Patents Represented by Attorney Stanely C. Corwin
  • Patent number: 5367228
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a control circuit for providing a substantially constant current to a high-pressure sodium lamp. The control circuit preferably comprises a circuit for providing a rectified voltage signal, and a ballast having first and second contacts to operatively connect the lamp therebetween. The ballast generates and controls a peak current through the lamp based on the value of a controlled voltage. The control circuit further comprises a current sensor to sense the amount of current through the lamp, and a buck-boost voltage control circuit to control the value of the controlled voltage in order to provide a substantially constant peak current through the lamp based on the amount of current sensed by the current sensor. By controlling the amount of voltage seen by the lamp, the buck-boost voltage control circuit controls the amount of current through the lamp, thereby providing constant color temperature regardless of the fluctuations in lamp impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David J. Kachmarik, Louis R. Nerone, Douglas M. Rutan