Apparatus for improving the efficiency of a lighting element
First Claim
1. Apparatus for regulating the illumination of a lighting element connected to an alternating current voltage supply comprising:
- voltage detecting means for detecting the AC voltage across a lighting element; and
voltage maintaining means, responsive to the voltage detecting means, for maintaining a prescribed voltage across the lighting element independently of the current flowing through the lighting element, the voltage maintaining means including initial voltage increasing means for gradually increasing the voltage across the lighting element when the lighting element is initially turned on.
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Abstract
A voltage reduction unit for reducing the voltage supplied to a lighting element to a prescribed value and for maintaining the prescribed voltage across the lighting element independently of the current flowing through it. A lighting element is connected in series with a current switch, and the current switch is controlled by a voltage/current control unit which monitors the lighting element for changes and voltage and current characteristics. The voltage/current control unit comprises a differentiator circuit for detecting a slope of an AC voltage waveform and a comparator circuit for detecting a prescribed voltage on the waveform. The voltage/current control unit allows current to flow through the lighting element when both a first prescribed voltage and a prescribed voltage slope of the voltage waveform is detected, and it inhibits current flow through the lighting element when a second prescribed voltage is detected. A signaling circuit receives signals from the comparator circuit and the differentiator circuit, and it communicates switching signals to the current switch for rendering the current switch conductive when signals representing the prescribed voltage and slope of the voltage waveform occur. When the comparator detects the second prescribed voltage, it emits a second signal, and the signaling unit, in turn, communicates a signal for turning off the current switch.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. Apparatus for regulating the illumination of a lighting element connected to an alternating current voltage supply comprising:
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voltage detecting means for detecting the AC voltage across a lighting element; and voltage maintaining means, responsive to the voltage detecting means, for maintaining a prescribed voltage across the lighting element independently of the current flowing through the lighting element, the voltage maintaining means including initial voltage increasing means for gradually increasing the voltage across the lighting element when the lighting element is initially turned on.
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2. Apparatus for regulating the illumination of a lighting element comprising:
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means for receiving an alternating current waveform from a power source; voltage detecting means, connected to the receiving means, for detecting a prescribed voltage point on the alternating current waveform; voltage slope detecting means, connected to the receiving means, for detecting a slope of the alternating current waveform; current switching means, connected to the voltage detecting means and to the lighting element, for allowing a current to flow through the lighting element when a first prescribed voltage point is detected and for inhibiting current flow through the lighting element when a second prescribed voltage point is detected; and wherein the current switching means allows a current to flow through the lighting element only when a prescribed waveform slope is detected. - View Dependent Claims (3)
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4. Apparatus for regulating the illumination of a lighting element comprising:
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means for receiving an alternating current waveform from a power source; voltage detecting means, connected to the receiving means, for detecting a prescribed voltage point on the alternating current waveform; voltage slope detecting means, connected to the receiving means, for detecting a slope of the alternating current waveform, the voltage slope detecting means comprising a differentiator circuit which emits a first prescribed signal when the voltage waveform has a negative slope; current switching means, connected to the voltage detecting means and to the lighting element, for allowing a current to flow through the lighting element when a first prescribed voltage point is detected and for inhibiting current flow through the lighting element when a second prescribed voltage point is detected; and wherein the current switching means allows a current to flow through the lighting element only when a prescribed waveform slope is detected. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A circuit for regulating the illumination of a lighting element connected to an alternating-current voltage supply comprising:
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current switch means, connected to the lighting element, for allowing a current to flow through the lighting element in response to a first signal and for inhibiting current flow through the lighting element in response to a second signal; and current switch control means, connected to the current switch means, for generating the first signal and the second signal absent capacitance so that a phase of the current flowing through the lighting element leads a phase of the voltage applied to the lighting element. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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15. A circuit for regulating the illumination of a lighting element connected to an alternating-current voltage supply comprising;
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current switch means, connected to the lighting element, for allowing a current to flow through the lighting element in response to a first signal and for inhibiting current flow through the lighting element in response to a second signal; current switch control means, connected to the current switch means, for generating the first signal and the second signal so that a phase of the current flowing through the lighting element leads a phase of the voltage applied to the lighting element. the current switch control means comprising; voltage detecting means for detecting a prescribed voltage applied to the lighting element and for generating a detected voltage signal in response thereto; current detecting means for detecting a first prescribed current and a second prescribed current flowing through the lighting element and for generating a first detected current signal and a second detected current signal, respectively, in response thereto; and switch driving means, coupled to the voltage detecting means and to the current detecting means, for generating the first signal when the prescribed voltage and the first prescribed current is detected and for generating the second signal when the second prescribed current is detected. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification