Patent · US Active

High-pressure discharge lamp ballast with multi-mode lamp starting circuit

US8294385B2 · kind B2 · utility

6Cited by
5References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 27, 2009
Grant dateOct 23, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 18, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02B20/00
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An electronic ballast is provided for powering a high-pressure discharge lamp. A power supply circuit receives an AC input and provides a DC output in response to the AC input. An inverter circuit having a plurality of switching elements converts the DC output into an AC signal for the lamp. An LC resonant circuit is coupled between the inverter circuit and the lamp. A control circuit controls the switching operation of the switching elements, with the switching control associated with various operating modes. In an electrical breakdown mode the switching elements are controlled at a first switching frequency effective to provide a first resonant voltage and produce electrical breakdown of the lamp from an unlit state. In a high frequency preheat mode the switching elements after startup of the lamp are controlled at a second switching frequency lower than the first switching frequency to provide a current for preheating lamp electrodes. In a rectangular wave lighting mode the switching elements after preheating of the lamp electrodes is controlled to supply a rectangular wave AC signal to the lamp and maintain steady state lighting.

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