Abstract: In a modulator for generating high-power electric pulses to a load which modulator includes an energy accumulator circuit with an inductive accumulator and a power switch and a load circuit bridging the power switch and including a capacitive energy accumulator and a second switch which is controlled so as to be always in a state complementary to the state of the power switch such that, during a pulse, the two accumulators are arranged in series, and a current source which is arranged in parallel with the capacitive energy accumulator with a predetermined polarity up to an adjustable voltage whereby the initial conditions for the electrical pulse to be generated are determined.

Abstract: An apparatus (20) to control a high intensity discharge lamp (24) by generating fuzzy logic transfer functions (360, 362) with a software package (368). The fuzzy logic transfer functions (360, 362) are applied by a controller (210) for controlling the operation of the lamp (24). The first fuzzy logic transfer function (360) includes both of a lamp ignition membership function and a lamp steady state membership function. The second fuzzy logic transfer function (362) includes a first current error magnitude membership function and a second different current error magnitude membership function. Both of the first and second membership functions functionally related to both of the error current value and a PWM count change value. A current sense resistor (256) provides a signal indicative of lamp current to the controller (210). An internal real time clock (RTC) in the controller (210) measures the amount of time that the lamp (24) is operating and provides a real time signal for use in the controller (210).

Abstract: A discharge lamp lighting device includes first voltage source of a high voltage capable of increasing lamp current, the voltage value of which being sequentially variable, and second voltage source of a low voltage capable of decreasing the lamp current, the voltage value of which being sequentially variable, lighting connection of the first and second voltages sources to a discharge lamp being alternately changed over for its stable lighting, whereby the stable lighting of the lamp can be made with any current limiting element minimized and a response to variation in outputs over a wide range as well as any radiant noise can be effectively improved.

Abstract: The circuit for firing and supplying a discharge lamp, includes:a load circuit (10), with at least one discharge lamp (L) and a voltage supply for supplying a discharge lamp,a subportion of the circuit is in parallel with the lamp (L). This subportion includes at least one arrangement of capacitors (17, 21) and an inductive impedance which can be varied in a controllable manner in order to modify the value of the total impedance in parallel with the lamp.

Abstract: An electronic ballast to power a gas discharge load (FL1) operating from a low frequency AC voltage source (ACVS) equipped with a dimmer (DIM) and having variable voltage magnitude. The device comprising a primary resonant oscillator (RO1) exhibiting an inductive character of frequency dependent impedance as an auxiliary resonant inductance (La) interacting with an auxiliary resonant capacitance (Ca) coupled to a rectifier circuit (RB, VSD) which performs switching and rectifying functions developed by and synchronized with a pulsating current drawn from the rectifier circuit by the primary oscillator circuit (RO1) equipped with switching transistors (Q1, Q2) and adapted to deliver to the gas discharge load (FL1) high frequency signal to of a variable magnitude proportional to the variable magnitude of the voltage of the AC voltage source.

Abstract: Step dimming of a fluorescent lamp load through sensing of power line interruptions generated through the toggling of a switch. The number of power line interruptions through toggling produced within a predetermined period of time identifies the level of dimming desired. In the event that interruption of power to the ballast exceeds the predetermined period of time, the lamp load will be reset to a prefixed level of illumination once power is restored.

Abstract: An improved ballast circuit for use with a fluorescent lamp includes an EMI filter, a feedback network, a rectifier and voltage amplification stage, and an active resonant circuit which connects to the lamp load. The ballast circuit includes a magnetic feedback path which couples the resonant circuit to the feedback network. The magnetically coupled feedback network of the improved ballast circuit reduces the non-linear characteristics of the rectifier diodes, thus providing an almost linear load to the input power supply and therefore achieving an improved power factor, on the order of 0.95 or greater. The improved ballast circuit may also include a dimming stage which works with the active resonant circuit to vary the amount of power that is supplied to the lamp load. The dimming stage does not require the addition of parasitic active stages and thus provides a lamp with high electrical efficiency.

Abstract: A ballast circuit for a gas discharge lamp comprises a resonant load circuit incorporating the gas discharge lamp and including a resonant inductance and a resonant capacitance. A d.c.-to-a.c. converter circuit induces an a.c. current in the resonant load circuit. The converter circuit comprises first and second switches serially connected between a bus conductor at a d.c. voltage and a reference conductor, and which are connected together at a common node through which the a.c. load current flows. The first and second switches each comprise a control node and a reference node, the voltage between such nodes determining the conduction state of the associated switch. The respective control nodes of the first and second switches are interconnected. The respective reference nodes of the first and second switches are connected together at the common node.

Abstract: An inverter power source apparatus using a piezoelectric transformer, has: variable oscillating device for oscillating a pulse signal; pulse-width changing device for changing a width of said pulse signal of said variable oscillating device; driving device for generating a driving signal on the basis of an output of said pulse-width changing device; a piezoelectric transformer which is driven by said driving signal, drives a predetermined load, and has input and output electrodes; detecting device for detecting a relationship between said driving signal and a resonance frequency of said piezoelectric transformer, and for, on the basis of a result of the detection, controlling a frequency of said oscillation signal of said variable oscillating device so that a difference between said resonance frequency and a frequency of said driving signal is substantially within a preset range; and pulse-width controlling device for, when a detection results of said detecting device shows that said difference between said r

Abstract: A half bridge driver chip for driving a resonant load, such as a ballast, has first and second pairs to which an oscillation frequency timing circuit, matched to the resonant frequency of the load. A constant voltage drop circuit is connected to these input pins to vary the voltage at the pins as a linear function of the input voltage V.sub.cc. Consequently, when V.sub.cc is increasing during the start-up of the circuit, the resonant frequency is initially high but decreases to its operation value as V.sub.cc increases. This produces a soft start characteristic and a timed preheat cycle of the resonant load. In one embodiment, the constant voltage drop circuit is a zener diode; in another embodiment, it is strings of anti-parallel connected diodes.

Abstract: An electronic ballast includes a series resonant inductor and capacitor and a filament winding magnetically coupled to said inductor. The filament winding forms a closed circuit with a filament in a gas discharge lamp, wherein the current induced in the winding opposes a portion of the current through the inductor to reduce the net voltage on the filament during normal lamp operation. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the filament winding is reversely wound with the inductor on a common core to reverse the phase of the current induced in the filament winding from the current through the inductor.

Abstract: An EL lamp is charged to a first polarity with a series of high voltage pulses, discharged at a controlled rate, charged to a second polarity with a series of high voltage pulses, and discharged at a controlled rate, thereby producing an alternating current through the lamp. A flyback circuit provides the high voltage pulses. The polarity of the pulses is reversed periodically at a low frequency and the EL lamp is prevented from discharging through the flyback circuit by a phase shift circuit that produces a discharge pulse in advance of each change of polarity of the high voltage pulses. The discharge pulse interrupts the high voltage pulses and discharges the EL lamp through a constant current load.

Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit arrangement for operating electric lam and an operating method for electric lamps. The circuit arrangement has an inverter ((Q1, Q2) with a switch-off device which switches off the inverter (Q1, Q2) in the case of an anomalous operating state. The switch-off device has a field-effect transistor (T1, T1') whose drain-source junction is arranged in the control circuit of an inverter switching transistor (Q2) and switches the control circuit of the inverter transistor (Q2) between a state which is of low resistance in normal operation and a state which is of high resistance in anomalous operation. After the occurrence of an anomalous operating state, it is advantageous to switch off synchronously with the blocking phase of the inverter transistor (Q2) in whose control circuit the field-effect transistor (T1, T1') is arranged.

Abstract: A rectification device rectifies an input voltage from an AC power source. First and second switching devices are arranged between a pair of output terminals of the rectification device and alternately turned on/off. A series circuit of a first capacitor and an inductor is arranged between the two terminals of one of the first and second switching devices so as to perform a smoothing operation with respect to the frequency of an output from the rectification device. A second capacitor serves to form a resonance circuit in cooperation with the inductor in accordance with the ON/OFF operations of the first and second switching devices. The capacitance of the second capacitor is smaller than that of the first capacitor.

Abstract: An apparatus that obtains a straight discharge arc during the whole lighting period, as well as provides a discharge lamp-lighting apparatus which can form a plurality of luminous intensity distribution patterns by changing the shape of the discharge arc. By supplying a lighting waveform equal to an acoustic resonance frequency which lighting waveform excites the mode to make the discharge arc straight. The acoustic resonance frequency is determined by the sound velocity in the discharge space medium and the height of a section orthogonal area to the electrode axis to the discharge lamp. The shape of the discharge arc at the time of rated lighting can be made substantially straight. By supplying the lighting waveform which amplifies the amplitude of the compressional wave emitted from the discharge arc during the period when the vapor pressure of the filler of the discharge lamp is low, the shape of the discharge arc can be made straight during the whole lighting period.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a feedback control system and method for controlling an electronic ballast for driving a lamp where the lamp requires preheating of a cathode of the lamp in order for the electronic ballast to successfully discharge into the lamp and initiate arcing operation in the lamp. The system detects the power consumption level of the lamp and, when the power consumption level indicates that the lamp is not arcing, performs a restart of the lamp wherein the restart function includes preheating the cathode with a preheating current. The present invention reduces production cost and increases safety by detecting operation in the lamp without using external elements.

Abstract: A power supply (10) for powering a load (500) includes an inverter (100), a series resonant output circuit (200), and a bootstrap power source (300) for supplying operating power to an inverter driver circuit (110). The bootstrap power source (300) is coupled in series with the load (500) via a dc blocking capacitor (240) and provides automatic shutdown of the inverter (100) by ceasing to supply operating power to the inverter driver circuit (110) when the load (500) fails to conduct current or is removed.

Abstract: A power-line-operated frequency-converting power supply provides a 30 kHz current-limited AC voltage at an output receptacle. An instant-start gas discharge or neon lamp is connected across the secondary winding of a gapped ferrite-type leakage transformer, the primary winding of which is connected with the output receptacle by way of a light-weight cord, thereby permitting the lamp-transformer combination to be located remotely from the power supply. The secondary winding is arranged to have a well defined inductance; which inductance is tuned to resonate at 30 Khz by way of a parallel-connected tuning capacitor. Tightly coupled with the secondary winding is a control winding with which is connected a protection circuit operative to place an auxiliary capacitor across the control winding in case the neon lamp fails to ignite within a few milli-seconds, thereby detuning the secondary winding enough to protect the power supply and the leakage transformer from sustained overload.

Abstract: A half-bridge inverter is powered from a constant DC voltage and loaded by way of an L-C circuit that has a natural resonance frequency equal to or lower than the inverter's operating frequency. A gas discharge lamp is disconnectably connected across the tank capacitor of the L-C circuit and, when indeed so connected, is provided with a current-limited high-frequency (30 kHz) voltage. The magnitude of the resulting lamp current decreases as the inverter's operating frequency is increased; which operating frequency is controlled by way of a negative feedback arrangement that causes the frequency to increase as a function of increasing magnitude of the current flowing through the tank capacitor. Thus, particularly with the lamp disconnected, the magnitude of the current flowing through the capacitor--and therefore also the magnitude of the voltage existing across it--will be regulated so as to be lower than it would be in the absence of the negative feedback.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for operating a discharge lamp with a high frequency current comprising input terminals for connection to a source of low frequency supply voltage, a rectifier bridge coupled to the input terminals for rectifying the low frequency supply voltage, and an inverter shunting a first capacitor for generating the high frequency current. The circuit arrangement incorporates two power feedback loops to feed power back to an output terminal of the rectifier bridge. As a result the circuit arrangement has a relatively simple configuration, causes only a very limited amount of harmonic distortion and can be realized with relatively cheap and simple components.

Abstract: The electronic ballast for a gas-discharge lamp includes an inverter. The inverter uses the combination of a step-up transformer, a resonant circuit, and clamping diodes to provide an operational inverter output voltage that is independent of the start-up output voltage of the inverter. During the start-up mode, the step-up transformer is used to provide the start-up voltage for the lamp and the resonant circuit is inactive. Clamping diodes prevent or inhibit the resonant circuit from resonating with potential parasitic capacitances during the start-up mode. During the operational mode, an oscillator is tuned relative to the resonant frequency of a resonant circuit to control the brightness of the fluorescent lamp.

Abstract: An electronic ballast includes an inverter producing pulses having a DC component, an output circuit connecting the filaments of one or more lamps in series, and a control circuit for detecting direct current through the filaments. The control circuit includes a capacitor charged by the DC component. When the voltage on the capacitor reaches a predetermined value, the ballast applies a high voltage to the lamps. The predetermined value is not reached unless a direct current passes from the output of the inverter through all lamp filaments to the capacitor. If a lamp filament is not intact, the inverter will not apply high voltage to the lamp.

Abstract: A monolithic MOS gate driver chip is described for driving high side and low side power MOSFETs in a gas discharge lamp ballast circuit. The chip includes a timer circuit for generating a square output at the natural frequency of resonance of the lamp ballast. Dead time circuits are provided in the chip to prevent the simultaneous conduction of both high side and low side MOSFETs. The chip may be housed in an eight pin DIP package.

Abstract: An electronic ballast having particular application for driving small diameter fluorescent tubes or lamps (such as the T2, T4 and T5 sizes). The electronic ballast has a shutdown circuit by which to remove power to the oscillator when the tube or lamp is close to the end of its useful life or when an abnormal condition occurs such that a rise in operating voltage is detected. The shutdown circuit detects the rise in the operating voltage of the tube or lamp and energizes a relay through the conduction path of a photoresponsive transistor that is rendered conducting by a light emitting diode. The relay directs power away from the oscillator and towards the control electrode of the photoresponsive transistor to hold the phototransistor on and thereby disable the ballast. The ballast also includes a power factor controller to provide a high power factor and a more efficient operation.

Abstract: In an electronic ballast, a full-bridge inverter is powered from a DC voltage and provides a square-wave-like inverter output voltage. This inverter output voltage, which has a peak amplitude equal to the magnitude of the DC voltage, is applied to an instant-start fluorescent lamp via a current-limiting inductor connected in series with a DC blocking capacitor. The DC voltage is obtained by way of a pre-converter with a control input operative to permit control of the magnitude of the DC voltage. Prior to the flow of lamp current, the magnitude of the DC voltage is controlled by negative feedback to the control input so as to remain at a certain maximum level. About 100 milli-seconds after initial flow of lamp current, one half of the full-bridge inverter is disabled, thereby reducing the amplitude of the inverter output voltage by half.

Abstract: An inverter for powering a lamp at deep dim levels. Inverter driving circuitry includes a feedback loop which compares desired dim level to signal representing actual lamp power consumption. Reproducibility of desired lighting conditions for different types of lamps powered by the same ballast over a wide range of temperatures is also provided.

Abstract: To effectively suppress glow discharge of a discharge lamp, especially a h-pressure discharge lamp, immediately after starting or firing, the lamp is supplied in a second, or run-on phase with a run-up current which has a form factor F greater than one (1), for example 1.13 to 1.45, and which has an effective value I.sub.eff which is higher than the rated normal operating current of the lamp. A control circuit (C), coupled to a controllable power supply, and to a switchable bridge circuit, controls the frequency of the run-on phase current to be higher than the normal operating frequency, for example about 2 kHz with a normal operating frequency between about 90-150 Hz.

Abstract: A programmed electronic ballast circuit including a voltage maintenance circuit to ensure that the integrated circuit continues to oscillate and drive the half-bridge inverter until the DC bus voltage falls to a level insufficient to permit the fluorescent bulbs at the output to ignite. Additionally, the voltage maintenance circuit drives the voltage of the integrated circuit down to a level whereby proper resetting of the integrated circuit and proper preheating of the florescent bulb filaments is assured.

Abstract: To provide for effective control of a discharge lamp, typically, a sodium gh pressure discharge lamp, which operates in two phases, namely, a power pulse phase, followed by a holding phase, without extensive and complex electronic circuitry, two individual oscillator systems are provided, one for each phase; the oscillator systems include a first power burst oscillator formed as a first half bridge by two transistors (T1, T2), and an individual connecting current limiting inductance (L1) to the lamp (E), and a second oscillator including a two-transistor second half bridge (T3, T4) and an individual current limiting inductance (L2) coupled to the lamp. The respective oscillators are controlled, in a closed control loop, by a burst generator (BG) and a holding pulse generator (SG), each of which provide their signals to a logic circuit (LK) which provides for exclusive control of the respective first or second half bridge.

Abstract: Power to a self-oscillating inverter ballast is supplied from a DC voltage source through an inductor means having two separate windings on a common magnetic core--with one winding being positioned in each leg of the power supply. The inverter is loaded by way of a parallel-tuned L-C circuit connected across the inverter's output, thereby providing an output voltage thereat. The output voltage consists of sinusoidally-shaped voltage pulses of alternating polarity, with a distinct brief period of discontinuity at or near the cross-over points. A fluorescent lamp is connected by way of a current-limiting capacitor with the inverter's output.

Abstract: A back-up power system for a portable table lamp which accommodates a standard replaceable compact fluorescent bulb that is illuminated from an AC main power source when AC house current is available and is illuminated by a DC to DC converter when AC house current is unavailable, the converter being powered by replaceable low voltage battery located in the base of the lamp and charged by the AC source, with the loss of AC house current being sensed to cause the disconnection of the AC house current source and connection to the low voltage replaceable battery.

Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit arrangement for operating a low-pressure discharge lamp. The circuit arrangement according to the invention comprises means X for supplying the low-pressure discharge lamp, provided with means X1 for generating a current of changing polarity. The circuit arrangement also comprises a feedback network which together with the means X and the low-pressure discharge lamp forms a control loop for controlling a lamp condition parameter. A low-pass filter is included in the control loop. The feedback network is provided with means M for generating a signal m which represents the instantaneous value of the lamp condition parameter, means C for comparing the signal m with a reference signal d, and means S for controlling the means X in dependence on the result of the comparison.

Abstract: A protection method (10) and protection circuit (500) for protecting an inverter (300) in an electronic preheat ballast (100) for powering at least one fluorescent lamp (902). The inverter (300) includes a first inverter switch (306), a second inverter switch (310), an output circuit (800), and an inverter driver circuit (400) having a drive frequency. The protection circuit (500) comprises a frequency shift circuit (600), a latch circuit (700), a current source network (520), a current sensing circuit (510), and a DC supply capacitance (502). The protection method (10) includes the steps of (a) providing a filament preheat period by initially setting the drive frequency at a first frequency, (b) shifting the drive frequency to a second frequency for igniting and operating the lamps, (c) changing the drive frequency back to the first frequency in response to a lamp fault, and (d) providing, upon correction of the lamp fault, a filament preheat period prior to attempting to ignite and operate the lamps.

Abstract: To provide for automatic switch-over between a power phase and a holding se in operation of a discharge lamp (EL), a choke or ballast coil (L), serially connected to the discharge lamp, is constructed to have, with respect to current flow therethrough, a non-linear reactance value; the choke or ballast coil is wound on a core which, for example, can be a E-core in which the center leg is of reduced cross-section with respect to the outer legs; or, if one is a torroidal coil on a ring core, the ring core is preferably made of two core elements of different magnetic characteristics, connected together, for example by an adhesive, in which one core element is of low permeability material, such as iron powder or permaloy with high saturation magnetization, and a second core is formed of ferrite with low saturation magnetization.

Abstract: A ballast circuit for a gas discharge lamp of the type including resistively heated cathodes includes a resonant load circuit incorporating a gas discharge lamp and including first and second resonant impedances whose values determine the operating frequency of the resonant load circuit. Further included is a d.c.-to-a.c. converter circuit coupled to the resonant load circuit so as to induce an a.c. current in the resonant load circuit. The converter includes first and second switches serially connected between a bus conductor at a d.c. voltage and ground, and has a common node through which the a.c. load current flows. A feedback circuit provides a feedback signal indicating the level of current in the resonant load circuit.

Abstract: A ballast for a gas discharge lamp comprises a resonant load circuit including a gas discharge lamp, and a resonant inductance and a resonant capacitance whose values determine the operating frequency of the remnant load circuit. A d.c.-to-a.c. converter circuit is coupled to the remnant load circuit to provide a.c. current to the remnant load circuit. The converter comprises at least one switch. A high voltage IC drives the at least one switch at a frequency determined at least in part by impedance between a timing input and a ground. A circuit for supplying a d.c. voltage to the d.c.-to-a.c. converter includes (i) a supply path for d.c. current; (ii) first and second return paths for d.c. current; and (iii) an arrangement to selectively make the first return path operable alone, the second path operable alone, and the first and second paths operable together. First and second impedances are coupled between the timing input and the first and second return paths, respectively.

Abstract: A ballast circuit for a gas discharge lamp comprises a resonant load circuit incorporating a gas discharge lamp and including first and second resonant impedances whose values determine the operating frequency of the resonant load circuit. A d.c.-to-a.c. converter circuit is coupled to the resonant load circuit to induce an a.c. current in the resonant load circuit. It comprises first and second switches serially connected between a bus conductor at a d.c. voltage and ground, with a common node through which the bidirectional load current flows. An arrangement allows a user to select a setpoint signal during lamp operation that determines the amount of light output by the lamp. A feedback arrangement regeneratively controls the first and second switches; it includes a circuit for sensing a.c. current in the resonant load circuit and producing an a.c. feedback signal in proportion to the a.c. current; a circuit for producing a d.c.

Abstract: To substantially reduce harmonic distortion and improve the power factor of n operating circuit for a fluorescent lamp, a smoothing circuit (G) is interposed between the outputs from a power rectifier (GL) and an inverter (WR) supplying the fluorescent lamp (L) with high-frequency energy. The smoothing circuit includes a two electrolytic capacitor (C1, C2)--three diode (D1, D2, D3) network, which is so connected, and the diodes so polarized that, during charging of the capacitors, a series circuit is established with one (D2) of the three diodes in series with the two capacitors. For discharge of the capacitors to supply the inverter when the rectified voltage is lower than the capacitor voltage, the two capacitors (C1, C2), through the other two diodes (D1, D3), are connected in parallel to supply the inverter. To substantially reduce harmonic distortion to less than about 30% and improve the power factor of the circuit to above 0.

Abstract: A condensed power supply circuit for powering a gas discharge lamp with bi-directional current reduces duty cycle by increasing dead time. The circuit comprises an arrangement for supplying d.c. power from an a.c. voltage, a series half bridge converter, a boost converter, a resistor-capacitor delay circuit associated with a gate to control dead time, and a snubber capacitance for facilitating zero voltage switching to fill the entire dead time. The series half-bridge converter alternately impresses a d.c. bus voltage from a bus conductor across a load circuit first with one polarity and then with an opposite polarity. The series half-bridge converter includes a first switch, a second switch, and a switching control circuit for alternately switching on the first and second switches. The boost converter comprises a boost capacitor, a boost inductor, and means for periodically connecting a load end of the boost inductor through a low impedance path to the ground conductor, thereby charging the boost inductor.

Abstract: An inverter-type electronic fluorescent lamp ballast has means to disable inverter operation in case of an overvoltage condition and/or in case its internal temperature were to exceed a safe level, thereby to provide automatic protection against damage that might otherwise result from excessive voltage and/or temperatures.

Abstract: A voltage-boosting and current-regulating circuit delivers energy from a high voltage resonant circuit source to a fluorescent lamp. A controllable switch is connected in series with the lamp cathodes and is triggered into conduction during a predetermined conductive time interval within each half-cycle of current conducted through the plasma from the resonant circuit. A charging current which flows during the conductive time interval stores energy in the resonant circuit which is subsequently released as a boosted voltage and as increased current flow through the plasma. The boosted voltage allows higher efficiency illumination lamps to the used, and regulation of the conductive time interval achieves the optimal current conduction through the lamp.

Abstract: A feedback control system for electronic ballast comprises a lamp, an electronic ballast, a multiplier, a time controller, a first adder-subtracter, a reference voltage generator, a second adder-subtracter, an error amplifier, a capacitor, a voltage controlled current source VCCS, a third adder-subtracter and an oscilloscope and output driver.

Abstract: In a lighting circuit, a battery voltage is supplied via a DC booster circuit to a DC-AC converter where the voltage is converted to an AC voltage with a rectangular waveform. This AC voltage is supplied to a discharge lamp. At this time, the DC-AC converter controls the frequency of the rectangular wave output from the DC-AC converter in accordance with a signal sent to a bridge type driver from a frequency controller. A lighting detector is provided to detect if the discharge lamp has been lighted. Upon reception of a signal from the lighting detector, the frequency controller sets the frequency of the output voltage of the DC-AC converter in the pre-lighting period of the discharge lamp higher than the frequency of the output voltage of the DC-AC converter after the lighting of the discharge lamp and restricts the inversion of the polarity of the output voltage of the DC-AC converter until a predetermined time passes sfrom the point of the activation of the discharge lamp.

Abstract: The method operates at least one fluorescent lamp (FL) using an electronic ballast. The ballast has a rectifier bridge (GL) which has AC mains voltage (L, N) across it, a connected step-up converter (L1, D1, V1), a half-bridge circuit (V2, V3) as well as a control loop (IC) for continuously monitoring the lamp current by means of a controlled drive circuit (CCO, SEL, HSD, LSD) of the power transistors (V2, V3), which drive circuit keeps the lamp current constant during normal operation. A timer (PST, IT, CT), which is started in a defined manner each time the lamp is started or a disturbance is detected, generates as superordinate control a time base for a monitoring circuit (MON). The monitoring circuit evaluates the instantaneous lamp current using predetermined reference levels (Mp, Mi and Mo) which vary in individual time segments (.DELTA.pt, .DELTA.it, .DELTA.st, .DELTA.

Abstract: Disclosed is a ballast circuit for a gas discharge lamp, including a resonant load circuit with a gas discharge lamp and first and second resonant impedances whose values determine the operating frequency of the resonant load circuit. The ballast circuit further includes a d.c.-to-a.c. converter circuit coupled to the resonant load circuit so as to induce an a.c. current in the resonant load circuit. The converter circuit comprises first and second switches serially connected between a bus conductor at a d.c. voltage and ground, and has a common node through which the bidirectional load current flows. A feedback arrangement regeneratively controls the first and second switches, and includes a circuit for sensing a.c. current in the resonant load circuit and producing a feedback signal in proportion to the a.c. current.

Abstract: A line current filter for less than 10% total harmonic distortion includes an isolation transformer having two mutually coupled coils connected to an AC power source and a voltage rectifier. A shunt circuit is connected in parallel to one of the mutually coupled coils. The shunt circuit is comprised of a series connected resistor and capacitor. The shunt circuit may also include a second resistor connected in parallel to the capacitor. A second capacitor is connected across the two mutually coupled coils between the isolation transformer and the DC rectifier.

Abstract: A filament-heater power supply includes a combination forward and flyback power converter for supplying electronically variable, isolated voltages to dimmable discharge lamp filaments while supplying a fixed dc output voltage to a ballast control circuit. Hence, only a single ballast power supply is needed. The control circuit controls the level of filament voltage to operate the lamp filaments at an optimum temperature, even during dimming operation, thereby substantially extending lamp life. The filament-heater power supply provides a high degree of isolation among filament voltages while regulating and tracking the voltage across each filament. The filament-heater power supply can preheat the filaments to aid lamp starting, thereby extending the useful life of the lamp, and is also structured to sense when a lamp is not present in a fixture so that high voltage starting pulses are not applied to the terminals of an empty fixture.

Abstract: A suppressor for an electronic ballast in a discharge lamp, which is connected between a ballast (A2) and a mains supply, including a supply-voltage rectifier (D2-D5) and a charging capacitor (C6). The suppressor includes at least one energy-storing inductance (L1) and at least two electronic switch elements (Q1, Q2) connected such that, when said switch elements are conducting simultaneously, a current path extends from the positive terminal of the rectifier through said switches and inductance to its negative terminal as well as two diodes (D6, D7) connected such that, when the switches (Q1, Q2) are non-conducting, a current path extends from the negative terminal of the rectifier through said diodes and inductance to its positive terminal.

Abstract: A fluorescent lighting system has: (A) a central power supply including: (i) a parallel-resonant self-oscillating bridge inverter operative to provide a 35 kHz sinusoidal output voltage at a pair of primary output terminals; (ii) a tank-inductor and a tank-capacitor parallel-connected across the primary output terminals; and (iii) plural pairs of secondary output terminals, each connected with the primary output terminals via its own dedicated current-limiting sub-circuit; thereby to prevent a load connected therewith from drawing more than a certain amount of power; thereby, in turn, to render each pair of secondary output terminals fire-hazard-safe and shock-hazard-safe; each pair of secondary power output terminals being connected with its own power output receptacle; and (B) a light-weight power cord plug-in-connected with one of the power output receptacles and having a pair of power conductors between which are connected a number of individually ballasted lighting units; each lighting unit having at lea

Abstract: A single-stage modular modulator for pulsed illumination sources uses a full-range converter which converts unregulated DC to a 40-50 kHz carrier modulated at a frequency of a few hundred to a few thousand hertz. The modulated carrier is applied to the illumination source through a step-down transformer followed by a low-pass filter circuit which removes the carrier. The converter is controlled by a modulation control which uses an instantaneous load current signal feedback to follow a modulation commend signal, and a current mode signal representing the primary current of the transformer to compensate for converter output variations caused by input voltage variations.