Alternating turn off timing of a fluorescent lamp starter unit
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- (a) making a determination whether a ballast coupled to a fluorescent lamp is of a first type or whether the ballast is of a second type, wherein the determination is made in a fluorescent lamp starter circuit at least in part by determining a periodicity of a periodic current flowing through the ballast;
(b) if the determination in (a) is that the ballast is of the first type then controlling a switch in the fluorescent lamp starter circuit to turn off the fluorescent lamp in a first way; and
(c) if the determination in (a) is that the ballast is of the second type then controlling the switch to turn off the fluorescent lamp in a second way.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A starter unit (for example, an RF-enabled and replaceable starter unit) has an ability both to turn on and to turn off a fluorescent lamp. The starter unit detects whether a ballast in the circuit with the fluorescent lamp is of a first type (for example, an L-type ballast) or is of a second type (for example, a C-type ballast). If the determination is that the ballast is of the first type, then the starter unit turns off the lamp in a first way (for example, using C-type timing and then using L-type timing alternatingly). If the determination is that the ballast is of the second type, then the starter unit turns off the lamp in a second way (for example, using only C-type timing). The same starter unit design is usable both in single-lamp fixtures and in multi-lamp fixtures where a mix of ballast types may be used.
13 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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(a) making a determination whether a ballast coupled to a fluorescent lamp is of a first type or whether the ballast is of a second type, wherein the determination is made in a fluorescent lamp starter circuit at least in part by determining a periodicity of a periodic current flowing through the ballast; (b) if the determination in (a) is that the ballast is of the first type then controlling a switch in the fluorescent lamp starter circuit to turn off the fluorescent lamp in a first way; and (c) if the determination in (a) is that the ballast is of the second type then controlling the switch to turn off the fluorescent lamp in a second way. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method comprising:
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(a) making a determination whether a Fluorescent Lamp Starter Unit (FLSU) is coupled to an L-type ballast or whether the FLSU is coupled to a C-type ballast; (b) if the determination in (a) is that the FLSU is coupled to a L-type ballast then controlling a switch in the FLSU to turn off a fluorescent lamp by pulsing on and then off using first pulses that have a first timing and also using second pulses that have a second timing; and (c) if the determination in (a) is that the FLSU is coupled to a C-type ballast then controlling the switch to turn off the fluorescent lamp by pulsing on and then off using third pulses that have the second timing and using substantially no pulses that have the first timing. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method comprising:
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(a) turning on a switch in a fluorescent lamp starter unit (FLSU) and thereby establishing a current path, wherein the current path extends through a ballast, through a fluorescent lamp, and through the switch, wherein the turning on of the switch causes a transient periodic current to flow in the current path through the switch; (b) making at least one measurement of the transient periodic current; (c) using the measurement of (b) to make a determination; and (d) turning off the fluorescent lamp using the FLSU while the FLSU is receiving AC mains power, wherein (a), (b), (c) and (d) are performed by the FLSU. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification