Emerson Electric Company

Thomas Industries, Inc.

Thomas Lighting

Robert D Munson

James V Olson

David Guidette

Willard Garnett

David W Knoble

Khosrow J Jamasbi

A dimming control for a high intensity lighting system uses a single additional control wire for control of the dimming function. The lighting system operates on multi-phase power. A transmitter for transmitting a control signal over the single control wire is connected between two of the phases of the multi-phase power supply, or between one phase and neutral. The transmitter, upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition, transmits a control signal to the single control wire. The control signal is a rectified portion of the power supply. The predetermined condition is motion as sensed by a motion sensor, operation of a timer, or operation of a manual switch. A receiver connected to the control line receives the control signal and switches the light to a low light output mode. The is accomplished by changing the capacitance of the ballast circuit for the light. Each lamp of the lighting system has a receiver connected to the single control wire.

Single control wire device for HID dimming

A power line carrier controlled lighting system connected to an AC power line. The system has: at least one motion detector for detecting at least one predetermined parameter in a detection zone of the motion detector, the motion detector outputting at least one detect signal in response to the predetermined parameter; at least one transmitter for transmitting during a first predetermined time period a power line carrier signal on the AC power line indicative of the detect signal; at least one receiver receiving the power line carrier signal on the AC power line and outputting at least one control signal indicative of the power line carrier signal during a second predetermined time period, the receiver having an AGC circuit for providing substantial noise immunity so that the receiver reliably recognizes the power line carrier signal; and at least one light in a predetermined area and having at least two different light intensity levels, the light having a switching circuit for switching between the light intensity levels, the switching circuit being activated by the control signal. The power line carrier signal is a digital signal and the AGC circuit determines a logical one/zero reference level relative to noise on the power line.

Power line carrier controlled lighting system

A solid state ballast for starting and operating a plurality of fluorescent lamps comprises a plurality of parallel connected, series LC circuits each coupled by a capacitor to a lamp so that voltage existing across the series capacitors is applied across the lamps and driven by an inverter at a DC power source voltage and at a selected frequency high enough to develop a lamp starting voltage but substantially below their resonant frequency. After starting the resonant frequency of the LC circuits is reduced substantially below the selected frequency by the added capacitive reactances of the coupling capacitors whereby the destructive high voltage at the upper and lower resonances is avoided and the independent selection of the values of L and C and the coupling capacitors to control starting voltage and conduction after starting at the selected frequency is provided.

Solid state ballast for gaseous discharge lamps

A rapid start circuit for starting and step dimming a fluorescent lamp includes a voltage step up auto transformer and lamp filaments for starting, ballast and a pair of capacitors having different values variously connected in series with the lamp and ballast by a rotary switch; first in parallel, then individually and then in series to achieve a progressively stepped dimming of the lamp. A second form of the invention includes a first capacitor in series with the lamp and ballast for reducing the maximum light output of the lamp and a plurality of capacitors each having a different value selectively connected in parallel with the first capacitor by a slide switch to selectively dim the lamp; and a resistor in series with the first capacitor to diminish arcing and noise when switching. Both forms of the invention include a pair of secondary windings for maintaining filament voltage.

Growing community of inventors

Tupelo, MS, United States of America

Robert D Munson