North American Philips Corporation

U.S. Philips Corporation

Mark W Fellows

Edward H Stupp

John M Wong

Edmond Toy

Walter G Steneck

Robert A Erhardt

James A Thomsen, Jr

Gert W Bruning

Vincent J Spataro

Leonard R Guarnera

John R Shannon

An electronic controller for fluorescent lamps includes a DC to AC converter which supplies high frequency current to the lamps and a preconditioner stage which includes a switched mode power supply connected to accept line power and produce a DC input for the DC to AC converter. The switched mode power supply and the DC to AC converter are synchronized to operate in a fixed phase relationship and/or at the same frequency.

Fluorescent lamp controllers

A controller operates in pre-ignition and ignition phases to obtain stable and reliable control of operation of a half-bridge DC-AC converter in a frequency range which is offset from a resonant frequency of an output circuit which includes a transformer and capacitors and which couples the converter to a fluorescent lamp load. The converter is supplied with a DC voltage from a switched-mode DC-DC supply of a pre-conditioner circuit which responds to a full-wave rectified AC voltage and which is supplied with pulse-width modulated gating pulses from the controller, preferably at a frequency which is the same as that of the converter. The controller monitors signals from the output circuit and pre-conditioner circuits and exercises control to reliable starting and highly efficient lamp operation and to obtain an in-phase proportional relationship of input voltage and current wave forms.

A fluorescent lamp control system operable from either an AC power supply of a first frequency or a power supply of a second frequency and which operates the lamp in a dimmed condition when the power supply is that of the second frequency.

Fluorescent lamp ballast operable from two different power supplies

A controller operates in pre-ignition and ignition phases to obtain stable and reliable control of operation of a half-bridge DC-AC converter in a frequency range which is offset from a resonant frequency of an output circuit which includes a transformer and capacitors and which couples the converter to a fluorescent lamp load. The converter is supplied with a DC voltage from a switched-mode DC-DC supply of a pre-conditioner circuit which responds to a full-wave rectified AC voltage and which is supplied with pulse-width modulated gating pulses from the controller, preferably at a frequency which is the same as that of the converter. The controller monitors signals from the output circuit and pre-conditioner circuits and exercises control to reliable starting and highly efficient lamp operation and to obtain an in-phase proportional relationship of input voltage and current waveforms.

A current fed high frequency oscillator-inverter ballast circuit includes a parallel resonant tank circuit for driving a pair of series connected discharge lamps via a series ballast capacitor. A regenerative power supply switches on when a fluctuating main DC supply voltage drops below a given level thereby providing a constant level auxiliary DC supply voltage to the oscillator inverter to maintain oscillation and lamp operation. When the main DC supply voltage exceeds said given level, the regenerative power supply switches out. The oscillation frequency is f.sub.2 during operation of the main supply and automatically switches to a frequency f.sub.1 when the regenerative power supply takes over. The frequency shift is automatic during each half cycle of a 60 Hz AC supply and is in a direction so as to maintain lamp current relatively constant. A novel high frequency leakage transformer may be provided to couple the high frequency inverter to the discharge lamp load to provide both a current limiting (ballast) action and automatic control of the lamp heater current to maintain high efficiency operation.

High-frequency oscillator-inverter ballast circuit for discharge lamps

A variable high-frequency ballast circuit for igniting and operating energy saver discharge lamps includes a high frequency inverter that energizes the lamps with a given high frequency voltage at which reliable lamp ignition is assured. The lamp current is monitored so as to automatically increase the lamp operating frequency to an optimum value as soon as the lamps ignite.

Variable high frequency ballast circuit

A variable frequency current control circuit for one or more discharge lamps comprises a push-pull oscillator inverter having an inductance in the DC supply, a non-resonant coupling circuit for coupling the output of the oscillator inverter to the lamp (or lamps) and cycle-by-cycle frequency control of the oscillator in response to a lamp current sensor thereby to automatically control the impedance of the lamp ballast in a sense to regulate the lamp current.

Variable frequency current control device for discharge lamps

A push-pull current-fed parallel resonant oscillator includes a parallel resonant LC tank circuit with one end coupled to one terminal of a DC current source via a serially connected first diode and first switching transistor and the other end of the tank circuit coupled to said one terminal via a serially connected second diode and second switching transistor. Respective capacitors (17, 21) shunt the series connections. The tank circuit inductor includes the primary of a transformer whose secondary is part of the transistor drive circuit. The circuit parameters are chosen to provide a duty cycle less than 50% and a high voltage gain of the AC tank voltage. The transistors are controlled to delay the turn-off time of the on-transistor thereby allowing a negative voltage to develop on the opposite capacitor which in turn delays turn-off of its parallel connected transistor so as to provide a dead-time (.DELTA.t.sub.2) during the switching interval in which both transistors are simultaneously off. The oscillator voltage gain is dependent on the circuit parameters and the load.

High frequency high voltage power supply preventing simultaneous

A lamp circuit having a push pull oscillator including an inductance in the D.C. supply, non-resonant coupling circuit to the lamp and cycle-by-cycle frequency control of the oscillator regulated by a lamp current sensor.

Varible frequency current control device for discharge lamps

A control circuit for starting and operating a gas discharge lamp comprising a variable frequency waveform generator coupled to the discharge lamp via a non-resonant coupling network that includes a reactance type ballast impedance. The lamp current is monitored to automatically vary the frequency of the variable frequency generator as a function of the lamp current so as to vary the reactance of the ballast impedance in a sense to regulate or limit the lamp current.

A high frequency oscillator-inverter ballast-ignition system for a discharge lamp includes a leakage reactance transformer that forms a part of the oscillator-inverter and also couples same to the discharge lamp. An impedance element electrically couples the primary and secondary windings of the transformer in additive phase to provide more reliable lamp ignition over a wider range of voltage and temperature than was heretofore possible. The preheat time period of the lamp cathodes can be better controlled by a proper choice of the transformer heater winding turns.

High frequency ballast-ignition system for discharge lamps

A method of controlling the power output of a magnetron tube, and an electric power supply for supplying power to the tube. According to the method, power is continuously supplied to the magnetron heater. At the same time, a voltage is continuously applied across the anode and the cathode of the tube. This voltage across the anode and the cathode varies in cycles between a first value, which is substantially at or below the threshold voltage of the magnetron tube, and a second value, which is above the threshold voltage. The average magnetron power output is determined by the proportion of each cycle during which the voltage across the anode and the cathode is above the threshold voltage.

Power supply for a magnetron

A magnetic transformer switch which switches its primary flux path upon conduction in its secondary and the combination thereof with a fluorescent lamp in which the heater current is reduced upon lamp ignition by reason of the current in the heater winding in the secondary being reduced upon the primary flux path being switched. A unique construction minimizes both electromagnetic interference and induction losses.

Magnetic transformer switch and combination thereof with a discharge lamp

A discharge lamp for connection to an associated alternating current power supply. The lamp is provided with two main electrodes and a starting electrode. Two diodes are connected in series, in cathode to anode relationship, between one associated AC power conductor and the starting electrode. In parallel with the diodes is a first capacitor. Connected to the junction between the diodes is a second capacitor which is connected on the other side thereof to a conductor from the other AC power conductor to the main lamp electrode remote from the starting electrode. In operation the second capacitor substantially changes its capacitance responsive to the temperature present with the lamp to effectively make the voltage doubler inoperative.

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Monroe, NY, United States of America

Mark W Fellows