Abstract: A lighting control system includes a plurality of light controllers. Each light controller contains a microprocessor-based intelligence. The plurality of light controllers form a distributed architecture. The microprocessor-based intelligence is operative to store, calculate, and execute complex lighting scenarios. The microprocessor-based intelligence executes a lighting control script during operation. The lighting control script is sufficiently detailed and the light controller is sufficiently intelligent so as to allow the light controller to control lighting without the necessity of a having a present external control architecture.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp electronic ballast includes a power factor correction flyback circuit and an inverter ballast circuit. The power factor correction flyback circuit is composed of a rectifier connected to a DC to DC flyback converter. The flyback converter includes a flyback transformer connected to a diode/capacitor combination. The flyback transformer is switched during operation to produce a flyback waveform that is rectified by the diode and results in a DC output at the capacitor. The inverter ballast circuit receives the DC output and converts the DC output to an AC signal for operating the flourescent lamp.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fluid flow control valve for regulating the flow of fluid, and a method for assembling the valve. The fluid flow control valve includes a housing having a generally spherical exterior portion sized to pivotally cooperate within a coupling oriented at an opening of a pressurized fluid duct. A control member is provided having a retaining member received within an outlet end of a central bore of the housing. The control member is provided with a knob for manual rotation. A closure member is threadably engaged within the housing or the control member and is fixed for axial translation relative to the other. The closure member is further adapted to sealingly engage with an inlet end of the housing central bore. Rotation of the control member provides axial displacement to the closure member for varying flow of fluid therethrough.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flame resistant LED construction. The flame resistant LED construction of this embodiment comprises a substrate, one or more LEDs that emits light mounted on the substrate, and an intumescent material adjacent to the LEDs. The positioning of the intumescent material is such that at least a portion of the light emitted from the LEDs is unobstructed. Moreover, a sufficient amount of the intumescent material is in proximity to the LEDs that a flame on the LEDs is extinguished by the expansion of the intumescent material. The present invention also provides an LED construction in which a sufficient amount of the intumescent material is in proximity to the LEDs such that a temperature greater than or equal to about 250° F. causes the intumescent material to expand and form an insulating char which at least partially encompasses the one or more LEDs. Also provide by the invention is a method for making the LED construction of the invention.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp ballast control circuit includes a ballast controller IC for driving a fluorescent lamp in a half-bridged topology and a control circuit. The control circuit receives an input signal and provides an output signal to the ballast controller IC. The control circuit further receives a feedback signal indicative of the fluorescent lamp current. The control circuit output signal is based on the input signal and the feedback signal. The fluorescent lamp ballast control circuit is used in combination with a fluorescent lamp ballast.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fluid flow control valve for regulating the flow of fluid, and a method for assembling the valve. The fluid flow control valve includes a housing having a generally spherical exterior portion sized to pivotally cooperate within a coupling oriented at an opening of a pressurized fluid duct. A control member is provided having a retaining member received within an outlet end of a central bore of the housing. The control member is provided with a knob for manual rotation. A closure member is threadably engaged within the housing or the control member and is fixed for axial translation relative to the other. The closure member is further adapted to sealingly engage with an inlet end of the housing central bore. Rotation of the control member provides axial displacement to the closure member for varying flow of fluid therethrough.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flame resistant LED construction. The flame resistant LED construction of this embodiment comprises a substrate, one or more LEDs that emits light mounted on the substrate, and an intumescent material adjacent to the LEDs. The positioning of the intumescent material is such that at least a portion of the light emitted from the LEDs is unobstructed. Moreover, a sufficient amount of the intumescent material is in proximity to the LEDs that a flame on the LEDs is extinguished by the expansion of the intumescent material. The present invention also provides an LED construction in which a sufficient amount of the intumescent material is in proximity to the LEDs such that a temperature greater than or equal to about 250° F. causes the intumescent material to expand and form an insulating char which at least partially encompasses the one or more LEDs. Also provide by the invention is a method for making the LED construction of the invention.

Abstract: A ballast for an arc discharge lamp load switches high voltage DC at a high frequency based on a low frequency control signal. The switched high voltage is then filtered to remove effects of the high frequency switching. Switching may be accomplished with a high voltage, AC voltage controlled current source generating a high frequency, high voltage substantially rectangular signal at a source output by switching the high voltage DC signal with the low frequency time varying reference signal.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp electronic ballast includes a DC to DC flyback converter, a commutator circuit, and a current sensor. The flyback converter includes a flyback transformer connected to a diode/capacitor combination, and includes a switch used to produce a flyback waveform that is rectified by the diode and results in a high voltage DC output at the capacitor. The commutator circuit receives the high voltage DC output and converts the high voltage DC output to an AC signal for operating the fluorescent lamp. The current sensor senses a DC lamp current from the output of the flyback converter and provides a current sense signal to the flyback converter. The flyback converter switch is controlled based on the current sense signal. Preferred ballasts advantageously provide a continuously dimmable lamp load, a universal type ballast for a wide range of lamp loads and combinations, and programmed start.

Abstract: Problems in fluorescent lamp operation are determined by detecting an increase in voltage on a flyback transformer secondary due to the open circuit flyback effect. A ballast implementing the present invention supplies alternating power to ignite and maintain each lamp. DC power is provided to each filament from a multiple output flyback converter. A voltage level is sensed across at least one filament of each lamp. A determination is made that at least one sensed voltage level exceeds a threshold based on the flyback open circuit voltage.

Abstract: A variable color filter for fluorescent lamps has a color tube supporting colored filter strips disposed longitudinally along the color tube so that the strips are circumferentially adjacent to each other. A motor rotates the color tube inside a mask so that an aperture in the mask limits emission to light filtered by only a circumferential portion of the color tube. A controller positions the color tube in relation to the aperture to achieve a desired coloring of light emitted by the lamp tube.

Abstract: A ballast for an arc discharge lamp load switches high voltage DC at a high frequency based on a low frequency control signal. The switched high voltage is then filtered to remove effects of the high frequency switching.

Abstract: Problems in fluorescent lamp operation are determined by detecting an increase in voltage on a flyback transformer secondary due to the open circuit flyback effect. A ballast implementing the present invention supplies alternating power to ignite and maintain each lamp. DC power is provided to each filament from a multiple output flyback converter. A voltage level is sensed across at least one filament of each lamp. A determination is made that at least one sensed voltage level exceeds a threshold based on the flyback open circuit voltage.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp electronic ballast for use with fluorescent lamps of the preheat or heated filament type is provided. The electronic ballast includes a multiple output DC to DC converter with a primary winding and a plurality of secondary windings for connecting to a plurality of lamp filaments. Each secondary winding is connected to a lamp filament through a diode/capacitor combination with a current transformer primary located in a high frequency loop. A sensing circuit is connected to a current transformer secondary. A controller is connected to the sensing circuit and controls the filament power supply. Advantages include the ability to predict lamp end of life, detect disconnected filaments and other problems that appear as an open circuit such as loose or misinstalled lamps and prevent arcing, detect smoldering of a heavily carbonized lamp holder, or detect short circuits.

Abstract: A fault protection circuit for fluorescent lamp ballasts cuts off ballast power to the lamp in response to fast rise-time changes but not slower changes in either current output or voltage output of the ballast. The fault protection circuit is compatible with different ballast circuit topologies and features a floating reference level which renders the circuit insensitive to the lamp load wattage, making the circuit particularly useful in so-called universal ballasts.

Abstract: A modular ballast system particularly suited for strip lighting installations has ballast modules on opposite ends of each fluorescent lamp tube, each module having lamp connectors for receiving the end pins of the fluorescent lamp, capacitance and inductance elements connected to the lamp connectors in each module, and jumper conductors interconnecting the capacitance and inductance elements of the modules to define a bridge type ballast circuit for powering the fluorescent lamp. Each ballast module can be made small and lightweight with a single inductor and capacitor forming two legs of a four leg bridge type ballast. Pairs of ballast modules can be connected back-to-back to transmit electrical power without external wiring to successive fluorescent lamps along the strip.

Abstract: A ballast circuit for driving fluorescent lamps characterized by a minimum of components has a power transformer constructed to present a source impedance integrated with the transformer and in series with the lamp load sufficient to regulate the load current to within 10% for a selected maximum wattage fluorescent lamp load, such as 18 or 36 watt, and any lesser fluorescent lamp loads. The transformer has a high voltage secondary winding with a reflected impedance at least 6.0 times greater than the reflected impedance of the selected worst case fluorescent lamp wattage load. The integrated magnetics design of this ballast also provides passive short circuit protection, filament current reduction after lamp strike, and cold temperature start-up with a minimum of circuit components.

Abstract: A relatively high efficiency, relatively light weight, relatively small electronic ballast or AC power controller for use in aircraft and elsewhere for controlling a fluorescent lamp load or other load includes an EMI filter, a multi-purpose transformer, a power conversion stage and a control circuitry stage. The ballast or controller operates to increase or decrease the voltage of the incoming sine wave AC voltage through a charging path for an energy storage inductor choke cooperating with an energy storage capacitor wherein the charging path for the capacitor is different from the discharge path of the capacitor to isolate the load from the charging of the capacitor and thus to provide an output to the load which is independent of the charging path and which is out of phase with the incoming waveform.

Abstract: A simple and compact magnetic ballast for powering a wide range of fluorescent lamp load Wattage such as 14 Watt to 60 Watt without need for modification to the ballast unit. Arc current to the lamp load is supplied through a saturable reactor including a power winding on a magnetic core. Arc current delivered to the lamp load is a function of magnetic saturation of the core determined by a control current through a control winding on the core. In one application, multiple fluorescent lighting fixtures of different wattages illuminating the interior of an aircraft cabin are each powered by essentially identical ballast units for easier installation and maintenance of the cabin lighting.