Patent · US Expired

Electronic ballast that manages switching frequencies for extrinsic purposes

US5936357A · kind A · utility

17Cited by
4References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 24, 1998
Grant dateAug 10, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 24, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S315/07
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A microprocessor controlled, electronic ballast operates a lamp at nominal settings and shifts the operation of the ballast away from nominal settings to reduce interference. The shift is randomized by a test--flip--shift! routine that prevents all ballasts from attempting the same correction at the same time. On DC input voltage, the frequency of the boost controller is varied to reduce EMI. The ballast operates in bands according to the input voltage. Some bands correspond to full brightness, some to a fixed amount of dimming, and some to a variable amount of dimming. In the event of an abrupt change in load, the microprocessor changes the frequency of the inverter, thereby reducing output power and gradually unloading the boost circuit and maintaining power to the microprocessor.

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