Arrangement in connection with a coupling device of a fluorescent lamp

• US 7,075,249 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2004
• Issued: 07/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Teknoware Oy (Teknopower Oy)
• Original Assignee: Teknoware Oy (Teknopower Oy)
• Inventors: Hartikka, Yrjö, Kuisma, Jouko
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene, Haissa
• Application Number:
  US11/016,607
• Publication Number:
  US 20050140301A1
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 315/209.R, 315/224, 315/244, 315/239, 315/241.R, 315/246, 315/282, 315274-279, 315/105, 315/106, 315/120, 315/136
• US Class Current: 315/282
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/295 with semiconductor devices and specially adapted for lamps with preheating electrodes, e.g. for fluorescent lamps

Abstract

An arrangement in connection with a coupling device of a fluorescent lamp, the coupling device comprising a supply transformer, whose secondary is coupled in parallel with a fluorescent tube, the arrangement comprising an indicator circuit configured to indicate the working condition of the fluorescent lamp. The arrangement comprises a signal transformer comprising a first primary coil, to which an alternating voltage signal supply is coupled, a secondary coil, coupled as part of a current path generated by cathodes of the fluorescent lamp and a secondary of the supply transformer and configured to supply alternating current to said current path, the indicator circuit comprising transformer members configured to generate a signal responsive to the alternating current of the current circuit.

Claims

1. An arrangement in connection with a coupling device of a fluorescent lamp comprising a fluorescent tube and first and second cathodes, the coupling device comprising a supply transformer comprising a secondary, said secondary being coupled in parallel with said fluorescent tube, the cathodes and the secondary generating a current path, the arrangement comprising an indicator circuit configured to indicate the working condition of the fluorescent lamp, arrangement further comprising a signal transformer comprising

a first primary coil, an alternating voltage signal supply being coupled to the first primary coil,

a secondary coil, the secondary coil being coupled as part of the current path generated by the cathodes of the fluorescent lamp and a secondary of the supply transformer, said secondary coil being configured to supply alternating current to said current path as a part of a current circuit,

the indicator circuit comprising transformer members configured to generate a signal responsive to the alternating current of the current circuit.

2. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal transformer further comprises a second primary coil configured to serve as an indicator circuit and generate a voltage signal responsive to the alternating current of the current circuit.

3. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indicator circuit comprises a coupling constituted by a resistor and an amplifier, the resistor being coupled to said current circuit and the amplifier being coupled over said resistor to generate a signal responsive to the current of the current circuit.

4. The arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the indicator circuit further comprises a switch component, the amplifier controlling the switch component in response to the alternating current of the current circuit.

5. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein arrangement further comprises at least first and second protective resistors and a protective capacitor, the protective resistors having poles and being coupled to a current path generated by the secondary of the supply transformer and the cathodes of the fluorescent lamp such that the first protective resistor is directly in series with one cathode of the fluorescent lamp and the second protective resistor is directly in series with the second cathode of the fluorescent lamp, the protective capacitor being coupled between poles of said protective resistors that are not directly coupled to the cathodes of the fluorescent lamp.

6. The arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein arrangement further comprises at least first and second protective resistors and a protective capacitor, the protective resistors having poles and being coupled to a current path generated by the secondary of the supply transformer and the cathodes of the fluorescent lamp such that the first protective resistor is directly in series with one cathode of the fluorescent lamp and the second protective resistor is directly in series with the second cathode of the fluorescent lamp, the protective capacitor being coupled between poles of said protective resistors that are not directly coupled to the cathodes of the fluorescent lamp.