Abstract: A method for controlling the operation of an electronic converter (10), comprising a power output (120) for providing a power supply signal (120) for a light source (L), wherein said light source (L) is coupled to an identification element (300, 400) which identifies at least one control parameter of said light source (L), and a data line (200b) for connection to said identification element (300, 400), wherein said method comprises: detecting (1002) the value of the voltage on said data line; (200b), comparing (1004, 1010) the detected value of said voltage with at least a first and a second range of values; (802, 804, 806), and a) determining said at least one control parameter as a function of the detected voltage (1002, 1044) on said data line (200b), if the detected voltage is within the first range (802), or b) communicating (1032) with said identification element (300) by means of a digital communication protocol in order to receive said at least one control parameter from said identification element (3

Abstract: An occupancy sensor with the following components is disclosed: a sensing probe to detect occupancy of a space monitored by the sensor and to produce a corresponding sensing signal; a comparator, including a voltage divider defining a comparison value, against which the sensing signal is compared to detect occupancy; and a voltage sensing means to sense a feed voltage applied to the sensor, where changes in the feed voltage to the sensor induce a change in the comparison value.

Abstract: An emergency supply circuit for an electronic ballast may include: an output line to feed a supply input of the ballast; a first line to receive a mains supply signal; a second line to receive an emergency supply signal from a battery, with a converter interposed in said second line to boost said supply signal, a switch to alternatively connect said output line to said first or said second line; a controller sensitive to the absence of said mains supply signal and to the charge level of said battery, said controller to produce switching of said switch to connect said output line to said second line in the absence of said mains supply signal on said first line, whereby said output line receives said supply signal, and dimming interface circuitry to drive said dimming control input of said ballast when said output line is connected to said second feed line.

Abstract: A method for controlling the operation of an electronic converter (10), comprising a power output (120) for providing a power supply signal (120) for a light source (L), wherein said light source (L) is coupled to an identification element (300, 400) which identifies at least one control parameter of said light source (L), and a data line (200b) for connection to said identification element (300, 400), wherein said method comprises: detecting (1002) the value of the voltage on said data line; (200b), comparing (1004, 1010) the detected value of said voltage with at least a first and a second range of values; (802, 804, 806), and a) determining said at least one control parameter as a function of the detected voltage (1002, 1044) on said data line (200b), if the detected voltage is within the first range (802), or b) communicating (1032) with said identification element (300) by means of a digital communication protocol in order to receive said at least one control parameter from said identification element (3

Abstract: A ballast (10) for powering one or two gas discharge lamps (30,40) includes an inverter (100), an output circuit (200), and a control circuit (500). During a period prior to startup of inverter (100), control circuit (500) monitors a signal within output circuit (200) in order to determine the presence of lamps with intact filaments that are present at the ballast output connections (202,204, . . . ,210,212). Preferably, control circuit (500) is realized by a programmable microcontroller which implements a dual timing scheme in order to accurately determine the number of lamps with both filaments intact. The resulting determination may be used for various purposes, such providing appropriate levels of filament heating and/or for setting thresholds for accurately detecting and protecting against various lamp fault conditions.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for operation of lamps, including a half-bridge arrangement which has an upper and a lower electronic switch (Q1, Q2), which are connected in series, each having a control connection and forming a neutral point (N1) at their connection point. The circuit arrangement further includes: a load circuit, in which a load circuit current (IL1) flows, is connected to the neutral point (N1); a feedback device; a stop device; a timer coupled to the input of the stop device; and a trigger device. A sequence controller is configured to preset an on-time (ton) during the preheating time of the electrodes of the lamps, by means of the timer, and after the preheating time of the electrodes of the lamps, this on-time is continuously increased until it corresponds at least to one quarter of the period duration of the resonant frequency of the reactance network.

Abstract: A ballast (10) for powering one or more gas discharge lamps (30,40) includes an inverter (100), an output circuit (200), a filament heating control circuit (300), and a control circuit (500). During a lamp filament detection period prior to startup of inverter (100), control circuit (500) monitors a signal within output circuit (200) in order to determine the number of lamps with intact filaments that are present at the ballast output connections (202, 204, . . . , 210, 212). During a lamp type detection period following startup of inverter (100), control circuit (500) monitors a current within filament heating control circuit (300) in order to determine the type of lamp(s) present at ballast output connections (202, 204, . . . , 210, 212). The determinations as to the number of lamps and the type of lamps are utilized by control circuit (500) to provide an appropriate level of heating to the lamp filaments.

Abstract: An emergency supply circuit for an electronic ballast may include: an output line to feed a supply input of the ballast; a first line to receive a mains supply signal; a second line to receive an emergency supply signal from a battery, with a converter interposed in said second line to boost said supply signal, a switch to alternatively connect said output line to said first or said second line; a controller sensitive to the absence of said mains supply signal and to the charge level of said battery, said controller to produce switching of said switch to connect said output line to said second line in the absence of said mains supply signal on said first line, whereby said output line receives said supply signal, and dimming interface circuitry to drive said dimming control input of said ballast when said output line is connected to said second feed line.

Abstract: A ballast (10) for powering one or more gas discharge lamps (30,40) includes an inverter (100), an output circuit (200), a filament heating control circuit (300), and a control circuit (500). During a lamp filament detection period prior to startup of inverter (100), control circuit (500) monitors a signal within output circuit (200) in order to determine the number of lamps with intact filaments that are present at the ballast output connections (202, 204, . . . , 210, 212). During a lamp type detection period following startup of inverter (100), control circuit (500) monitors a current within filament heating control circuit (300) in order to determine the type of lamp(s) present at ballast output connections (202, 204, . . . , 210, 212). The determinations as to the number of lamps and the type of lamps are utilized by control circuit (500) to provide an appropriate level of heating to the lamp filaments.

Abstract: A ballast (10) for powering one or two gas discharge lamps (30,40) includes an inverter (100), an output circuit (200), and a control circuit (500). During a period prior to startup of inverter (100), control circuit (500) monitors a signal within output circuit (200) in order to determine the presence of lamps with intact filaments that are present at the ballast output connections (202,204, . . . ,210,212). Preferably, control circuit (500) is realized by a programmable microcontroller which implements a dual timing scheme in order to accurately determine the number of lamps with both filaments intact. The resulting determination may be used for various purposes, such providing appropriate levels of filament heating and/or for setting thresholds for accurately detecting and protecting against various lamp fault conditions.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for operation of lamps, comprising a half-bridge arrangement which has an upper and a lower electronic switch (Q1, Q2), which are connected in series, each have a control connection and form a neutral point (N1) at their connection point; a load circuit in which a load circuit current (IL1) flows is connected to the neutral point (N1); the load circuit includes a reactance network having a resonant frequency, and adapted so that a lamp can be connected thereto; the load circuit is configured such that, during normal operation for a connected lamp after the opening of one of the electronic switches (Q1, Q2), the voltage on the respective other one of the electronic switches (Q1, Q2) tends to zero after a transient time; a feedback device which couples a feedback variable from the load circuit to the control connections of the electronic switches (Q1, Q2), such that the electronic switches (Q1, Q2) are switched on alternately; a stop device, which is coupled to the control connections of t

Abstract: A device for operating a plurality of discharge lamps is to be fashioned cost-effectively. Consequently, two discharge lamps (71, 72) are operated with the aid of one ballast in whose load circuit the heating current for the individual incandescent filaments (711, 712, 721, 722) is transmitted via a heating transformer with three secondary windings (Lhs1, Lhs2, Lhs3). The associated primary winding (Lhp) is located in a coupling-out circuit (30) with the aid of which the required heating energy is coupled out via an inductor (Lres). The heating current can be controlled by a temperature-sensitive thermistor (PTC).

Abstract: A device for operating a plurality of discharge lamps is to be fashioned cost-effectively. Consequently, two discharge lamps (71, 72) are operated with the aid of one ballast in whose load circuit the heating current for the individual incandescent filaments (711, 712, 721, 722) is transmitted via a heating transformer with three secondary windings (Lhs1, Lhs2, Lhs3). The associated primary winding (Lhp) is located in a coupling-out circuit (30) with the aid of which the required heating energy is coupled out via an inductor (Lres). The heating current can be controlled by means of a temperature-sensitive thermistor (PTC).