Arrangement for predicting failure in fluorescent lamp systems
First Claim
1. A lighting arrangement including two fluorescent lamps, a ballast mean for providing power to said two lamps to illuminate them, said ballast means providing power for pre-ignition heating, for ignition and for post-ignition operation of said lamps, said ballast means being operable to attempt to ignite said lamps repeatedly should they fail to ignite and sensing means for causing said ballast means to cease trying to ignite said lamps after a predetermined time during which they have failed to ignite and wherein said ballast means provides substantially equal voltage to said lamps when they operate in a prescribed manner, said sensing means sensing that the voltage across one of said two lamps is not substantially equal to that across the other and operating in response thereto to prevent said ballast means from continuing to attempt to ignite said lamps.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic ballast which will repeatedly try to ignite gas discharge lamps should they fail to ignite under conditions in which they should have ignited together with means rendering said electronic ballast incapable of trying to ignite said lamps after a predetermined period and said electronic ballast being rendered capable of again trying to ignite said lamps under prescribed conditions.
32 Citations
8 Claims
- 1. A lighting arrangement including two fluorescent lamps, a ballast mean for providing power to said two lamps to illuminate them, said ballast means providing power for pre-ignition heating, for ignition and for post-ignition operation of said lamps, said ballast means being operable to attempt to ignite said lamps repeatedly should they fail to ignite and sensing means for causing said ballast means to cease trying to ignite said lamps after a predetermined time during which they have failed to ignite and wherein said ballast means provides substantially equal voltage to said lamps when they operate in a prescribed manner, said sensing means sensing that the voltage across one of said two lamps is not substantially equal to that across the other and operating in response thereto to prevent said ballast means from continuing to attempt to ignite said lamps.
Specification