High intensity discharge lamp ballast with anti-theft operating mode
First Claim
1. A ballast circuit for energizing an HID lamp having an anti-theft operating mode comprising:
- means for testing a signal from a vehicle to verify a vehicle code matches an HID lamp code, and when there is no match, said testing means initiates said anti-theft operating mode; and
means for regulating an operating current of said HID lamp in accordance with a signal from said testing means, wherein said HID lamp output power fluctuates between a normal output power level and a predetermined lower output power level.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A high intensity discharge (HID) assembly comprises ballast circuits which includes a micro-controller, and an HID headlamp. In order to deter theft of the HID assembly from a vehicle, the micro-controller communicates with a vehicle computer, checks the VIN of the vehicle, and if the micro-controller does not recognize the VIN, causes the HID headlamp to operate in a flickering power output mode. The ballast circuits include a power control circuit, a lamp current regulator, a 400v regulator, a current sense circuit, a turn-on synchronization circuit, a shut down circuit, and a pulse width modulator.
16 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A ballast circuit for energizing an HID lamp having an anti-theft operating mode comprising:
-
means for testing a signal from a vehicle to verify a vehicle code matches an HID lamp code, and when there is no match, said testing means initiates said anti-theft operating mode; and
means for regulating an operating current of said HID lamp in accordance with a signal from said testing means, wherein said HID lamp output power fluctuates between a normal output power level and a predetermined lower output power level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A ballast circuit for energizing and controlling an HID lamp having a normal mode of operation and an anti-theft mode of operation comprising:
-
means for generating required voltage and current for operating said HID lamp from a predetermined input voltage;
means for monitoring said operating current of said HID lamp and generating a current sense signal;
means for regulating said HID lamp current in response to an HID lamp current control signal;
means for modulating a duty cycle of said voltage and current generating means for operating said HID lamp in response to said current sense signal and said HID lamp current control signal; and
means for synchronizing said duty cycle modulating means in response to a switching signal from said voltage and current generating means. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A method for operating a high intensity discharge (HID) lamp in a normal mode and an anti-theft mode comprising the steps of:
-
testing a signal from a vehicle with means to verify a vehicle code matches an HID lamp code, and when there is no match initiating said anti-theft operating mode; and
regulating an operating current of said HID lamp in accordance with a signal from said testing means, wherein said HID lamp output power fluctuates between a normal output power level and a predetermined lower power level. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method of operating a high intensity discharge (HID) lamp in a normal mode and an anti-theft mode comprising the steps of:
-
producing in a power control circuit required voltage and current to operate said HID lamp from a predetermined input voltage;
monitoring said produced current for said HID lamp and generating a current sense signal;
regulating said HID lamp current in response to an HID lamp current control signal;
providing a pulse width modulator for modulating a duty cycle of said power control circuit in response to said sensed HID lamp current and said HID lamp current control signal; and
synchronizing said pulse width modulator in response to a switching signal from said power control circuit. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
-
Specification