Electronic ballasts for lighting systems
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A ballast comprising:
- a lamp control subsystem disposed to provide a lamp control signal, the lamp control subsystem including (i) a ballast control circuit for providing said lamp control signal;
(ii) a processor operatively coupled to said ballast control circuit; and
(iii) a memory, operatively coupled to said processor, said memory configured to store processor readable logical instructions wherein execution of the logical instructions by the processor results in the performing of at least the following operations;
controlling a predefined lamp ignition sequence;
determining whether a lamp operatively connected to said ballast has ignited; and
based on said operations, controlling in part operation of said lamp;
a lamp drive subsystem disposed to receive said lamp control signal and provide a lamp drive signal; and
an output network disposed to receive said lamp drive signal and provide a lamp drive output signal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A microprocessor controlled electronic ballast for lighting equipment is described wherein light level control is performed by varying the power provided to the light. Lighting power is adjusted by driving the lamp through a resonant circuit with a variable frequency power signal. The programmable microprocessor controls overall operation including preheating, ignition, and shutdown.
-
Citations
28 Claims
-
1. A ballast comprising:
-
a lamp control subsystem disposed to provide a lamp control signal, the lamp control subsystem including (i) a ballast control circuit for providing said lamp control signal;
(ii) a processor operatively coupled to said ballast control circuit; and
(iii) a memory, operatively coupled to said processor, said memory configured to store processor readable logical instructions wherein execution of the logical instructions by the processor results in the performing of at least the following operations;
controlling a predefined lamp ignition sequence;
determining whether a lamp operatively connected to said ballast has ignited; and
based on said operations, controlling in part operation of said lamp;a lamp drive subsystem disposed to receive said lamp control signal and provide a lamp drive signal; and an output network disposed to receive said lamp drive signal and provide a lamp drive output signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A method comprising the steps of:
-
providing a lamp control signal with a lamp control subsystem, the lamp control subsystem including (i) a ballast control circuit for providing said lamp control signal;
(ii) a processor operatively coupled to said ballast control circuit; and
(iii) a memory, operatively coupled to said processor, said memory configured to store processor readable logical instructions wherein execution of the logical instructions by the processor results in the performing of at least the following operations;
controlling a predefined lamp ignition sequence;
determining whether a lamp operatively connected to said ballast has ignited; and
based on said operations, controlling in part operation of said lamp;receiving the lamp control signal with a lamp drive subsystem that provides a lamp drive signal; and receiving the lamp drive signal with an output network that provides a lamp drive output signal.
-
-
23. A ballast comprising:
-
a lamp control subsystem disposed to provide a lamp control signal, the lamp control subsystem comprising (i) a ballast control circuit for providing said lamp control signal;
(ii) a processor operatively coupled to said ballast control circuit; and
(iii) a memory, operatively coupled to said processor, said memory configured to store processor readable logical instructions;
wherein execution of the logical instructions by the processor results in the performing of one of the following operations;
controlling a predefined lamp ignition sequence;
determining whether a lamp operatively connected to said ballast has ignited; and
based on at least one of the operations, controlling in part operation of said lamp;a lamp drive subsystem disposed to receive said lamp control signal and provide a lamp drive signal; and an output network disposed to receive said lamp drive signal and provide a lamp drive output signal. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
-
-
26. A method comprising the steps of:
-
providing a lamp control signal with a lamp control subsystem, the lamp control subsystem comprising (i) a ballast control circuit for providing said lamp control signal;
(ii) a processor operatively coupled to said ballast control circuit; and
(iii) a memory, operatively coupled to said processor, said memory configured to store processor readable logical instructions;
wherein execution of the logical instructions by the processor results in the performing of one of the following operations;
controlling a predefined lamp ignition sequence;
determining whether a lamp operatively connected to said ballast has ignited; and
based on at least one of the operations, controlling in part operation of said lamp;receiving the lamp control signal with a lamp drive subsystem that provides a lamp drive signal; and receiving the lamp drive signal with an output network that provides a lamp drive output signal. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
-
Specification