Abstract: A system that delivers power between a common power source having a total deliverable system power and device loads. The system includes a power share interface that sums power consumed or requested by loads and determines availability of additional power. The system includes at least one peer power share interface with each peer interface associated with a port controller and communicable coupled to the power share interface over the system bus. The peer power share interface determines status of total power consumed or requested relative to total deliverable system power. The power share interface can in response to receiving the power level request cause the system to change power allocations to satisfy the power level requests.

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 induction RF fluorescent lamp comprising a dimming device load control facility enabling the induction RF fluorescent lamp to provide for electrical loads required for the proper operation of an external control dimming device, the dimming device load control facility controlling a switched electrical load switched in and out of connectivity within the electronic ballast to provide a load for the external dimming device.

Abstract: A fast starting induction RF fluorescent lamp capable of changing illumination level through a burst-mode dimming facility, comprising a dimming facility enabling the induction RF fluorescent lamp to dim in response to a control signal, and with structures within the bulb envelope that facilitate rapid luminous development during a turn-on phase.

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 induction RF fluorescent lamp comprising a dimming device load control facility enabling the induction RF fluorescent lamp to provide for electrical loads required for the proper operation of an external control dimming device, the dimming device load control facility controlling a switched electrical load switched in and out of connectivity within the electronic ballast to provide a load for the external dimming device.

Abstract: A burst-mode dimmable induction RF fluorescent lamp that is able to replace an ordinary reflector-type incandescent lamp, both in its ability to screw into a standard incandescent lamp socket and to have the general look of the ordinary reflector incandescent lamp, but with all of the advantages of an induction lamp, as described herein.

Abstract: A fast starting induction RF fluorescent lamp capable of changing illumination level through a burst-mode dimming facility, comprising a dimming facility enabling the induction RF fluorescent lamp to dim in response to a control signal, and with structures within the bulb envelope that facilitate rapid luminous development during a turn-on phase

Abstract: A high frequency induction RF fluorescent lamp with an electronic ballast operating at a frequency greater than 5 MHz comprising a burst-mode dimming facility enabling the induction RF fluorescent light bulb to dim in response to a control signal.

Abstract: A battery system comprises a first battery unit; a DC voltage bus; a second battery unit electrically connected to the DC voltage bus; a current-limiting component; and switching circuitry for connecting the first battery unit to the DC voltage bus, where the switching circuitry is configured to electrically connect the first battery unit to the DC voltage bus either directly or through a current-limiting component, depending on an operating parameter of the first battery unit.

Abstract: A battery system comprises a first battery unit; a DC voltage bus; a second battery unit electrically connected to the DC voltage bus; a current-limiting component; and switching circuitry for connecting the first battery unit to the DC voltage bus, where the switching circuitry is configured to electrically connect the first battery unit to the DC voltage bus either directly or through a current-limiting component, depending on an operating parameter of the first battery unit.

Abstract: A power converter includes a main FET and a diode parallel to the main FET. A voltage divider circuit parallel to the main FET enables current to be sensed by a controller for overcurrent protection. A second diode parallel to one element of the voltage divider circuit and in series with a sense element causes the current through the sense element to increase with temperature as current increases through the first diode. In one implantation, a SenseFET comprises a main FET and a parallel mirror FET. A sense resistive element is in series with the mirror FET. A first Schottky diode is placed parallel to the main FET and a second Schottky diode parallel to the mirror FET and in series with the sense resistive element. The first and second diodes are thermally connected such that sensed current increases with increased current through the first Schottky diode. A controller provides overcurrent protection to the converter in response to the level of current through the sense resistive element.

Abstract: A power converter is controlled by a control circuit that includes a burst mode operation during low load conditions. A compensation circuit modifies a control signal to reduce the number of switch cycles during a burst. The compensation circuit includes a time-variant offset to the control signal that is removed when the power converter input signal is connected to low voltage.

Abstract: A charge pump generates gate control voltage in a DC/DC converter. The input voltage to the charge pump may vary. To reduce noise at higher input voltages, a variable resistance is included in the charge pump and that resistance is controlled to vary with the input voltage.

Abstract: A charge pump circuit in a gate controller provides a pumped gate control voltage to switches of a DC/DC converter. Different input voltages may be applied to the controller and an input voltage higher than the charge pump output could result in circuit damage. A clamp circuit between the input and output prevents the output voltage from being significantly below the input voltage to prevent such damage. The clamp circuit may be a transistor controlled by a comparator or amplifier.

Abstract: A sensing circuit for a triac dimmable gas discharge lamp ballast uses the duty cycle of the output waveform of a conventional triac dimmer as the parameter representing a set point for controlling the degree of clamping applied to the ballast circuit, and thus the amount of light produced by a fluorescent lamp. The sensing circuit may include a comparator that receives a rectified output waveform of a triac dimmer and produces output pulses corresponding in width to the duty cycle of the waveform, and a capacitor averaging the values of the pulses produced by the comparator to produce a set point signal representing a dimming level of the lamp. A triac dimmable ballast circuit using this sensing circuit has reduced sensitivity to line voltage and a wide mechanical range over which the light level of the fluorescent lamp is controlled by the user. The sensing circuit also enables a preheat timing circuit that eliminates the timing capacitor of prior art preheating circuits.

Abstract: A sensing circuit for a triac dimmable gas discharge lamp ballast uses the duty cycle of the output waveform of a conventional triac dimmer as the parameter representing a set point for controlling the degree of clamping applied to the ballast circuit, and thus the amount of light produced by a fluorescent lamp. The sensing circuit may include a comparator that receives a rectified output waveform of a triac dimmer and produces output pulses corresponding in width to the duty cycle of the waveform, and a capacitor averaging the values of the pulses produced by the comparator to produce a set point signal representing a dimming level of the lamp. A triac dimmable ballast circuit using this sensing circuit has reduced sensitivity to line voltage and a wide mechanical range over which the light level of the fluorescent lamp is controlled by the user. The sensing circuit also enables a preheat timing circuit that eliminates the timing capacitor of prior art preheating circuits.

Abstract: A ballast includes a resonant load circuit having a resonant inductance and a resonant capacitance. The load circuit couples a.c. current to a gas discharge lamp. A self-oscillating complementary converter circuit of the ballast induces a.c. current in the resonant load circuit. The converter circuit includes a pair of switches serially connected between a d.c. voltage bus and a reference bus. Respective reference nodes of the switches are interconnected at a common node through which the induced a.c. current flows, and respective control nodes of the switches are substantially directly interconnected. A gate drive circuit controls the switches. The gate drive circuit includes a drive winding connected to the control nodes. The drive winding is mutually coupled to the resonant inductance for sensing current therein, and an inductor is serially connected to the drive winding and to the common node.

Abstract: A communication method particularly suited for lighting control employs encoding of perturbations in a voltage signal having a fundamental period with a nominal waveform. A control period includes a pre-selected number of fundamental periods of the voltage signal. Different control commands are indicated by imposing a selected perturbation, such as a phase cut, on the nominal waveform with a respective occurrence signature within the control period. The control commands are decoded from the voltage signal by detecting the occurrence signature of the perturbations within each control period. Decoding is accomplished by differentiating the nominal waveform to detect encoded perturbations.

Abstract: An electrodeless gas discharge lamp includes a vitreous envelope containing a discharge medium. An excitation coil is positioned in relation to the vitreous envelope so as to excite the discharge medium therein. The excitation coil is adapted to be driven by an RF oscillator. The excitation coil has first and second ends and is effective for exciting the discharge medium to emit light with electromagnetic fields that are generated by the excitation coil. The excitation coil includes a first wire wound generally helically from the first end to the second end in a first helical direction to form first winding turns, and further includes a second wire wound generally helically from the first end to the second end in second helical direction opposite to that of the first helical direction to form second winding turns. Preferably, a generally cylindrical former is provided for holding the first and second wires between the first and second ends of the coil.