Light modulating electronic ballast
US6333605A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 2, 1999 |
| Grant date | Dec 25, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 2, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH05B47/20
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A digitally controlled electronic ballast, on command, optically transmits its identification signature or other data by CW modulation of the luminosity of one or more lamps connected to the ballast. The data is transmitted by momentarily interrupting the lamp current to mark the beginning and the end of successive periods, wherein the periods represent either a logic one or a logic zero in accordance with the data to be transmitted. Each ballast has a unique identification, which is included in the transmitted digital data. A receiver monitors the luminosity of a lamp and compares instantaneous luminosity to average luminosity to detect the beginning and end of each period.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.