Voltage equalization method and apparatus for low-voltage lighting systems

• US 7,227,314 B1
• Filed: 11/13/2004
• Issued: 06/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Celestino John Gaeta, Curtiss Lynn Mixon, Larry Shintaku
• Original Assignee: Celestino John Gaeta, Curtiss Lynn Mixon, Larry Shintaku
• Inventors: Gaeta, Celestino John, Mixon, Curtiss Lynn, Shintaku, Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Wilson
• Application Number:
  US10/988,109
• Time in Patent Office: 934 Days
• Field of Search: 315/185.S, 315/185.R, 315/200.A, 315/200.R, 315/92, 315/122, 315/129, 315/130, 315/312, 315/316, 315/318, 315/320, 315/324, 315186-193, 315/224, 315/225, 315/307, 315/294, 315/178, 361/54, 361/56
• US Class Current: 315/185.00R
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/044 continuously H05B39/042 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/00 Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps

Abstract

A method and apparatus to equalize the voltage across each light bulb in a low-voltage lighting system, commonly found in the yards of private homes and businesses. The present invention consists of a power compensation element that is inserted in-line with each light bulb connected to the bus lines that distribute current from a power source, such as an electrical transformer, to the light bulbs. The function of the power compensation element is to compensate for the voltage drop along the bus lines due primarily to the electrical resistance of the bus lines. Therefore, a compensation rating of the power compensation element may depend upon its location along the bus lines and the electrical resistivity of the bus lines, as well as the internal electrical resistance of the light bulbs. The preferred embodiment is an electrical resistive power compensation element where the rating of the element is its resistance value. One alternate embodiment is an electrical transformer power compensation element where the rating is the transformer ratio of output-to-input voltage, while another alternate embodiment is a diode-based, voltage-limiting circuit power compensation element, typically with equal rating where the rating is the voltage-limiting reference level of the circuit.

Claims

1. A system for equalization of voltage across a plurality of individual means for illumination adapted for engagement to wires communicating with an electrical power supply, each of said individual means for illumination sequentially positioned further from said electrical power supply along said wires, wherein said system comprises:

(a) a plurality of means for equalization of voltage across each of said individual means for illumination,

(b) each of said respective plurality of said means for equalization of voltage operably interposed between one of said respective said individual means for illumination that is not located furthest from said electrical power supply along said wires and one of said wires communicating with said electrical power supply;

(c) wherein the value of the combined electrical resistance of said each of said respective plurality of said means for equalization of voltage and said one of said respective said individual means for illumination that is not located furthest from said electrical power supply along said wires, to be substantially equal to the product of;

(1) the value of the total electrical resistance beyond the location, along said wires, of said one of said respective said individual means for illumination that is not located furthest from said electrical power supply along said wires, up to, and including, the electrical resistance of the individual means for illumination located furthest from said electrical power supply along said wires, and

(2) a ratio formed by;

(i) a mathematical summation of the mathematical reciprocal of each value of internal resistance of each of said individual means for illumination located beyond said location, along said wires, up to, and including, said individual means for illumination located furthest from said electrical power supply along said wires divided by

(ii) the mathematical reciprocal of the value of the internal resistance of said one of said respective said individual means for illumination that is not located furthest from said electrical power supply along said wires;

whereby the voltage across said individual means for illumination sequentially located furthest from said power supply will be substantially equal to the voltage across said individual means for illumination sequentially closer to said electrical power supply along said wires.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of means for equalization of voltage across each of said individual means for illumination is an electrical resistor.

3. The system of claim 1 with a means for adjustment of the value of said voltage across each of said plurality of individual means for illumination, operably interposed between the means for illumination that is located furthest from said electrical power supply along said wires and one of said wires communicating with said electrical power supply.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein each of said plurality of means for equalization of voltage across each of said individual means for illumination is an electrical resistor.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein said means for adjustment of the value of said voltage across each of said plurality of individual means for illumination is an electrical resistor.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein said means for adjustment of the value of said voltage across each of said plurality of individual means for illumination is an electrical resistor.

7. A system for equalization of voltage across a plurality of individual means for illumination adapted for engagement to wires communicating with an electrical power supply, each of said individual means for illumination sequentially positioned further from said electrical power supply along said wires and connected electrically in parallel with said electrical power supply, wherein said system comprises:

(a) a plurality of means for equalization of voltage across each of said individual means for illumination,

(b) each of said respective plurality of said means for equalization of voltage operably interposed between one of said respective said individual means for illumination that is not located furthest from said electrical power supply along said wires and said wires communicating with said electrical power supply;

wherein the voltage across said one of said individual means for illumination is substantially equal to the voltage across the individual means for illumination located furthest from said electrical power supply along said wires;

whereby the voltage across said individual means for illumination sequentially located furthest from said power supply will be substantially equal to the voltage across said individual means for illumination sequentially closer to said electrical power supply along said wires.

8. The system of claim 7 with a means for adjustment of the value of said voltage across each of said plurality of individual means for illumination, operably interposed between the means for illumination that is located furthest from said electrical power supply along said wires and said wires communicating with said electrical power supply.

9. A system for equalization of voltage across a plurality of individual means for illumination adapted for engagement to wires communicating with an electrical power supply, each of said individual means for illumination sequentially positioned further from said electrical power supply along said wires and connected electrically in parallel with said electrical power supply, wherein said system comprises:

(a) a plurality of means for equalization of voltage across each of said individual means for illumination,

(b) each of said respective plurality of said means for equalization of voltage is an electrical transformer that is operably interposed between one of said respective said individual means for illumination that is not located furthest from said electrical power supply along said wires and said wires communicating with said electrical power supply;

wherein the voltage across said one of said individual means for illumination is substantially equal to the voltage across the individual means for illumination located furthest from said electrical power supply along said wires;

whereby the voltage across said individual means for illumination sequentially located furthest from said power supply will be substantially equal to the voltage across said individual means for illumination sequentially closer to said electrical power supply along said wires.

10. The system of claim 9 with a means for adjustment of the value of said voltage across each of said plurality of individual means for illumination, operably interposed between the means for illumination that is located furthest from said electrical power supply along said wires and said wires communicating with said electrical power supply.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said means for adjustment of the value of said voltage across each of said plurality of individual means for illumination is an electrical transformer.