Modular, configurable dimming ballast for a gas-discharge lamp
US6107755A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 27, 1998 |
| Grant date | Aug 22, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 27, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH05B41/3921
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The invention features an electronic dimming ballast for use with a gas-discharge lamp. The ballast is adapted to receive a wide variety of control signals, both from sensors near the ballast or from sensors and/or controllers located away from the ballast. The ballast is constructed on a main circuit board which contains an interface into which a wide variety of daughter circuit boards may be attached so that the ballast may be customized for a particular application or system. Typical dimming input "commands" may be from light level sensors, proximity sensors, portable, hand-held remote controllers, building energy management systems, etc. Unique interface and/or control circuitry to adapt the basic dimming ballast to these inputs is generally contained on the pluggable daughter cards.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.