The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 28, 1999
Filed:
Feb. 29, 1996
Applicant:
Inventor:
Robert Mills, North Vancouver, British Columbia V7J 1T1, CA;
Assignee:
Other;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H05B / ; H05B / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
315102 ; 315360 ; 315107 ; 315205 ;
Abstract
An electronic ballast control apparatus and method for fluorescent lamps includes applying a heating current through the filaments of the lamp, and delaying the application of arc current through the filaments and the gas for a predetermined time. This allows the filaments to heat up to a level capable of sustaining thermionic emission, thereby eliminating sputtering damage upon the application of the arc current.