Fluorescent light control circuit

• US 6,784,628 B1
• Filed: 06/09/2003
• Issued: 08/31/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Victor Horowitz
• Original Assignee: Victor Horowitz
• Inventors: Horowitz, Victor
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alemu, Ephrem
• Application Number:
  US10/457,253
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 315/312-325
• US Class Current: 315/312
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/36 Controlling
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/185 via power line carrier transmission

Abstract

A control system for selectively illuminating fluorescent light units in a fluorescent fixture having a plurality of fluorescent light units. A control system employs a first relay which when energized connects one of the light units to energizing power and a second relay which when energized connects a second and third light unit to energizing power. The control switch has one position in which the first relay is energized to turn on the first light unit and a second position in which the second relay is energized to turn on the second and third light units. The control switch also has a third position in which both relays are energized thereby turning on all three light units. Current steering through diodes in the switch and at the relays permits a single wire to be employed connecting the switch at a convenient manually accessible area to the relays at the fluorescent light fixture.

Claims

1. A control system selectively illuminating fluorescent light units in a fluorescent fixture having a plurality of fluorescent light units energized from a main source of power comprising:

a first control circuit composed of a first diode and a first relay having at least a first normally open contact,

a second control circuit having a second diode and a second relay having at least second and third normally open contacts,

a control switch having at least a first position connecting said first control circuit to said power source and a second position connecting said second control circuit to said power source,

said first position energizing said first circuit to close said first contact causing at least a first fluorescent light unit to be energized,

said second position energizing said second circuit to close said second and third contacts causing at least second and third light units to be energized.

2. The control system of claim 1 wherein:

said control switch has a third position energizing both said first and second control circuits to close said first, second and third contacts causing at least first, second and third light units to be energized.

3. The control system of claim 1 wherein:

said control switch has a third diode connected to said first position and a fourth diode connected to said second position,

said first and third diodes being in series and having the same polarity, said second and fourth diodes being in series and having the same polarity, the polarity of said third and fourth diodes being opposed to one another.

4. The control system of claim 2 wherein:

said control switch has a third diode connected to said first position and a fourth diode connected to said second position,

said first and third diodes being in series and having the same polarity, said second and fourth diodes being in series and having the same polarity, the polarity of said third and fourth diodes being opposed to one another.

5. The control system of claim 1 wherein:

said first and second control circuits are mounted adjacent to the fluorescent fixture being controlled and said control switch is connected to said control circuits by a single wire extending from the location of said control switch to the location of said control circuits.

6. The control system of claim 2 wherein:

said first and second control circuits are mounted adjacent to the fluorescent fixture being controlled and said control switch is connected to said control circuits by a single wire extending from the location of said control switch to the location of said control circuits.

7. The control system of claim 3 wherein:

said first and second control circuits are mounted adjacent to the fluorescent fixture being controlled and said control switch is connected to said control circuits by a single wire extending from the location of said control switch to the location of said control circuits.

8. The control system of claim 4 wherein:

said first and second control circuits are mounted adjacent to the fluorescent fixture being controlled and said control switch is connected to said control circuits by a single wire extending from the location of said control switch to the location of said control circuits.

9. The control system of claim 2 wherein:

said control switch has a fourth position in which said first, second and third light units are not energized.

10. The control system of claim 4 wherein:

said control switch has a fourth position in which said first, second and third light units are not energized.

11. The control system of claim 6 wherein:

said control switch has a fourth position in which said first, second and third light units are not energized.

12. The control system of claim 8 wherein:

said control switch has a fourth position in which said first, second and third light units are not energized.

13. A control system for a fluorescent fixture having a power input adapted to be connected to a source of electrical power, comprising

a set of at least four fluorescent light units, each having a ballast,

a set of at least two relay control circuits, each of said circuits having at least one normally open contact,

a first one of said light units being connected to a the power input,

a first one of said relay circuits being coupled to a second one of said light units, said first one of said relay circuits having a first normally open contact, energization of said first relay closing said first normally open contact to connect said second light unit to the power input,

a second one of said relay circuits being coupled to third and fourth ones of said light units, said second one of said relay circuits having second and third normally open contacts, energization of said second relay closing said second and third contacts to connect said third and fourth fluorescent light units to the power input,

a control switch circuit having a switch arm connectable to any one of first, second, third and fourth contacts, connection of said arm to said first contact blocking energy from said first and second relay circuits, connection of said arm to said second contact energizing said first relay circuit, connection of said arm to said third contact energizing said second relay circuit, connection of said arm to said fourth contact energizing both said first and second relay circuits,

whereby selective switch connection provides selection of 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% illumination from the fluorescent fixture.

14. The fluorescent fixture of claim 13 further comprising:

a first diode in said first relay circuit, a second diode in second relay circuit, a third diode connected to said second position of said control switch circuit and a fourth diode connected to said third position of said control switch circuit,

said first and third diodes being in series and having the same polarity, said second and fourth diodes being in series and having the same polarity, the polarity of said third and fourth diodes being opposed to one another.

15. The control system of claim 13 wherein:

said first and second control circuits are mounted adjacent to the fluorescent fixture being controlled and said control switch is connected to said control circuits by a single wire extending from the location of said control switch to the location of said control circuits.

16. The control system of claim 14 wherein:

said first and second control circuits are mounted adjacent to the fluorescent fixture being controlled and said control switch is connected to said control circuits by a single wire extending from the location of said control switch to the location of said control circuits.