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:
Mar. 28, 2000
Filed:
May. 06, 1998
Douglas A George, Watertown, CT (US);
Gustaf T Appelberg, Fairfield, CT (US);
Joseph W Fleming, Ramsey, NJ (US);
David Richard Ross, Orange, CT (US);
E-Lite Technologies, Inc., Trumbull, CT (US);
Abstract
A power supply or inverter circuit is provided for regulating power to electroluminescent lamps over a range of lamp sizes. The power supply may have an AC and/or DC input and includes at least one switch having a power input to be coupled to an electrical power source, a control input, and an output to be coupled to an electroluminescent lamp for being switched on and off to generate a drive signal to the lamp having a predetermined constant frequency and current level that is selectable over a range of frequency and current levels. A constant current mode controller has a control output coupled to the control input of the switch for turning the switch on and off so as to maintain a constant current level and frequency of the drive signal to the electroluminescent lamp substantially over its operating life. The voltage applied to the lamp is allowed to increase to a predetermined voltage limiting value in order to provide compensation due to aging of the lamp.