Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Energy Savings, Inc.

Universal Lighting Technologies, Inc.

Koninlijke Philips Electronics N.v.

William Lawrence Keith

Kent E Crouse

George Grouev

Patrick J Keegan

Peter W Shackle

Ronald J Bezdon

Ling Wang

Gueorgui L Grouev

Robert Alexander Erhardt

Bruce Robeson Rhodes

Raman Nair Harish Gopala Pillai

Jerzy Janczak

Srinivasa M Baddela

Ningliang Mi

Donald G Huvaere

Michael W Bandel

Grigoriy Mirskiy

Jacek Cachel

James Cai

Andrew C Brown

Boyko Boykov

Robert J Erhardt

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 RF wireless sensor interface () interfaces one or more of a variety of sensors () to a RF wireless network (). A power converter () of the interface () converts a primary power (P) into a DC power (P) that is supplied to the sensor(s) (). A microcontroller () of the interface () receives sensor detection information (SDI) from the sensor(s) () in response to the sensor(s) () receiving the DC power (P) from the power converter (). A RF transmitter/transceiver () of the interface () executes a sensor detection information RF transmission (SDI) and/or a sensor control signal RF transmission (SCS) to the RF wireless network () in response to the microcontroller () receiving the sensor detection information (SDI). The power converter (), the microcontroller () and the RF transmitter/transceiver () are located within a modular housing ().

Universal RF wireless sensor interface

A lighting commissioning device and method including a lighting commissioning device for commissioning of a lighting device in a lighting system, the lighting commissioning device including an indication detectorresponsive to indication from the lighting device and generating a lighting device indication signal, a change detectorresponsive to the lighting device indication signaland generating an indication detected signal, and a control unitreceiving the indication detected signaland being operably connected to the lighting system.

Lighting commissioning device and method

A software controlled electronic dimming ballast for preheating, striking, and varying the dimming level of a lamp. In one embodiment, the ballast includes an EMI filter circuit, an AC/DC converter circuit, a PFC circuit, an inverter circuit, and a software controlled microcontroller circuit. The microcontroller circuit includes a microcontroller and software for generating inverter control signals that cause the inverter circuit to preheat, strike, and varying the dimming level of the lamp. The inverter control signals are generated based on dimming control and lamp dimming level feedback signals. The ballast also includes a lamp dimming level feedback signal conditioning circuit for generating the lamp dimming level feedback signals. Alternative embodiments of the ballast are also described.

Software controlled electronic dimming ballast

A lighting system control device charging system and method including a control device charged from a light source in a lighting system, including control photovoltaic cellresponsive to control lightfrom the light source and generating control charging power; a capacitor storing the control charging powerand generating control supply power; and a control microcontroller unit (MCU)/transceiverpowered by control supply powerand generating a communications signalto the lighting system. The control microcontroller unit (MCU)/transceivermonitors charge state of the capacitor and directs the lighting system to increase the control lightwhen the charge state is below a low charge setpoint.

System and method for charging a control device from a lighting system

The electronic ballast with lamp type determination for an electronic ballast providing power to a lamp filamentincludes a filament current sensing circuitoperably connected to the lamp filamentand generating a sensed filament current signal, and a microprocessor Ureceiving the sensed filament current signal and operably connected to control the power to the lamp filament. The microprocessor Uis programmed to heat the lamp filament by applying the power at a first frequency, measure the filament characteristics, and determine lamp type from the measured filament characteristics. The microprocessor Ucan also be programmed to update operating parameters for the electronic ballast to suit the determined lamp type.

Electronic ballast with lamp type determination

An electronic ballast includes open circuit voltage regulation comprises an filament current sensing circuitoperably connected to an output of the electronic ballast and generating a sensed output voltage signal, and a regulating pulse width modulator Ureceiving the sensed output voltage signal and operably connected to control voltage at the output of the electronic ballast, the regulating pulse width modulator Uhaving an output voltage threshold limit. The regulating pulse width modulator Ulimits the voltage at the output of the electronic ballast when the sensed output voltage signal exceeds the output voltage threshold limit. The regulating pulse width modulator Ucan limit the output voltage by limiting the pulse width to the high voltage driver and the resonant half bridge. The filament current sensing circuitcan sense the output voltage indirectly, such as by sensing tank current, or can sense the output voltage directly.

Gas discharge lamps may conduct current from the common rail to earthen ground through a fixture containing the lamps. A transistor is coupled in series in the current path to the common rail. When the ballast is placed in a quiescent state, the transistor is rendered non-conducting, thereby solating the lamps from the common rail and preventing flicker. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the control electrode of the transistor is coupled to a source of low voltage and the transistor is rendered non-conducting when the source of low voltage is turned off. The lamps can also be isolated from the common rail by using a semiconductor switch in the rectifier section or by referencing the output of the inverter to the high voltage rail.

Electronic ballast having open circuit in output

A digitally controlled electronic ballast, on command, optically transmits its identification signature or other data by CW modulation of the luminosity of one or more lamps connected to the ballast. The data is transmitted by momentarily interrupting the lamp current to mark the beginning and the end of successive periods, wherein the periods represent either a logic one or a logic zero in accordance with the data to be transmitted. Each ballast has a unique identification, which is included in the transmitted digital data. A receiver monitors the luminosity of a lamp and compares instantaneous luminosity to average luminosity to detect the beginning and end of each period.

Light modulating electronic ballast

An electronic ballast for a gas discharge lamp includes an AC to DC converter for changing alternating current at power line voltage to direct current and an inverter powered by the converter and having a series resonant, direct coupled output coupled to the lamp. The inverter includes an AC switch having a diode bridge defining an AC diagonal and a DC diagonal and a transistor connected across the DC diagonal. The primary winding of a filament transformer is connected across the AC diagonal of the bridge and the transistor is coupled to the microprocessor for controlling current through the primary winding. The microprocessor is programmed to close the AC switch while the lamp is starting and to open the switch after the lamp is started, thereby cutting off the filaments from a source of power and reducing the power consumed by the ballast during normal operation. A resistor in series with the transistor is used to detect filament resistance and provide an indication of lamp type.

Electronic ballast with filament cut-out

An electronic ballast includes an AC to DC converter for power factor correction, a bulk capacitor for storing energy from the converter, and a microprocessor controlled, half-bridge inverter including a series resonant, direct coupled output. Input ports of the microprocessor are coupled to several locations within the ballast to monitor the operation of the ballast or the operation of a gas discharge lamp coupled to the ballast. An analog voltage limiter overrides the microprocessor to limit output voltage under fault conditions. A storage capacitor, connected in series with the bulk capacitor, stores energy at low voltage for powering the microprocessor. The microprocessor is programmed to provide lamp protection features, lumen maintenance, and a warm-up period for a lamp. The microprocessor is also programmed to meet the operating requirements of world markets and of different lamp types.

Microprocessor controlled electronic ballast

An electronic ballast includes a series resonant inductor and capacitor and a filament winding magnetically coupled to said inductor. The filament winding forms a closed circuit with a filament in a gas discharge lamp, wherein the current induced in the winding opposes a portion of the current through the inductor to reduce the net voltage on the filament during normal lamp operation. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the filament winding is reversely wound with the inductor on a common core to reverse the phase of the current induced in the filament winding from the current through the inductor.

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Lake in the Hills, IL, United States of America

William Lawrence Keith