Abstract: The present invention concerns a device that combines the functionality of an inverter and a bi-directional converter. The device provides, on a number of identical channels, transformation of a DC voltage source of a given level to a filtered DC voltage of another level. The inverter and bi-directional converter of the present invention also has the capability to invert a DC power input to thereby supply, on an AC output, AC power to an AC load, such a fluorescent light. The DC voltage sources at the inputs of inverter and bi-directional converter may act as sources of DC power or sinks of DC power depending on the voltage level of each input and a winding ratio between the channels. Passing from being a source to a sink of DC power is performed smoothly and without interference with the operation of the AC load.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a device that combines the functionality of an inverter and a bi-directional converter. The device provides, on a number of identical channels, transformation of a DC voltage source of a given level to a filtered DC voltage of another level. The inverter and bi-directional converter of the present invention also has the capability to invert a DC power input to thereby supply, on an AC output, AC power to an AC load, such a fluorescent light. The DC voltage sources at the inputs of inverter and bi-directional converter may act as sources of DC power or sinks of DC power depending on the voltage level of each input and a winding ratio between the channels. Passing from being a source to a sink of DC power is performed smoothly and without interference with the operation of the AC load.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp flashing circuit is comprised of a fluorescent lamp to which an alternating supply voltage source is connected through a series connected loading reactance device which provides current limiting. The heaters of the fluorescent lamp are independently fed. A switching device disconnects and reconnects the alternating supply voltage at a predetermined frequency rate which is determined by a control circuit which controls a switching device. When the switching device is closed, the fluorescent lamp is bypassed through a full wave rectifier bridge and the reactance device is connected in parallel with the supply voltage source and with a bleeding resistance to load the bridge and to form a resonant circuit to maintain the loading reactance device constant and permitting an energy exchange between the supply voltage source and the loading reactance device in a resonant mode thereby maintaining a sine wave form and minimizing loss.