Gas discharge lamp control
First Claim
1. An illumination control system comprising:
- a gas discharge lamp;
an a-c ballast means having a high power factor connected to said lamp and having a-c ballast input terminals;
a control circuit having input a-c terminals and output a-c terminals;
said output a-c terminals connected to said a-c ballast input terminals;
said control circuit including circuit means for modifying the a-c wave shape of the voltage applied to said a-c ballast input terminals, whereby the current through said circuit means has at least one non-conductive region;
said at least one non-conductive region disposed in each of the half waves of said a-c wave shape;
said at least one region located between but not including adjacent zero magnitude crossovers of the voltage applied to said control circuit input a-c terminals; and
adjustment means for varying the duration of said non-conductive region and the ratio of non-conductive time to conductive time during any half-cycle in order to control the intensity of the illumination output of said gas discharge lamp.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The input energy to a gas discharge lamp is controlled over a given range to obtain output light regulation in a controlled fashion for different kinds of gas discharge lamps, including fluorescent lamps, high intensity discharge lamps and others associated with any type ballast, including conventional non-dimming type ballasts. A suitable circuit switches each half wave of an input a-c wave form from some instantaneous value greater than zero to a substantially zero value and then back to a value greater than zero one or more times in each half cycle. The time duration of the substantially zero energy interval is varied to vary the total energy applied to the gas discharge lamps. In a preferred embodiment, a first high speed electronic switch is connected in series with the a-c source and lamp ballast and a high speed electronic shunt switch is connected across the a-c line and ballast input. The series switch is opened to produce the zero energy interval. Simultaneously with the opening of the series switch, the shunt switch is closed to allow discharge of energy stored in the reactive components of the ballast into the lamp. When the series switch is reclosed, the shunt switch is simultaneously opened. Other embodiments are described which include the use of passive energy divertors in place of the shunt switches or across the series switch. Numerous protective circuits protect the control circuit, the lamp and ballast, and the a-c line.
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Citations
85 Claims
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1. An illumination control system comprising:
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a gas discharge lamp; an a-c ballast means having a high power factor connected to said lamp and having a-c ballast input terminals; a control circuit having input a-c terminals and output a-c terminals;
said output a-c terminals connected to said a-c ballast input terminals;said control circuit including circuit means for modifying the a-c wave shape of the voltage applied to said a-c ballast input terminals, whereby the current through said circuit means has at least one non-conductive region;
said at least one non-conductive region disposed in each of the half waves of said a-c wave shape;
said at least one region located between but not including adjacent zero magnitude crossovers of the voltage applied to said control circuit input a-c terminals; andadjustment means for varying the duration of said non-conductive region and the ratio of non-conductive time to conductive time during any half-cycle in order to control the intensity of the illumination output of said gas discharge lamp. - View Dependent Claims (3, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 81)
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2. An illumination control system comprising:
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a gas discharge lamp; an a-c ballast means connected to said lamp and having a-c ballast input terminals; a control circuit having input a-c terminals and output a-c terminals;
said output a-c terminals connected to said a-c ballast input terminals;said control circuit including circuit means for modifying the a-c wave shape of the voltage applied to said a-c ballast input terminals, whereby the current through said circuit means has at least one non-conductive region;
said at least one non-conductive region disposed in each of the half waves of said a-c wave shape;
said at least one region located between but not including adjacent zero magnitude crossovers of the voltage applied to said control circuit input a-c terminals;adjustment means for varying the duration of said non-conductive region and the ratio of non-conductive time to conductive time during any half-cycle in order to control the intensity of the illumination output of said gas discharge lamp; and energy divertor means connected in closed series with said circuit means. - View Dependent Claims (4, 8, 9, 13, 15, 30)
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5. An illumination control system comprising:
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a gas discharge lamp; an a-c ballast means having a high power factor connected to said lamp and having a-c ballast input terminals; a control circuit having input a-c terminals and output a-c terminals;
said output a-c terminals connected to said a-c ballast input terminals;said control circuit including circuit means for modifying the a-c wave shape of the voltage applied to said a-c ballast input terminals, whereby the current through said circuit means has at least two non-conductive regions in each of the half waves of said a-c wave shape;
said at least two non-conductive regions including both zero magnitude crossovers of each half cycle of the voltage applied to said control circuit input a-c terminals; andadjustment means for varying the duration of at least one of said two non-conductive regions and the ratio of non-conduction time to conduction time during any half-cycle in order to control the intensity of the illumination output of said gas discharge lamp.
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6. An illumination control system comprising:
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a gas discharge lamp; an a-c ballast means connected to said lamp and having a-c ballast input terminals; a control circuit having input a-c terminals and output a-c terminals;
said output a-c terminals connected to said a-c ballast input terminals;said control circuit including circuit means for modifying the a-c wave shape of the voltage applied to said a-c ballast input terminals, whereby the current through said circuit means has at least two non-conductive regions in each of the half waves of said a-c wave shape;
said at least two non-conductive regions including both zero magnitude crossovers of each half cycle of the voltage applied to said control circuit input a-c terminals;adjustment means for varying the duration of at least one of said two non-conductive regions and the ratio of non-conduction time to conduction time during any half-cycle in order to control the intensity of the illumination output of said gas discharge lamp; and energy divertor means connected in closed series with said circuit means.
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7. An illumination control system comprising:
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a gas discharge lamp; an a-c ballast means connected to said lamp and having a-c ballast input terminals; a control circuit having input a-c terminals and output a-c terminals;
said output a-c terminals connected to said a-c ballast input terminals;said control circuit including circuit means for modifying the a-c wave shape of the voltage applied to said a-c ballast input terminals, whereby the current through said circuit means has at least one non-conductive region;
said at least one non-conductive region disposed in each of the half waves of the said a-c wave shape;adjustment means for varying the duration of said non-conductive region and the ratio of non-conductive time to conductive time during any half-cycle in order to control the intensity of the illumination output of said gas discharge lamp; and energy divertor means connected directly across said cicuit means.
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10. An illumination control system comprising:
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a gas discharge lamp; an a-c ballast means connected to said lamp and having a-c ballast input terminals; a control circuit having input a-c terminals and output a-c terminals;
said output a-c terminals connected to said a-c ballast input terminals;said control circuit including circuit means for modifying the a-c wave shape of the voltage applied to said a-c ballast input terminals, whereby the current through said circuit means has at least one non-conductive region;
said at least one non-conductive region disposed in each of the half waves of the said a-c wave shape;said a-c wave shape having a phase control configuration; adjustment means for varying the duration of said non-conductive region and the ratio of non-conductive time to conductive time during any half-cycle in order to control the intensity of the illumination output of said gas discharge lamp; and an energy divertor means connected across said a-c ballast means. - View Dependent Claims (12, 14)
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11. An illumination control system comprising:
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a gas discharge lamp; an a-c ballast means connected to said lamp and having a-c ballast input terminals; a control circuit having input a-c terminals and output a-c terminals;
said output a-c terminals connected to said a-c ballast input terminals;said control circuit including circuit means for modifying the a-c wave shape of the voltage applied to said a-c ballast input terminals, whereby the current through said circuit means has at least one non-conductive region;
said at least one non-conductive region disposed in each of the half waves of said a-c wave shape;adjustment means for varying the duration of said non-conductive region and the ratio of non-conductive time to conductive time during any half-cycle in order to control the intensity of the illumination output of said gas discharge lamp; and switching means connected directly across said a-c ballast input terminals.
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40. An illumination control circuit for energizing a gas discharge lamp comprising:
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an a-c ballast connected to said lamp and having a-c ballast input terminals; a pair of a-c source terminals for connection to an a-c line; a first controllably conductive switching device connected in series between said a-c source terminals and said a-c ballast input terminals; first control means for switching said first controllably conductive switching device on and off to permit energy transfer from said a-c source terminals to said a-c ballast input terminals only when said first controllably conductive switching device is on, and producing at least one off region during each half cycle at a point in said half cycle between, but not including, its zero crossover regions; a second controllably conductive switching device connected across said a-c ballast input terminals; second control means for switching said second controllably conductive switching device on and off when said first controllably conductive device is off and on respectively; and adjustment means for adjusting the duration of each of said off regions to produce dimming of the output of a lamp. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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47. An illumination control circuit for energizing a gas discharge lamp comprising:
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an a-c ballast connected to said lamp and having a-c ballast input terminals; a pair of a-c source terminals for connection to an a-c line; a first controllably conductive switching device connected in series between said a-c source terminals and said a-c ballast input terminals; first control means for switching said first controllably conductive switching device on and off to permit energy transfer from said a-c source terminals to said a-c ballast input terminals only when said first controllably conductive switching device is on, and producing at least one off region during each half cycle at a point in said half cycle between, but not including, its zero crossover regions; a second controllably conductive switching device connected across said a-c ballast input terminals; second control means for switching said second controllably conductive switching device on and off when said first controllably conductive device is off and on respectively; and normally closed relay means in parallel with said first switching device and time delay means for opening said relay means a predetermined time after rated a-c voltage appears at said a-c source terminals. - View Dependent Claims (48)
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56. A gas discharge lamp lighting system comprising, in combination:
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a plurality of separate groups of gas discharge lamps and ballasts therefor; a main power source for energizing each of said plurality of groups; a control circuit for modifying the power applied to said plurality of said groups; first circuit means for each of said groups connecting its respective group to said main power source through said control circuit;
each of said first circuit means including a respective first switching means;second circuit means for each of said groups coupling its respective group to said main power source in a manner whereby the total power applied to its said group is unaffected by a power reduction due to any given state of said control circuits;
each of said second circuit means including a respective second switching means;said second circuit means being operable before said first circuit means to effect initial connection of their respective group of said plurality of groups to power from said power source, whereby said group will be initially operated by said power source and unaffected by the power regulation due to said control circuit, and whereby said first switching means of each of said groups is operated after said lamps have reached a desired operating temperature. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58)
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59. A gas discharge lamp lighting system comprising, in combination:
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a plurality of separate groups of gas discharge lamps and ballasts therefor; a main power source for energizing each of said plurality of groups; a control circuit for modifying the power applied to said plurality of said groups; first circuit means for each of said groups connecting its respective group to said main power source through said control circuit;
each of said first circuit means including a respective first switching means;second circuit means including respective voltage step-up means for each of said groups coupling its respective group to said main power source through said control circuit in a manner whereby the voltage applied to its said group is increased;
each of said second circuit means including a respective second switching means operable to energize said step-up means;said second circuit means being operable before said first circuit means to effect initial connection of their respective group of said plurality of groups to power from said power source through said voltage step-up means and said control circuit, whereby said group will be initially operated from an increased voltage, and whereby said first switching means of each of said groups is operated after said lamps have reached a desired operating temperature. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62)
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63. A gas discharge lamp lighting system comprising, in combination:
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a plurality of separate groups of gas discharge lamps and ballasts therefor; a main power source for energizing each of said plurality of groups; a control circuit for modifying the power applied to said plurality of said groups; first circuit means for each of said groups connecting its respective group to said main power source through said control circuit;
each of said first circuit means including a respective first switching means;second circuit means including an energy storage means for each of said groups coupling its respective group to said main power source through said control circuit in a manner whereby the voltage wave shape applied to its said group is modified to be relatively unaffected by power reduction due to any given state of said control circuit;
each of said second circuit means including a respective second switching means operable to connect said energy storage means;said second circuit means being operable before said first circuit means to effect initial connection of their respective group of said plurality of groups to power from said power source, through said control circuit and said energy storage means, whereby said group will be initially relatively unaffected by the power regulation due to said control circuit, and whereby said first switching means of each of said groups is operated after said lamps have reached a desired operating temperature. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66)
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67. An illumination control system comprising:
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a gas discharge lamp; an a-c ballast means connected to said lamp and having a-c ballast input terminals; a control circuit having input a-c terminals and output a-c terminals;
said output a-c terminals connected to said a-c ballast input terminals;said control circuit including circuit means for modifying the a-c wave shape of the voltage applied to said a-c ballast input terminals, whereby the current through said circuit means has at least one non-conductive region;
said at least one non-conductive region disposed in each of the half-waves of the said a-c wave shape; andadjustment means for varying the duration of said non-conductive region and the ratio of non-conductive time to conductive time during any half-cycle in order to control the intensity of the illumination output of said gas discharge lamp. - View Dependent Claims (68, 69, 70, 71, 72)
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73. An illumination control system comprising:
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a gas discharge lamp; an a-c ballast means connected to said lamp and having a-c ballast input terminals; a control circuit having input a-c terminals and output a-c terminals;
said output a-c terminals connected to said a-c ballast input terminals;said control circuit including circuit means for modifying the a-c wave shape of the voltage applied to said a-c ballast input terminals, whereby the current through said circuit means has a single non-conductive region;
said single non-conductive region disposed in each of the half waves of said a-c wave shape;energy divertor means connected directly across said circuit means; and adjustment means for varying the location of said non-conductive region within each of said half waves. - View Dependent Claims (74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80)
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82. An illumination control system comprising:
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a gas discharge lamp; an a-c ballast means having a high power factor connected to said lamp and having a-c ballast input terminals; a control circuit having input a-c terminals and output a-c terminals;
said output a-c terminals connected to said a-c ballast input terminals;said control circuit including circuit means for modifying the a-c wave shape of the voltage applied to said a-c ballast input terminals, whereby the current through said circuit means has at least two non-conductive regions in each of the half waves of said a-c wave shape;
said at least two non-conductive regions including both zero magnitude crossovers of each half cycle of the voltage applied to said control circuit input a-c terminals; andadjustment means for varying the location of at least one of said non-conductive regions within each of said half waves.
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83. An illumination control system comprising:
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a gas discharge lamp; an a-c ballast means connected to said lamp and having a-c ballast input terminals; a control circuit having input a-c terminals and output a-c terminals;
said output a-c terminals connected to said a-c ballast input terminals;said control circuit including circuit means for modifying the a-c wave shape of the voltage applied to said a-c ballast input terminals, whereby the current through said circuit means has at least two non-conductive regions in each of the half waves of said a-c wave shape;
said at least two non-conductive regions including both zero magnitude crossovers of each half cycle of the voltage applied to said control circuit input a-c terminals;energy divertor means connected in closed series with said circuit means; and adjustment means for varying the location of at least one of said non-conductive regions within each of said half waves.
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84. An illumination control system comprising:
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a gas discharge lamp; an a-c ballast means connected to said lamp and having a-c ballast input terminals;
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85. a control circuit having input a-c terminals and output a-c terminals;
- said output a-c terminals connected to said a-c ballast input terminals;
said control circuit including circuit means for modifying the a-c wave shape of the voltage applied to said a-c ballast input terminals, whereby the current through said circuit means has at least one non-conductive region;
said at least one non-conductive region disposed in each of the half waves of said a-c wave shape;
said at least one region located between but not including adjacent zero magnitude crossovers of the voltage applied to said control circuit input a-c terminals;energy divertor means connected in closed series with said circuit means;
said energy divertor means including a capacitor.
- said output a-c terminals connected to said a-c ballast input terminals;
Specification