Patent ID: 6479947
Filing Date: 2002-11-12
Classification: H05B

Abstract:
A drive circuit for a user operating a fluorescent lamp from a power source comprising:a generally tubular lamp having a first end and a second end and defining an interior space, each end having a cathode filament and an anode extending into the interior space of the lamp, the cathode filament being coated with an electron-emissive material; a transformer subcircuit comprising a transformer having one primary winding and two secondary windings, the primary winding being connected to the power source and each secondary winding having output leads which are connected respectively to the cathode filaments at each end of the lamp; a separate ballast subcircuit comprising a Rapid Start High Output wound ballast connected to the power source and having at least one high voltage wire extending from each end of the ballast, the wires leading respectively to the first and second ends of the lamp and being connected to the cathode filaments; and a lock-out relay, comprising coil and armature, situated between the transformer subcircuit and the ballast subcircuit, the coil being within the transformer subcircuit and the armature being within the ballast subcircuit.