Intensity balance for multiple lamps
AssigneeLeviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
InventorJaiganesh Balasubramanian
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A compensation system includes first and second sensors to determine the intensities of first and second fluorescent lamps, a compensator to control the intensity of the first lamp, and a controller to adjust the intensity of the first lamp to about the same intensity as the second lamp. The lamps may be coupled in series, and the compensator may be arranged to divert current around or away from one of the lamps.
Claims35
A system for controlling fluorescent lamps comprising:
- first and second fluorescent lamps coupled in series;
- a first sensor to determine the intensity of the first fluorescent lamp;
- a second sensor to determine the intensity of the second fluorescent lamp;
- a compensator coupled in parallel with the first lamp and not the second lamp to control the intensity of the first lamp;
- and
- a controller coupled to the first and second sensors and the compensator to adjust the intensity of the first lamp to about the same intensity as the second lamp by controlling the compensator to divert current around the first lamp and to the second lamp, thereby changing the relative intensities of the first lamp and second lamp.
A method for controlling fluorescent lamps comprising:
- sensing the intensity of a first fluorescent lamp;
- sensing the intensity of a second fluorescent lamp coupled in series with the first lamp;
- coupling a compensator in series with the first lamp and not the second lamp to control the intensity of the first lamp;
- and
- compensating the first lamp to adjust the intensity of the first lamp to about the same intensity as the second lamp by controlling the compensator to divert current around the first lamp and to the second lamp, thereby changing the relative intensities of the first lamp and the second lamp.
A ballast comprising:
- one or more power sources to operate a first lamp and a second lamp, wherein the first and second lamps are coupled in series;
- a first sensor to determine the intensity of the first lamp;
- a second sensor to determine the intensity of the second lamp;
- a compensator coupled in series with the first lamp and not the second lamp to control the intensity of the first lamp;
- and
- a controller coupled to the first and second sensors and the compensator to adjust the intensity of the first lamp to about the same intensity as the second lamp by diverting current around the first lamp and to the second lamp, thereby changing the relative intensities of the first lamp and the second lamp.
A method for retrofitting an existing light fixture, the method comprising:
- installing a first sensor in the existing fixture to determine the intensity of a first lamp in the fixture;
- installing a second sensor to determine the intensity of a second lamp coupled in series with the first lamp in the existing fixture;
- coupling a compensator to first and second conductors for the first lamp, wherein the compensator is coupled in parallel with the first lamp and not the second lamp;
- installing a controller to control the compensator to adjust the intensity of the first lamp to about the same intensity as the second lamp by diverting current around the first lamp and to the second lamp, wherein the relative intensities of the first lamp and the second lamp are changed, thereby retrofitting the existing light fixture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.