Abstract: An electronic ballast (200) includes a rectifier circuit (20), an energy storage inductor (38), a power switch (58), a control circuit (50) for driving the power switch (58), a clamp diode (46), a voltage clamping capacitor (54), a bulk capacitor (34), and an output circuit (70) for providing power to one or more fluorescent lamps (100). In a preferred embodiment, the rectifier circuit (20) includes a full-wave diode bridge (22) and a high frequency filter capacitor (24), and the output circuit (70) has a resonant inductor (72), a resonant capacitor (82), and a dc blocking capacitor (88). The ballast (200) provides power factor correction and high frequency power for fluorescent lamps, but requires only a single power switch (58) and a single energy storage inductor (38).

Abstract: A housing for use with a ballast for powering one or more fluorescent lamps. In a preferred embodiment, the housing includes a cover (48) and a base (10). The cover (48) has at least two fingers (80), where each finger (80) includes a mating portion (86). The base (10) has at least two corresponding finger ports (100), each with a guide-lock structure (102) for guiding insertion of the mating portion (86) of the finger (80) into the finger port (100) and for securely locking the finger (80) in place when the mating portion (86) is inserted into the finger port (100).

Abstract: An energy monitoring and control system (10) for use with a conventional AC source (12) having a hot wire and a neutral wire (28). The energy monitoring and control system (10) includes a control station (14) and a number of controllable loads (20). The control station (14) is coupled in series with the hot wire of the AC source and is physically located between the AC source (12) and the loads (20). The individual loads are connected in parallel with each other and are coupled to the AC surce (12) and the control station (14). The control station (14) can communicate with the loads in various ways, a preferred scheme being a power-line communication method. Each of the loads is equipped with circuitry for receiving and executing commands sent by the control station (14). The control station (14) can receive information from the loads (20) by observing the AC supply current drawn by the loads (20).

Abstract: A mounting for use with a ballast for powering one or more fluorescent lamps. The mounting includes a base (10), a back plate (12), and a lock structure comprising a male member (18) and a female member (20) for looking the base (10) to the back plate (12). The base (10) has at least one key (16) extending away from the base (10), and the back plate (12) has at least one key port (22) that is adapted to receive the key (16) and is configured to allow the key (16) to be positionally adjusted with respect to the back plate (12). In a preferred embodiment, the mounting has two keys (14, 16), two key ports (22, 28), and a cover (48).