Fluorescent lamp power supply and control unit
US5408162A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 31, 1993 |
| Grant date | Apr 18, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 31, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S315/07
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A power supply and control circuit is provided for driving a fluorescent lamp from a low voltage DC power source such as a battery. A DC-to-AC inverter coupled to a switching regulator converts low DC voltage into a higher AC voltage for driving the fluorescent lamp. The lamp is included in a feedback loop which includes a circuit for producing a feedback signal indicative of the magnitude of current conducted by the lamp. The feedback signal is applied to the switching regulator to produce in the lamp a regulated current and, hence, a regulated lamp intensity. The magnitude of the lamp current can be adjusted to enable the intensity of the fluorescent lamp to be smoothly and continuously varied (without "dead-spots" or "pop-on") over a chosen intensity range, including if desired, from substantially full OFF to full ON. A method for driving a fluorescent lamp from a low voltage DC power source is also provided.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.