Digital electronic ballast control apparatus and method
First Claim
1. An electronic ballast control for controlling a power switch in an electronic ballast to switch power to a load, comprising:
- a storage device for storing parameters to operate ballast control components;
a control device coupled to the storage device for reading parameters from the storage device and providing the parameters to the ballast control components;
an oscillator coupled to the control device for receiving the parameters from the control device and providing an oscillation signal based on the received parameters;
an output section coupled to the oscillator and operable to receive the oscillation signal and produce signals for operating the power switch;
wherein the control is implemented as a single integrated circuit; and
further comprising a minimum frequency signal applied to the oscillator to determine a minimum oscillation frequency provided by the oscillator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A ballast control may include a digitally controlled oscillator to provide a precise and consistent oscillation frequency for switching a half-bridge circuit in the electronic ballast. The ballast control may include a digital memory device for storing ballast control operational parameters. A controller can access the digital memory to retrieve parameter values and apply them to various ballast control components. A counter in the ballast control counts a number of events, such as an over current event, and provides a signal when a predetermined count is reached to contribute to identifying fault conditions. The controller may contain one or more timers to time durations related to events in the electronic ballast, such as the initiation of an ignition current. The digital nature of the ballast control permits a wide degree of flexibility in providing operational set points and reacting to conditions in the electronic ballast and simplifies the ballast control.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An electronic ballast control for controlling a power switch in an electronic ballast to switch power to a load, comprising:
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a storage device for storing parameters to operate ballast control components; a control device coupled to the storage device for reading parameters from the storage device and providing the parameters to the ballast control components; an oscillator coupled to the control device for receiving the parameters from the control device and providing an oscillation signal based on the received parameters; an output section coupled to the oscillator and operable to receive the oscillation signal and produce signals for operating the power switch; wherein the control is implemented as a single integrated circuit; and further comprising a minimum frequency signal applied to the oscillator to determine a minimum oscillation frequency provided by the oscillator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An electronic ballast control for controlling a power switch in an electronic ballast to switch power to a load, comprising:
a storage device for storing parameters to operate ballast control components; a control device coupled to the storage device for reading parameters from the storage device and providing the parameters to the ballast control components; an oscillator coupled to the control device for receiving the parameters from the control device and providing an oscillation signal based on the received parameters; an output section coupled to the oscillator and operable to receive the oscillation signal and produce signals for operating the power switch; wherein the control is implemented as a single integrated circuit; and wherein the oscillator is a digital oscillator.
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9. An electronic ballast control for controlling a power switch in an electronic ballast to switch power to a load, comprising:
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a storage device for storing parameters to operate ballast control components; a control device coupled to the storage device for reading parameters from the storage device and providing the parameters to the ballast control components; an oscillator coupled to the control device for receiving the parameters from the control device and providing an oscillation signal based on the received parameters; and an output section coupled to the oscillator and operable to receive the oscillation signal and produce signals for operating the power switch, wherein the oscillator is a digital oscillator, and further comprising a DAC in the oscillator for converting an input digital signal to an analog signal, whereby the oscillation frequency is related to the analog signal.
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10. A method of operating an electronic ballast, comprising:
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storing data in a storage device related to ballast control parameters; reading data from the storage device to obtain parameters for operating the ballast control; and applying the parameters to ballast control components to obtain selected operating points for the components, including applying a digital oscillator control signal to a digital oscillator in the control, and D/A converting said oscillator control signal to an analog signal, whereby the oscillation frequency is related to the analog signal; whereby the ballast control outputs a control signal based on a selection of parameters applied to the components. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of operating an electronic ballast, comprising:
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storing data in a storage device related to ballast control parameters; reading data from the storage device to obtain parameters for operating the ballast control; and applying the parameters to ballast control components to obtain selected operating points for the components, whereby the ballast control outputs a control signal based on a selection of parameters applied to the components, further comprising counting a number of events in the ballast control to determine when the number of events reach a predetermined value in a specified time period.
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17. A method of operating an electronic ballast, comprising:
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storing data in a storage device related to ballast control parameters; reading data from the storage device to obtain parameters for operating the ballast control; and applying the parameters to ballast control components to obtain selected operating points for the components, whereby the ballast control outputs a control signal based on a selection of parameters applied to the components, further comprising timing one or more events to determine if a predetermined time duration is achieved for the one or more events.
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18. A ballast control IC, comprising:
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a digital memory for storing control parameters; a digital controller coupled to the memory for reading parameters from the memory; a digital oscillator coupled to the controller for receiving a digital oscillation set point and providing an oscillation signal based on the set point. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. An electronic ballast control for controlling a power switch in an electronic ballast to switch power to a load, comprising:
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a storage device for storing parameters to operate ballast control components; a control device coupled to the storage device for reading parameters from the storage device and providing the parameters to the ballast control components; an oscillator coupled to the control device for receiving the parameters from the control device and providing an oscillation signal based on the received parameters; an output section coupled to the oscillator and operable to receive the oscillation signal and produce signals for operating the power switch; wherein the control is implemented as a single integrated circuit; and further comprising an input section of said integrated circuit for inputting said parameters, said input section comprising only two pins of said integrated circuit for receiving a data signal and a clock signal, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. An electronic ballast control for controlling a power switch in an electronic ballast to switch power to a load, comprising:
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a storage device for storing parameters to operate ballast control components; a control device coupled to the storage device for reading parameters from the storage device and providing the parameters to the ballast control components; an oscillator coupled to the control device for receiving the parameters from the control device and providing an oscillation signal based on the received parameters; an output section coupled to the oscillator and operable to receive the oscillation signal and produce signals for operating the power switch; wherein the control is implemented as a single integrated circuit; and wherein said integrated circuit has a pair of shut-down pins for inputting control parameters corresponding to a pair of loads, said control parameters enabling said control to shut down if one load is removed, and/or to continue running if one load is removed, and/or to initiate a startup operation when a removed load is replaced by a new load.
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Specification