High intensity discharge lamp self-adjusting ballast system sensitive to the radiant energy or heat of the lamp

Patent · Tue Jul 21 00:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:6257954

Kuhnel, D S; Ottenstein, S A

This patent describes a self-adjusting ballast system for mercury vapor, high intensity discharge lamps having outputs of 100 watts or greater, comprising: a direct current source; a lamp circuit containing a high intensity discharge lamp; sensing means for sensing the radiant energy output of the lamp; a pulse width modulator which, in response to the output of the sensing means, varies the width of the pulses that power the lamp during warm-up of the lamp; a high frequency oscillator; a DC to AC converter that converts current from the direct source to pulses of alternating current for powering the lamp, the converter comprising: at least one switch for gating current to the lamp; a switch control means, responsive to the high frequency oscillator, for controlling the switch and controlling the frequency of the alternating current pulses that power the lamp; current sensing means for sensing the current being supplied to the lamp; and current control means for limiting the current through the lamp to a predetermined safe level when the current sensed by the current sensing means exceeds a reference value.

• Assignee: Innovative Controls, Inc., Houston, TX
• Patent Number(s): US 4682084
• OSTI ID: 6257954
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 28 Aug 1985
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
BUILDINGS
LIGHTING SYSTEMS
LIGHT BULBS
BALLASTS
ALTERNATING CURRENT
CONTROL SYSTEMS
CURRENT LIMITERS
DIRECT CURRENT
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
GATING CIRCUITS
INVERTERS
MERCURY
OSCILLATORS
PULSE CONVERTERS
PULSES
THERMOSTATS
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
CURRENTS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EQUIPMENT
METALS
320106* - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Building Equipment- (1987-)