Digital power controller for gas discharge devices and the like
US7449844B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 13, 2004 |
| Grant date | Nov 11, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 13, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S315/07
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A programmable digital power controller for gas discharge devices such as fluorescent lamps or other devices 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 multiple gas discharge devices in a series/parallel circuit in a manner that power for a particular device is disabled when that device is removed from the 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.