Patent ID: 6075356
Filing Date: 2000-06-13
Classification: H05B

Abstract:
A power supply control unit for a lamp having a luminous means and an at least partly electrically conductive lamp housing, comprising the following features:a first and a second line serving as phase and neutral conductor, via which a power supply signal can be applied to the luminous means and which are insulated from the lamp housing;a switching device in the first or second line for switching or controlling the electric power applied to the luminous means;a control circuit including an oscillator and an evaluation circuit, the oscillator issuing at an output thereof a signal which in terms of frequency is different from the power supply signal and is electrically coupled to the lamp housing, the evaluation circuit being responsive to frequency and/or amplitude changes of the oscillator signal caused by touching of the lamp housing, in order to control the switching device; anda device electrically connected to the lamp housing and a ground line, which constitutes a high impedance for the oscillator signal and, in relation to the high impedance, a low impedance for the power supply signal.