Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Kenichiro Takahashi

Satoshi Kominami

Koji Miyazaki

Mamoru Takeda

Toshiaki Kurachi

Masayoshi Gyoten

Yoko Matsubayashi

Kouji Miyazaki

Kenji Itaya

Katsushi Seki

Kazuhiko Ito

Takeshi Arakawa

Tetsuya Tahara

Kiyoshi Hashimotodani

Takayuki Imai

Mitsuharu Kawasaki

Yoji Tashiro

An electrodeless discharge lamp operating device including an electrodeless discharge lampand a ballast circuit, wherein the ballast circuitincludes: an AC-DC converterfor converting a phase-controlled AC voltage into a DC voltage; a DC-AC converterformed so as to intermittently drive the electrodeless discharge lampdue to the existence of an operating period during which a high-frequency voltage is applied to the electrodeless discharge lampso that the electrodeless discharge lampis operated, and an extinguishing period during which the generation of the high-frequency voltage is stopped so that the electrodeless discharge lampis extinguished; and a dimming controllerfor detecting the turn-on of the phase-controlled AC voltage, for outputting an intermittent command signal that changes the ratio between the operating period and the extinguishing period to the DC-AC converter, and for outputting a signal that maintains an intermittent dimmable operating state even if dimming state is in full illumination.

Electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device, light bulb type electrodeless fluorescent lamp and discharge lamp lighting device

An electrodeless self-ballasted fluorescent lamp includes an electrodeless fluorescent lamp, a ballast circuitand a lamp base which are formed as one unit. The ballast circuitincludes: an AC-DC converter; a DC-AC converterformed so as to intermittently drive the electrodeless fluorescent lamp; and a dimming controllerformed so as to detect the turn-on of a phase-controlled AC voltage and output an intermittent command signal for changing the ratio between an operating period and an extinguishing period to the DC-AC converter. Furthermore, the dimming controlleris formed so as to output a signal for extinguishing the electrodeless fluorescent lampbefore the operation thereof becomes unstable.

Electrodeless self-ballasted fluorescent lamp and discharge lamp operating device

A discharge lamp operating apparatus or a compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp includes: an AC/DC conversion unit for converting an alternating voltage phase-controlled by a dimmer into a direct current voltage; a DC/AC conversion unit for converting an output from the AC/DC conversion unit into a high frequency voltage and applying the high frequency voltage to a discharge lamp, whereby the discharge lamp is intermittently operated; and a dimming control unit which generates a dimming instruction signal for driving the DC/AC conversion unit so that the discharge lamp performs an intermittent operation and outputs the dimming instruction signal to the DC/AC conversion unit via a photocoupler , and synchronizes the timings of turn-ON and turn OFF of the phase-controlled voltage with the timings of turn-ON and turn OFF of an operation of the DC/AC conversion unit , respectively.

Electrodeless discharge lamp operating apparatus, electrodeless compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp and discharge lamp operating apparatus

A self-ballasted electrodeless discharge lamp includes a discharge vessel having a cavity, an induction coil that is inserted into the cavity, a ballast for supplying power to the induction coil, a case for covering the ballast, and a lamp base provided in the case. The discharge vessel is secured to the case via a holder. A part of the discharge vessel and a first portion of the holder are engaged with each other to constitute a combination structure. A second portion of the holder and a part of the case are engaged with each other to constitute a combination structure.

Self-ballasted electrodeless discharge lamp and electrodeless discharge lamp

The invention provides a self-ballasted fluorescent lamp provided with a function for operating normally when the self-ballasted fluorescent lamp is inadvertently connected to a lighting fixture provided with a light bulb dimmer if the dimmer is at the maximum level, and with a function for reliably stopping operation of the ballast circuit if the dimmer is in a dimmed state and thereby latch the lamp in an unlit state and protect the ballast circuit. Even if the self-ballasted fluorescent lamp is connected to a power source via a light bulb dimmer, when a current detected by a current detection circuit exceeds a predetermined current value, a stop circuit stops operation of an inverter circuit and latches it in that stopped state in order to maintain the self-ballasted fluorescent lamp in an unlit state.

Self-ballasted fluorescent lamp

A dimmable self-ballasted fluorescent lamp includes a fluorescent lamp, a ballast and a lamp base that are formed as one unit. The ballast includes a preheating current supply circuit for supplying a preheating current to the fluorescent lamp; an inverter circuit portion for supplying a high frequency AC voltage to the fluorescent lamp; and a control circuit portion for controlling a driving frequency of the inverter circuit portion. The ballast is provided with an output current limiting element for limiting an output current from the preheating current supply circuit.

Dimmable self-ballasted fluorescent lamp and discharge lamp operating apparatus

Discharge lamp operating apparatus, self-ballasted discharge lamp, dimmer and illumination kit for dimming

The present invention discloses an operating apparatus of discharge lamp comprising an AC/DC converter means for converting an ac voltage into a dc voltage, a DC/AC converter means for converting a dc output voltage of the AC/DC converter means into a high frequency ac voltage, a discharge lamp coupled to an output terminal of the DC/AC converter means, and a controller means by which the output of the DC/AC converter means is made variable according to an integrated value based on a half cycle of the ac voltage.

Operating apparatus of discharge lamp

A discharge lamp operating apparatus includes a discharge lamp and a driving circuit of the discharge lamp. The driving circuit can vary power to be supplied to the discharge lamp and has a function to turn off the discharge lamp at a supplied power value above a supplied power value at which unstable discharge occurs in the discharge lamp.

Discharge lamp operating apparatus

A fluorescent lamp apparatus includes a fluorescent tube, a ballast circuit for lighting the fluorescent tube, a case for housing the ballast circuit and a holder provided at the end of the case for holding the fluorescent tube. The ballast circuit includes at least a first circuit board and a second circuit board, and the first and second circuit boards are arranged substantially perpendicular to each other in the case. This configuration can suppress an increase in the size of the apparatus and prevent thermal damage to the circuit elements during lamp operation.

A fluorescent lamp operating apparatus comprises a power switching element electrically connected to a fluorescent lamp having a pair of electrodes, and means for limiting the current flowing through the power switching element by controlling its conductance so as to prevent the power switching element from being broken by a large current flowing from the power line through the fluorescent lamp when the impedance between the pair electrodes decreases from infinity at the start-up of the fluorescent lamp.

Growing community of inventors

Osaka, Japan

Kenichiro Takahashi