Means and method for controlling lumen output and power consumption of phosphor excitable lamps
US4317069A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 29, 1980 |
| Grant date | Feb 23, 1982 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 29, 2000 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S315/04
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A device and a method for reducing power consumption and correspondingly reducing lumen output of a phosphor excitable lamp, such as a fluorescent lamp, connected to a source of power for operation of the same, without any appreciable loss of operating efficiency. A capacitive element is electrically connectable to one terminal of the phosphor excitable lamp and is effectively electrically interposed between the lamp and the source of power in a series connection. The capacitive element is selected with a capacitive value so that the lumen output is reduced but with substantially uniform lumen output at the reduced level and the power consumption is reduced without substantially changing the voltage to the lamp and without any appreciable effects on the efficiency of operation of the lamp or the source of power. More specifically, the capacitive element is interposed between the conductive terminal of a socket in a fixture and the end terminal of a lamp such that a circuit path is not created directly between the conductive terminal of the socket and the end terminal of the lamp, but rather through the capacitive element to thereby reduce the power consumption and lumen output.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.