Patent ID: 6459213
Filing Date: 2002-10-01
Classification: H02M,H03K,H05B,Y02B,Y10S

Abstract:
An arrangement comprising:a source providing a DC supply voltage across a pair of DC terminals; an inverter circuit connected with the DC terminals and operative to provide an alternating inverter output voltage across a pair of inverter output terminals; the inverter circuit having a frequency-controlling means functional, on receipt of a frequency-controlling action, to control the frequency of the inverter output voltage; an L-C series-circuit connected across the inverter output terminals; the L-C series-circuit having: (i) a tank inductor connected in series with a tank capacitor; and (ii) a natural resonance frequency at or near the frequency of the inverter output voltage, such that an AC output voltage is developed across the tank capacitor; a first entity disposed in communication with the tank capacitor and functional to provide a first output indicative of the magnitude of the AC output voltage; the first output being provided to the frequency-controlling means in such manner as to constitute delivery of said frequency-controlling action; thereby, in turn, to cause the magnitude of the AC output voltage to be maintained at a predetermined level substantially regardless of the magnitude of any current flowing into a loading means connected across the tank capacitor; and gas discharge lamp means connected in circuit across the tank capacitor, thereby to constitute said loading means; the gas discharge lamp means being functional to be properly powered from the AC output voltage.