Patent ID: 8487555
Filing Date: 2013-07-16
Classification: H05B

Abstract:
1. A ballast comprising: a switching network configured to selectively operate in a first state and in a second state; a control circuit having an input terminal connected to the switching network and an output terminal configured to provide a first control signal when the switching network is operating in the first state and to provide a second control signal with the switching network is operating in the second state; a first lamp control switch connected to the output terminal of the control circuit and to a ballast power supply, the first lamp control switch having a first output terminal configured to connect to a first terminal of a first lamp, the first lamp control switch having a second output terminal configured to connect to a first terminal of a second lamp, wherein the first lamp control switch is configured to operate between a first state in which the ballast power supply is in connection with the first output terminal, and a second state in which the ballast power supply is in connection with the second output terminal; and a second lamp control switch connected to the output terminal of the control circuit and to a ground potential, the second lamp control switch having a first output terminal configured to connect to a second terminal of the first lamp, the second lamp control switch having a second output terminal configured to connect to a second terminal of the second lamp, wherein the second lamp control switch is configured to operate between a first state in which the ground potential is connected to the first output terminal and a second state in which the ground potential is connected to the second output terminal; wherein when the control circuit generates the first control signal, the first lamp control switch operates in the first state and the second lamp control switch operates in the first state so that the ballast provides power to the first lamp; and wherein when the control circuit generates the second control signal, the first lamp control switch operates in the second state and the second lamp control switch operates in the second state so that the ballast provides power to the second lamp.