Patents by Inventor Alfons Lechner

Alfons Lechner 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).

  • Patent number: 10219334
    Abstract: According to the present disclosure, a circuit arrangement for operating semiconductor light sources includes: a power input for inputting an AC input voltage, an output having a first output terminal, and a second output terminal, which is designed to connect a string of semiconductor light sources, a control input for controlling the operation of the circuit arrangement with a control signal, a rectifier circuit for converting the AC input voltage into a rectified voltage, a converter circuit for transforming the rectified voltage into a current which is suitable for the semiconductor light sources, a first switch arranged between the converter circuit and the output, for the switching of the current through the semiconductor light sources, and a first diode arranged between the first switch and the output, or between the converter circuit and the first switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: OSRAM GMBH
    Inventors: Olaf Busse, Alfons Lechner, Siegfried Mayer, Horst Werni, Christof Schwarzfischer
  • Publication number: 20180035499
    Abstract: According to the present disclosure, a circuit arrangement for operating semiconductor light sources includes: a power input for inputting an AC input voltage, an output having a first output terminal, and a second output terminal, which is designed to connect a string of semiconductor light sources, a control input for controlling the operation of the circuit arrangement with a control signal, a rectifier circuit for converting the AC input voltage into a rectified voltage, a converter circuit for transforming the rectified voltage into a current which is suitable for the semiconductor light sources, a first switch arranged between the converter circuit and the output, for the switching of the current through the semiconductor light sources, and a first diode arranged between the first switch and the output, or between the converter circuit and the first switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Olaf Busse, Alfons Lechner, Siegfried Mayer, Horst Werni, Christof Schwarzfischer
  • Patent number: 8134297
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic ballast for discharge lamps (LA) which have preheatable electrodes (E1, E2). The electronic ballast has a measuring apparatus (M), which is designed to measure, during the preheating process, a variable, which is correlated with the electrode temperature increased by the preheating, of at least one of the electrodes (E1, E2) of a connected discharge lamp (LA), and a control apparatus (C), which is designed to match the electrode temperature, during the preheating process, in response to the measurement by adjusting an operational parameter of the electronic ballast. Furthermore, the electronic ballast is designed to detect cross discharges or a sufficient operating temperature of one of the electrodes (E1, E2) and possibly to ignite the discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Osram AG
    Inventors: Olaf Busse, Markus Heckmann, Reinhard Lecheler, Alfons Lechner, Siegfried Mayer, Thomas Pollischansky, Bernd Rudolph, Bernhard Schemmel, Kay Schmidtmann, Harald Schmitt, Thomas Siegmund, Arwed Storm, Horst Werni
  • Patent number: 7786683
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a circuit arrangement for operating at least one electric lamp and at least one LED including: an inverter having a bridge circuit having at least one first bridge transistor and one second bridge transistor arranged in series with one another, a center point of the bridge circuit being defined between the first and second bridge transistors; a lamp supply unit for supplying the electric lamp with energy from the bridge circuit, which includes a supply line with an inductance, via which the center point (M) of the bridge circuit is coupled to a first connection for the electric lamp; the lamp supply unit including an LED supply unit, which is designed to supply the at least one LED with energy. Moreover, it relates to an operating method for at least one electric lamp and at least one LED using such a circuit arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: OSRAM Gesellschaft mit beschraenkter Haftung
    Inventors: Olaf Busse, Markus Heckmann, Reinhard Lecheler, Alfons Lechner, Siegfried Mayer, Thomas Pollischansky, Bernd Rudolph, Bernhard Schemmel, Kay Schmidtmann, Harald Schmitt, Thomas Siegmund, Arwed Storm, Horst Werni
  • Publication number: 20100156299
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic ballast for discharge lamps (LA) which have preheatable electrodes (E1, E2). The electronic ballast has a measuring apparatus (M), which is designed to measure, during the preheating process, a variable, which is correlated with the electrode temperature increased by the preheating, of at least one of the electrodes (E1, E2) of a connected discharge lamp (LA), and a control apparatus (C), which is designed to match the electrode temperature, during the preheating process, in response to the measurement by adjusting an operational parameter of the electronic ballast. Furthermore, the electronic ballast is designed to detect cross discharges or a sufficient operating temperature of one of the electrodes (E1, E2) and possibly to ignite the discharge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Olaf Busse, Markus Heckmann, Reinhard Lecheler, Alfons Lechner, Siegfried Mayer, Thomas Pollischansky, Bernd Rudolph, Bernhard Schemmel, Kay Schmidtmann, Harald Schmitt, Thomas Siegmund, Arwed Storm, Horst Werni
  • Patent number: 7352079
    Abstract: An electronic ballast for a lamp has a DC voltage connection; a switching unit having a supply voltage with the DC voltage connection being coupled thereto, and a first capacitor coupled between the supply voltage connection and a reference potential; an AC voltage connection, at which a voltage can be made available which has at least one AC component. The series circuit includes a first nonreactive resistor and a first diode, as a second nonreactive resistor coupled between the AC voltage connection and the supply voltage connection, a connection point between the first diode and the second nonreactive resistor, and a second capacitor coupled between the connection point and the reference potential. The first capacitor and the second nonreactive resistor are dimensioned such that the average voltage drop across the second nonreactive resistor is greater than or equal to the average voltage drop across the first capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellscaft für Elektrische Glühlampen mbH
    Inventors: Markus Heckmann, Alfons Lechner, Thomas Siegmund
  • Patent number: 7327094
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a circuit arrangement for operating at least one electric lamp (LP) having a drive circuit (16), which has at least one terminal for a system voltage (UN) on the input side and at least one terminal for the at least one electric lamp (LP) on the output side; the drive circuit (16) having a control unit (18) and a step-up converter having a step-up converter inductor (L2) and a switch (S1), and the control unit (18) being designed to operate the step-up converter in a discontinuous mode, in which the current (IN) through the step-up converter inductor (L2) has gaps, the duration (?t) of these gaps being varied. It also relates to an operating method for at least one electric lamp (LP) using such a circuit arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft fur Elektrische Gluhlampen mbH
    Inventors: Olaf Busse, Markus Heckmann, Reinhard Lecheler, Alfons Lechner, Siegfried Mayer, Thomas Pollischansky, Bernd Rudolph, Bernhard Schemmel, Kay Schmidtmann, Harald Schmitt, Thomas Siegmund, Arwed Storm, Horst Werni
  • Patent number: 7309963
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic ballast for discharge lamps, for example low-pressure discharge lamps, having a converter having a switching element and a two-part lamp inductor which is connected upstream and downstream of the discharge lamp. An electronic ballast according to the invention has a smoothing circuit which reduces voltage jumps caused by switching operations in the converter at the lamp terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft für elektrische Glühlampen mbH
    Inventors: Olaf Busse, Markus Heckmann, Reinhard Lecheler, Alfons Lechner, Siegfried Mayer, Thomas Pollischansky, Bernd Rudolph, Bernhard Schemmel, Kay Schmidtmann, Harald Schmitt, Thomas Siegmund, Arwed Storm, Horst Werni
  • Publication number: 20070210719
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a circuit arrangement for operating at least one electric lamp and at least one LED including: an inverter having a bridge circuit having at least one first bridge transistor and one second bridge transistor arranged in series with one another, a center point of the bridge circuit being defined between the first and second bridge transistors; a lamp supply unit for supplying the electric lamp with energy from the bridge circuit, which includes a supply line with an inductance, via which the center point (M) of the bridge circuit is coupled to a first connection for the electric lamp; the lamp supply unit including an LED supply unit, which is designed to supply the at least one LED with energy. Moreover, it relates to an operating method for at least one electric lamp and at least one LED using such a circuit arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Inventors: Olaf Busse, Markus Heckmann, Reinhard Lecheler, Alfons Lechner, Siegfried Mayer, Thomas Pollischansky, Bernd Rudolph, Bernhard Schemmel, Kay Schmidtmann, Harald Schmitt, Thomas Siegmund, Arwed Storm, Horst Werni
  • Publication number: 20070018592
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a circuit arrangement for operating at least one electric lamp (LP) having a drive circuit (16), which has at least one terminal for a system voltage (UN) on the input side and at least one terminal for the at least one electric lamp (LP) on the output side; the drive circuit (16) having a control unit (18) and a step-up converter having a step-up converter inductor (L2) and a switch (S1), and the control unit (18) being designed to operate the step-up converter in a discontinuous mode, in which the current (IN) through the step-up converter inductor (L2) has gaps, the duration (?t) of these gaps being varied. It also relates to an operating method for at least one electric lamp (LP) using such a circuit arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Publication date: January 25, 2007
    Inventors: Olaf Busse, Markus Heckmann, Reinhard Lecheler, Alfons Lechner, Siegfried Mayer, Thomas Pollischansky, Bernd Rudolph, Bernhard Schemmel, Kay Schmidtmann, Harald Schmitt, Thomas Siegmund, Arwed Storm, Horst Werni
  • Publication number: 20060290299
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement for operating at least one LED and at least one electric lamp having at least one first filament and one second filament, includes first and second terminals for the corresponding filaments; and a lamp supply unit supplying power to the electric lamp; it also including an LED supply unit coupled to the second terminal for the second filament of the electric lamp and designed to supply power to the at least one LED. Also described is an operating method for the circuit arrangement operating at least one LED and at least one electric lamp as described. The circuit arrangement also includes an LED supply unit, which is coupled to the second terminal for the second filament of the electric lamp and supplies power to the at least one LED.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Publication date: December 28, 2006
    Inventors: Olaf Busse, Markus Heckmann, Reinhard Lecheler, Alfons Lechner, Siegfried Mayer, Thomas Pollischansky, Bernd Rudolph, Bernhard Schemmel, Kay Schmidtmann, Harald Schmitt, Thomas Siegmund, Arwed Storm, Horst Werni
  • Publication number: 20060284572
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic ballast for discharge lamps, for example low-pressure discharge lamps, having a converter having a switching element and a two-part lamp inductor which is connected upstream and downstream of the discharge lamp. An electronic ballast according to the invention has a smoothing circuit which reduces voltage jumps caused by switching operations in the converter at the lamp terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Publication date: December 21, 2006
    Inventors: Olaf Busse, Markus Heckmann, Reinhard Lecheler, Alfons Lechner, Siegfried Mayer, Thomas Pollischansky, Bernd Rudolph, Bernhard Schemmel, Kay Schmidtmann, Harald Schmitt, Thomas Siegmund, Arwed Storm, Horst Werni
  • Publication number: 20060232225
    Abstract: An electronic ballast for a lamp has a DC voltage connection; a switching unit having a supply voltage with the DC voltage connection being coupled thereto, and a first capacitor coupled between the supply voltage connection and a reference potential; an AC voltage connection, at which a voltage can be made available which has at least one AC component. The series circuit includes a first nonreactive resistor and a first diode, as a second nonreactive resistor coupled between the AC voltage connection and the supply voltage connection, a connection point between the first diode and the second nonreactive resistor, and a second capacitor coupled between the connection point and the reference potential. The first capacitor and the second nonreactive resistor are dimensioned such that the average voltage drop across the second nonreactive resistor is greater than or equal to the average voltage drop across the first capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Publication date: October 19, 2006
    Applicant: PATENT-TREUHAND-GESELLSCHAFT FUR ELEKTRISCHE GLUHLAMPEN MBH
    Inventors: Markus Heckmann, Alfons Lechner, Thomas Siegmund
  • Patent number: 6788001
    Abstract: In a lighting system which includes an electronic operating device and a gas discharge lamp with filaments, one filament terminal is respectively connected to an impedance network. The impedance network has an impedance function with a zero point at the frequency f1. For preheating purposes, the electronic operating device outputs a voltage whose frequency is close to the frequency f1. As a result, the voltage across the lamp is below the non-starting voltage during preheating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft fuer Elektrische Gluehlampen mbH
    Inventor: Alfons Lechner
  • Publication number: 20020050797
    Abstract: In a lighting system which includes an electronic operating device and a gas discharge lamp with filaments, one filament terminal is respectively connected to an impedance network. The impedance network has an impedance function with a zero point at the frequency f1. For preheating purposes, the electronic operating device outputs a voltage whose frequency is close to the frequency f1. As a result, the voltage across the lamp is below the non-starting voltage during preheating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Applicant: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft fuer elektrische Gluehlampen mbH
    Inventor: Alfons Lechner