Current level switching apparatus for operating electric discharge lamps

• US 3,265,930 A
• Filed: 05/03/1962
• Issued: 08/09/1966
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1962
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Walter F. Powell Jr
• Original Assignee: Walter F. Powell Jr
• Inventors: Powell, Walter F. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US04/192,231
• Time in Patent Office: 1,559 Days
• US Class Current: 315/209.00R
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/392 using semiconductor devices, e.g. thyristor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 315/05 Starting and operating circuit for fluorescent lamp

Claims

1. AN APPARATUS FOR OPERATING AN ELECTRIC DISCHARGE LAMP FROM A POWER SOURCE, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE ENERGY STORAGE ELEMENT, A SWITCHING MEANS, DRIVER MEANS RESPONSIVE TO A PREDETERMINED INCREASE IN THE ENERGY SUPPLIED TO THE ELECTRIC DISCHARGE LAMP TO DRIVE SAID SWITCHING MEANS TO A HIGH IMPEDANCE STATE AND RESPONSIVE TO A PREDETERMINED DECREASE IN SAID ENERGY TO DRIVE SAID SWITCHING MEANS TO A LOW IMPEDANCE STATE, AND CIRCUIT MEANS INCLUDING INPUT LEADS FOR CONNECTION WITH THE POWER SOURCE AND OUTPUT LEADS FOR CONNECTION WITH THE LAMP TO SUPPLY THE OUTPUT OF THE APPARATUS TO THE LAMP, SAID CIRCUIT MEANS INCLUDING MEANS TO PROVIDE A PATH FOR THE SUPPLY OF ENERGY FROM SAID ENERGY STORAGE ELEMENT TO SAID LAMP WHEN SAID SWITCHING MEANS IS DRIVEN TO ONE STATE AND TO PROVIDE A PATH FOR THE SUPPLY OF ENERGY FROM THE POWER SOURCE TO THE LAMP AND FOR THE STORAGE OF ENERGY IN SAID STORAGE ELEMENT WHEN SAID SWITCHING MEANS IS DRIVEN TO THE OTHER STATE WHEREBY THE SAID SWITCHING ACTION CONTROLS THE OPERATION OF THE LAMP AND ENERGY IS SUPPLIED TO THE LAMP DURING BOTH STATES OF SAID SWITCHING MEANS.