Patent · US Expired

Resonant voltage-multiplication, current-regulating and ignition circuit for a fluorescent lamp

US5708330A · kind A · utility

16Cited by
11References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 19, 1995
Grant dateJan 13, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 19, 2015

Classification

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

Abstract

A voltage-boosting and current-regulating circuit delivers energy from a high voltage resonant circuit source to a fluorescent lamp. A controllable switch is connected in series with the lamp cathodes and is triggered into conduction during a predetermined conductive time interval within each half-cycle of current conducted through the plasma from the resonant circuit. A charging current which flows during the conductive time interval stores energy in the resonant circuit which is subsequently released as a boosted voltage and as increased current flow through the plasma. The boosted voltage allows higher efficiency illumination lamps to the used, and regulation of the conductive time interval achieves the optimal current conduction through the lamp.

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