Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.V.

Philips Electronics North America Corporation

Robert Alexander Erhardt

Oscar Jan Deurloo

Jerzy Janczak

Raymond Kulka

Ching-Yao Hung

Bernd Clauberg

William Lawrence Keith

Ronald Hans Van Der Voort

Winston Donald Couwenberg

Charles B Mattas

Hendrik Anton Van Esveld

Raman Nair Harish Gopala Pillai

Ningliang Mi

Srinivasa M Baddela

Seymour Perkins, Iii

Steven Pilgrim

An electronic ballast with dimming circuit including an electronic ballast dimming circuit receiving an analog dimming signal, the electronic ballast dimming circuit including an input dimming circuit () operable to receive the analog dimming signal () at an analog dimming signal input (); and an output dimming circuit () operably connected to the input dimming circuit (), the output dimming circuit () being operable to receive a fixed frequency signal () having a variable duty cycle and to generate an analog dimming control signal () in response to the analog dimming signal (). Output voltage at the analog dimming signal input () is a function of the variable duty cycle of the fixed frequency signal () when the analog dimming signal () is not present at the analog dimming signal input ().

Electronic ballast with dimming circuit

A light emitting diode (LED) assembly and module including a substrate () having opposing first and second sides (); a capacitor () having first and second electrically-conductive plates () respectively disposed proximate the first and second sides () of the substrate (); and an anti-parallel LED structure () electrically connected to the first electrically-conductive plate () and thermally coupled to the substrate ().

LED assembly and module

A LED driver includes a high frequency inverter and an impedance circuit. The high frequency inverter operates to produce a high frequency voltage source whereby the impedance circuit directs a flow of alternating current through a LED array including one or more anti-parallel LED pairs, one or more anti-parallel LED strings, and/or one or more anti-parallel LED matrixes. A transistor can be employed to divert the flow of the alternating current from the LED array, or to vary the flow of the alternating current through LED array.

Light emitting diode driver

A system and method for open loop bi-level ballast control providing multiple levels of illumination from a ballast-driven lamp. Power to a lamp is adjusted in response to a lamp control signal by adjusting the frequency driving the ballast powering the lamp. Line voltage feeds an AC/DC converter, which supplies DC voltage to a high frequency (HF) ballast. A frequency control circuit responds to a lamp control signal and supplies a ballast frequency signal to the HF ballast, which responds to the ballast frequency signal and adjusts the current supplied to the lamp accordingly. In one embodiment, the lamp control signal can be a bi-level signal providing bi-level illumination.

Open loop bi-level ballast control

The present invention provides a system and method of automatic cycling control for HID lamps, comprising a device for switching power to the HID lamp, a first timer operatively connected to the power switching device, and a second timer operatively connected to the power switching device, wherein the first timer starts timing when the power switching device powers the HID lamp and signals the power switching device to extinguish the HID lamp when the first timer counts to an operating time setpoint, and the second timer starts timing when the power switching device extinguishes the HID lamp and signals the power switching device to power the HID lamp when the second timer counts to a cooling time setpoint. If the lamp is turned off and on before the operating time setpoint is met, the system will reset and begin a new operating timing period.

System and method of automatic cycling control for HID lamps

An improved high frequency ballast is disclosed. The high frequency ballast establishes a lamp current for a gas discharge lamp during a starting operation of the gas discharge lamp wherein an operating ampere level of the lamp current facilitates a substantial achievement by the gas discharge lamp of a color specification associated with the gas discharge lamp. Thereafter, during a stable operation of the gas discharge lamp, the high frequency ballast applies a frequency modulation to an operating frequency of the lamp current and/or an amplitude modulation of the lamp current.

High frequency electronic ballast

A system and method of automatic cycling control for HID lamps, comprising a switching device for switching power to the HID lamp, a first timer operatively connected to the power switching device, and a second timer operatively connected to the power switching device, wherein the first timer starts timing when the power switching device powers the HID lamp and signals the power switching device to extinguish the HID lamp when the first timer counts to an operating time setpoint, and the second timer starts timing when the power switching device extinguishes the HID lamp and signals the power switching device to power the HID lamp when the second timer counts to a cooling time setpoint. If the lamp is turned off and on before the operating time setpoint is met, the system will reset and begin a new operating timing period.

Control circuitry for controlling the output power of an electronic ballast system having a power supply branch circuit having power lines comprising a line voltage line and a common line, and a ballast stage having (i) inputs connected to the power lines for providing power to the lamp, (ii) internal power control feedback circuitry that defines a feedback loop for controlling the amount of power applied to the lamp, and (iii) a control signal input for receiving a control signal that affects operation the internal power control feedback circuitry and the level of power outputted by the ballast stage. The control circuitry comprises a first circuit having an input for connection to one of the power lines. The first circuit generates a control signal for input into the control input of the ballast stage. The control circuitry having a first predetermined magnitude when one of the power lines is connected to the input of the first circuit and a second predetermined magnitude when the power lines are isolated from the input of the first circuit. The control circuitry further comprises a second circuit having a first state for reducing the first and second predetermined magnitudes of the control signal by a predetermined increment so as to effect step dimming of the lamp and a second state that maintains the first and second predetermined magnitudes of the control signal.

Electronic ballast system with dual power and dimming capability

An auxiliary lighting system for a high-intensity discharge lamp. In one embodiment, the auxiliary lighting system has an auxiliary light source, an HID lamp status circuit having an input for connection to a status signal representative of the operational state of a high-intensity discharge lamp wherein the HID lamp status circuit determines whether the status signal meets predetermined signal criteria, a switch circuit having a first state that effects application of a voltage source to the auxiliary light source, and a second state that isolates the voltage source from the auxiliary light source, and a control circuit responsive to the HID lamp status circuit for controlling the switch circuit. The control circuit has a first state when the HID lamp status circuit determines that the status signal meets the predetermined signal criteria and a second state when the HID lamp status circuit determines that the status signal does not meet the predetermined signal criteria. When the control circuit is in the first state, the control circuit outputs a control signal for input into the switch circuit that configures the switch circuit into the first state. When the control circuit is in the second state, the control circuit outputs a control signal for input into the switch circuit that configures the switch circuit into the second state.

Auxiliary lighting system for high intensity discharge lamp

Igniter circuitry for a gaseous discharge lamp includes an inductive igniting pulse generating circuit and a capacitive timing circuit. The pulse generating circuit includes a unidirectional voltage-sensitive switch which is electrically connected in series with a capacitor in the timing circuit to unidirectionally limit common current.

Reducing stress on ignitor circuitry for gaseous discharge lamps

A bi-level output electronic high intensity discharge (HID) ballast system includes a circuit for selectively generating a bi-level output for powering a lamp and an electronic HID ballast with a feedback loop. The system also includes an error amplifier receiving a first signal indicative of one of current and power applied to the lamp and a reference voltage and generating a control signal applied to the feedback loop to thereby control power the applied to the lamp, and a switch which controls the level of the reference voltage. Alternatively, the system includes an error amplifier receiving a feedback signal indicative of one of current and power generated by the electronic HID ballast and a reference voltage and generating a control signal applied to the feedback loop to thereby control the power applied to the lamp, and a switch which controls the level of the feedback signal.

Bi-level output electronic high intensity discharge (HID) ballast system

An electronic ballast for powering at least two rapid start, parallel connected fluorescent lamps. Associated with each lamp is a serially connected choke and capacitor combination. A train of pulses of alternating polarity having a fundamental frequency, which is generated by an inverter, is applied to each serially connected combination. Each combination is characterized by a resonant frequency which is other than an odd harmonic of and at least two times and preferably .sqroot. 5 times greater than the fundamental frequency. Reduction in filament heating, following lamp ignition, is provided through the addition of voltages applied to each filament which are substantially out of phase with each other.

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Schaumburg, IL, United States of America

Robert Alexander Erhardt