Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02300351 2000-07-20
FLUORESCENT LAMP BALLAST COMBINED WITH ELECTRONIC
STARTER AND RESONANT CAPACITOR FOR REDUCING INPUT
CURRENT
5 The invention of the FLUORESCENT LAMP BALLAST
COMBINED WITH ELECTRONIC STARTER AND RESONANT
CAPACITOR FOR REDUCING INPUT CURRENT is a unique kind of
fluorescent lamp gadget that simplifies the system and solve all the problems
in relation with the fluorescent lighting system as well as maximizing the
l0 savings in electrical consumption.
The invention constitute a primary coil which will control the input current,
connected directly to the power line terminal, Ll , a secondary coil connected
in series with the primary coil that will help in raising the inductance for
the
15 creation of the high voltage across the capacitor C,, a secondary circuit
with
the capacitor, C,, for the charging and discharging of current and a
QUADRAC for the switching on and off during the charging and discharging
of capacitor are connected in series with the secondary coil, in between the
primary coil and secondary coil is a distributing line, DL,, connected to the
20 filament ,F,, the other end of the secondary circuit is directly connected
to the
power line terminal,L2, and the distributing line,DL2, to the filament, F2, of
the fluorescent lamp, a tertiary circuit consist only of capacitor that will
reduce the input current and saves electricity is connected in is connected in
parallel to the power line terminals, L, and L2.
25
PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED with the CONVENTIONAL
FLUORESCENT LAMP SYSTEM using ORDINARY and
CONVENTIONAL STARER.
30
1)DELAYED STARTING
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CA 02300351 2000-07-20
Using ordinary ballast with conventional starter has been the main
source of a hard-starting fluorescent lighting system. Inconveniences to the
end-users have always been a sorry-state for the people who were using
fluorescent lighting system. The culprit is the conventional starter. It is a
5 mechanical type of electrical switch that is sensitive to heat induced by a
neon gas. Upon sensing the heat, it will bend to close the circuit thereby
preheating the two filaments of the fluorescent tube.
After closing the two contact points, heat is reduced inside the starter
10 and instantaneously opened the two contact points. At this points of time a
sudden opening of contact points induces a very high voltage at the ballast
which will kick-offthe starting current inside the fluorescent tube.
Actually, anything that moves (mechanical) will have an untimely
15 mechanical defect (enhanced). Therefore the life-span of this starter can
be
very short.
In electrical point of view, contact points will also have a short life-
span due to the constant devastation of contact point surfaces by electrical
20 sparks.
All these short-comings can cause hard-starting situation of the
fluorescent lighting system.
25 2) EARLY DUMPING OF FLUORESCENT TUBES INTO TRASH
CANS.
Again the culprit is the conventional starter. Once the two contact
point remains in contact for a long period of time intermittently, it will
cause
30 to melt the filaments and breaks open the continuity of the whole
circuitry.
Hence, the tube could not anymore be used to its full span of
burning-hours indicated by its manufacturer.
2
CA 02300351 2000-07-20
3) COULD NOT START DURING LOW VOLTAGE
FLUCTUATION USUALLY OCCURING IN THE PROVINCES.
5 The ballast can be the main reason why during low voltage
fluctuations in rural areas, the fluorescent lighting system will just keep on
flickering.
The minimum recorded voltage in the province is 160 volts AC. The
l0 least voltage that the fluorescent lamp can light up is190 volts AC. Below
this, the ballast cannot attain or induce the required voltage to start a
fluorescent lamp.
15 SAFETY AND ECONOMIC DISREGARD ON THE PROPER USE
OF CONVENTION BALLAST AND STARTER BY THE END USERS.
There are two reasons why the end-users should use a power factor
corrector gadget. But these were not explained well by the manufacture of the
20 ballast. The end-users on the other hand may not bother to use the
component. It may due to additional cost or complexity in the installation or
assembly of the fluorescent fixture. Anyway as they presumed, it will still
light up.
25 1) 50% SAVINGS IN ELECTRICTTY BILL PER FLUORESCENT LAMP
A ballast consumes lots of electricity. It was found that a 20 watt
fluorescent lamp with a 20 watt ballast (brand: DELTA) of a 220 volts AC
line voltage, will have a current reading of 0.35AMP.
30
Using a capacitor of 3.5pF across the input lines, the current reading
becomes 0.16AMP. Therefore, 50% savings per fixture of 20 watts
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CA 02300351 2000-07-20
fluorescent lamp can be attained without discriminating its luminance. The
same is true with the other wattage of fluorescent lamps.
2) SAFER TO USE
5
Heat included in every electrical devices will depend on the current
passing thru the resistance from the formula
Pheat - IZ(cmrent) X R(rasistance)
to
Every gadgets have its own resistance. It is obvious that a florescent lamp
system without a capacitor across the input lines will have a tendency of
overheating and may cause fire.
15 Using a capacitor across the input lines will double the safety factor of
the
fluorescent lamp system.
THE INVENTION OF FLUORESCENT BALLAST WITH UNIQUE
ELECTRONIC STARTER AND RESONANT CAPACITOR FOR
20 REDUCING INPUT CURRENT IS THE STATE-OF-THE-ART
SOLUTION OF THE PREVIOSLY ENCOUNTERED PROBLEMS.
It is a system that incorporate the uniquely designed ballast with
electronic starter and a capacitor to resonate with the ballast.
25
The ballast is not anymore used as a high voltage inducer component
but half of it is used to control the flow of current. The other half is
connected
in series with the capacitor as shown in fig.2 to increase the starting
voltage
required to start a fluorescent lamp. The electronic starter uses impedance
30 from which the voltage across the capacitance which is in series with an
inductance will have an unusual high voltage effect.
4
CA 02300351 2000-07-20
The capacitor is switched on and off using a quadrac (a semi-
conductor switching device) for charging and discharging during starting
situation. Once the fluorescent lamp has started, the semi-conductor switch
(quadrac) will switched off due to the voltage drop across the fluorescent
5 lamp.
THE PURPOSE AND ADVANTAGES OF THIS INVENTION CAN BE
EXPLAINED AS AGAINST THE CONVENTIONAL BALLAST AND
l0 STARTER.
1) The Fluorescent Lamp Ballast Combined with Electronics Starter
and Resonant Capacitor is a rapid start system.
15 Once a semi-conductor switch (Quadrac) is triggered on the charging
of current into the capacitor commenced. It will react with the inductance in
series and the result is the creation of a high voltage across the capacitor
as
well as across the load itself which is the fluorescent lamp.
20 The creation of high voltage is instances. Unlike the conventional
starter which will pass a series of stages before kicking-up induced high
voltage into the fluorescent tube.
25 2) Extends the life of a fluorescent lamp.
Once a filament is cut-off or the two filaments are cut-off, the circuit
becomes incomplete and the fluorescent lamp should need replacement.
30 It is impossible to short-out the two terminals of each
filament with the Conventional starter otherwise a ballast overheats in a
short
period of time and the coils becomes grounded to the negative core and will
be rendered useless.
5
CA 02300351 2000-07-20
The invention of Fluorescent Lamp Ballast Combined with
Electronics Starter and Resonant Capacitor for Reducing Input Current can
extend the life-span of a fluorescent lamp to its maximum specified burning
5 hours.
It doesn't need pre-heating of the filaments because the capacitor
itself across the load creates the required high voltage to kick-off electrons
l0 inside to start the fluorescent lamp.
3) Very convenient and useful in the provinces
Since the ballast is not anymore used as the source of high voltage in
15 starting the fluorescent lamp, variations of voltages with a minimum of 160
line voltage cannot anymore hinder in stating the fluorescent lamp because
the creation of high-voltage across the capacitor is enough to start the
fluorescent lamp.
20
Additional inductance in series with the capacitor coming from the
uniquely designed ballast ensures the starting capability for the latest "TLD"
fluorescent tubes.
25
THE FOLLOWING IS THE DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH THE
SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM OF THE PRESENT INVENTION.
Referring to the schematic diagram of fig.2 with reference to the
30 alphanumeric label which designates same parts, throughout the circuit,
there
is shown a fluorescent lamp with filaments F, and FZ connected at the
distribution lines DLl and DLZ respectively from the primary circuit which
consist of capacitor, C, serially connected with the semiconductor switch,
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CA 02300351 2000-07-20
quadrac, the other terminal of capacitor C,, is connected to the second coil
of
the ballast, in between the coils and coil2 of the ballast is connected to the
distribution line, DL,, the other terminal MTzof quadrac is connected to the
distribution line, DL2, the only triggering component of quadrac is a
resistor,
5 one terminal of which is connected to the second terminal,MT2of quadrac and
the distribution line,DLz.
The specially designed ballast is unique that consist of two coils, coil
1 and coil 2. The two coils have different uses. Coil 1 is mainly for the
l0 control of current passing thru the fluorescent lamp. But primarily for
helping
in creating the high voltage across the capacitor C,. The second coil , coil 2
,
which is in series with the first coil, coil 1, is for an additional
inductance in
series with the capacitor , C,, to ensure that the required open-circuit-
voltage
across the fluorescent lamp is attained.
15
The ballast has three terminals, they are B1, B2, and B3. The first
terminal, B~, is directly connected to the powerline, Ll,, and the first
terminal
of capacitor, C2, the second terminal of the ballast, Bz, is directly
connected
to the first distribution line DLI, the third terminal, B3, of the ballast is
20 directly connected to the first terminal of capacitor, Cl.
The secondary circuit which is solely composed of capacitor, C2, the purpose
of which is to reduce the input current by as much as half when in resonance
with the ballast terminal of capacitor,Cz, designated as Czb is connected to
the
25 powerline terminal, Lz, terminal of Qua.drac, MT2, and the distribution
line,
DLZ.
THE OPERATION OF THE WHOLE CIRCUITRY CAN BE
30 FULLY APPRECIATED AND UNDERSTOOD BY THE FOLLOWING
EXPLAINATION.
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CA 02300351 2000-07-20
Assuming, a switch is to be connected with the powerline terminal
either L~ or LZ and the power is switched on. See Fig. 2.
The first half cycle which we will assume as negative, will pass thru
5 the two coils of the ballast, coil 1 and coil 2 from the powerline, L~, into
the
main capacitor,Cl, charging the plate negatively while the opposite plate of
the capacitor is charged positively since the other power line terminal, Lz is
positively going inside and into the second terminal, MTZ of Quadrac.
to The lone resistance which is triggering the Quadrac will sense the
current flowing into it and instantaneously trigger the bi-directional
component which is incorporated inside the semiconductor switch, thereby
switching on the Quadrac and so does charging the plate of capacitor
connected to the first terminal, MT,, of Quadrac positively.
15
At the instant, the distribution lines DL1 and DL2 connected into
the filaments, F~ and F2. Still have an open circuit while the capacitor and
inductors are building up their voltages to attain the required open-circuit-
voltage required to start the fluorescent lamp.
20
The next half cycle into the system will be positive at the power line
terminal, Land negative at the power line terminal ,L2.
This time the reaction between the inductance and the capacitor
25 becomes eminent due to the reversal flow of current thus creating a high
voltage situation across the distribution lines,DL,and DL2.
Simultaneously, the fluorescent lamp will start due to the high
30 voltage kick-ofd of electrons inside the lamp. At the instant the
fluorescent
lamp has started, it develops a run-away high current and this is because the
resistance inside the lamp reduces drastically thereby there will be a voltage
drop situation across the fluorescent lamp.
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CA 02300351 2000-07-20
This voltage drop situation de-couples the connectors of capacitor, C,
through the Quadrac since the current through the resistor could not anymore
trigger the bi-directional diode inside the Quadrac.
5
During this critical moment, the coil, coil 1, of the ballast will have
its turn of controlling the flow of the run-away current inside the
fluorescent
lamp.
l0 Furthermore, another capacitor, C2, is incorporated in one system for
safety purposes and as well as savings much of electricity by reducing the
current, without degrading the fluorescent lamps illumination .
The capacitor, C2, as seen on Fig. 2 is connected across the power
15 lines, L, and Lz. To explain how this capacitor reduces the current in the
system;
During its operation, capacitor , C~, will no longer work with the
system and only capacitor ,CZ, is operating in parallel with the coil , coill,
of
20 the ballast which is in series with the fluorescent lamp. See Fig. 1 for
comparison.
If we have to follow the complex formula of any electrical books by
using equations for parallel circuits, the result is stunningly different with
the
25 actual measurements.
As you can see in my own formula, instead of using equation for
parallel circuit, the equation for series circuit is amended and correctly
applied. The prior series formula has its reactive capacitance, X~, deducted
to
30 the reactive inductance, XL.
9
CA 02300351 2000-07-20
While the true formula as can be proven by actual measurements, has
its reactive capacitance , X~, added to the reactive inductance, XL, and so
the
reactance of this capacitor, Cz, across the power line, Ll and LZ is virtually
a
series reactance of the inductive reactance of the ballast and the load.
5
This phenomenon can be explained with the theory of the "resonant
effect" between the capacitor and the inductor using the famous LENZ LAW.
LENZ LAW states that "In all cases of electromagnetic induction, the
10 inducted voltage have a direction such that the currents which they produce
opposed the effect which produces them."
It is not anymore reasonable to discuss in detail how the resonant
frequency reduces the current. Superficial understanding of the theory can be
15 explained through the birds-eye-view of the whole thing.
Firstly, the coil opposes the current going in through, thus it controls
the current passing into the fluorescent lamp. From the peak voltage and
decreasing to zero, the capacitor discharges to the coil trying to hold the
20 voltage at the coil from decreasing.
Upon reaching zero voltage, the coil still have a stored magnetic field
from the previous magnetic field direction. Hence the direction of electric
current is still the same as with the first cycle going into.
25
This time the next half cycle is increasing from zero to peak voltage
in the other direction. Since the previous current is opposite in direction
and
coming from the stored magnetic field, the current in the next half cycle is
30 opposed so that the current going into the system is drastically reduced
into
half if the resonant frequency is equal to the line frequency which is 60
Hertz.
to
CA 02300351 2000-07-20
Therefore, the inductive reactance is primary controlling the current
into the fluorescent lamp by LENZ LAW. But the addition of current coming
from the capacitor into the coil by its leading current explains that the
capacitive reactive is virtually in series with the inductive reactance of the
5 coil.
11
