load is a combination of lamps connected in series and lamps connected in parallel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The protection architecture for the multi-lamp system according to claim 1, wherein either of said first voltage-division element and said second voltage-division element is a resistor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The protection architecture for the multi-lamp system according to claim 6, wherein said first voltage-division element and said second voltage-division element respectively have different impedances. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The protection architecture for the multi-lamp system according to claim 6, wherein said first voltage-division element and said second voltage-division element have an identical impedance. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The protection architecture for the multi-lamp system according to claim 1, wherein one of said first voltage-division element and said second voltage-division element is a combination of at least one resistor and at least one capacitor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The protection architecture for the multi-lamp system according to claim 9, wherein said first voltage-division element and said second voltage-division element have an identical impedance. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The protection architecture for the multi-lamp system according to claim 9, wherein said first voltage-division element and said second voltage-division element respectively have different impedances. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The protection architecture for the multi-lamp system according to claim 1, wherein either of said first voltage-division element and said second voltage-division element is a combination of at least one resistor and at least one capacitor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The protection architecture for the multi-lamp system according to claim 12, wherein said first voltage-division element and said second voltage-division element respectively have different impedances. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The protection architecture for the multi-lamp system according to claim 12, wherein said first voltage-division element and said second voltage-division element have an identical impedance. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The protection architecture for the multi-lamp system according to claim 1, wherein protection unit determines a timing of closing said driving system according to said abnormal voltage signal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The protection architecture for the multi-lamp system according to claim 1, wherein there is a phase difference of 180 degrees between the current flowing through said first load and the current flowing through said second load. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The protection architecture for the multi-lamp system according to claim 1, wherein two or more voltage-division/detection loops are coupled to between said first load and said second load.