Apparatus for controlling operation of gas discharge devices
US6963178B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 7, 1999 |
| Grant date | Nov 8, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 7, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S315/07
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A power controller for fluorescent lamp dimming is disclosed, using all digital internal and external programmable controls. A specific ASIC is described. A gate array and microcomputer share parallel functions with fast sub-functions carried out by the gate array and slower sub-functions carried out by a micro-processor. Circuits are provided for automatic shut down when a high frequency ground fault is detected; for connecting the filaments of gas discharge lamps in a series/parallel circuit for driving the load as close to resonance as possible but in an inductive mode; and for developing a dead time between high side and low side switches which is related to transformer current, switch current, bridge voltage or bridge voltage dv/dt.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.