Panasonic Corporation

Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.

Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.

Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited

Osaka University

Jun Kumagai

Satoru Nagata

Nobutoshi Matsuzaki

Takeshi Kamoi

Naoki Komatu

Hirofumi Konishi

Junichi Hasegawa

Naoki Komatsu

Daisuke Yamahara

Takeshi Goriki

Masato Ueda

Minoru Maehara

Kenji Sato

Akira Yufuku

Hiroyasu Eriguchi

Akihiro Kishimoto

Nobuo Ukita

Tetsuya Satoh

Masahiro Miura

Akio Okude

Keisuke Sato

Kazuhiko Harada

Hiromitsu Mizukawa

Kouji Noro

Hayato Tsurugi

A discharge lamp ballast and method of operation are provided for generating a DC component in an output voltage during a lamp starting operation having a predetermined duration. The ballast includes an inverter having four switches arranged in a full-bridge configuration, a resonant circuit having a resonant frequency, and a control circuit. The method includes a step of sweeping an inverter operating frequency within a predetermined frequency range including the resonant frequency, wherein a high voltage is generated for igniting the lamp. The method further includes periodically and alternately repeating a first state of turning on a first set of diagonally positioned switching elements and turning off a second set of diagonally positioned switching elements, and a second state of turning on only one of the second set of switching elements and turning off the remaining three switching elements, respectively.

Electronic ballast and method for providing a DC voltage component during lamp startup

A device includes a direct current power circuit configured to convert an alternating current voltage from an alternating current power source into a direct current voltage, an output unit configured to convert a direct current from the direct current power circuit into a square wave alternating current whose polarity is inverted at a prescribed frequency and to supply the square wave alternating current to a high-pressure discharge lamp, a controller, and an anomaly detector configured to detect an instantaneous voltage drop of the alternating current power source. When the anomaly detector detects the instantaneous voltage drop, the controller switches from a normal lighting mode of controlling the output unit to supply the high-pressure discharge lamp with a square wave alternating current to a lighting maintained mode of controlling the output unit to supply the high-pressure discharge lamp with a square wave alternating current having a lower frequency than the square wave alternating current in the normal lighting mode. In this way, it is possible to maintain lighting of the high-pressure discharge lamp even upon occurrence of an instantaneous power failure, an instantaneous voltage drop, and the like.

High-voltage discharge lamp lighting device and lighting fixture

In an event of switching a DC output voltage of a boost chopper circuit from a first DC output voltage to a second DC output voltage, a boost chopper control circuit operates a boost chopper circuit intermittently. Therefore, a stop period of the boost chopper circuit is shortened as compared with a case where the boost chopper control circuit does not operate the boost chopper circuit intermittently. As a result, it becomes possible to supply a control power also when the DC output voltage of the boost chopper circuit is switched at a starting time of a high pressure discharge lamp while avoiding size and cost increases of a power supply circuit that supplies the control power.

High pressure discharge lamp lighting device and illumination instrument

A discharge lamp ballast is provided with a feedback control operation to provide optimal lamp current flow during an electrode heating operation. A startup circuit coupled together with a discharge lamp between output terminals of a DC-AC power converter having a plurality of switches. The startup circuit generates a high voltage to ignite the lamp. A lamp current sensor detects an amplitude of an output current to the lamp. A control circuit controls the switches in accordance with each of a plurality of control operations including a startup operation to ignite the lamp using the high voltage generated by the startup circuit, an electrode heating operation wherein an operating frequency of the switches is controlled to set the amplitude of the detected output current to a predetermined target current amplitude, and a normal operation wherein the operating frequency is reduced to maintain stable lighting of the lamp.

Discharge lamp ballast with feedback current control during an electrode heating operation

A high-pressure discharge lamp lighting device includes: a power converter circuit which includes a plurality of switching elements and an inductance element, converts an input from a DC power supply, and supplies a rectangular wave AC output to a high-pressure discharge lamp; and a control circuit which controls the switching elements of the power converter circuit. The control circuit performs first lighting control in which the switching elements of the power converter circuit are controlled in order to supply a current to a peak value for each switching cycle, and performs second lighting control in which desired power is supplied during steadily lighting state of the high-pressure discharge lamp; and the first lighting control and the second lighting control are switched over in response to a lighting state of the high-pressure discharge lamp.

High-pressure discharge lamp lighting device and lighting fixture using the same

An object of the present invention is to provide a fused ring compound which can show sufficient charge transport properties and also has excellent solubility in a solvent. The fused ring compound of the present invention is represented by the following formula (1): wherein Rand Reach independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an alkylthio group, an alkylamino group, an alkoxycarbonyl group having 3 or more carbon atoms in the alkyl moiety thereof, an aryl group which may have a substituent, a monovalent heterocyclic group which may have a substituent, or a cyano group, wherein at least one of Rand Ris not a hydrogen atom; Rand Reach independently represent a monovalent group and m and n are an integer of 0 to 2; Y, Y, Yand Yare a predetermined divalent group containing S, O, N, Se, Te or a double bond; Yand Yare selected so that a ring containing the groups forms a five-membered ring; and Yand Yare selected so that a ring containing the groups forms a five or six-membered ring.

Fused ring compound, method for producing the same, polymer, organic thin film containing the compound and/or polymer, and organic thin film device and organic thin film transistor each comprising the organic thin film

An electronic ballast is provided for powering a discharge lamp and suppressing lamp flicker during startup transition. A power converter receives DC input power and converts it into an AC power output. A resonant circuit is coupled with the lamp and also between output terminals of the power converter. A controller controls the power converter with respect to particular modes of operation. The controller in a starting operation sets the output frequency of the power converter to a predetermined start frequency upon lamp startup to make the lamp begin discharging. The controller shifts from the starting operation to steady-state operation by setting the output frequency of the power converter at a predetermined steady-state frequency lower than the start frequency. The predetermined start frequency is set to a frequency identical or close to 1/(an odd whole number) of the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit with the lamp unlit, and also to a frequency identical or close to the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit with the discharge lamp lit. The start frequency is sufficient to make the discharge lamp start discharging, and to raise a temperature of each electrode of the discharge lamp after lamp startup and by an end of the starting operation.

Electronic ballast with lamp flicker suppression during start-to-steady state transition

An electronic ballast is provided for powering a high-pressure discharge lamp. A power supply circuit receives an AC input and provides a DC output in response to the AC input. An inverter circuit having a plurality of switching elements converts the DC output into an AC signal for the lamp. An LC resonant circuit is coupled between the inverter circuit and the lamp. A control circuit controls the switching operation of the switching elements, with the switching control associated with various operating modes. In an electrical breakdown mode the switching elements are controlled at a first switching frequency effective to provide a first resonant voltage and produce electrical breakdown of the lamp from an unlit state. In a high frequency preheat mode the switching elements after startup of the lamp are controlled at a second switching frequency lower than the first switching frequency to provide a current for preheating lamp electrodes. In a rectangular wave lighting mode the switching elements after preheating of the lamp electrodes is controlled to supply a rectangular wave AC signal to the lamp and maintain steady state lighting.

High-pressure discharge lamp ballast with multi-mode lamp starting circuit

A high pressure discharge lamp lighting device in this invention comprises a converter, an inverter, an igniter, a controller, and a pulse voltage detection circuit. The converter outputs the direct current voltage. The inverter converts the direct current voltage into the lighting voltage which is alternating current voltage, and applies the lighting voltage to the high pressure discharge lamp through an output terminal. The igniter is configured to output the pulse voltage superimposed on the lighting voltage, whereby the starting voltage is applied to the high pressure discharge lamp. The controller is configured to control the igniter to allow the igniter to superimpose the pulse voltage on the lighting voltage. The pulse voltage detection circuit detects the starting voltage to output the detection signal. The starting voltage regulation circuit regulates the starting voltage to the desired voltage value of the voltage on the basis of the detection signal.

High pressure discharge lamp lighting device and lighting fixture using the same

A high pressure discharge lamp lighting device comprising an inverter, an igniter, a controller, a pulse voltage detection circuit, and the starting pulse voltage regulation circuit. The inverter applies a lighting voltage to a high pressure discharge lamp. The controller applies the starting pulse voltage generated by the igniter to the high pressure discharge lamp. The pulse voltage detection circuit is configured to detect a voltage indicative of the starting pulse voltage to output a detection signal. The starting pulse voltage regulation circuit is configured to regulate the starting pulse voltage to a desired value of the starting pulse voltage on the basis of the detection signal. The pulse voltage detection circuit is configured to detect either one of the voltage developed in the specified circuit component of the igniter and the starting pulse voltage as the voltage indicative of the voltage indicative of the starting pulse voltage.

A discharge lamp lighting device includes: a direct current power supply circuit that outputs direct current power; an inverter circuit that converts the direct current power, which is outputted by the direct current power supply circuit, into alternating current power, and supplies the alternating current power to a discharge lamp; a control circuit that controls a frequency of an output of the inverter circuit (operation frequency); and a starting detection circuit that detects beginning (starting) of a discharge in the discharge lamp. The control circuit operates in a starting improvement mode, in which the operation frequency is lowered than an operation frequency in a lighting mode, during a predetermined time from when the starting of the discharge lamp is detected by the starting detection circuitduring a no-load mode. Thereafter, the control circuit shifts to the lighting mode in which lighting of the discharge lamp is maintained. In such a way, the discharge lamp can be smoothly shifted to stable lighting.

Discharge lamp lighting device, lighting fixture, and lighting system

A high pressure discharge lamp lighting device includes a DC power source circuit; a power supply circuit for converting an output from the DC power source circuit into a square wave AC output to be supplied to a high pressure discharge lamp; a starting circuit for applying a high voltage output for lamp startup to the high pressure discharge lamp; a control circuit; and a half-wave discharge detection circuit for detecting a half-wave discharge. The detection circuit detects the half-wave discharge at an initial stage of the lamp startup and the control circuit controls the magnitude of a voltage of a square wave half period of one polarity having a load voltage of a larger magnitude and that of a square wave half period of the other polarity having a load voltage of a smaller magnitude to approximate to each other.

High pressure discharge lamp lighting device and luminaire using same

A high-voltage discharge lamp lighting device provides a starting pulse voltage sufficient to turn on a high-voltage discharge lamp having terminal wire connections of variable length. A power conversion circuit is coupled to a commercial AC power source input and rectifies the AC input into a predetermined DC voltage output. A charging capacitor is coupled to the power conversion circuit. A full bridge circuit is coupled to the power conversion circuit and the charging capacitor and provides a rectangular wave AC output signal to a transformer primary winding circuit of at least a capacitor, a single switching element and a primary winding of a transformer. A low pulse voltage is induced in the primary winding and a transformer secondary winding is connected on one end to the high-voltage discharge lamp, wherein the low pulse voltage is stepped up to a high pulse voltage and applied to the high-voltage discharge lamp. A reference voltage is generated in a reference transformer winding representative of the high pulse voltage. A starting pulse equivalent value detection circuit is connected to the reference winding and detects a value associated with the reference voltage. A control circuit receives said value from said detection circuit, and variably controls at least one of a frequency of the single switching element or an ON impedance of the single switching element in association with said value, wherein said frequency or ON impedance is further associated with a starting pulse voltage sufficient to start the high-voltage discharge lamp.

High voltage discharge lamp lighting device

There is provided a high-intensity discharge lamp lighting apparatus to be loaded with a plurality of types of high-intensity discharge lamps and connected with any one of the lamps to be lighted, and the apparatus comprises a power conversion circuit for converting power supplied from a DC power source to supply the power to a high-intensity discharge lamp and a lighting control circuit for controlling the supply power of the power conversion circuit, wherein the type of the connected high-pressure discharge lamp is determined based upon a change rate of an electric characteristic of the high-intensity discharge lamp during a specific period, and the connected high-intensity discharge lamp is lighted with a desired electric characteristic selected based upon the determination result, thereby enabling discrimination of types of rated power of the plurality of types of lamps by the same detection method and the same control method irrespective of states in starting of the lamps, and by enabling the discrimination before stable lighting of the lamp, it is possible to start the discharge lamp with little stress applied to the discharge lamp.

Discharge lamp lighting apparatus, luminaire and illumination system

A full bridge circuit including four switching elements (Qto Q) is alternated with a high switching frequency and a series-connected resonance circuit () including an inductor (L) and a capacitor (C) is made to resonate at a switching frequency of the full bridge circuit multiplied by an integer (for example, frequency multiplied by three), thereby generating a high voltage pulse for start up. After a high-pressure discharge lamp (DL) is started up, the full bridge circuit is alternated with a low switching frequency so as to operate as a step-down chopper for inverting the output polarity, thereby stably supplying rectangular wave voltage of low frequency to the high-pressure discharge lamp (DL) via a filter circuit including an inductor (L) and a capacitor (C).

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Suita, Japan

Jun Kumagai