Abstract: A semiconductor circuit includes: a first inductor part configured to connect in series with a source electrode of a first semiconductor element; and a second inductor part configured to connect in series with a source electrode in a second semiconductor element that is configured to connect in parallel with the first semiconductor element; the first inductor part and the second inductor part are arranged to generate an induced electromotive force in the first inductor part and the second inductor part by way of a magnetic interaction so that the currents flowing in the first inductor part and the second inductor part are reinforced in the same direction.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, one or more systems, methods, and/or processes may display, via a graphical user interface, a graphic; and for each time value in ordered multiple time values: may determine, based at least on the time value of the ordered multiple time values, first multiple light intensity values of respective first multiple pseudo light sources at respective first multiple positions with respect to the graphical user interface and associated with a first clipping path of the graphic; for each pixel of first multiple within the first clipping path of the graphic, may determine a lightness value for the pixel of the first multiple pixels based at least on non-linear relationships of distances between the pixel of the first multiple pixels and each of the first multiple positions; and may display, via the graphical user interface, the first multiple pixels within the first clipping path of the graphic.

Abstract: A controller for an oil fired burner for operating the ignitor initially in an interrupted mode, and instructing the burner to switch to intermittent ignition for a plurality of call-for-heat (“CFH”) cycles if it is determined that the flame quality is insufficient during the flame-proved period. On the last predetermined iteration cycle, a reset condition occurs; setting a counter back to zero, and a retry ignition is performed to operate once again in interrupted ignition mode. When the apparatus is in interrupted ignition mode, if the current CFH cycle ends normally by satisfying the call, the ignition will remain in the interrupted ignition mode.

Abstract: A current distribution apparatus comprising a common current source arranged to deliver an input current into a plurality of branches such that the input current is distributed into a plurality of individual branch currents, wherein each of the plurality of branches includes an inductive arrangement arranged to form an inductive coupling with an associated inductive arrangement of at least one other associated branch.

Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) based luminaire driving arrangement constituted of: a switched driver; a plurality of LED based luminaires arranged to receive power from the switched driver; at least one electronically controlled switch in series with at least one of the plurality of LED based luminaires and arranged to alternatively pass current through the at least one LED based luminaire when closed and prevent the flow of current through the at least one LED based luminaire when opened; and at least one synchronous driver in communication with the at least one electronically controlled switch, the at least one synchronous driver arranged to close the at least one electronically controlled switch only when the switched driver is actively supplying power.

Abstract: A system for driving an LED (light-emitting diode) lamp includes a dimmer circuit coupled to a line input voltage for varying a magnitude of an input voltage and a transformer having a primary winding, a secondary winding, and one or more auxiliary windings, the primary winding coupled to the dimmer circuit. The system also includes an output rectifying circuit coupled to the secondary winding for providing an output current to the LED lamp and a power switch coupled to the primary winding for controlling a current flow in the primary winding. The system further includes a controller having a comparator and a capacitor for providing a control signal to control the power switch for regulating the output current.

Abstract: An inverter switches input voltage Vin to flow an excitation current to excitation winding Np of a transformer and output to a discharger an alternating voltage Vout from the output winding Ns. In an output circuit flowing a current to the discharger, a voltage-responsive connector is connected in series with the winding Ns to interrupt or connect the output circuit according to a voltage applied to between opposed electrodes. The voltage-responsive connector has characteristics of keeping the electrodes in an insulated state until an instantaneous value of the alternating voltage reaches a predetermined value, and holding the electrodes in a conduction state while the instantaneous value of the alternating voltage has reached the predetermined value and continues to exceed the predetermined value, and quickly returning the electrodes to the insulated state when the instantaneous value of the alternating voltage has fallen below the predetermined value.

Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) illuminating apparatus including a heat sink, a light emitting module, a power connection portion, a translucent cover and a wiring path. The heat sink has a plurality of heat dissipation fins. The light emitting module is positioned on an upper portion of the heat sink. The power connection portion is positioned below a lower portion of the heat sink. The translucent cover is mounted to cover an upper portion of the light emitting module. The wiring path is formed in the heat sink so as to accommodate a wire for electrically connecting the power connection portion and the light emitting module. In the LED illuminating apparatus, the light emitting module emits light by directly receiving AC power supplied through the wire accommodated in the wiring path.

Abstract: A power supply for use in a UV curing lamp assembly is disclosed. The power supply is powered by two intermediate frequency (200-400 Hz) low voltage sinusoidal power sources that drive the primary windings of a dual laminated transformer. The low voltage sinusoidal power sources are configured to have different phases. The out-of-phase low voltage sine wave sources are converted to high voltage sine waves on the secondary windings of the dual laminated transformer having the same phase difference relationship. A single rectifier comprising six high voltage diodes, called a ladder rectifier, combine the two out-of-phase sine waves into a single, approximately DC output power source. By modulating a phase difference between two input sine wave power sources, the approximate DC output voltage exiting the ladder rectifier may be alternated between a low ripple mode of about a 13.84% ripple, a high current mode, a high voltage mode, and an intermediate mode with a ripple in the range of about 13.84% to about 100%.

Abstract: In a first aspect, an LLC resonant converter is provided for driving a plurality of output circuits from a DC input signal. The LLC resonant converter includes: (a) an inverter circuit for converting the DC input signal to a square-wave signal; (b) an inductor network coupled to the inverter circuit; and (c) a plurality of transformers, each transformer including a primary winding and a secondary winding. The primary windings of the transformers are coupled in series, and the series-coupled primary windings are coupled in parallel with the inductor network. The secondary winding of each transformer is coupled to and provides a current to a corresponding one of the output circuits. The secondary winding currents are substantially equal, and power is processed by a single transformer between the DC input signal and each output circuit. Numerous other aspects are also provided.

Abstract: System and method for driving a plurality of cold-cathode fluorescent lamps. The system includes a subsystem configured to receive at least a DC voltage and generate a first AC voltage in response to at least the DC voltage, a power converter configured to receive the first AC voltage and convert the first AC voltage to at least a second AC voltage, and a plurality of current balancing devices. Each of the plurality of current balancing devices is configured to receive two currents and balance the two currents. The power converter and the plurality of current balancing devices are capable of being directly or indirectly coupled to a plurality of cold-cathode fluorescent lamps.

Abstract: A feeding body 106 has a cylindrical part capable of housing a light source cartridge 104. A feeding coil L2 for supplying AC power to the light source cartridge 104 is buried in the bottom surface of the cylindrical part of the feeding body 106. A power transmission control circuit 108 supplies AC power to the feeding coil L2. The feeding body 106 can change the insertion depth of the light source cartridge 104 and has, in the inner wall, a screw groove for stabilizing the position of the light source cartridge.

Abstract: A lighting system for illuminating a chamber in a building includes a lighting fixture suitable for being mounted onto a surface of the chamber, so that light emitted by at least one CCFL device mechanically supported by the fixture illuminates the chamber.

Abstract: A brightness controller determines a lowest dimmer setpoint and an average power to a light source at the lowest dimmer setpoint. An average power supplied to the light source is set based on a setting of the dimmer relative to the average power at the lowest dimmer setpoint.

Abstract: There are provided a current balance circuit having a protection function that prevents the current balance circuit from being damaged during a preset time period by maintaining a constant level of power being supplied to the lamp, and a power supply. The current balance circuit having the protection function includes a current balance unit maintaining current balance of lamp driving power supplied to a lamp unit including a plurality of lamps, and a protection unit detecting the lamp driving power supplied to the lamp unit from the current balance unit, cutting-off the lamp driving power after a preset time period when the lamp operates abnormally, and controlling a voltage level of the lamp driving power to a preset reference voltage level or lower during the preset time period.

Abstract: Driver system and method for multiple cold-cathode fluorescent lamps and/or external-electrode fluorescent lamps. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a system for driving a plurality of cold-cathode fluorescent lamps. The system includes a subsystem configured to receive at least a DC voltage and generate a first AC voltage in response to at least the DC voltage. The system also includes a power converter configured to receive the first AC voltage and convert the first AC voltage to at least a second AC voltage. The system further includes a plurality of current balancing devices. Each of the plurality of current balancing devices is configured to receive two currents and balance the two currents. The plurality of current balancing devices includes at least a first current balancing device, a second current balancing device, and a third current balancing device. In addition, the system includes a plurality of lamp pairs.

Abstract: Plasma treatment systems and methods for distributing RF energy to electrodes in a plasma treatment system. The plasma treatment system includes power and ground busses, positive and negative phase primary electrode busses, and positive and negative phase secondary electrode busses. The power and ground busses are coupled to the secondary electrode busses by isolation transformers so that the negative phase secondary electrode buss is provided with an RF signal that is 180 degrees out of phase with the RF signal supplied to the positive phase secondary electrode buss. The secondary electrode busses are coupled to respective positive and negative phase primary electrode busses by capacitors. The primary electrode busses are each coupled to electrodes in the vacuum chamber. Load coils coupling the primary electrode busses to an RF ground may cooperative with the capacitors to adjust the input impedance at the power buss.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lamp driving circuit. When it is used to drive a number of lamps arranged in a hybrid serial-parallel configuration, the lamp driving circuit eliminates the parasitic current in series branch circuits by using an inverse transformer, which makes the current passing each of the lamps in each of the series branch circuits consistent and consequently eliminates the imbalance of each of the lamps.

Abstract: A ring balancer comprising a plurality of balancing transformers facilitates current sharing in a multi-lamp backlight system. The balancing transformers have respective primary windings separately coupled in series with designated lamps and have respective secondary windings coupled together in a closed loop. The secondary windings conduct a common current and the respective primary windings conduct proportional currents to balance currents among the lamps. The ring balancer facilitates automatic lamp striking and the lamps can be advantageously driven by a common voltage source.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a circuit arrangement having a transformation apparatus, which has a primary side (P) and a secondary side (S), wherein the primary side and the secondary side (S) are DC-isolated from one another, wherein the primary side (P) has a terminal for a supply voltage (UE) and is connected to a first reference potential, wherein the secondary side (S) comprises a first and a second output line, which, in the normal case, are not coupled to a reference potential and which form an output terminal, at which a voltage for a load (LA) can be provided, wherein it furthermore comprises: an apparatus for tapping off a measured voltage potential (CP) on the secondary side (S); and an apparatus (10) for determining whether the measured voltage potential is in a permissible range. The invention moreover relates to an operating method for a lamp using a circuit arrangement.

Abstract: A discharge lamp lighting circuit is capable of preventing the discharge lamp from going out unexpectedly. The discharge lamp lighting circuit includes a DC-AC inverter which receives a power source voltage, boosts and converts the power source voltage into AC and supplies AC electric power to the discharge lamp 21. A control circuit sends a long cycle signal when the discharge lamp 21 is started. The cycle of the long cycle signal is longer than a frequency at the time of steady lighting. The control circuit sends a steady drive signal, which is a frequency at the time of steady lighting, to the DC-AC inverter 25. A cycle of the long cycle signal is set according to at least one of the power source voltage, the temperature of the discharge lamp lighting circuit or the extinguishing time.

Abstract: The present utility model relates to an electromagnetic interference suppressing apparatus for a high-frequency signal generation device. The high-frequency signal generation device includes an inverter means which is used for converting a direct current signal into a high-frequency alternating current signal, wherein the electromagnetic interference suppressing apparatus includes an electric conductor which is in capacitive or inductive coupling with the high-frequency signal generation device and is connected to the reference zero voltage point of the direct current signal. With the present utility model, the electromagnetic interference generated by the high-frequency signal generation device may be effectively suppressed in the case where a reliable earthing is not achievable.

Abstract: A multi-lamp driving circuit for driving a plurality of lamp groups includes an inversion circuit configured to drive the plurality of lamp groups and a current balance circuit electrically connected between the inversion circuit and the plurality of lamp groups. The current balance circuit includes a plurality of transformers, each including a first magnetic loop composed of a first primary winding and a first secondary winding and a second magnetic loop composed of a second primary winding and a second secondary winding. Numbers of turns of the second primary winding and the second secondary winding of each of the plurality of transformers are equivalent, and numbers of turns of the first primary winding and the first secondary winding of each of the plurality of transformers are equivalent.

Abstract: A driving circuit of multi-lamps including a power supply module, a transformer module, a first detection module, and a control module is provided. Whether the power supply module is turned off is controlled by a control signal. The transformer module respectively provides a driving signal and an inverted driving signal to a first terminal and a second terminal of each lamp according to the AC signal. The first detection module detects a first indication signal combined by signals of the first terminal of one lamp and the second terminal of another lamp. The control module generates the control signal according to the first indication signal. Therefore, whether the lamps have a problem of a short circuit or an open circuit, or are in abnormal states can be known from the variations of the first indication signal, and a protection function for the driving circuit can be activated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lamp driving circuit capable of achieving miniaturization by using a safe insulation type multi-output transformer.

Abstract: A multi-lamp driving circuit for driving a plurality of lamps includes at least one power stage circuit, at least one transformer circuit, a balancing circuit, and a control circuit. The power stage circuit converts external electrical signals to alternating current (AC) signals. The transformer circuit is connected to the power stage circuit, to convert the AC signals to high voltage electrical signals capable of driving the lamps. The balancing circuit balances current flowing through the lamps, and includes a capacitor balancing circuit and a transformer balancing circuit. The control circuit is connected between the balancing circuit and the power stage circuit, to control output of the power stage circuit according to variation of the current flowing through the lamps.

Abstract: A discharge lamp operating system has first and second discharge lamp operating circuits. The first discharge lamp operating circuit includes first and second primary windings, a first secondary winding, a first discharge lamp connected to the first primary winding, and a second discharge lamp connected to the second primary winding. The second discharge lamp operating circuit includes third and fourth primary windings, a second secondary winding, a third discharge lamp connected to the third primary winding, and a fourth discharge lamp connected to the fourth primary winding. The first secondary winding and the second secondary winding are connected in series.

Abstract: Embodiment relate to a lamp driving device and a liquid crystal display device having the same. The embodiments include a plurality of lamps having first and second electrodes, an inverter substrate supplying a high voltage alternating current to at least one of the first and second electrodes of the lamps, a plurality of capacitors connected to the first and second electrodes of the lamps, and a board capacitor connected to at least one of the capacitors.

Abstract: In an apparatus for driving a CCFL, a first inverter outputs a first alternating current (AC) voltage to one end of the CCFL. A second inverter outputs a second AC voltage having a reversed phase to the first AC voltage to the other end of the CCFL. A first current-voltage converting circuit converts a secondary current of a first transformer in the first inverter to a voltage and outputs the voltage as a first detection voltage. A second current-voltage converting circuit converts a secondary current of a second transformer in the second inverter to a voltage and outputs the voltage as a second detection voltage. A first abnormality detection circuit determines a circuit abnormality when the potential difference between the first and second detection voltages exceeds a predetermined first threshold voltage.

Abstract: A backlighting arrangement constituted of: a means for receiving an alternating current comprising a first lead and a second lead; at least one luminaire; and at least one first balancing transformer pair each associated with a particular one of the at least one luminaire, the primary of a first balancing transformer of the first balancing transformer pair serially coupled between the first lead of the means for receiving an alternating current and a first end of each of the at least one luminaire, and the primary of a second balancing transformer of the first balancing transformer pair serially coupled between the second lead of the means for receiving an alternating current and a second end of each of the at least one luminaire. The secondaries of all of the at least one first balancing transformer pair are serially connected in a closed in-phase loop.

Abstract: An apparatus for driving a backlight includes a controller for driving a lamp; a limiter for preventing the controller from driving the lamp during a contact condition of the lamp; and means for disabling the limiter during a first time of the controller, wherein the controller drives the lamp from a zero condition to the contact condition during the first time of the controller.

Abstract: A backlighting arrangement constituted of: a driving transformer; at least one balancing transformer; a plurality of luminaires, a first end of each of the plurality of luminaires connected to a high voltage lead of the driving transformer and a second end of each of the plurality of luminaires connected to a unique end of a winding of the at least one balancing transformer, wherein each pair of the luminaires is associated with a particular winding of one of the at least one balancing transformers, and wherein the first end and the second end of each of the luminaires is in physical proximity of the driving transformer and the at least one balancing transformer, the constituent lamps of the luminaires arranged in parallel and generally extending axially away from the proximity of the driving transformer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a power supply device for supplying power to a load, preferably a LED, comprising a first circuitry (12) with an inverter unit (24) adapted to provide an AC voltage, preferably a rectangular voltage, and a resonant circuit (30) with a capacitance (32) and an inductance (34), a second circuitry (14) with a rectifier unit (42), a switch (64) and said load (60), said switch being adapted to switch said load on and off, a controller unit (16) adapted to control said switch (64) as to adjust the power provided to said load (60) without any measurement signal from said primary circuitry (12), and a transformer (18) with a primary side (20) and a secondary side (22), said primary side being connected to said first circuitry (12) and said secondary side (22) being connected to said second circuitry (14), preferably said rectifier, so that said first and second circuitries are galvanically isolated.

Abstract: A multi-lamp backlight apparatus is disclosed. The multi-lamp backlight apparatus includes 2N lamps, N balancing transformers, and a high-voltage power source. N is a positive integer and k is an integer index ranging from 1 to N. The kth balancing transformer among the N balancing transformers includes a first primary winding, a second primary winding, and a secondary winding. The first primary winding connects in series with the (2k?1)th lamp of the 2N lamps. The second primary winding connects in series with the first primary winding and the (2k)th lamp. The secondary winding corresponds to the first primary winding and the second primary winding. The high-voltage power source is connected between the first primary windings and the second primary windings.

Abstract: A higher power package is provided in a smaller package by providing at least first and second magnetics in parallel in first and second transformers. To limit degrading performance associated with circulating current between the two transformers, the transformers are electrically decoupled. In a preferred embodiment, the circuit includes parallel primary and secondary windings of the transformer that are decoupled electrically on an output side. Particularly, diodes are provided in a preheat portion of the circuit so that once the preheat phase is terminated, the diodes prevent current flow in one direction through the preheat portion of the circuit.

Abstract: A two-stage balancer for a multi-lamp backlight is electrically connected to a driving unit through a driving transformer. The two-stage balancer includes a plurality of first balancing transformers, second balancing transformers, and lighting units. Each of the first balancing transformers is electrically connected to the corresponding second balancing transformers to form a two-stage structure. In addition, a primary winding and a secondary winding of the second balancing transformer is electrically connected in series to one lighting unit, respectively, to form a circuit loop. Further, each of the circuit loops is electrically connected in parallel. Whereby the two-stage balancer provides much better current balance between the parallel circuit loops, and outputs a sinusoid-like driving current to increase lighting efficacy and further maintain uniform brightness of the multi-lamp backlight.

Abstract: A driving apparatus and a driving method are disclosed that are capable of uniformly lighting each entire fluorescent tube irrespective of the length or number of fluorescent tubes when simultaneously driving a plurality of fluorescent tubes in a fluorescent tube lighting apparatus. When two inverter circuits having respective transformers are provided at both ends of a fluorescent tube to light the fluorescent tube by push-pull driving, feedback windings of transformers not used in self-excited oscillation of each inverter circuit are connected together, with the transformer connection that connects together the feedback windings being either in-phase or in opposite phase, and the method of connection for fluorescent tubes connecting to secondary windings of each transformer can be changed in accordance with that connection method.

Abstract: A ring balancer comprising a plurality of balancing transformers facilitates current sharing in a multi-lamp backlight system. The balancing transformers have respective primary windings separately coupled in series with designated lamps and have respective secondary windings coupled together in a closed loop. The secondary windings conduct a common current and the respective primary windings conduct proportional currents to balance currents among the lamps. The ring balancer facilitates automatic lamp striking and the lamps can be advantageously driven by a common voltage source.

Abstract: The coil component comprises a primary coil, and a first secondary coil and a second secondary coil which are opposed to the primary coil. A first terminal is a terminal of the first secondary coil, that is a terminal for connection to one end of a lamp, and a second terminal is a terminal of the second secondary coil, that is a terminal for connection to the other end of the lamp. The first secondary coil and the second secondary coil are coaxially disposed, and the first terminal and the second terminal are reverse in polarity.

Abstract: The invention discloses a backlight apparatus. The backlight apparatus includes a power source, a lamp, a balance transformer, a detecting circuit, a judging module, and a controlling module. The balance transformer includes a primary winding electrically connected to the power source and a secondary winding corresponding to the primary winding and electrically connected to the lamp. The detecting circuit is used for detecting a current generated by the secondary winding and generating a first voltage according to the current. The judging module is used for judging whether the value of the first voltage is smaller than a default value. The controlling module is used for controlling the power source according to a judgment made by the judging module.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method for igniting a lamp of a projector. The method includes steps of: (a) sensing a first temperature difference in response to power-off of the projector; (b) in response to power-on of the projector, detecting an aftercooling time and judging whether it is smaller than a predetermined cooling time, if YES, perform step (c); otherwise, perform step (g); (c) sensing a second temperature difference; (d) judging whether a ratio of the second temperature difference to the first temperature difference is larger than a threshold, if YES, perform step (e); otherwise, perform step (g); (e) calculating a re-cooling time; (f) controlling a fan to operate for the re-cooling time to cool the lamp down; and (g) igniting the lamp.

Abstract: System and method for driving a plurality of cold-cathode fluorescent lamps. The system includes a subsystem configured to receive at least a DC voltage and generate a first AC voltage in response to at least the DC voltage, a power converter configured to receive the first AC voltage and convert the first AC voltage to at least a second AC voltage, and a plurality of current balancing devices. Each of the plurality of current balancing devices is configured to receive two currents and balance the two currents. The power converter and the plurality of current balancing devices are capable of being directly or indirectly coupled to a plurality of cold-cathode fluorescent lamps.

Abstract: An economical device for lighting lamps such as discharge tubes. The lamp-lighting apparatus has an inverter transformer, a switching circuit connected with the primary winding of the inverter transformer and acting to perform switching for converting a voltage from an input power supply, a shunt transformer connected in series with the secondary winding of the inverter transformer, lamps connected in series with the shunt transformers, and a control circuit for producing a control signal to control the switching performed by the switching circuit based on the voltages at the junctions of the shunt transformer and each of the lamps without directly detecting the voltage applied to the secondary winding of the inverter transformer. The number of protective circuits can be reduced. Consequently, the cost can be reduced.

Abstract: A lighting system for illuminating a chamber in a building includes a lighting fixture suitable for being mounted onto a surface of the chamber, so that light emitted by at least one CCFL device mechanically supported by the fixture illuminates the chamber. The one CCFL device includes at least one transformer. A driver adapted to be connected to a surface of the chamber is capable of converting input power from a power source to an AC power having a voltage in the range of about 5-400 volts at a frequency in the range of about 1 kc-100 kc. The at least one transformer is suitable for converting the AC power to an output power suitable for operating the at least one CCFL, causing the at least one CCFL to emit light. Physically separating the driver from the at least one CCFL device reduces the adverse effects of heat generated by the at least one CCFL device on the driver and increasing the useful life of the CCFL lighting system.

Abstract: A method of driving a lamp of a liquid crystal display device includes generating a control signal; generating a first drive signal using the control signal; generating a second drive signal by shifting a voltage level of the first drive signal; selectively outputting one of a high potential supply voltage and a low potential supply voltage in response to the second drive signal; transforming the selectively outputted voltage; and supplying the transformed voltage to a lamp.

Abstract: An apparatus for driving lamps and a liquid crystal display having the same, wherein the uniformity of luminance among lamps is improved, includes a main transformer unit for supplying a driving voltage to the lamps, and a balance transformer unit for making a lamp current of each of the lamps uniform. The balance transformer unit has a plurality of coils wound on a single body, and the coils have the same turns ratio and share magnetic flux so that a constant uniform current can flow through each of the coils. Accordingly, a lamp current of each of the lamps connected to the respective coils of the balance transformer unit can be maintained to be constant, and thus, the luminance of the lamp can be maintained uniformly.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved lamp circuit of a liquid crystal device (LCD) backlight source, comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) for lamp initialization having a control circuit and a first connector thereon; a first lamp connection board disposed between the first lamp connection board and a second lamp connection board and being lamps of the LCD backlight source; a second lamp connection board having a second connector and transformers thereon, the transformers each corresponding to one of the lamps; and a low voltage wire set connected between the first connector on the PCB for lamp initialization and the second connector on the second lamp connection board, wherein a signal issued from the first connector on the PCB for lamp initialization is transmitted through the low voltage wire set to the second connector on the first PCB for lamp initialization and then to a corresponding one of the transformers so that the lamps may be driven to operate.

Abstract: A system for driving a plurality of lamps comprises a lamp module, an inverter circuit providing currents to the lamp module, an interface for conveying the currents, a splitter, a balance unit, and a fault detecting circuit. The splitter receives the currents provided by the inverter circuit through the interface and distributing the currents to the plurality of lamps. The balance unit balances the currents provided to the plurality of lamps in the lamp module. The fault detecting circuit detects and reports a condition of at least one of the lamps by detecting signals generated from the inverter circuit. The fault detecting circuit receives the signal from a point in the system, such that the fault detecting circuit can detects the signals before the signal undergoes the distributing by the splitter.

Abstract: A multi-discharge tube lighting apparatus connectable to a power source comprising a first output terminal and a second output terminal respectively outputting voltages of opposite phases, the lighting apparatus comprises first to n-th discharge tube units where n represents an integer of two or more, each of which has a first end connected to the first output terminal and a second end connected to the second output terminal and comprises at least one discharge tube, a first winding, and a second winding, which are connected in series between a first end and a second end. The first winding of the first discharge tube unit is electromagnetically coupled via a transformer to the second winding of the n-th discharge tube unit. The first windings of the second and subsequent discharge tube units are electromagnetically coupled via transformers to the second windings of the previous discharge tube units, respectively.

Abstract: A light fixture includes a CCFL and a driving circuit. The driving circuit includes a first voltage converter and a high-voltage inverter. The first voltage converter provides a DC voltage signal according to a power signal. The high-voltage inverter comprises a second voltage converter and a first transformer. The second voltage converter converts the DC voltage signal into an AC voltage signal. The first transformer is corresponding to the first CCFL and includes a first primary winding circuit and a first secondary winding circuit. The first primary winding circuit has a first input voltage signal in response to the AC voltage signal. The first secondary winding circuit is coupled with the first input voltage signal to generate a first output voltage signal for driving the first CCFL. The first primary and secondary winding circuits belong to a primary-side circuit and receive the same ground voltage signal.