Patents by Inventor Felix Franck

Felix Franck has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20050237771
    Abstract: Circuit for converting an AC voltage to a DC voltage in which a full-bridge rectifier is replaced by two controlled switches. An inductor is connected upstream such that power factor correction is also made possible for the rectifying function. The circuit has a mid-voltage at the output. As a result, a square-wave load current can be generated with the aid of two further switches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Applicant: PATENT-TREUHAND-GESELLSCHAFT FUR ELEKTRISCH GLUHLAMPEN MBH
    Inventors: Felix Franck, Peter Niedermeier
  • Patent number: 6847174
    Abstract: The selection of the dead time in the case of a half-bridge inverter influences the efficiency thereof. The optimal dead time, and thus the optimal switching-on time of a lower half-bridge transistor (T2) is accomplished according to the invention by virtue of the fact that switching on is delayed until the current in a level shift transistor (T3) has dropped below a given threshold. A further aspect of the invention consists in that the delay in switching on the lower half-bridge transistor (T2) is immediately suppressed whenever a charging current flows in a trapezoidal capacitor, and this is accompanied by the rise of the half-bridge output voltage (UHB) after the traversal of a minimum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft fur elektrische Gluhlampen mbH
    Inventor: Felix Franck
  • Patent number: 6777860
    Abstract: A luminous element (10) for a lamp is double helix-shaped, with two connection parts (18, 20) situated at one end of said double helix. The diameter (D1, D2) of the double helix increases consistently in the direction of the two connection parts (18, 20) of the luminous element (10). The invention also relates to a lamp with a luminous element of this type, to a method for producing a luminous element of this type and to a device for carrying out the production method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Patent Treuhand-Gesellschaft fur Elektrische Gluhlampen mbh
    Inventor: Felix Franck
  • Patent number: 6778373
    Abstract: A rectifier circuit matched for power factor correction. A first diode (D1), a second diode (D2), a third diode (D3) and a fourth diode (D4) are in a bridge arrangement. A first pole (10) and a second pole (12) of the bridge arrangement are connected to a source (U) which has at least one AC voltage component. An inductance (L1) is arranged in series with the third pole (14) or the fourth pole (16) of the bridge arrangement. A capacitance (C1) is connected between the first pole (10) and the second pole (12), and two of the four diodes (D1, D2, D3, D4) are in the form of fast diodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft für Elektrische Glühlampen mbH
    Inventors: Ugo Francescutti, Felix Franck
  • Publication number: 20040080969
    Abstract: The selection of the dead time in the case of a half-bridge inverter influences the efficiency thereof. The optimal dead time, and thus the optimal switching-on time of a lower half-bridge transistor (T2) is accomplished according to the invention by virtue of the fact that switching on is delayed until the current in a level shift transistor (T3) has dropped below a given threshold. A further aspect of the invention consists in that the delay in switching on the lower half-bridge transistor (T2) is immediately suppressed whenever a charging current flows in a trapezoidal capacitor, and this is accompanied by the rise of the half-bridge output voltage (UHB) after the traversal of a minimum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Applicant: PATENT-TREUHAND-GESELLSCHAFT FUR ELEKTRISCH GLUHLAMPEN MBH
    Inventor: Felix Franck
  • Patent number: 6710474
    Abstract: A circuit for switching on a partial circuit includes a first switching element (T1), a second switching element (T2 to T6), an activation circuit for the first switching element, a first diode (D1), a second diode (D2), and a third diode (D3). During operation, when the partial circuit is being switched on, first switching element (T1) is activated and second switching element (T2 to T6) is assigned no activity. The activation circuit for the first switching element (T1) includes a storage capacitor (C1) and a DIAC coupled to a control electrode of the first switching element (T1). First diode (D1), second diode (D2), and third diode (D3) are arranged such that stored energy in storage capacitor (C1) is more effectively utilized for activating the first switching element (T1), thus allowing use of a smaller capacitance for the storage capacitor (C1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft fur elektrische Gluhlampen mbH
    Inventor: Felix Franck
  • Patent number: 6603674
    Abstract: Electronic transformers with a self-excited half bridge can be destroyed by high-voltage pulses from the mains supply lead. This can happen by the high-voltage pulse initiating a starting operation which leads to cross currents. This destruction mechanism is suppressed by specifically discharging a starting capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft fuer Elektrische Gluehlampen mbH
    Inventors: Felix Franck, Helmut Haeusser-Boehm, Joachim Muehlschlegel
  • Patent number: 6600667
    Abstract: An electronic converter having an input circuit and an output circuit which, in addition to the converter function, carries out power-factor correction. A control circuit opens and closes an electronic switch as a function of the output voltage from the converter circuit and the voltage which is dropped across a current measurement sensor. The circuit has a logic ground LM and a power ground PM at different electrical potentials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft für Elektrische Glühlampen mbH
    Inventors: Ugo Francescutti, Felix Franck
  • Publication number: 20030001480
    Abstract: The invention relates to a luminous element for a lamp. Said luminous element (10) is double helix-shaped with two connection parts (18, 20) situated at one end of said double helix. The diameter (D1, D2) of the double helix increases consistently in the direction of the two connection parts (18, 20) of the luminous element (10). The invention also relates to a lamp with a luminous element of this type, to a method for producing a luminous clement of this type and to a device for carrying out the production method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventor: Felix Franck
  • Patent number: 6486613
    Abstract: An electronic operating device for discharge lamps is disclosed in which an output terminal is connected via a coupling capacitor (CB) to a reference potential (E). An electric component (VC) which acts as a voltage source is inserted in series with the coupling capacitor (CB) in order to reduce the potential of an output terminal. The electric component (VC) consists in one embodiment of an inductor which is coupled to the lamp inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft fuer Elecktrische Gluehlampen mbH
    Inventors: Felix Franck, Markus Heckmann
  • Patent number: 6475038
    Abstract: The invention relates to a connecting terminal having a housing (14) in which a lift cage (22) is arranged, with the housing (14) and the lift cage (22) each having a first opening (20,21) which can be aligned such that it is flush, for inserting a cable end (24) into the lift cage (22), in which the housing (14) and the lift cage (22) each have a second opening (36,37), which can be aligned such that it is flush, for inserting at least one part (30a,30b) of a circuit board (10) into the lift cage (22). It also relates to a system for producing a conductive connection between at least one part (30a,30b) of a circuit board and a connecting terminal according to the invention, in which case the system furthermore comprises a U-shaped crushing protection device (38) which can be pushed over that part (30a,30b) of the circuit board (10) which can be inserted into the connecting terminal in order to produce a conductive connection to the cable end (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft fuer Elektrische Gluehlampen mbH
    Inventor: Felix Franck
  • Publication number: 20020154521
    Abstract: The present invention relates to electronic converters having an input circuit and an output circuit which, in addition to their converter function, carry out power-factor correction. They comprise a control circuit which opens and closes an electronic switch, to be precise as a function of the output voltage from the converter circuit and the voltage which is dropped across a current measurement sensor. The invention is distinguished in that the circuit has a logic ground LM and a power ground PM at different electrical potentials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventors: Ugo Francescutti, Felix Franck
  • Publication number: 20020122325
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rectifier circuit matched for power factor correction, comprising a first diode (D1), a second diode (D2), a third diode (D3) and a fourth diode (D4) in bridge arrangement, an inductance (L1) and a capacitance (C1), with a first pole (10) and a second pole (12) of the bridge arrangement being connected to a source (U) which has at least one AC voltage component, and the inductance (L1) being arranged in series with the third pole (14) or the fourth pole (16), where the capacitance (C1) is connected between the first pole (10) and the second pole (12), and two of the four diodes (D1, D2, D3, D4) are in the form of fast diodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2002
    Publication date: September 5, 2002
    Inventors: Ugo Francescutti, Felix Franck
  • Publication number: 20020114121
    Abstract: A circuit for switching on a partial circuit includes a first switching element (T1), a second switching element (T2 to T6), an activation circuit for the first switching element, a first diode (D1), a second diode (D2), and a third diode (D3). During operation, when the partial circuit is being switched on, first switching element (T1) is activated and second switching element (T2 to T6) is assigned no activity. The activation circuit for the first switching element (T1) includes a storage capacitor (C1) and a DIAC coupled to a control electrode of the first switching element (T1). First diode (D1), second diode (D2), and third diode (D3) are arranged such that stored energy in storage capacitor (C1) is more effectively utilized for activating the first switching element (T1), thus allowing use of a smaller capacitance for the storage capacitor (C1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2002
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Applicant: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft fuer elektrische Gluehlampen mbH
    Inventor: Felix Franck
  • Publication number: 20020071299
    Abstract: Electronic transformers with a self-excited half bridge can be destroyed by high-voltage pulses from the mains supply lead. This can happen by the high-voltage pulse initiating a starting operation which leads to cross currents. This destruction mechanism is suppressed by specifically discharging a starting capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Applicant: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft fuer elektrische Gluehlampen mbH
    Inventors: Felix Franck, Helmut Haeusser-Boehm, Joachim Muehlschlegel
  • Publication number: 20020047602
    Abstract: An electronic operating device for discharge lamps is disclosed in which an output terminal is connected via a coupling capacitor (CB) to a reference potential (E). An electric component (VC) which acts as a voltage source is inserted in series with the coupling capacitor (CB) in order to reduce the potential of an output terminal. The electric component (VC) consists in one embodiment of an inductor which is coupled to the lamp inductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Publication date: April 25, 2002
    Inventors: Felix Franck, Markus Heckmann
  • Patent number: 6377107
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement having at least one electric main switch (T1) with a reference electrode (E), a control electrode (B), and a work electrode (C). A recovery diode (D1; D2) is connected antiparallel to the main flow direction of each main switch (T1). In order to speed up the switch-off process and in particular to reduce the attendant power loss, each main switch (T1) is assigned an electric auxiliary switch (T11; T22), whose work electrode is connected to the control electrode (B) of the associated main switch (T1) and whose reference electrode is connected to the reference electrode (E) of the associated main switch (T1). The capacitor (C11) is disposed between the control electrode of the auxiliary switch (T11; T22) and the work electrode (C) of the associated main switch (T1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft fur Elektrische Gluhlampen mpH
    Inventor: Felix Franck
  • Patent number: 6272032
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rectifier with midpoint feed, comprising a first and a second input terminal (A,B), which form an input of the rectifier, a first and a second output terminal (P,M), which form a first output of the rectifier, the first output terminal (P) forming the positive pole and the second output terminal (M) forming the negative pole of the first output of the rectifier, where a series circuit comprising a first and a second coupling capacitor (C1, C2) is arranged in parallel with the first output, the midpoint of the series circuit being connected to the second input terminal (B), a storage capacitor (C3) is arranged in parallel with a series circuit comprising a first and a second diode (D1, D2), the midpoint of the series circuit made up of the first and the second diode (D1, D2) being connected to the first input terminal (A), and the first diode (D1) being connected to the first coupling capacitor (C1) via a first inductor, and the second diode (D2) being connected to the second couplin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Patent -Treuh nd-Gesellschaft fuer elektrische Gluehlampen mbH
    Inventor: Felix Franck
  • Patent number: 6266259
    Abstract: The invention relates to a half-bridge inverter including a first and a second input terminal (E, N), which form an input of the inverter, a first and a second output terminal (B, A), which form an output of the inverter, a series circuit having a first and a second coupling capacitor (C1, C2), which series circuit is connected in parallel with the input and forms the passive bridge path, the midpoint of the series circuit made up of the first and the second coupling capacitor (C1, C2) being connected to the first output terminal (B), a series circuit having a first and a second switch (S1, S2), which series circuit forms the active bridge path and has its midpoint connected to the second output terminal (A), where a storage capacitor (C3) is arranged in parallel with the active bridge path, and the first coupling capacitor (C1) is connected to the storage capacitor (C3) via a first inductor (L1), and the second coupling capacitor (C2) is connected to the storage capacitor (C3) via a second inductor (L2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft fuer elektrische Gluehlampen mbH
    Inventor: Felix Franck
  • Patent number: 6172890
    Abstract: By adding a base bridging capacitor (C6, C6′) between the base connections of a bipolar transistor bridge oscillator, in particular of an electronic ballast for a low-pressure gas discharge lamp, the collector initial current peak is avoided, while ensuring that the switching transistors (T1, T2) are switched on, without any voltage, at the right time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft fuer elektrische Gluehlampen mbH
    Inventor: Felix Franck