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:
Aug. 30, 2005
Filed:
Sep. 30, 2003
Timothy Chen, Aurora, OH (US);
James D. Mieskoski, Seven Hills, OH (US);
Didier G. Rouaud, Twinsburg, OH (US);
Scott Brandonisio, Solon, OH (US);
Timothy Chen, Aurora, OH (US);
James D. Mieskoski, Seven Hills, OH (US);
Didier G. Rouaud, Twinsburg, OH (US);
Scott Brandonisio, Solon, OH (US);
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
In accordance with one aspect of the present application, a lamp inverter circuit includes a switching portion that converts a bus voltage signal into an alternating current signal. An input portion receives the bus voltage signal, and a resonant load portion drives a lamp. A preheating portion heats the lamp prior to ignition, and thereafter renders itself inactive following ignition of the lamp. In accordance with another aspect of the present application, a method of starting a lamp includes receiving a bus voltage signal, converting the bus voltage signal into an alternating current signal, preheating the lamp to an ignition temperature, igniting the lamp and inactivating the preheating after the lamp has been ignited. In accordance with another aspect of the application, provided is a method of igniting an auxiliary lamp, including detecting a conductive state of a main lamp in a lamp ballast circuit, the detecting being by a switch that controls preheating of the main lamp. The integrity of the main lamp is detected, and current flow is switched from the main lamp to an auxiliary lamp in the event of a main lamp failure.