Patents by Inventor Bernhard Schemmel

Bernhard Schemmel 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: 8558459
    Abstract: An electronic ballast for an electrical lamp (2) provided with a first (21) and a second filament (22), includes a heating device which is used to heat the filaments (21, 22) and includes a resonance circuit (5), and an evaluation unit (11) designed for the evaluation of at least one measuring value of an electrical parameter during pre-determinable adjustments of operating conditions of the resonance circuit (5). The number of filaments (21, 22) of the electrical lamp (2) in electrical contact with the electronic ballast (1) can be identified according to the measuring value, and the electrical lamp (2) can be switched on by the electronic ballast (1) according to the identified number. A method for operating an electrical lamp by an electronic ballast is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Osram Gesellschaft mit Beschraenkter Haftung
    Inventors: Olaf Busse, Bernhard Schemmel
  • Patent number: 8319446
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a circuit for driving a fluorescent lamp is provided. The circuit may include a half bridge including a first switch and a second switch; a drive unit for driving the first switch and the second switch, it being possible for a predetermined state to be established using the drive unit, and it being possible for the driving of the first and the second switch to be modulated as a result of the predetermined state using the drive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Osram AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Hierl, Thomas Pollischansky, Bernhard Schemmel, Harald Schmitt, Raphael Stocker, Arwed Storm
  • 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: 7863830
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic ballast device for operating an electric lamp (2), comprising a first (21) and a second lamp filament (22), wherein the lamp filaments (21, 22) are electrically connected to a heating circuit (3) during a pre-warming phase for the electric lamp (2) said heating circuit (3) being of such a form that the heating current generated by the heating circuit (3) during an operational phase of the electric lamp (2) amounts to between 20% and 60% of the lamp current of said electric lamp (2). The invention further relates to a method for operation of an electric lamp with an electronic ballast device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: OSRAM Gesellschaft mit beschraenkter Haftung
    Inventors: Bernhard Schemmel, Kay Schmidtmann
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20100109554
    Abstract: An illumination device includes an integrated electronic ballast and a luminaire connecting terminal, that has a terminal housing, wherein there is integrated in the terminal housing an inrush current limiting circuit that is designed such that when the luminaire is switched on it prevents excessively large inrush currents by a voltage drop in the inrush current limiting circuit during the switched on phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: OSRAM GESELLSCHAFT MIT BESCHRAENKTER HAFTUNG
    Inventors: Reinhard Lecheler, Siegfried Mayer, Bernhard Schemmel
  • Publication number: 20100102739
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a circuit for driving a fluorescent lamp is provided. The circuit may include a half bridge including a first switch and a second switch; a drive unit for driving the first switch and the second switch, it being possible for a predetermined state to be established using the drive unit, and it being possible for the driving of the first and the second switch to be modulated as a result of the predetermined state using the drive unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: OSRAM Gesellschaft mit beschraenkter Haftung
    Inventors: Wolfgang Hierl, Thomas Pollischansky, Bernhard Schemmel, Harald Schmitt, Raphael Stocker, Arwed Storm
  • Publication number: 20090267518
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic ballast device for operating an electric lamp (2), comprising a first (21) and a second lamp filament (22), wherein the lamp filaments (21, 22) are electrically connected to a heating circuit (3) during a pre-warming phase for the electric lamp (2) said heating circuit (3) being of such a form that the heating current generated by the heating circuit (3) during an operational phase of the electric lamp (2) amounts to between 20% and 60% of the lamp current of said electric lamp (2). The invention further relates to a method for operation of an electric lamp with an electronic ballast device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: OSRAM GESELLCHAFT MIT BESCHRAENKTER HAFTUNG
    Inventors: Bernhard Schemmel, Kay Schmidtmann
  • Publication number: 20090096390
    Abstract: An electronic ballast for an electrical lamp (2) provided with a first (21) and a second filament (22), includes a heating device which is used to heat the filaments (21, 22) and includes a resonance circuit (5), and an evaluation unit (11) designed for the evaluation of at least one measuring value of an electrical parameter during pre-determinable adjustments of operating conditions of the resonance circuit (5). The number of filaments (21, 22) of the electrical lamp (2) in electrical contact with the electronic ballast (1) can be identified according to the measuring value, and the electrical lamp (2) can be switched on by the electronic ballast (1) according to the identified number. A method for operating an electrical lamp by an electronic ballast is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: OSRAM GESELLSCHAFT MIT BESCHRANKTER HAFTUNG
    Inventors: Olaf Busse, Bernhard Schemmel
  • 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: 20040183450
    Abstract: The invention intends to improve the determination of the resonant frequency of a resonant circuit, in particular of a heating circuit for a discharge lamp. For this purpose, the frequency of a supply voltage for the resonant circuit is varied within a predetermined frequency range. The voltage or the current across/in the resonant circuit are measured as a function of the varied frequency. The predetermined frequency range is run through in both directions, in each case a maximum for the measured voltage or the measured current being established. The resonant frequency is preferably calculated from the two maxima by averaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Applicant: PATENT-TREUHAND-GESELLSCHAFT FUR ELEKTRISCHE GLUHLAMPEN mbH
    Inventors: Olaf Busse, Bernhard Schemmel
  • Patent number: 6753659
    Abstract: An operating circuit for a discharge lamp (LP) having preheatable electrodes includes a device (C14, T11, T12, T13, G) for preheating the electrodes. The device includes a resonant circuit (C14, T11) which oscillates during preheating. During operation, the operating circuit produces an AC voltage having a frequency that is moved through a frequency range, records the response of the resonant circuit (C14, T11) by measuring an electrical variable (UC14), and identifies the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit (C14, T11) from the electrical variable (UC14), and preheats the electrodes by setting the frequency of the AC voltage to the resonant frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft für elektrische Glühlampen mbH
    Inventors: Olaf Busse, Bernhard Schemmel, Michael Weirich
  • Patent number: 6657403
    Abstract: A method and circuit arrangement for operating a fluorescent lamp (LA), comprising a half-bridge arrangement (12) whose output signal can be fed to a load circuit (LK; 16), it being possible to connect a fluorescent lamp (LA) with filament electrodes (W1, W2) to the load circuit (LK; 16), a preheating device (L21, L22, CR) for preheating the filament electrodes (W1, W2) of the fluorescent lamp (LA), and a power determining device (20) for determining a preheating power value that represents a measure of the power that is converted in the filament electrodes (W1, W2) during preheating, wherein the power determining device (20) can be used to determine the power flowing into the load circuit (LK; 16) during preheating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Patent Treuhand Gesellschaft fur Elektrische Gluhlampen mbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Schemmel, Michael Weirich
  • Publication number: 20030122499
    Abstract: The invention relates to an operating circuit for a low-pressure discharge lamp LP, in which the lamp electrodes can be preheated by means of a resonant circuit C14, T11. In order to determine the resonant frequency accurately and to establish the lamp type being used, a frequency range is moved through at the start of operation and the voltage is measured on a primary winding T11 of a preheating transformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Applicant: PATENT-TREUHAND-GESELLSCHAFT FUR ELEKTRISCH GLUHLAMPEN MBH, Munchen, Germany
    Inventors: Olaf Busse, Bernhard Schemmel, Michael Weirich