Toggle brightening circuit for powering gas discharge lamps and method for operating gas discharge lamps
First Claim
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1. A circuit for powering a gas discharge lamp from a source of AC power, comprising:
- lamp energizing means for energizing the lamps at a high energy level and a low energy level;
a capacitor arranged to become charged when power is provided to the circuit;
a control circuit for controlling the lamp energizing means so that when power is applied to the circuit;
if the level of charge of the capacitor is below a predetermined level, the lamp energizing means energizes the lamps at the high energy level for a short period of time until after the lamps are ignited, and then energizes the lamps at the low energy level after the short period of time;
but if the level of charge of the capacitor is above a predetermined level, the lamp energizing means energizes the lamps at the high energy level.
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Abstract
A circuit (100) for powering fluorescent lamps (102, 104 & 106) includes a switch (50) having "open" and "closed" positions. When power is initially applied to the circuit, the lamps are powered at full power to enable them to "strike". After a short period, the power is reduced to the lamp. A control circuit (300) thereafter senses if the switch has been "toggled". If toggled, the power to the lamps is increased, and the lamps brighten. The circuit uses a conventional two-position switch and conventional wiring and avoids the need for additional switches and additional wiring.
20 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A circuit for powering a gas discharge lamp from a source of AC power, comprising:
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lamp energizing means for energizing the lamps at a high energy level and a low energy level; a capacitor arranged to become charged when power is provided to the circuit; a control circuit for controlling the lamp energizing means so that when power is applied to the circuit; if the level of charge of the capacitor is below a predetermined level, the lamp energizing means energizes the lamps at the high energy level for a short period of time until after the lamps are ignited, and then energizes the lamps at the low energy level after the short period of time;
but if the level of charge of the capacitor is above a predetermined level, the lamp energizing means energizes the lamps at the high energy level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of operating fluorescent lamps at either a low energy level or a high energy level comprising the steps of:
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energizing the fluorescent lamps from a source of AC power so that the lamps strike; automatically decreasing the energy supplied to the fluorescent lamps after a short period of time so that the lamps operate at the low energy level; increasing the energy supplied to the fluorescent lamps so that the lamps operate at the high energy level if power to the fluorescent lamps is interrupted for a brief period of time. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A circuit for powering fluorescent lamps from a source of AC power at a first frequency comprising:
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a rectifier controllably coupled to the source of AC power for converting the AC power to DC power; a boost circuit coupled to the rectifier for increasing the voltage of the DC power to a high level or a low level; an inverter coupled to the rectifier for converting the DC power to AC power at a second higher frequency; a connector circuit for connecting the AC power produced lay the inverter to the fluorescent lamps; a control circuit for causing the boost circuit to; (1) produce DC power at the high voltage level in order to strike the lamps when power is first applied to the rectifier; (2) produce DC power at the low voltage level after a short period of time after power is first applied to the rectifier; and (3) produce DC power at the high voltage level if power to the rectifier is momentarily interrupted. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification