Abstract: A dimmable induction RF fluorescent lamp comprising a dimming circuit enabling the induction RF fluorescent lamp to dim in response to a signal from an external dimming circuit, and having a main mercury amalgam having a vapor pressure at room temperature which is higher than the vapor pressure of the mercury amalgam formed on the flag.

Abstract: An RF fluorescent lamp, comprising a bulbous vitreous portion of the RF fluorescent lamp comprising a vitreous envelope filled with a working gas mixture, a power coupler to induce an alternating electric field within the vitreous envelope, an electronic ballast, and a mercury amalgam accommodating structure mounted within the lamp envelope and adapted to absorb power from the electric field to rapidly heat and vaporize an amalgam of mercury to rapidly illuminate the lamp envelope during a turn-on phase of the RF fluorescent lamp, wherein the structure is comprised of a substrate material coated with a mixture of indium and gold.

Abstract: An induction RF fluorescent lamp having a bulbous vitreous portion of the induction RF fluorescent light bulb including a lamp envelope filled with a working gas mixture. The lamp includes a power coupler and an electronic ballast. A first metallic structure is attached to a cavity wall and extends outwardly radially therefrom and within the lamp envelope outside a re-entrant cavity including mercury. The first metallic structure is mounted within the lamp envelope and adapted to absorb power from the electric field and induce discharge during a turn-on phase of the induction RF fluorescent lamp in a manner sufficient to rapidly heat and vaporize the mercury and promote rapid luminous development during the turn-on phase of the induction RF fluorescent lamp.

Abstract: A dimmable induction RF fluorescent light bulb comprising a power coupler with reduced extraneous electromagnetic radiation wherein a dimming facility utilizes burst-mode dimming that periodically interrupts the high frequency voltage and current to the power coupler with an off period and an on period in order to reduce the power being delivered to the power coupler wherein the off period is shorter than the time required for an electron density of the discharge within the lamp envelope to substantially decrease.

Abstract: A processor controlled induction RF fluorescent lamp, where the control processor runs a load control algorithm at least for switching the electrical load for connection to an external dimming device, the lamp comprising a vitreous envelope filled with an ionizable gas mixture; a power coupler comprising at least one winding of an electrical conductor; and an electronic ballast providing appropriate voltage and current to the power coupler.

Abstract: An RF fluorescent lamp, comprising a bulbous vitreous portion of the RF fluorescent lamp comprising a vitreous envelope filled with a working gas mixture, a power coupler to induce an alternating electric field within the vitreous envelope, an electronic ballast, and a mercury amalgam accommodating structure mounted within the lamp envelope and adapted to absorb power from the electric field to rapidly heat and vaporize an amalgam of mercury to rapidly illuminate the lamp envelope during a turn-on phase of the RF fluorescent lamp, wherein the structure is comprised of a substrate material coated with a mixture of indium and gold.

Abstract: An electronic ballast for driving a gas discharge lamp includes an EMI filter, a bridge rectifier coupled to a DC bus without a conventional electrolytic capacitor, a passive valley fill circuit built as a network having 4 charge/discharge energy storage capacitors and 9 diodes (4C9C), and a resonant DC to AC high frequency inverter for powering gas discharge lamp. The 4C9D circuit divides the rectified peak voltage by four and the low output voltage of the circuit is used to provide continuous lamp operation. The result is a ballast having substantially improved power factor, total harmonic distortion, and current crest factor. The electronic ballast is provided with a dimming capability from a TRIAC based wall dimmer.

Abstract: An apparatus for powering and TRIAC dimming of a gas discharge lamp includes an electronic ballast for powering a gas discharge lamp from a TRIAC based dimmer connected to an AC line, an EMI filter for protecting the AC line from EMI generated by the ballast and the lamp, a DC bus without a smoothing electrolytic capacitor, a resonant DC-to-AC inverter connected to the DC bus for powering the gas discharge lamp with a high frequency current, wherein an auxiliary DC-to-DC power supply input is connected to the DC bus and a first resonant tank having in series a first resonant inductor and a first resonant capacitor, wherein the gas discharge lamp is connected in parallel to the resonant capacitor.

Abstract: An apparatus for powering and TRIAC dimming of a gas discharge lamp includes an electronic ballast for powering a gas discharge lamp from a TRIAC based dimmer connected to an AC line, an EMI filter for protecting the AC line from EMI generated by the ballast and the lamp, a DC bus without a smoothing electrolytic capacitor, a resonant DC-to-AC inverter connected to the DC bus for powering the gas discharge lamp with a high frequency current, wherein an auxiliary DC-to-DC power supply input is connected to the DC bus and a first resonant tank having in series a first resonant inductor and a first resonant capacitor, wherein the gas discharge lamp is connected in parallel to the resonant capacitor.

Abstract: An electronic ballast for driving a gas discharge lamp includes an EMI filter, a bridge rectifier coupled to a DC bus without a conventional electrolytic capacitor, a passive valley fill circuit built as a network having 4 charge/discharge energy storage capacitors and 9 diodes (4C9C), and a resonant DC to AC high frequency inverter for powering gas discharge lamp. The 4C9D circuit divides the rectified peak voltage by four and the low output voltage of the circuit is used to provide continuous lamp operation. The result is a ballast having substantially improved power factor, total harmonic distortion, and current crest factor. The electronic ballast is provided with a dimming capability from a TRIAC based wall dimmer.

Abstract: Power line current fed power supplies producing stable load currents and related methods are described. The power supplies may include a current transformer coupled to an inductive network. In some embodiments, the current transformer operates in saturation mode. In some embodiments, a substantially constant DC current is generated having a magnitude that remains substantially constant despite variations of the magnitude of AC current in the power line.

Abstract: A sleep circuit for use in a resonant inverter is disclosed. The sleep circuit activates a “sleep mode” (non-continuous operation) when the inverter output has no connected load, or a connected load is non-operative (e.g., fails). The “sleep mode” utilizes hysteresis control via the under voltage lockout protection feature of a control IC of the inverter. A primary DC source permanently connects to the Vcc pin of the control IC for startup (on) and burst (non-continuous) operation modes. An auxiliary DC source connects to the Vcc pin via a switch for continuous operation mode. A load current sensor controls the switch. When a sensed output current is above a threshold level, the switch connects the auxiliary DC source, and the control IC (and the inverter) operates continuously. When the sensed output current falls below the threshold, the auxiliary DC source is not provided and the inverter operates in “sleep mode”.

Abstract: Power line current fed power supplies producing stable load currents and related methods are described. The power supplies may include a current transformer coupled to an inductive network. In some embodiments, the current transformer operates in saturation mode. In some embodiments, a substantially constant DC current is generated having a magnitude that remains substantially constant despite variations of the magnitude of AC current in the power line.

Abstract: A sleep circuit for use in a resonant inverter is disclosed. The sleep circuit activates a “sleep mode” (non-continuous operation) when the inverter output has no connected load, or a connected load is non-operative (e.g., fails). The “sleep mode” utilizes hysteresis control via the under voltage lockout protection feature of a control IC of the inverter. A primary DC source permanently connects to the Vcc pin of the control IC for startup (on) and burst (non-continuous) operation modes. An auxiliary DC source connects to the Vcc pin via a switch for continuous operation mode. A load current sensor controls the switch. When a sensed output current is above a threshold level, the switch connects the auxiliary DC source, and the control IC (and the inverter) operates continuously. When the sensed output current falls below the threshold, the auxiliary DC source is not provided and the inverter operates in “sleep mode”.

Abstract: The electronic ballast comprises a series half bridge resonant inverter and a control circuit for the inverter with dimming capability. The inverter includes a first and a second voltage feedback circuits including first and a second charge pumps coupled in between inverter output and the dimming input of the control circuit. The feedback circuits generate a reference control signal to control operation after starting and an error control signals when the inverter output voltage exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: The electronic ballast comprises a series half bridge resonant inverter and a control circuit for the inverter with dimming capability. The inverter includes a first and a second voltage feedback circuits including first and a second charge pumps coupled in between inverter output and the dimming input of the control circuit. The feedback circuits generate a reference control signal to control operation after starting and an error control signals when the inverter output voltage exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: A ballast having a rapid inverter frequency control circuit that is used for programmed operation during lamps starting, during normal operation of all lamps and during no lamp(s) operation. A method and circuit controls frequency shift via a combination of different feedback circuits. A control signal for the inverter controller is synthesized as a sum of phase shifted inverter output voltage feedback signal and lamp current sense signal indicating status of each lamp connected to the ballast output.

Abstract: A ballast having a rapid inverter frequency control circuit that is used for programmed operation during lamps starting, during normal operation of all lamps and during no lamp(s) operation. A method and circuit controls frequency shift via a combination of different feedback circuits. A control signal for the inverter controller is synthesized as a sum of phase shifted inverter output voltage feedback signal and lamp current sense signal indicating status of each lamp connected to the ballast output.

Abstract: An arrangement (900) and method (1000) for providing power line communication from an AC power source (910) to a circuit (900) for supplying power to a load (960), as well as electronic ballasts (20,30,40,70,80) that operate according to the method (1000).

Abstract: An electronic ballast (10) for powering at least one gas discharge lamp (30) includes a current-fed resonant inverter (300) and a load shed circuit (600). Inverter (300) ordinarily powers the lamp at a first level. When a load shed command is sent by the electric utility and received by an associated load shed receiver within the ballast (10), load shed circuit (600) causes the inverter to reduce the lamp power from the first level to a second level. Preferably, load shed circuit (600) includes an isolation circuit (620) and a bidirectional switch (640) that is coupled in parallel with a return ballasting capacitor (388) within inverter (300). In the absence of a load shed command, bidirectional switch (640) effectively shunts return ballasting capacitor (388), which causes the lamp to be powered at the first level. In response to a load shed command, bidirectional switch (640) ceases to shunt return ballasting capacitor (388), thereby causing the lamp power to be reduced to the second level.