Patent · US Expired

Electronic dimmable gas tube power supply with overvoltage protection

US5550437A · kind A · utility

30Cited by
3References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 6, 1995
Grant dateAug 27, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 6, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S315/04
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A ballast for driving a gas discharge tube light with overvoltage protection and dimming. A clamp winding coupled to the internal DC power source prevents overvoltage of the secondary terminals by permitting induced current flow in the clamp winding if the clamp winding voltage exceeds that of the internal DC power source. The transformer core includes a shunt leg which supports a dimmer control winding. When the dimmer control winding is open-circuited, magnetic flux is shunted away from the secondary winding, reducing the light intensity; when the dimmer control winding is short-circuited, currents induce in the dimmer control winding prevent substantial of magnetic flux density and increase the light intensity.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.