Starter for a gas discharge light source
First Claim
1. A starter for a gas discharge light source comprising:
- a current sensor configured to measure a current flow through a filament of a gas discharge light source; and
a processor configured to be coupled with the current sensor and the filament, wherein the processor is operable to receive a current indication from the current sensor, and a voltage of the filament;
the processor operable to calculate a cold resistance value of the filament from the current indication and the voltage each time the gas discharge light source is first energized,wherein the processor is further operable to preheat the filament for a period of time that is determinable with the processor based on the calculated cold resistance.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A starter for a gas discharge light source is configured to measure an initial resistance of one or more filaments of the gas discharge light source, such as a fluorescent light, each time the gas discharge light source is initially powered via a ballast. The starter may initiate a preheat cycle to heat the one or more filaments. The duration of the preheat cycle may be automatically customized by the starter based on the initial resistance and a target hot resistance that is calculated by the starter based on the initial resistance. The duration of the preheat cycle may be automatically customized by the starter to optimize reliability and the life of the gas discharge light source.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A starter for a gas discharge light source comprising:
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a current sensor configured to measure a current flow through a filament of a gas discharge light source; and a processor configured to be coupled with the current sensor and the filament, wherein the processor is operable to receive a current indication from the current sensor, and a voltage of the filament; the processor operable to calculate a cold resistance value of the filament from the current indication and the voltage each time the gas discharge light source is first energized, wherein the processor is further operable to preheat the filament for a period of time that is determinable with the processor based on the calculated cold resistance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of starting a gas discharge light source, the method comprising:
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energizing a gas discharge light source with a power source, wherein the gas discharge light source includes first and second filaments; closing a switch to couple the first and second filaments in series with each other, and the power source; calculating a cold resistance of at least one of the first and second filaments of the gas discharge light source each time the gas discharge light source is first energized; preheating the first and second filaments with the power source for a period of time that is based on the calculated cold resistance; and opening the switch when the preheat is complete. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A starter for a gas discharge light source comprising:
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a memory device configured to store a plurality of instructions executable with a processor; instructions stored in the memory device to close a switch that hardwires first and second filaments included in a discharge light source in series with a power source; instructions stored in the memory device to calculate a cold resistance of at least one of the first and second filaments each time the first and second filaments are first energized with the power source; and instructions stored in the memory device to open the switch after a period of time that is determined based on the calculated cold resistance. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification