Abstract: A magnetic connector assembly has three independent magnetic components sharing a common core structure. The magnetic assembly includes first, second, and third bobbins, and includes a magnetic core. The first bobbin includes at least one latch mechanism of a first type. The second bobbin includes at least one latch mechanism of the first type. The third bobbin includes at least one latch mechanism of a second type configured to engage the latch mechanisms of the first and second bobbins. The magnetic core includes first and second core halves, each including a main core body, a first outer leg, a second outer leg, a middle leg, a first intermediate leg, and a second intermediate leg. The first outer leg fits within a passageway of the first bobbin. The second outer leg fits within a passageway of the second bobbin. The middle leg fits within a passageway of the third bobbin.

Abstract: A magnetic component has a variable inductance over a range of DC bias currents. The component includes a bobbin with a coil positioned around a passageway between first and second end flanges. First and second E-cores have respective middle legs positioned in the passageway with end surfaces of the middle legs juxtaposed within the passageway and spaced apart by a first magnetic gap. An I-bar is positioned in the passageway parallel to and spaced apart from respective first longitudinal surfaces of the middle legs to form a second magnetic gap between the I-bar and the longitudinal surface of the middle leg of the first E-core and to form a third magnetic gap between the I-bar and the longitudinal surface of the middle leg of the second E-core. The magnetic component provides higher inductances for lower bias currents and provides lower inductances for higher bias currents.

Abstract: A magnetic component has a variable inductance over a range of DC bias currents. The component includes a bobbin with a coil positioned around a passageway between first and second end flanges. First and second E-cores (either conventional or EFD E-cores) have respective middle legs positioned in the passageway with end surfaces of the middle legs juxtaposed within the passageway and spaced apart by a first magnetic gap. An I-bar is positioned in the passageway parallel to and spaced apart from respective first longitudinal surfaces of the middle legs to form a second magnetic gap between the I-bar and the longitudinal surface of the middle leg of the first E-core and to form a third magnetic gap between the I-bar and the longitudinal surface of the middle leg of the second E-core. The magnetic component provides higher inductances for lower bias currents and provides lower inductances for higher bias currents.

Abstract: A magnetic device includes first and second magnetic cores defining first, second, and middle legs extending between first and second back walls, an air gap defined in the middle leg. First, second, and middle legs, and first and second back walls have a substantially equal width. A first winding is located on the first leg, a second winding located on the second leg, and a third winding located on the middle leg. The magnetic device can be part of an electronic ballast circuit including an AC power source, a positive AC rail, a negative AC rail, a resonant capacitor coupled between the positive and negative AC rails, multiple positive and negative lamp terminals configured to couple to respective gas discharge lamps, and windings on a magnetic device coupled between the positive AC rail and respective positive lamp terminals. The third winding is coupled between AC power source and positive AC rail to define a resonant inductor.

Abstract: An electronic lamp ballast is provided with first and second protection circuits responsive to mains input fault conditions. A controller includes a first input terminal coupled to a power supply circuit and effective to receive a power supply input voltage provided thereby, and a second input terminal coupled to an output sensing circuit and effective to receive a feedback voltage provided thereby. The first protection circuit includes circuitry to sense a fault condition in a mains power input to the ballast and to discharge the power supply input voltage in response to a sensed fault condition. The second protection circuit includes circuitry to sense a discharge of the power supply input voltage to the controller and to discharge the feedback voltage in response to the sensed discharge of the power supply input voltage.

Abstract: A method for controlling striations in a lamp powered by an electronic ballast includes the steps of generating an asymmetric lamp current using an unbalanced circuit component in the electronic ballast and supplying that current to the lamp. The unbalanced circuit component may be an unbalanced output transformer or an unbalanced DC choke. The output transformer is unbalanced by offsetting the number of turns on each side of the tap on the primary winding of the transformer. In a similar manner, the DC choke is unbalanced by offsetting the number of turns in each winding of the choke.