EP0641147A1 - Ballast électronique pour tube fluorescent de type "compact" avec réamorçage à chaud amélioré - Google Patents

Ballast électronique pour tube fluorescent de type "compact" avec réamorçage à chaud amélioré Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0641147A1
EP0641147A1 EP94305694A EP94305694A EP0641147A1 EP 0641147 A1 EP0641147 A1 EP 0641147A1 EP 94305694 A EP94305694 A EP 94305694A EP 94305694 A EP94305694 A EP 94305694A EP 0641147 A1 EP0641147 A1 EP 0641147A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
preheat
ballast
lamp
circuit arrangement
electrode
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP94305694A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Edward Eugene Hammer
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
General Electric Co
Original Assignee
General Electric Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by General Electric Co filed Critical General Electric Co
Publication of EP0641147A1 publication Critical patent/EP0641147A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B41/00—Circuit arrangements or apparatus for igniting or operating discharge lamps
    • H05B41/14—Circuit arrangements
    • H05B41/26—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by power derived from dc by means of a converter, e.g. by high-voltage dc
    • H05B41/28—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by power derived from dc by means of a converter, e.g. by high-voltage dc using static converters
    • H05B41/295—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by power derived from dc by means of a converter, e.g. by high-voltage dc using static converters with semiconductor devices and specially adapted for lamps with preheating electrodes, e.g. for fluorescent lamps

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generically to all fluorescent lamps that are prone to improper instant starting under typical operating conditions and, more particularly, to compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) which are ballasted electronically at high frequency to insure a proper starting scenario under all start conditions, particularly a hot restart condition.
  • CFL compact fluorescent lamps
  • Lamps that use mercury along with an inert gas, such as Argon, as a means of converting ultraviolet energy into visible light are classified as low pressure fluorescent discharge lamps.
  • One such family of compact lamps that are commercially available are called twin tube lamps and typically range in wattage from 5W to 50W.
  • Double twin tube lamp types, generically called quads, are also commercially available, operate within the same range of wattage, and also have the desirable compactness feature. Additionally, this invention also can apply to any fluorescent lamp, regardless of size or voltage, that is prone to improper instant start conditions, and particularly to hot restart conditions.
  • the present invention provides a ballast circuit arrangement particularly suited for application with a compact fluorescent type discharge lamp.
  • the ballast arrangement has been developed to provide a voltage sensitive, bi-directional electronic switch added in series with a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) element.
  • PTC positive temperature coefficient
  • the ballast arrangement of the present invention may be used with any fluorescent lamp that is prone to improper instant starting, and is particularly applicable to compact fluorescent lamps, including quad and hex type fluorescent lamps that are electronically ballasted. Since many of the electronic ballasts for compact fluorescent lamps develop high starting voltages, such lamps can be prone to an improper instant start condition and can therefore benefit from the ballast circuit of the present invention.
  • a ballast circuit arrangement for a discharge lamp comprises a PTC element for initially providing a low resistance path for proper electrode heating.
  • a bidirectional switching means is connected in series with the PTC element for improving hot restart conditions by insuring that this low resistance path is properly connected electrically for each time the lamp power is switched on.
  • a series connected capacitor is provided to properly set the value of the electrode preheat current.
  • ballast circuit which will improve the hot restart characteristic of discharge lamps such that the hot restart condition is as satisfactory as the normal, i.e., cold, start condition. It is also an inherent advantage of the present invention that such a ballast circuit will improve ballast efficiency and efficacy of the system, because it eliminates the losses associated with the quiescent cathode current during normal operation.
  • the ballast circuitry of the present invention also can improve overall lamp life because of the improved restart condition.
  • Fig. 1 there is illustrated a prior art schematic representation of an electronic ballast circuit 10 used with an existing integral ballasted compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) 12.
  • Input voltage/current wave shapes are electrically connected to a full wave bridge rectifier 14 which converts a low frequency, on the order of 60 Hertz, input to a rectified DC.
  • the circuit may further include an electrical fuse 16 and a transient protection device, such as a metal oxide varistor 18, at the input.
  • Various electrical filters consisting of capacitors 20 and 22, resistors 24 and 26, and inductor 28 smooth out the DC current so that a more stable DC current can be applied to a high frequency inverter circuit 30 that transforms the DC to high frequency AC.
  • the capacitor 22 and the resistors 24 and 26 comprise an RC time constant network for a start inverter circuit of the electronic ballast circuit 10.
  • a first switch, such as a SIDAC switch 27, provides an input to the start inverter circuit 30.
  • the high frequency AC current then passes through ballasting impedances, including a feedback transformer 32 and a resonant ballast inductor 34, which set the proper starting/operating values to be applied to the lamp 12.
  • the circuit further includes capacitors 36 and a parallel resonant capacitor 38.
  • a preheat electrode circuit 40 includes a PTC element 42 and a series capacitor 44.
  • FIG. 2 there is illustrated a block diagram representation of a typical electronic ballast circuit constructed in accordance with the present invention.
  • An input 46 having a fuse and transient protection, electrically connects AC voltage/current wave shapes to an AC/DC bridge rectifier 48, which has a DC output.
  • Inverter 50 transforms the DC to high frequency AC which passes through high frequency ballasting impedances at block 52.
  • the high frequency ballasting impedances from block 52 set the proper electrode preheating value at block 54 and the proper operating value for the lamp at block 56.
  • the electrode preheating step of block 54 contains a bidirectional, voltage sensitive, electrical switch means, such as a SIDAC, discussed in more detail with reference to Fig. 3.
  • Electronic ballast circuit 58 of Fig. 3 may be used with any existing integral ballasted compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) 12, to insure a proper starting scenario under all start conditions, particularly hot restart conditions.
  • CFL compact fluorescent lamp
  • input voltage/current wave shapes are electrically connected to the full wave bridge rectifier 14 which converts a low frequency input to a rectified DC.
  • Electrical filters smooth out the DC current so that a more stable DC current can be applied to the high frequency inverter circuit 30 that transforms the DC to high frequency AC.
  • This high frequency AC current then passes through ballasting impedances which set the proper starting/operating values to be applied to the lamp 12.
  • circuit 58 is uniquely different from the prior art circuit 10 of Fig. 1, in that a bidirectional electronic switching means 60 has been added to a preheat electrode circuit 62, which now comprises the switch 60, a PTC element 64, and a series capacitor 66.
  • the PTC element 64 is electrically connected in series with the bidirectional switch 60 for initially providing a low resistance path for proper electrode preheating.
  • the series connected capacitor 66 properly sets the electrode preheat current for the electrodes of the lamp 12.
  • the electrodes are situated inside the glass of the lamp, one at each end, to supply electrons to supply current for operating the lamp 12.
  • the switch 60 is a bidirectional, voltage sensitive, electrical switch, such as a SIDAC switch.
  • a SIDAC switch will reduce the sputtering of the emission mix on the electrodes during hot restart, by insuring that the electrodes are properly preheated, even for a hot restart condition.
  • the bidirectional switch 60 is closed when the input power to the ballast is off. The instant the power is turned on, current flows through the preheat electrode circuit 62, and the lamp 12 then subsequently starts. Once the lamp is started, the bidirectional switch 60, which is voltage sensitive, electrically opens, thus stopping any quiescent current flow through the PTC 64 of the electrode preheating circuit 62. Elimination of the quiescent current permits the PTC 64 to return to its low electrical value so that the next time the power is turned on, either normally or with a hot restart, the preheating electrode circuit 62 works perfectly.

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  • Circuit Arrangements For Discharge Lamps (AREA)
EP94305694A 1993-08-30 1994-08-01 Ballast électronique pour tube fluorescent de type "compact" avec réamorçage à chaud amélioré Withdrawn EP0641147A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US11312393A 1993-08-30 1993-08-30
US113123 1993-08-30

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0641147A1 true EP0641147A1 (fr) 1995-03-01

Family

ID=22347691

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP94305694A Withdrawn EP0641147A1 (fr) 1993-08-30 1994-08-01 Ballast électronique pour tube fluorescent de type "compact" avec réamorçage à chaud amélioré

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0641147A1 (fr)
JP (1) JPH07153584A (fr)
CA (1) CA2130423A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2301955A (en) * 1995-06-08 1996-12-18 Ultralite International Pty Li Pre-heat circuit for a discharge lamp

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1985004769A1 (fr) * 1984-04-09 1985-10-24 Nigg Juerg Procede de raccordement liberable d'appareils d'eclairage electriques, adaptateur respectivement ballast et circuit avec un generateur haute frequence
WO1991007070A1 (fr) * 1989-10-26 1991-05-16 Skyline Holding Ag Circuit de prechauffage pour lampes a fluorescence
WO1993000784A1 (fr) * 1991-06-21 1993-01-07 Prolux Maschinenbau Gmbh Circuit pour le fonctionnement d'une lampe a decharge lumineuse

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1985004769A1 (fr) * 1984-04-09 1985-10-24 Nigg Juerg Procede de raccordement liberable d'appareils d'eclairage electriques, adaptateur respectivement ballast et circuit avec un generateur haute frequence
WO1991007070A1 (fr) * 1989-10-26 1991-05-16 Skyline Holding Ag Circuit de prechauffage pour lampes a fluorescence
WO1993000784A1 (fr) * 1991-06-21 1993-01-07 Prolux Maschinenbau Gmbh Circuit pour le fonctionnement d'une lampe a decharge lumineuse

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2301955A (en) * 1995-06-08 1996-12-18 Ultralite International Pty Li Pre-heat circuit for a discharge lamp

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2130423A1 (fr) 1995-03-01
JPH07153584A (ja) 1995-06-16

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