Apparatus for regulating the intensity of light emitted by a lamp
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A lighting fixture comprising:
- a fluorescent lamp;
a power source connected to said lamp through an inverter to provide suitable alternating current to said fluorescent lamp to enable said lamp to emit light; and
a control circuit comprising a variable inductor connected in parallel with said lamp for varying the intensity of the light emitted by said lamp while keeping the light emitted by said fluorescent lamp substantially stable as the intensity of the light emitted by said fluorescent lamp is varied, said variable inductor being selectably adjustable to vary the intensity of the light emitted by said lamp.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A control circuit is disclosed that can be used to control the light intensity of a fluorescent lamp. A first embodiment of the control circuit includes one variable inductor and a plurality of fixed inductors. A switch is used to connect one of the inductors to the fluorescent lamp in parallel. The intensity of the light output from the lamp is varied either by adjusting the inductance of the variable inductor, or by switching between the fixed inductors. A second embodiment uses a variable capacitor in place of the variable inductor and uses fixed capacitors in place of the fixed inductors.
52 Citations
62 Claims
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1. A lighting fixture comprising:
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a fluorescent lamp; a power source connected to said lamp through an inverter to provide suitable alternating current to said fluorescent lamp to enable said lamp to emit light; and a control circuit comprising a variable inductor connected in parallel with said lamp for varying the intensity of the light emitted by said lamp while keeping the light emitted by said fluorescent lamp substantially stable as the intensity of the light emitted by said fluorescent lamp is varied, said variable inductor being selectably adjustable to vary the intensity of the light emitted by said lamp. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A lighting fixture comprising:
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a discharge lamp; a power source connected to said lamp through an inverter to provide suitable alternating current to said discharge lamp to enable said lamp to emit light; and a control circuit comprising a variable inductor connected in parallel with said lamp for varying the intensity of the light emitted by said lamp while keeping the light emitted by said discharge lamp substantially stable as the intensity of the light emitted by said discharge lamp is varied, said variable inductor being selectably adjustable to vary the intensity of the light emitted by said lamp. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A lighting fixture comprising:
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a fluorescent lamp; a power source connected to said lamp through an inverter to provide suitable alternating current o said fluorescent lamp to enable said lamp to emit light; and a control circuit comprising an inductor connected to said lamp in parallel to regulate the intensity of light emitted by said lamp while keeping the light emitted by said fluorescent lamp substantially stable as the intensity of the light emitted by said fluorescent lamp is varied, said inductor being selectably adjustable to vary the intensity of the light emitted by said lamp. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. The lighting fixture comprising:
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a discharge lamp; a power source connected to said lamp through an inverter to provide suitable alternating current to said discharge lamp to enable said lamp to emit light; and a control circuit comprising an inductor connected to said lamp in parallel to regulate the intensity of light emitted by said lamp while keeping the light emitted by said discharge lamp substantially stable as the intensity of the light emitted by said discharge lamp is varied, said inductor being selectably adjustable to vary the intensity of the light emitted by said lamp. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A lighting fixture comprising:
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a fluorescent lamp; a power source connected to said lamp through an inverter to provide suitable alternating current to said fluorescent lamp to enable said lamp to emit light; and a control circuit comprising a variable inductor, one or more fixed inductors, and a switch to connect one of said inductors to said lamp in parallel; wherein the intensity of the light emitted by said lamp can be selectably regulated by selecting, through said switch, one of said inductors, the light emitted by said fluorescent lamp remaining substantially stable as the intensity of the light emitted by said fluorescent lamp is regulated.
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26. A method for varying the intensity of light emitted by a discharge lamp comprising the steps of:
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connecting a power source to said discharge lamp through an inverter to provide a suitable alternating current to said discharge lamp to enable said discharge lamp to emit light; connecting a control circuit to said lamp, said control circuit comprising a variable inductor connected in parallel with said lamp; and selectably adjusting the inductance of said variable inductor, to vary the intensity of the light emitted by said discharge lamp while keeping the light emitted by said discharge lamp substantially stable as the intensity of the light emitted by said discharge lamp is varied. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. A method for varying the intensity of light emitted by a discharge lamp comprising the steps of
connecting a power source to said discharge lamp through an inverter to provide a suitable alternating current to said discharge lamp to enable said discharge lamp to emit light; -
connecting a control circuit to said lamp, said control circuit comprising a plurality of inductors having different inductances, one of said inductors being connected in parallel with said lamp; and selectably disconnecting said one of said inductors from said lamp and connecting another of said inductors in parallel with said lamp, to vary the intensity of the light emitted by said discharge lamp while keeping the light emitted by said discharge lamp substantially stable as the intensity of the light emitted by said discharge lamp is varied. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. A method for varying the intensity of light emitted by a discharge lamp by connecting a power source to said discharge lamp through an inverter to provide a suitable alternating current to said discharge lamp to enable said discharge lamp to emit light;
- and by selectively connecting and disconnecting one or more inductors in parallel with said lamp, to vary selectably the intensity of the light emitted by said discharge lamp while keeping the light emitted by said discharge lamp substantially stable as the intensity of the light emitted by said discharge lamp is varied.
- View Dependent Claims (31)
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32. A lighting fixture comprising:
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a fluorescent lamp; a power source connected to said lamp through an inverter to provide a suitable alternative current to said fluorescent lamp to enable said lamp to emit light; and a control circuit comprising a variable capacitor connected in parallel with said lamp for varying the intensity of the light emitted by said lamp while keeping the light emitted by said fluorescent lamp substantially stable as the intensity of the light emitted by said fluorescent lamp is varied, said variable capacitor being selectably adjustable to vary the intensity of the light emitted by said lamp. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A lighting fixture comprising:
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a discharge lamp; a power source connected to said lamp through an inverter to provide a suitable alternating current to said discharge lamp to enable said lamp to emit light; and a control circuit comprising a variable capacitor connected in parallel with said lamp for varying the intensity of the light emitted by said lamp while keeping the light emitted by said discharge lamp substantially stable as the intensity of the light emitted by said discharge lamp is varied, said variable capacitor being selectably adjustable to vary the intensity of the light emitted by said lamp. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A lighting fixture comprising:
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a fluorescent lamp; a power source connected to said lamp through an inverter to provide a suitable alternating current to said fluorescent lamp to enable said lamp to emit light; and a control circuit comprising a capacitor connected to said lamp in parallel to regulate the intensity of light emitted by said lamp while keeping the light emitted by said fluorescent lamp substantially stable as the intensity of the light emitted by said fluorescent lamp is varied, said capacitor being selectably adjustable to vary the intensity of the light emitted by said lamp. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A lighting fixture comprising:
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a discharge lamp; a power source connected to said lamp through an inverter to provide a suitable alternating current to said discharge lamp to enable said lamp to emit light; and a control circuit comprising a capacitor connected to said lamp in parallel to regulate the intensity of light emitted by said lamp while keeping the light emitted by said discharge lamp substantially stable as the intensity of the light emitted by said discharge lamp is varied, said capacitor being selectably adjustable to vary the intensity of the light emitted by said lamp. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A lighting fixture comprising:
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a fluorescent lamp; a fluorescent lamp; a power source connected to said lamp through an inverter to provide a suitable alternating current to said fluorescent lamp to enable said lamp to emit light; and a control circuit comprising a variable capacitor, one or more fixed capacitors, and a switch to connect one of said capacitors to said lamp in parallel; wherein the intensity of the light emitted by said lamp can be selectably regulated by selecting, through said switch, one of said capacitors, the light emitted by said fluorescent lamp remaining substantially stable as the intensity of the light emitted by said fluorescent lamp is regulated.
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57. A method for varying the intensity of light emitted by a discharge lamp comprising the steps of:
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connecting a power source to said discharge lamp through an inverter to provide a suitable alternating current to said discharge lamp to enable said discharge lamp to emit light; connecting a control circuit to said lamp, said control circuit comprising a variable capacitor connected in parallel with said discharge lamp; and selectably adjusting the capacitance of said variable capacitor, to vary the intensity of the light emitted by said discharge lamp while keeping the light emitted by said discharge lamp substantially stable as the intensity of the light emitted by said discharge lamp is varied. - View Dependent Claims (58)
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59. A method for varying the intensity of light emitted by a discharge lamp comprising the steps of
connecting a power source to said discharge lamp through an inverter to provide a suitable alternating current to said discharge lamp to enable said discharge lamp to emit light; -
connecting a control circuit to said lamp, said control circuit comprising a plurality of capacitors having different capacitances, one of said capacitors being connected in parallel with said lamp; and selectably disconnecting said one of said capacitors from said lamp and connecting another of said capacitors in parallel with said lamp, to vary the intensity of the light emitted by said discharge lamp while keeping the light emitted by said discharge lamp substantially stable as the intensity of the light emitted by said discharge lamp is varied. - View Dependent Claims (60)
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61. A method for varying the intensity of light emitted by a discharge lamp by connecting a power source to said discharge lamp through an inverter to provide a suitable alternating current to said discharge lamp to enable said discharge lamp to emit light;
- and by selectively connecting and disconnecting one or more capacitors in parallel with said lamp, to vary selectably the intensity of the light emitted by said discharge lamp while keeping the light emitted by said discharge lamp substantially stable as the intensity of the light emitted by said discharge lamp is varied.
- View Dependent Claims (62)
Specification