MODULAR PROGRAMMABLE LIGHTING BALLAST

• US 20100244721A1
• Filed: 04/06/2009
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lumetric Lighting, Inc.
• Original Assignee: HID Laboratories
• Inventors: Davis, Gregory, Shloush, Moshe
• Granted Patent: US 7,915,837 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/247
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/28 using static converters

Abstract

A lighting ballast is programmable as to input and output parameters. Both operational characteristics and sensed data are used to control the ballast parameters. The ballast is configured to recapture as electrical energy heat produced by the lamp. The ballast is constructed in modular fashion with a power factor correction circuit module and a ballast control circuit module that snap together to achieve a large number of input voltage and lamp type variations with a small number of separate units.

Claims

1. A luminaire, comprising:

a lamp;

a ballast operatively connected to the lamp, the ballast including a processor configured to programmably control operation of the lamp; and

a first port operatively connected to the ballast, the first port including a first power connection for a first device and a first data connection for the first device.

2. The luminaire of claim 1, wherein the first device is at least one of a sensor and a data device.

3. The luminaire of claim 1, further comprising a second data port operatively connected to the ballast, the second data port including a second power connection for a second device and a second data connection for the second device.

4. The luminaire of claim 3, wherein the second device is at least one of a sensor and a data device.

5. The luminaire of claim 1, the ballast further comprising a ballast control circuit, the ballast control circuit being adapted for programmable application of a waveform to the lamp.

6. The luminaire of claim 3, wherein the ballast is configured to provide communication between the first device and the second device.

7. The luminaire of claim 1, wherein the ballast is controlled in response to remote command signals provided as input to the first port.

8. The luminaire of claim 1, wherein the ballast is controlled in response to sensed conditions corresponding to signals provided as input to the first port.

9. A luminaire, comprising:

a lamp;

a ballast operatively connected to the lamp, the ballast including a processor configured to programmably control operation of the lamp; and

a thermal sensor operatively connected to the ballast, wherein the ballast is configured to determine restrike parameters for the lamp responsive to operation of the thermal sensor.

10. A luminaire, comprising:

a lamp;

a ballast operatively connected to the lamp, the ballast including a processor configured to programmably control operation of the lamp; and

a thermal sensor operatively connected to the ballast, wherein the ballast is configured to determine lamp characteristics responsive to operation of the thermal sensor.

11. A ballast comprising a PFC circuit, the PFC circuit being adapted for connection to a mains power supply and being self-configuring for operation responsive to characteristics of the mains power supply.

12. A PFC circuit, comprising:

a mains connection adapted for connecting to a utility power grid and configured to accept as input a mains power waveform;

a rectifier subsystem operatively connected to the mains connection and configured to provide an intermediate DC signal; and

a digital signal controller subsystem configured to accept as input the mains power waveform and the intermediate DC signal and to produce, responsive to programmatic control, a best fit operating frequency.

13. The PFC circuit of claim 12, further comprising a charge pump subcircuit operatively connected to the rectifier subsystem and the digital signal controller subsystem, adapted to produce a DC output signal.

14. A ballast control circuit, comprising:

a digital signal controller configured to receive as input a signal corresponding to sensed load characteristics and to produce in response thereto a desired waveform; and

an amplifying drive configured to accept as input the desired waveform; and

to produce in response thereto a drive signal for the load.

15. A ballast, comprising:

a PFC module; and

a ballast control module, the PFC module and the ballast control module being configured for point-of-sale placement in the ballast.

16. A ballast, comprising:

a first subsystem configured to detect characteristics of a lamp; and

a second subsystem configured to adjust a waveform supplied to the lamp in response to the characteristics.

17. The ballast of claim 16, wherein the ballast is programmably configured to supply a striking waveform to the lamp in response to predetermined criteria.

18. The ballast of claim 17, wherein the predetermined criteria include at least one of lamp start-up time and expected lamp lifetime.

19. A circuit for recapturing energy lost as heat from an electrical load, comprising:

a thermoelectric subsystem, proximally located to the electrical load, the thermoelectric subsystem producing as output an electrical signal responsive to the heat from the electrical load; and

a storage system operatively connected to the thermoelectric subsystem and configured to accept as input the electrical signal and provide the electrical system to the electrical load.