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:
Nov. 17, 2009
Filed:
Apr. 14, 2004
Dragan Veskovic, Allentown, PA (US);
Robert A. Anselmo, Allentown, PA (US);
Mark Taipale, Harleysville, PA (US);
Matthew Skvoretz, Emmaus, PA (US);
Joel S. Spira, Coopersburg, PA (US);
Dragan Veskovic, Allentown, PA (US);
Robert A. Anselmo, Allentown, PA (US);
Mark Taipale, Harleysville, PA (US);
Matthew Skvoretz, Emmaus, PA (US);
Joel S. Spira, Coopersburg, PA (US);
Lutron Electronics Co., Inc., Coopersburg, PA (US);
Abstract
A ballast having a microprocessor embedded therein is controlled via four inputs. The ballast includes a high-voltage phase-controlled signal provided by a dimmer and an infrared (IR) receiver through which the ballast can receive data signals from an IR transmitter. The ballast can also receive commands from other ballasts or a master control on the serial digital communication link, such as a DALI protocol link. The fourth input is an analog signal, which is simply a DC signal that linearly ranges in value from a predetermined lower limit to a predetermined upper limit, corresponding to the 0% to 100% dimming range of the load. The output stage of the ballast includes one or more FETs, which are used to control the current flow to the lamp. Based on these inputs, the microprocessor makes a decision on the intensity levels of the load and directly drives the FETs in the output stage.