Bruce Industries, Inc.

Other

Douglas W Brooks

Jacek J Marcinkowski

Steven M Jenkins

Samuel H Auld, Jr

Mangalam K Balachander

Output protection for arc discharge lamp ballasts is provided by applying sampled ballast current to a burden capacitor selected to present a low impedance across the winding to a substantially symmetrical waveform of the sample current. Asymmetry between the positive and negative half-cycles of the sample waveform, such as partial rectification caused by abnormal lamp operation, results in charge buildup across the capacitor. Sufficient charge buildup actuates a ballast disabling switch such as a silicon controlled rectifier.

Output protection for arc discharge lamp ballast

A fault protection circuit for fluorescent lamp ballasts cuts off ballast power to the lamp in response to fast rise-time changes but not slower changes in either current output or voltage output of the ballast. The fault protection circuit is compatible with different ballast circuit topologies and features a floating reference level which renders the circuit insensitive to the lamp load wattage, making the circuit particularly useful in so-called universal ballasts.

Floating reference fault protection circuit for arc discharge lamp ballast

A relatively high efficiency, relatively light weight, relatively small electronic ballast or AC power controller for use in aircraft and elsewhere for controlling a fluorescent lamp load or other load includes an EMI filter, a multi-purpose transformer, a power conversion stage and a control circuitry stage. The ballast or controller operates to increase or decrease the voltage of the incoming sine wave AC voltage through a charging path for an energy storage inductor choke cooperating with an energy storage capacitor wherein the charging path for the capacitor is different from the discharge path of the capacitor to isolate the load from the charging of the capacitor and thus to provide an output to the load which is independent of the charging path and which is out of phase with the incoming waveform. This is achieved through conversion of the incoming AC power to a higher frequency and to a higher or lower voltage, under the control of a switching system, and reconversion to the input frequency, followed by filtering to remove the high frequency components. The system includes various novel feedback loops for the lamp current and the like for control of lamp current and dimming control. Various forms are described including a high efficiency form in which the incoming power is added to the ballast output for operation of the lamp load.

Electronic ballast and power controller

A simple and compact magnetic ballast for powering a wide range of fluorescent lamp load Wattage such as 14 Watt to 60 Watt without need for modification to the ballast unit. Arc current to the lamp load is supplied through a saturable reactor including a power winding on a magnetic core. Arc current delivered to the lamp load is a function of magnetic saturation of the core determined by a control current through a control winding on the core. In one application, multiple fluorescent lighting fixtures of different wattages illuminating the interior of an aircraft cabin are each powered by essentially identical ballast units for easier installation and maintenance of the cabin lighting.

Wide range load current regulation in saturable reactor ballast

A relatively high efficiency, relatively light weight, relatively small electronic ballast or AC power controller for use in aircraft and elsewhere for controlling a fluorescent lamp load or other load includes an EMI filter, a multi-purpose transformer, a power conversion stage and a control circuitry stage. The ballast or controller operates to increase or decrease the voltage of the incoming sine wave AC voltage through a charging path for an energy storage inductor choke cooperating with an energy storage capacitor wherein the charging path for the capacitor is different from the discharge path of the capacitor to isolate the load from the charging of the capacitor and thus to provide an output to the load which is independent of the charging path and which is out of phase with the incoming waveform. This is achieved through conversion of the incoming AC power to a higher frequency and to a higher or lower voltage, under the control of a switching system and reconversion to the input frequency, followed by filtering to remove the high frequency components. The system includes various novel feedback loops for the lamp current and the like for control of lamp current and dimming control. Various forms are described including a high efficiency form in which the incoming power is added to the ballast output for operation of the lamp load.

Growing community of inventors

Carson City, NV, United States of America

Douglas W Brooks