Resistance In The Condenser Circuit Patents (Class 315/245)
  • Patent number: 11353899
    Abstract: A constant voltage device include a diode; a switch including one terminal connected to a ground potential and another terminal connected both to an anode terminal of the diode and to a drain of a PMOS transistor having a source applied with a power source voltage; a voltage generation circuit configured to generate a voltage of a predetermined magnitude; and a differential amplifier that includes a non-inverting input terminal to which both a cathode terminal of the diode and an output terminal of the voltage generation circuit are connected, and that is configured to change a supply route of a reference voltage applied to the non-inverting input terminal according to a state of the switch. The voltage generation circuit is configured to employ an output voltage based on the reference voltage and amplified by the differential amplifier to generate the reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI-RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Junichi Matsubara, Koji Saito
  • Patent number: 10470277
    Abstract: An anti-flicker and anti-glow switchable load apparatus to be installed in the light socket of a commonly powered electronic switching device, such as a motion activated light switch. An energy efficient light bulb or lamp, such as a cathode fluorescent lamp or light emitting diode is then electrically connected to the apparatus. A first embodiment of the present invention includes a switchable light source, a switchable load, a controller, and a voltage sensor. When the present invention in the first embodiment detects a higher voltage, thus indicating the lamp has been switched from the “off” state to the on state, the switchable load is disconnected, and the current is re-routed to pass through the energy efficient lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Inventor: Gregory S. Hasler
  • Patent number: 10013015
    Abstract: A system and method for fast, automatic balancing of an AC bridge utilizes a two-stage process. During the first stage, the phase of the bridge voltage is matched, while during the second stage, the amplitude is minimized. The voltage matching process is based on halving the range of measured voltage amplitudes at each step, using two samples to identify the next half-range, resulting in an n-step recursive algorithm with “n” defining the resolution of the process. As such, the phase-matching process requires only three samples per step, and only four steps for 1° resolution. Consequently, the computational power needed to carry out the two-stage process is minimal, requiring only comparison of the three sampled voltages, thereby resulting in a balancing process that is performed fast and efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: The University of Akron
    Inventors: Nathan Ida, Amir Mehdi Pasdar
  • Patent number: 9301368
    Abstract: An anti-flicker and anti-glow switchable load apparatus to be installed in the light socket of a commonly powered electronic switching device, such as a motion activated light switch. An energy efficient light bulb or lamp, such as a cathode fluorescent lamp or light emitting diode is then screwed into the apparatus. A first embodiment of the present invention includes a switchable light source, a switchable load, a controller, and a voltage sensor. When the present invention in the first embodiment detects a higher voltage, thus indicating the lamp has been switched from the “off” state to the on state, the switchable load is disconnected, and the current is re-routed to pass through the energy efficient lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Inventors: Gregory Scott Hasler, Timothy Thomas Tutt
  • Patent number: 8994288
    Abstract: A pulse-excited mercury-free lamp system, and method of sustaining the emission of light emission from such a lamp, is provided. The system includes a light-transmissive envelope having an inner surface and a phosphor layer coated thereon. A discharge-sustaining gaseous mixture of a noble gas, at a low pressure, and a metal halide, is retained inside the light-transmissive envelope. An electrical system provides a plurality of pulses to the discharge-sustaining gaseous mixture, resulting in a discharge, which causes the lamp system to emit light. The emission of light is maintained by turning the discharge on during a pulse width of each pulse in the plurality of pulses and by turning the discharge off during a remainder of each period in the plurality of pulses. Particularly in systems where the metal halide is indium-based, this maintains an efficient emission of light without the use of mercury.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: OSRAM SYLVANIA Inc.
    Inventor: Philip E. Moskowitz
  • Patent number: 8760065
    Abstract: A passive anti-arcing protection components for electronic ballasts of fluorescent lamps. This protection component is a bridge-rectifier-resistor-capacitor network, containing at least a diode, a resistor, and a capacitor. The component's circuitry is electrically connected to the ballast at the lamp side, acting as a low-resistance redirection path for any sudden change in energy. When an arcing condition is about to occur, this protection circuitry absorbs the spark energy, ceasing the arcing condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Century Concept Limited
    Inventors: Cho Sing Chan, Ming Tai Ho
  • Publication number: 20140049171
    Abstract: Configurations for an LED driver are disclosed. The proposed LED driver receives an input voltage, drives an LED and includes a compensation capacitor set including a first and a second capacitors connected to each other in series, wherein the first capacitor is electrically connected to the LED, the second capacitor is grounded, the compensation capacitor set provides a compensation voltage to the LED such that the LED is conductible when an instantaneous voltage value of the input voltage is lower than an LED conduction voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: National Cheng Kung University
    Inventors: Tsorng-Juu Liang, Wei-Jing Tseng, Jiann-Fuh Chen
  • Patent number: 8624518
    Abstract: A power management circuit comprising a power-on signal input, an output terminal a control unit, a switching unit, and a discharge unit. The control unit configured to selectively turn on the switching unit to output a power-on signal to a display module and selectively turn off the switching unit to cut off an electrical connection between the power-on signal input and the output terminal. The discharge unit configured to discharge residual electrical charges in the display module when the switching unit is turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lu-Qing Meng, Hai-Long Cheng, Kuo-Pin Lin, Chun-Lung Hung
  • Patent number: 8508146
    Abstract: An electronic device including a light emitting element. A capacitor is coupled to the light emitting element. A measurement circuit measures a change amount in charge of the capacitor. A control circuit controls a light emission amount of the light emitting element in accordance with a difference of the change amount in the charge and a reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: Takeshi Hirano, Tomokazu Yamada
  • Publication number: 20130187543
    Abstract: A dynamic damper in a lighting driving circuit for limiting an inrush current includes a damper circuit and a timing circuit comprising capacitor. The damper circuit is connected to the timing circuit. When an input voltage is provided to the dynamic damper, the capacitor begins to be charged and the capacitance-voltage of the capacitor rises. The damper circuit enters to a first working state and generates a dynamic damper resistor value. When the capacitance-voltage of the capacitor is greater than a first threshold voltage, the damper circuit enters to a second working state and the dynamic damper resistor value begins to decrease. When the capacitance-voltage of the capacitor is greater than a second threshold voltage, the damper circuit enters to a short-circuit state, and the dynamic damper resistor value decreases to zero to facilitate the normal work of the power source converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: MACROBLOCK, INC.
    Inventors: Lon-Kou Chang, Hsing-Fu Liu, Li-Wei Yen, Jyun-Ji Chen
  • Publication number: 20130134879
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a luminaire includes a housing, a cable run, and a noise filter circuit. A lighting-circuit-integrated lamp is arranged in the housing. The cable run is configured to supply an external power to the lighting-circuit-integrated lamp. The noise filter circuit is provided in the cable run and reduces a noise terminal voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: TOSHIBA LIGHTING & TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yumi Hanyuda, Takayoshi Moriyama, Hirokazu Otake
  • Publication number: 20120326619
    Abstract: A power management circuit comprising a power-on signal input, an output terminal a control unit, a switching unit, and a discharge unit. The control unit configured to selectively turn on the switching unit to output a power-on signal to a display module and selectively turn off the switching unit to cut off an electrical connection between the power-on signal input and the output terminal. The discharge unit configured to discharge residual electrical charges in the display module when the switching unit is turned off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: LU-QING MENG, HAI-LONG CHENG, KUO-PIN LIN, CHUN-LUNG HUNG
  • Publication number: 20120268023
    Abstract: A driving circuit for driving a light-emitting diode (LED) light source includes a buck-boost converter and a controller. The buck-boost converter receives an input voltage and an input current and powers the LED light source, and comprises a switch controlled by a driving signal. The controller receives a first signal indicating a current through the LED light source, and generates the driving signal based on the first signal to control the switch and to adjust the current through the LED light source. The buck-boost converter further comprises a current sensor which provides a second signal indicating an instant current flowing through the buck-boost converter, wherein the first signal is derived from the second signal, and wherein a reference ground of the controller is different from a ground of the driving circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: O2MICRO, INC.
    Inventors: Tiesheng YAN, Ching-Chuan KUO, Yung Lin LIN
  • Publication number: 20120217890
    Abstract: A driving circuit for driving a load is provided. The driving circuit includes a control module providing a control signal to adjust a load current flowing through the load; and a voltage clamping module providing a power voltage to the control module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: HANERGY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Charles Chang, Ronald Chang
  • Publication number: 20120206058
    Abstract: An electronic device including a light emitting element. A capacitor is coupled to the light emitting element. A measurement circuit measures a change amount in charge of the capacitor. A control circuit controls a light emission amount of the light emitting element in accordance with a difference of the change amount in the charge and a reference value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
    Inventors: Takeshi Hirano, Tomokazu Yamada
  • Patent number: 8232737
    Abstract: Electronic ballasts, driver apparatus, and methods are provided in which a heating current is generated by the driver to power a resistive heating element of an insulation detector associated with a recessed can fixture using a regulated current source/sink circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Glenn Felty, Joseph G. Elek
  • Publication number: 20120056552
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a multi-mode dimming circuit configurable to operate in a first dimming mode, a second dimming mode and a third dimming mode. The present disclosure also discloses separate dimming circuits for respectively realize the three dimming modes. In one embodiment the multi-mode dimming circuit may comprise a first input terminal, a second input terminal, a third input terminal, an output terminal, a resistive device, an oscillation circuit and a pulse width modulation (PWM) circuit. Users may flexibly configure the multi-mode dimming circuit to operate in one of the three different dimming modes by varying the external devices and/or signals coupled to each of the first, second and third input terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventors: Bo Yu, Yuancheng Ren, Lei Du, Naixing Kuang, Zhijiang Yang
  • Patent number: 8129915
    Abstract: A series circuit comprising a diode and a resistance is connected in parallel to a filament, and a series circuit comprising a diode and a resistance is connected in parallel to a filament. The filaments are preheated by a preheating current supplied from secondary windings of a preheating transformer, via preheating capacitors. Detection circuits detect DC voltage components of the preheating capacitors. Comparators compare the DC voltage components of the preheating capacitors with a reference voltage. The comparators cause a control circuit to protect the inverter circuit if an abnormality of the filaments is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Naruo
  • Publication number: 20110241556
    Abstract: A method of controlling a Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) is disclosed, which enables the lamp to be dimmed during a quick-start mode in which the lamp current may be boosted. The method involves determining a boost value and a dimming value, and controlling the lamp power in dependence on the boost and dimming values. A dimming threshold may be set, below which (i.e. at dimmer output light levels) the boost function is disabled. Hysteresis may be included in the control, in order to avoid hopping between modes. A controller for use with a fluorescent lamp which is adapted to operate according to such a method and a fluorescent lamp using such a controller are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Peter Hubertus Franciscus Deurenberg, Wilhelmus Hinderikus Maria Langeslag, Henricus T. P. J. Van Elk, Dennis Jansen
  • Patent number: 7612504
    Abstract: An incandescent lamp includes a lamp voltage conversion circuit within the lamp and connected to a lamp terminal, where the voltage conversion circuit converts a first line voltage at the lamp terminal to a second RMS load voltage usable by a light emitting element of the lamp. The voltage conversion circuit includes a triac phase-controlled dimming circuit, which in turn includes a voltage controlled resistor that varies a resistance in the phase-controlled dimming circuit as the first voltage varies so as to maintain the second voltage substantially constant. The voltage conversion circuit may be an integrated circuit that is in the lamp base and connected between the lamp terminal and the light emitting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: OSRAM SYLVANIA Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew B. Ballenger, George B. Kendrick
  • Patent number: 7550930
    Abstract: The present invention is a lighting device for an electronic or electromechanical apparatus such as a timepiece of the wristwatch type. The invention includes a device displaying time-related or other information, this lighting device including a light source for lighting the display device. The lighting device is characterized in that the light source is also able to measure the intensity of the ambient light. The invention also concerns a method for controlling the lighting of an apparatus of the aforementioned type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Asulab S.A.
    Inventors: Romano Cristoni, Gian-Carlo Poli, Joachim Grupp
  • Patent number: 7053564
    Abstract: The invention relates to ballast for a discharge lamp (16), comprising a direct-current supply phase (2), semiconductor switches (10, 11), operated at a high-frequency clock frequency for modifying the direction of current through the discharge lamp (16), an ignition transformer (15), which can be supplied with the direct current of the direct-current supply phase (2) via a series capacitor (14) and a choke inductance (17) that is connected to an electrode of the discharge of the discharge lamp (16), said electrode not being connected to the ignition transformer (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: B & S Elektronische Geräte GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Klipstein, Norbert Unzner, Wilfried Brauckmann
  • Patent number: 7009346
    Abstract: An inverter is coupled to an EL lamp by a high pass filter including a series capacitor and a shunt resistor. The resistor is coupled in parallel with the EL lamp. The high pass filter has a time constant greater than 0.005 seconds and the capacitor has a capacitance at least ten times the capacitance of the EL lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: World Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Mahyar Vahabzadeh, Robert A. Kimball, William A. Coghlan
  • Patent number: 6894440
    Abstract: The present invention is a lighting device for an electronic or electromechanical apparatus such as a timepiece of the wristwatch type. The invention including a device displaying time-related or other information, this lighting device including a light source for lighting the display device. The lighting device is characterized in that the light source is also able to measure the intensity of the ambient light. The invention also concerns a method for controlling the lighting of an apparatus of the aforementioned type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Asulab S.A.
    Inventors: Romano Cristoni, Gian-Carlo Poli, Joachim Grupp
  • Patent number: 6495970
    Abstract: A lamp stand with multi-stage light modulation includes plural resistors annularly arranged to form a circular space. The resistors have terminals soldered on the outer walls of U-shaped contact blades, with an empty position terminal provided in the circular space. A light-modulating controller extends in the lamp stand, having a rotor formed with plural slopes on an outer wall for rotor copper strips to rest thereon. A trigger diode is connected to the gate of a triac AC switch and a capacitor is connected to the trigger diode and the paralleled terminals of the resistors and to the main terminals of the triac AC switch. The light-modulating controller is rotated to let the rotor copper strips contact the contact strips of the resistors to turn on power and charge the capacitor. Different resistance values change the breakdown speed of the DIAC and control the gate of the TRIAC to change the voltage effective value of the lamp, thus reaching a goal of light modulating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Sun Lite Sockets Industry Inc.
    Inventor: Wen Ho Yang
  • Patent number: 6448720
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement and control thereof for igniting a high intensity discharge (HID) lamp, for reducing the variation of the resonant ignition voltage under the parasitic capacitive loading condition, and for increased circuit stability. The high frequency ignition voltage is only applied to the lamp during an ignition phase. The variation of the magnitude of the resonant ignition voltage with respect to the parasitic capacitance at the lamp leads is minimized by inserting a damping resistor in series with the ignition resonant capacitor. In a normal operation after ignition, the charge and/or discharge current of the ignition resonant capacitor is bypassed through a bypass device instead of flowing through a current sense resistor, so that only a chopper current flows through a sensor by paralleling a relatively high impedance resistor with the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works R&D Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventor: Yiyoung Sun
  • Patent number: 6414446
    Abstract: A switching device intended for igniting and operating a high-pressure discharge lamp, provided with a switch-mode power supply (smps) for supplying a controlled current to the lamp, and with a pre-conditioner for feeding the smps. The pre-conditioner is provided with a storage capacitor. The switching device also includes an ignition circuit including a pulse capacitor and a switch for generating ignition-voltage pulses for igniting the lamp. The pulse capacitor, having a capacity of CF, is energized from the storage capacitor via an ohmic resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Markus Krijzer, Oscar Jan Deurloo
  • Patent number: 6191540
    Abstract: A power supply system for an automobile vehicle headlight discharge lamp, the system including a DC/DC converter with a capacitor at its output, a DC/AC converter powered by the voltage across said capacitor, and a module for generating a high-voltage breakdown pulse designed to be connected in series with said discharge lamp to the output of the DC/AC converter, wherein it further includes a module for heating the electrodes of the discharge lamp design to be connected in series with the discharge lamp and the high-voltage pulse generator module and adapted to deliver, after the high-voltage breakdown pulse, a decreasing voltage which, at the terminals of said discharge lamp, is added to the voltage across the capacitor at the output of the DC/DC converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Erick Herzberger, Jean-Marc Nicolaï
  • Patent number: 6072286
    Abstract: An auxiliary lighting control circuit and method for a lighting system having a HID lamp as the primary light source and an auxiliary light source for providing light when the HID lamp is extinguished or below full brightness but power remains available to the circuit. The circuit senses the HID lamp current and activates a relay to a conductive state using a solid state controller when the HID lamp current is below a predetermined current magnitude to effect the lighting of the auxiliary light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Advanced Lighting Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence M. Sears
  • Patent number: 5973608
    Abstract: An arrangement for controlling the activation of an electrical appliance. The arrangement utilizes a capacitive sensor to recognize the physical proximity of a user (e.g., a hand) to an internal capacitive sensing means. The capacitive change is applied as an input to an electrical control circuit so as to ultimately provide an electrical control signal to an associated electrical appliance. The arrangement does not require direct physical contact to activate any appliance, and may be used to control various power levels associated with a particular electrical appliance (e.g., light intensity for a "dimmer" switch, sound volume for an audio system, activation and trigger signals to an alarm system). The arrangement may be embedded within the wall of a structure (i.e., not visible) and still provide the capacitively-activated control function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Inventor: David S. McMahon
  • Patent number: 5869936
    Abstract: A strobe device according to the present invention includes: a main capacitor; and step-up means including at least one step-up capacitor, the at least one step-up capacitor being rapidly charged via a flash discharge tube in an ionization state, a charged voltage of the at least one step-up capacitor being superimposed on a charged voltage of the main capacitor and applied across the flash discharge tube at least via an insulated gate bipolar transistor and a restriction resistor coupled in series with the flash discharge tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: West Electric Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsumi Horinishi, Takanaru Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5866980
    Abstract: The spectral energy characteristic of a discharge lamp is controlled by changing the density of the fill substance. The spectral characteristic can be shifted while substantially maintaining its shape by changing the density of the fill. A sulfur or selenium containing discharge lamp which is operated at a pressure of at least about 1 atmosphere contains a low ionization potential substance in the fill. Characteristics which are improved are one or more of spatial color uniformity, extinguishing characteristics, and bulb starting reliability. Particular substances which are added to the fill are alkali metal containing substances, III B metal containing substances, and alkaline earth metal containing substances. When light is reflected back into the bulb, the light which is re-emitted is stronger in the higher wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Fusion Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: James T. Dolan, Michael G. Ury, Charles H. Wood
  • Patent number: 5543690
    Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit arrangement for operating a discharge lamp. According to the invention the series connection of a PTC thermistor V1 with a bi-directionally acting breakdown voltage component V2 is disposed parallel to the inductance L1 and/or the capacitor C1 in a load circuit which has a discharge lamp H1, an inductance L1 connected in series with the discharge lamp and a capacitor C1 disposed parallel to the discharge lamp H1, wherein the PTC thermistor V1 and the bi-directionally acting breakdown voltage component V2 are thermally coupled. The object of the invention is to provide a simple circuit arrangement for operating a discharge lamp which allows a substantially constant ignition of a discharge lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Prolux Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Erhard Bernicke, Klaus Rohr, Karl Eibisch
  • Patent number: 5387847
    Abstract: A ballast for a gas discharge lamp circuit has a d-c output which contains three series-connected diodes connected across the output terminals, a pair of capacitors connected from different respective nodes of the diodes to respective ones of the output terminals, and a resistor connected between two of the diodes. The resistor increases the circuit power factor to greater than 0.95.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventor: Peter N. Wood
  • Patent number: 5387849
    Abstract: A ballast circuit for a fluorescent lamp including a magnetic choke electrically connected between the lamp and a power supply and an electronic starter circuit electrically coupled across said lamp, which ballast circuit is configured to provide a power factor of at least 90%. To this end, for certain lamps a power factor correcting capacitance is electrically connected across the power supply. For other lamps, a power factor correcting resistance is coupled between the ballasting capacitance and inductor so that the inductor and ballasting capacitance close to resonance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Radionic Technology Incorporated
    Inventor: Sri Sridharan
  • Patent number: 5343125
    Abstract: To ensure ignition of a high-pressure discharge lamp, for example a metal vapor halogen high-pressure dicharge lamp which has an ignition circuit, and is operated by direct current from an inverter circuit controlled for pulse width modulation, current flow to the lamp is extended in time upon initial energization thereof so that an initial hot spot which forms on an electrode can remain hot to establish a stabilized arc. This extension of current flow can be obtained by an R/C circuit in parallel to the output or storage capacitor (C.sub.A) of the inverter circuit (FIG. 1) or by an NTC resistor (H) in series with the lamp, or by a resistor which is short-circuited by a relay contact as the lamp operates, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft feur elektrische Gluehlampen mbH
    Inventors: Franz Bernitz, Andreas Huber, Frank Hansmann
  • Patent number: 5159244
    Abstract: A starter circuit is supplied with 120 volt 60 Hz power, and is coupled to a gas discharge lamp having in an interior thereof a gas and two spaced electrodes. When the starter circuit applies to the electrodes a voltage in excess of a threshold voltage, the lamp transitions from a non-conductive state in which no visible light is emitted to a conductive state in which visible light is emitted. The starter circuit includes several voltage doubler circuits coupled in series with each other between the electrodes of the lamp to form a voltage multiplier circuit. When the lamp is in its non-conductive state, the voltage doubler circuits each output a substantially DC voltage which is twice the maximum potential of the 120 volt input signal so that the voltage multiplier as a whole applies to the electrodes a significant DC voltage in excess of the threshold voltage so that the lamp transitions from its non-conductive state to its conductive state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Inventor: Daniel A. Poulson
  • Patent number: 5146139
    Abstract: An inverter-type fluorescent lamp ballast is powered from the power line by way of a common and either of two (or more) different power leads. When powering the ballast by way of the common and the first one of these two power leads, the power provided to the ballast's fluorescent lamp load is relatively low; when powering the ballast by way of the common and the second one of these two power leads, the power provided to the ballasts's fluorescent lamp load is relatively high. In a lighting system, the power leads from each of several such ballasts are parallel-connected and controllably powered from the power line by way of a combination of two ordinary single-pole single-throw wall switches; such that when one of the two wall switches is in its ON-position, the amount of light provided is relatively low; but when the other one of the two wall switches is in its ON-position, the amount of light provided is relatively high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Inventor: Ole K. Nilssen
  • Patent number: 5118991
    Abstract: In an electron beam generator where the heating current for the cathode is transformed by an insulating transformer 7 disposed on the high-voltage insulator 4 of the beam head, the primary winding of this insulating transformer 7 being connected to ground potential, and where a single-pole high-voltage connection 2 and a single-pole high-voltage cable 2 connect the beam head 3 to a high-voltage generator 1, the high-voltage cable 2, at its terminal ends, has a protective resistor 10 corresponding to the surge impedance of the high-voltage cable 2 in order to reduce the damages to insulating and component parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Assignee: PTR Prazisionstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Fritz, Wolfgang Schwarz
  • Patent number: 4988923
    Abstract: A novel lighting equipment for providing bright illumination with limited surge, including a capacitor connected in parallel with an incandescent lamp, the capacitor having a capacitive reactance lower than the resistance of the filament at ambient temperature; an impedance having a time constant connected between the capacitor and an ac source; and means for rectifying the current from the ac source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Assignee: Ken Hayashibara
    Inventor: Kazumi Masaki
  • Patent number: 4961029
    Abstract: A discharge-lamp lighting device comprises a voltage generating circuit for generating a high-frequency voltage for lighting a discharge lamp, a self-oscillating device provided in the path of lamp current flowing through the discharge lamp for exciting the voltage generating circuit to self-oscillation, a direct current blocking element connected in series with the self-oscillating device for blocking the flow of a direct current in the self-oscillating device, and a bypass element connected in parallel with the direct current blocking element and the self-oscillating device for bypassing the direct current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1990
    Assignee: Toshiba Electric Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Keiichi Shimizu, Kenichi Inui, Nanjou Aoike
  • Patent number: 4914354
    Abstract: An improved, more energy efficient reactor-type ballasting circuit for fluorescent lamps includes an inductive ballasting coil for directly applying an AC line voltage to the cathodes of a lamp without an intermediate autotransformer and also includes a glow type thermal switch in series with a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistor for electrical connection across the cathodes of the lamp to conduct pre-heating current to the lamp cathodes. The PTC resistor will effectively remove the glow switch from the ballast circuit if the switch fails to open after an appropriate time delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Edward E. Hammer, Eugene Lemmers
  • Patent number: 4746841
    Abstract: A fluorescent lamp operating device having a power supply, a circuit for converting the output power from the power supply into a high-frequency power, a lighting circuit connected to a secondary side of a transformer of the high-frequency power converter circuit to light a fluorescent lamp, a circuit for preheating the filament of the fluorescent lamp, a switch circuit including diodes and at least one transistor connected in series with the fluorescent lamp in the lighting circuit, and a control circuit for turning off the transistor for a predetermined period when the power supply is turned on thereby turning off the lighting circuit to actuate the preheating circuit during this period. The control circuit turns on the transistor at the end of the predetermined period to thereby actuate the lighting circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1988
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Soichiro Ogawa
  • Patent number: 4723096
    Abstract: A power supply is provided for an arc discharge lamp (38) which includes a relatively low voltage high current power supply section and a high voltage starter circuit (10). The low voltage section includes a transformer (15), rectifier (24), variable resistor (26) and a bank of capacitors (28), while the starter circuit (10) comprises a plurality of diodes (D1 to D12) and capacitors (C1 to C12) connected as a Cockcroft-Walton multiplier. The starting circuit is effectively bypassed when the lamp arc is established and serves to automatically provide a high starting voltage to re-strike the lamp arc if the arc is extinguished by a power interruption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1988
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Bradley D. Leighty
  • Patent number: 4647817
    Abstract: To provide for reliable ignition of low-pressure discharge lamps, particularly compact fluorescent lamps, operated at high frequency, for example in the order of about 45 kHz, an ignition circuit is connected in parallel to the lamp and serially with the electrodes (16, 17) thereof, which comprises a limiting capacitor (19) and the parallel circuit of a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistor (20) and a starting capacitor (18). The two capacitors (18, 19), together with an inductance (13, 14) in the operating circuit of the lamp, and a further capacity formed by a blocking capacitor (15), after preheating of the lamp electrodes by current flowing through the initially cold PTC resistor, will cause voltage rise across the resonance capacitors (18, 19) which will cause ignition of the lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Assignee: Patent-Truehand Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Hans-Jurgen Fahnrich, Ulrich Roll, Eugen Statnic
  • Patent number: 4647820
    Abstract: In a circuit for an inductively stabilized discharge tube (1) provided with two preheatable electrodes (2, 3) the ends of one electrode (2) are connected via a first capacitor (22) and a second capacitor (24), respectively, to the corresponding ends of the other electrode (3). The second capacitor (24) remote from the supply is shunted by a PTC resistor (23). The discharge tube (1) and inter alia the PTC resistor (23) form part of a lamp unit. The discharge tube (1) ignites readily even at low ambient temperatures. In the lamp operating condition, the influence of the PTC resistor (23) is neglible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Hubertus M. J. Chermin, Jaap Rozenboom
  • Patent number: 4645981
    Abstract: For the glow discharge between a receptacle and a workpiece, the glow discharge path is connected in series with a first switch. A capacitor circuit is charged via the glow discharge path and two diodes. By closing a switch, the previously positive pole of the capacitor circuit is set to the zero potential, whereby the potential of the other pole is shifted negative. By closing a switch, the capacitor circuit is discharged through the glow discharge path while the first switch is closed. Upon the discharging of the capacitor circuit, the supply voltage continues to be present at the glow discharge path for the remaining pulse time. In the initial range, the voltage pulses have a pulse peak for ignition followed by a maintenance range, the height of which corresponds to the supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1987
    Inventor: Siegfried Stramke
  • Patent number: 4626745
    Abstract: A ballast circuit arrangement for providing a predetermined desired A.C. voltage to enhance the operation of the gas discharge tube serving as the main light source in a lighting unit of the type which also comprises an incandescent filament serving as a resistive element and a supplementary light source is disclosed. The circuit arrangement operates directly from an applied 220 volt, 50 Hz or 120 volt, 60 Hz alternating current (A.C.) voltage source. The circuit arrangement comprises a capacitor connected serially with both the incandescent filament and the gas discharge tube. If desired, the incandescent filament may be replaced with a resistive element. The value of the capacitor is selected so as to reduce the applied 220 volt, 50 Hz or 120 volt, 60 Hz A.C. source to a desired range for operating the circuit in a manner to develop a desired reduced voltage for operation of the gas discharge tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1986
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John M. Davenport, Pieter J. von Herrmann
  • Patent number: 4618803
    Abstract: A current limited strobe charging circuit in which the charging current is automatically limited during the time required to reform the primary storage capacitor after a long period of non-use without materially effecting the current flow and time required to subsequently recharge the storage capacitor after it has been reformed includes a positive temperature coefficient resistor serially connected therewith to switch from a low resistance mode of operation to a high resistance mode of operation as a result of its own internally generated I.sup.2 R heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1986
    Assignee: Polaroid Corporation
    Inventor: Herbert L. Hardy
  • Patent number: 4609849
    Abstract: Various embodiments of direct current (D.C.) ballasting circuits for low wattage high pressure sodium (HPS) vapor lamps are disclosed. In one ballast embodiment a negative going high voltage pulse is applied directly to the H.P.S. lamp cathode during the starting operation and the ballast circuit preferentially diverts a major portion of the HPS lamp current around a high-voltage transformer during normal operation so as to reduce the resistive heating of the transformer. In a second ballast embodiment, capacitors are arranged into voltage multiplying circuit for generating the high D.C. starting voltage along with diodes that reduce the power dissipation of the ballast circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1986
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Park French