System and method for cycling a metal-halide lamp on and off at designated intervals to reduce risk of arc tube rupture
First Claim
1. A luminaire assembly comprising:
- a lamp;
a ballast; and
a processing device operable to generate a warning indicator after expiration of a pre-selected period of time, said warning indicator to indicate impending termination of power to said lamp for a predetermined period of time, and after expiration of said predetermined period of time said processing device operable to restore said lamp to an operating condition in order to reduce arc tube failure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for cycling power to a HID ballast and amp in order to reduce the possibility of arc tube rupture or non-passive end of life light source failure with a warning indicator indicating impending momentary power outage. The apparatus comprises a lamp, a ballast, and a microcontroller operable to generate a warning indicator after expiration of a pre-selected period of time. The warning indicator indicates termination of power to the lamp for a predetermined period of time, by alternatively dimming and increasing the light output of the lamp. After expiration of the pre-determined period of time, the microcontroller restores the power to the ballast. The above described process is repeated periodically in order to reduce the risk of arc tube rupture.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A luminaire assembly comprising:
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a lamp;
a ballast; and
a processing device operable to generate a warning indicator after expiration of a pre-selected period of time, said warning indicator to indicate impending termination of power to said lamp for a predetermined period of time, and after expiration of said predetermined period of time said processing device operable to restore said lamp to an operating condition in order to reduce arc tube failure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for preventing arc tube failure within a luminaire comprising the steps of:
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initiating a timer within a processing device to time for a preselected period of time;
initiating a warning indicator for a pre-determined period of time, after expiration of said pre-selected period of time; and
terminating power momentarily to said ballast after said predetermined period of time. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A luminaire assembly comprising:
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a ballast;
a lamp coupled to said ballast and at least one capacitor in series with said lamp; and
a first relay contact coupled to said ballast via a circuit device, said first relay contact operable to alternatively decrease power to said lamp for a selected period of time, said first relay contact controlled by a processing device coupled to said ballast and said lamp;
a second relay contact coupled to said processing device and a power source for said ballast, said second relay contact operable to momentarily extinguish and fully restore power to said ballast. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for controlling a lamp, comprising:
a processing device adapted to generate a warning of impending termination of power to a ballast which drives said lamp, and being further adapted to terminate power to said ballast after providing said warning. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification