ELECTRONIC BALLAST SYSTEM WITH LAMP INTERFACE NETWORK

• US 20090251060A1
• Filed: 03/31/2009
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nicollet Technologies Corporation (Badger Transformer Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Nicollet Technologies Corporation (Badger Transformer Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Henze, Christopher P.
• Application Number:
  US12/415,685
• Publication Number:
  US 20090251060A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/246
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/28 using static converters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/282 with semiconductor devices H05B41/2806, H05B41/288, H05B41/295 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/00 Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps

Abstract

An electronic ballast is provided, which includes first and second output nodes, first and second lamp outputs, and a lamp interface network. The lamp interface network includes an LC circuit coupled between at least one of the first and second output nodes and a respective one of the first and second lamp outputs.

Claims

1. A circuit comprising:

an electronic ballast having an AC output with first and second output nodes;

first and second lamp outputs for connection to a gas discharge lamp; and

a lamp interface network comprising an inductance-capacitance (LC) circuit coupled between at least one of the first and second output nodes and a respective one of the first and second lamp outputs.

2. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the LC circuit comprises:

a first inductor in a first leg between the first output node and the first lamp output; and

a capacitor coupled between the first and second lamp outputs.

3. The circuit of claim 2, wherein the LC circuit further comprises:

a second inductor in a second leg between the second output node and the second lamp output.

4. The circuit of claim 3, wherein the first and second inductors have the same inductance.

5. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the LC circuit comprises a resistance-inductance-capacitance (RLC) circuit.

6. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the LC circuit comprises:

a first inductor and a first resistor coupled in series with one another in a first leg between the first output node and the first lamp output; and

a capacitor coupled between the first and second lamp outputs.

7. The circuit of claim 6, wherein the LC circuit further comprises:

a second inductor and a second resistor coupled in series with one another in a second leg between the second output node and the second lamp output.

8. The circuit of claim 7, wherein:

the first and second inductors have the same inductance; and

the first and second resistors have the same resistance.

9. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the electronic ballast comprises:

a DC-to-DC converter having a controlled DC output; and

an inverter coupled to the controlled DC output and having an AC output coupled to the first and second output nodes.

10. The circuit of claim 9, and further comprising:

a utility input for receiving an AC line voltage from a utility; and

a rectifier coupled between the utility input and the DC-to-DC converter.

11. The circuit of claim 1 and further comprising a gas discharge lamp coupled between the first and second lamp outputs.

12. A circuit comprising:

a ballast having an AC output with first and second output nodes;

first and second lamp outputs for connection to a gas discharge lamp; and

a lamp interface network comprising;

a first inductor and a first resistor coupled in series with one another in a first leg between the first output node and the first lamp output;

a second inductor and a second resistor coupled in series with one another in a second leg between the second output node and the second lamp output; and

a capacitor coupled between the first and second lamp outputs.

13. The circuit of claim 12, wherein:

the first and second inductors have the same inductance; and

the first and second resistors have the same resistance.

14. The circuit of claim 12, wherein the electronic ballast comprises:

a DC-to-DC converter having a controlled DC output; and

an inverter coupled to the controlled DC output and having an AC output coupled to the first and second output nodes.

15. The circuit of claim 14, and further comprising:

a utility input for receiving an AC line voltage from a utility; and

a rectifier coupled between the utility input and the DC-to-DC converter.

16. A method comprising:

generating, with a ballast, an alternating-current (AC) output voltage on first and second output nodes; and

coupling the AC output to first and second gas discharge lamp outputs through an inductance-capacitance (LC) circuit and thereby limiting a rate of change of current on the first and second gas discharge lamp outputs.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of coupling comprises coupling the AC output to first and second gas discharge lamp outputs through an LC circuit that comprises:

a first inductor in a first leg between the first output node and the first lamp output; and

a capacitor coupled between the first and second lamp outputs.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of coupling comprises coupling the AC output to first and second gas discharge lamp outputs through an LC circuit that further comprises:

a second inductor in a second leg between the second output node and the second lamp output.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first and second inductors have the same inductance.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of coupling comprises coupling the AC output to first and second gas discharge lamp outputs through an RLC circuit that comprises:

a first inductor and a first resistor coupled in series with one another in a first leg between the first output node and the first lamp output;

a second inductor and a second resistor coupled in series with one another in a second leg between the second output node and the second lamp output; and

a capacitor coupled between the first and second lamp outputs.