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:
Jun. 15, 2004
Filed:
Oct. 04, 2002
Arthur T. Nemirow, Carson City, NV (US);
Storm S. Sears, Dayton, NV (US);
Bruce Industries, Inc., Dayton, NV (US);
Abstract
A fluorescent lamp electronic ballast for use with fluorescent lamps of the preheat or heated filament type is provided. The electronic ballast includes a multiple output DC to DC converter with a primary winding and a plurality of secondary windings for connecting to a plurality of lamp filaments. Each secondary winding is connected to a lamp filament through a diode/capacitor combination with a current transformer primary located in a high frequency loop. A sensing circuit is connected to a current transformer secondary. A controller is connected to the sensing circuit and controls the filament power supply. Advantages include the ability to predict lamp end of life, detect disconnected filaments and other problems that appear as an open circuit such as loose or misinstalled lamps and prevent arcing, detect smoldering of a heavily carbonized lamp holder, or detect short circuits.