Architecture of ballast with integrated RF interface
First Claim
1. An RF wireless architecture for activating a fluorescent lamp, the RF wireless architecture including a second antenna which receives an RF control signal and provides it to a ballast, the ballast comprising,a power stage providing a high voltage signal to activate said fluorescent lamp, a power control stage for controlling said power stage, a communication decoder acting as an interface to said power stage control a transceiver/receiver receiving said RF control signal and providing said RF control signal to said communication decoder;
- said communication decoder, said power stage control, said power stage and said transceiver/receiver located within said ballast.
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Abstract
The invention is a new architecture for a high frequency (HF) ballast with wireless communication interface. The new architecture integrates the RF wireless interface into the ballast. A user control transmits an RF control signal to a second antenna at the ballast site which provides the RF signal to the ballast which activates the fluorescent lamp. The ballast includes a transceiver/receiver, a communication decoder, a power control stage and a power stage. The transceiver/receiver receives the RF signal and communicates it to the communication decoder which acts as an interface to the power stage control. The power stage control controls the power stage that activates the fluorescent lamp. The communication decoder, power control stage, power stage and transceiver/receiver are located within the ballast enclosure which is an important part of the invention. If the power stage control is digital it may be combined with the communication decoder into one microprocessor or digital controller such as an ASIC. The communication decoder may be a serial interface. The transceiver/receiver is an RF integrated circuit. The ballast further includes an isolator to isolate the transceiver/receiver from the first antenna. The isolator may be capacitive.
64 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An RF wireless architecture for activating a fluorescent lamp, the RF wireless architecture including a second antenna which receives an RF control signal and provides it to a ballast, the ballast comprising,
a power stage providing a high voltage signal to activate said fluorescent lamp, a power control stage for controlling said power stage, a communication decoder acting as an interface to said power stage control a transceiver/receiver receiving said RF control signal and providing said RF control signal to said communication decoder; - said communication decoder, said power stage control, said power stage and said transceiver/receiver located within said ballast.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An RF wireless architecture for activating a fluorescent lamp, the RF wireless architecture including a second antenna which receives an RF control signal and provides it to a ballast, the ballast comprising,
a power stage providing a high voltage signal to activate said fluorescent lamp, a digital controller for controlling said power stage, a transceiver/receiver receiving said RF control signal and providing said RF control signal to said digital controller; - said digital controller, said power stage and said transceiver/receiver located within said ballast.
- View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An RF wireless architecture for activating a fluorescent lamp, the RF wireless architecture including a second antenna which receives an RF control signal and provides it to a ballast, the ballast comprising,
a lamp driver for providing an activating signal to said fluorescent lamp, a communication decoder, acting as an interface to said lamp driver, a transceiver/receiver communicating with said communication decoder for receiving said RF control signal and providing said RF control signal to said communication decoder; - said communication decoder, said lamp driver and said transceiver/receiver located within said ballast.
- View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeKoninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
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Original AssigneeKoninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
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InventorsWang, Ling, Wessels, Johannes Hendrik, Wacyk, Ihor Terence
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Primary Examiner(s)PHAN, THO GIA
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Application NumberUS09/991,082Publication NumberTime in Patent Office706 DaysField of Search315/DIG.4, 315/149, 315/158, 315/291, 315/292, 315/293, 315/294, 315/295, 315/320, 315/322US Class Current315/291CPC Class CodesH05B 47/19 via wireless transmissionY10S 315/04 Dimming circuit for fluores...
