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. 15, 2011
Filed:
Apr. 18, 2008
Guy P. Bouchard, Beverly, MA (US);
Guy P. Bouchard, Beverly, MA (US);
OSRAM SYLVANIA Inc., Danvers, MA (US);
Abstract
A device used with a direct current power source for energizing a lamp. The device includes a plurality of input channels selectively connected to the power source for providing current to the lamp. For each input channel, the device includes a corresponding current sensing component connected to the input channel, and a corresponding bypass switch connected in parallel with the current sensing component. Each current sensing component produces a measurable signal as a function of current that is provided by the corresponding input channel. The device includes a controller connected to the current sensing components and the bypass switches. The controller identifies the input channel that is providing current to the lamp as a function of the measurable signals and controls the bypass switches based on the identified input channel. Particularly, the controller operates each bypass switch in a closed mode when the corresponding input channel is the identified channel so that current provided by the corresponding identified input channel bypasses the current sensing component.