Patent · US Expired

Minimum harmonic distortion operating circuit for at least one low-pressure discharge lamp

US5714846A · kind A · utility

9Cited by
4References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 24, 1995
Grant dateFeb 3, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 24, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S323/908
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

To substantially reduce harmonic distortion and improve the power factor of n operating circuit for a fluorescent lamp, a smoothing circuit (G) is interposed between the outputs from a power rectifier (GL) and an inverter (WR) supplying the fluorescent lamp (L) with high-frequency energy. The smoothing circuit includes a two electrolytic capacitor (C1, C2)--three diode (D1, D2, D3) network, which is so connected, and the diodes so polarized that, during charging of the capacitors, a series circuit is established with one (D2) of the three diodes in series with the two capacitors. For discharge of the capacitors to supply the inverter when the rectified voltage is lower than the capacitor voltage, the two capacitors (C1, C2), through the other two diodes (D1, D3), are connected in parallel to supply the inverter. To substantially reduce harmonic distortion to less than about 30% and improve the power factor of the circuit to above 0.95, a parallel resistor-capacitor (RC) circuit is connected between two junctions (V1, V2) serially with the series connected diode (D2). The resistor (R1), in combination with the capacitors, reduces, and time-delays, inrush current upon charging of the…

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