Patent · US Expired

Circuit for energizing cold-cathode fluorescent lamps

US5892336A · kind A · utility

63Cited by
3References
6Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 11, 1998
Grant dateApr 6, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 11, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH05B41/232
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An electrical circuit for simultaneously energizing at least a pair of CCFLs that are connected in series. The circuit also includes a transformer having a primary winding adapted to receive an alternating current. A secondary winding is coupled in series with the CCFLs to energize their operation. A shunt capacitor, connected in parallel across one CCFL, significantly reduces the peak voltage that must be applied across the CCFLs. Usually, the circuit also includes an isolation capacitor connected in series between the CCFLs and the secondary winding of the transformer. The isolation capacitor provides both DC blocking and electrical isolation between the secondary winding and the CCFLs.

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