Innovative Controls Inc.

Ralph R MacDonald

William Meredith Menger

A ballast circuit for a discharge tube such as a fluorescent tube, mercury vapor, sodium vapor or metal halide lamp is disclosed. D.C. power is provided alternately between two output driver stages and an a.c. neutral return line. In output transformerless (OTL) embodiments of the invention, a series connection of a reactance circuit and the tube is connected between the push pull point and the a.c. neutral return line. In transformer embodiments of the invention, a primary winding of a transformer is connected in series with the reactance circuit. The tube or load is connected across an output winding of the transformer with the electrical effect that the load is in series with the reactance circuit. Alternative arrangements of transformer input windings are provided. The first includes two input primary windings wound in opposite directions with the circuit arranged such that current flows in one or the other of the input transformer windings on alternating half cycles of the control signal. The second includes a single input primary winding, but current flows through it in opposite directions on alternating half cycles. The d.c. current is provided by first and second rectifiers which provide positive and negative voltage levels with respect to an a.c. neutral line. RFI reduction circuitry is provided with the ballast circuit.

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Houston, TX, United States of America

Ralph R MacDonald