Electronic ballast unit with integral light sensor and circuit
First Claim
1. An arrangement comprising:
- ballast circuit means connectable with a source of voltage and operable in a substantially non-dissipative manner to provide a current from an output as long as this output is connected with a gas discharge lamp, the current having adjustable magnitude, the ballast circuit means having a control input means receptive of luminous flux and operative in response thereto to effect adjustment of said magnitude; and
mechanical structure and housing means operative to support and contain the ballast circuit means;
thereby to render the combination of the ballast circuit means and the mechanical structure and housing means a mechanically integral and substantially rigid ballasting means suitable for use as a ballast within a lighting fixture or the like.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic ballast powers fluorescent lamps in a lighting fixture with a current of magnitude related to the frequency of the ballast output voltage. The ballast comprises self-oscillating inverter means wherein the frequency of oscillation can be influenced by receipt of a control signal at a control input connected in circuit with the inverter'"'"'s positive feedback circuit. The ballast also comprises optical sensor means so positioned and constituted as to sense the light level within the lighting fixture and to provide a control signal commensurate with the light level. This control signal is then applied to the control input in such manner as to regulate the inverter frequency as a function of the light level, thereby correspondingly to regulate the magnitude of the current fed to the fluorescent lamps. By providing a threshold means in combination with high gain in the control loop, the fixture light level may be accurately maintained at any desired value substantially regardless of any changes in magnitude of power line voltage and/or in lamp efficacies.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An arrangement comprising:
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ballast circuit means connectable with a source of voltage and operable in a substantially non-dissipative manner to provide a current from an output as long as this output is connected with a gas discharge lamp, the current having adjustable magnitude, the ballast circuit means having a control input means receptive of luminous flux and operative in response thereto to effect adjustment of said magnitude; and mechanical structure and housing means operative to support and contain the ballast circuit means; thereby to render the combination of the ballast circuit means and the mechanical structure and housing means a mechanically integral and substantially rigid ballasting means suitable for use as a ballast within a lighting fixture or the like. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. The combination of:
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a ballast adapted to connect with a source of power and operable in a substantially non-dissipative manner to provide an alternating current from a ballast output as long as a gas discharge lamp is connected therewith, the alternating current having a magnitude and a frequency, the frequency being substantially higher than that of the voltage on an ordinary electric utility power line, the ballast having control input means operative, on receipt of an electrical control input having an amplitude, to effect control of the magnitude, the control input means being substantially non-responsive to any variations in the amplitude of the control input of frequency equal to or higher than the frequency of the alternating current; and light sensor connected with the control terminals, the light sensor being receptive of luminous flux and operative in response thereto to provide said electrical control input; whereby the average luminous flux, as averaged over a period longer than the period of the alternating current, received by the light sensor is operative to control the magnitude of the alternating current provided by the ballast output. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. The combination of:
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housing means having an outer surface comprising receptacle means operative to receive and hold a plug means; ballast circuit means comprised within the housing means, the ballast circuit means;
(i) being connectable with a source of electric power, (ii) having control terminal means connected with said receptacle means, and (iii) being operable to provide an alternating output current at a ballast output, the output current having a period and a magnitude, the magnitude being affected by the average of the amplitude of a control input provided to the control terminal means while being non-affected by any variations in this amplitude to the extent that such variations occur over a period shorter than the period of the output current; andlight sensor means combined with said plug means and operative, in response to receiving a flux of illumination, to provide said control input; whereby the magnitude of the output current is affected by the light intercepted by the light sensor means. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. The combinations of:
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housing means having an outer surface; ballast circuit means comprised within the housing means, the ballast circuit means;
(i) being connectable with a source of electric power, (ii) having control terminal means, and (iii) being operable in a substantially non-dissipative manner to provide an output current at a ballast output, the output current having a magnitude affected by a control input provided to the control terminal means; andlight sensor means connected with the control terminal means and operative, in response to receiving a flux of illumination, to provide said control input, the light sensor means being comprised substantially within said outer surface; the housing means, the ballast circuit means, and the light sensor means being combined and integrate in such manner as to constitute an integral ballast suitable for use in a lighting fixture for powering a gas discharge lamp.
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11. An arrangement comprising:
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housing means having an outer surface, the outer surface having optical aperture means operative to receive luminous flux; and ballast circuit means comprised substantially within the housing means and;
(i) being connectable with a source of electric power, (ii) having control input means responsive to said luminous flux, and (iii) being operable in a substantially non-dissipative manner to provide an output current at a ballast output, the magnitude of the output current being affected by the luminous flux received at said aperture means;the housing means and the ballast circuit means being combined and integrated in such manner as to constitute a mechanically integral ballast suitable for use in a lighting fixture for powering a gas discharge lamp. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A ballast for a gas discharge lamp, comprising:
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ballast housing means having an optical aperture means, the ballast housing means having an outer surface, the optical aperture means being substantially flush with the outer surface; input conductor means leading into the ballast housing means and operative to permit connection with the voltage on an ordinary electric utility power line; output conductor means leading from the ballast housing means and operative to permit connection with a gas discharge lamp; and ballast circuit means comprised within the ballast housing means, the ballast circuit means;
(i) being connected with the input conductor means and operative to draw power therefrom, (ii) being connected with the output conductor means and operative to provide an alternating current thereto, and (iii) having control means operative, in response to light flux received at said aperture means, to control the magnitude of the alternating current;whereby the ballast, including its optical aperture means and its control means, constitutes a substantially rigid mechanically integral entity suitable for installation and use in an ordinary lighting fixture and operable to power a gas discharge lamp mounted therein. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification