Method and apparatus and system for adjusting power to HID lamp to control level of light output and conserve energy (ballast multi-tap power output)
AssigneeMusco Corporation
InventorMyron K. Gordin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
One aspect of the present invention is a non-electronic method of controlling the power provided to the lamp through use of multiple secondary taps off the secondary side of the HID ballast. This allows for a base capacitor to be used, along with the multiple secondary taps of the ballast, to vary the power to the lamp for purposes of providing constant light output, dimming capabilities, or to hold the power constant, or any combination of such.
Claims46
A method of controlling operation of an HID lamp connected in series with a first source of capacitance and ballasted by a ballast having a primary side and a secondary side comprising:
- a. providing a plurality of power level connections on the secondary side of the ballast so that a plurality of power levels are available on the secondary side;
- b. connecting the first source of capacitance to one of the power level connections on the secondary side of the ballast;
- c. so that plural levels of operating wattage are available to power the lamp to provide substantially constant light output over cumulative lamp operating time by periodic increases in power to the lamp or discretionarily dim the lamp by reducing power to the lamp.
An apparatus for controlling operation of an HID lamp connected in series with a first source of capacitance and ballasted by a ballast having a primary side and a secondary side comprising:
- a. a plurality of power level connections on the secondary side of the ballast so that a plurality of powers are available on the secondary side;
- b. a switching mechanism adapted to connect the first source of capacitance to one of the power level connections on the secondary side of the ballast;
- c. so that plural levels of operating wattage are available to power the lamp to provide substantially constant light output over cumulative lamp operating time by periodic increases in power to the lamp or discretionary dim the lamp by reducing power to the lamp.
An apparatus for adjusting light output of an HID lamp in series with a first capacitor with power provided through a ballast having primary and secondary sides comprising:
- a. multiple switchable power level connections on the secondary side of ballast adapted for operative connection to the lamp and first capacitor;
- b. a switching mechanism having a control input adapted to switch between the power level connections;
- c. multiple switchable capacitance in operative connection to the lamp and the first capacitor;
- and
- d. wherein the multiple switchable capacitance is adapted for selectable power increases to the lamp to compensate for lamp lumen depreciation over time.
An apparatus for controlling the power signal to an HID light source comprising:
- a. a ballast with multiple power level connections, where the connections do not output the same power signal;
- b. at least one capacitor operatively connected to the HID light source to control the power supplied to the light source;
- c. wherein the ballast power level connections are switchably connected to the at least one capacitor for selective power increases to the lamp or discretionary dimming of the lamp.
An apparatus for controlling operation of an HID lamp connected in series with a first source of capacitance and ballasted by a ballast having a primary side and a secondary side comprising:
- a. a plurality of power level connections on the secondary side of the ballast so that a plurality of power levels are available on the secondary side;
- b. a switching mechanism adapted to connect the first source of capacitance to one of the power level connections on the secondary side of the ballast so that plural levels of operating wattage are available to power the lamp;
- c. a remote control operatively connected to the switching mechanism and adapted to remotely select connection to a power level connection on the secondary side of the ballast for selective power increases to the lamp or discretionary dimming of the lamp.
An apparatus for controlling operation of an HID lamp connected in series with a first source of capacitance and ballasted by a ballast having a primary side and a secondary side comprising:
- a. a plurality of power level connections on the secondary side of the ballast so that a plurality of power levels are available on the secondary side;
- b. a switching mechanism adapted to connect the first source of capacitance to one of the power level connections on the secondary side of the ballast so that plural levels of operating wattage are available to power the lamp;
- c. a sensor operatively positioned on or connected to monitor an operational function or parameter related to the apparatus and producing a signal which is communicated to a remote station.
A method of controlling operation of an HID lamp connected in series with a first source of capacitance and ballasted by a ballast having a primary side and a secondary side comprising:
- a. providing a plurality of power level connections on the secondary side of the ballast so that a plurality of power levels are available on the secondary side;
- b. connecting the first source of capacitance to one of the power level connections on the secondary side of the ballast;
- c. so that plural levels of operating wattage are available to power the lamp;
- and
- d. periodically increasing power consumption of the lamp to increase light output of the light to compensate for lamp lumen depreciation of the lamp.
A method of controlling operation of an HID lamp connected in series with a first source of capacitance and ballasted by a ballast having a primary side and a secondary side comprising:
- a. providing a plurality of power level connections on the secondary side of the ballast so that a plurality of power levels are available on the secondary side;
- b. connecting the first source of capacitance to one of the power level connections on the secondary side of the ballast;
- c. so that plural levels of operating wattage are available to power the lamp;
- d. one or more additional sources of capacitance are connected in parallel with the first source of capacitance and available for operative connection to the lamp;
- e. wherein the one or more sources of additional capacitance is selectively addable to the first source of capacitance;
- f. selecting between levels of capacitance to the lamp to compensate for lamp lumen depreciation of the lamp;
- g. wherein a lower power level connection on the secondary side of the ballast is selected for a low or dimmed light level mode without ability to alter level of capacitance to the lamp, and a higher power level connection on the secondary side of the ballast is selected for a high or full light level mode with the ability to alter level of capacitance to the lamp;
- h. wherein low mode is for dimming of light output but at relatively constant power consumption and high mode is for full light output but periodic increase in power consumption by adding capacitance to the lamp to compensate for lamp lumen depreciation.
An apparatus for controlling operation of an HID lamp connected in series with a first source of capacitance and ballasted by a ballast having a primary side and a secondary side comprising:
- a. a plurality of power level connections on the secondary side of the ballast so that a plurality of powers are available on the secondary side;
- b. a switching mechanism adapted to connect the first source of capacitance to one of the power level connections on the secondary side of the ballast;
- c. so that plural levels of operating wattage are available to power the lamp;
- and
- d. a sensor operatively positioned or connected to the apparatus to monitor an operational function or parameter related to the apparatus and producing a signal which is communicated to a remote station.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.