# Patent

## Title
Illumination system having cold cathode started, illumination controlled gas discharge lamps in series

## Abstract

An illumination system having cold cathode started, illumination controlled gas discharge lamps in series, includes the parts of a voltage-adjustable full-wave voltage-doubler rectifier power supply, a gas discharge lamp operating serially with the full-wave rectifier power supply, and inductor-resistor switches for controlling illumination. The system includes a plurality of tubes operated serially with cold cathode starter; the positive and negative half periods of a half-wave voltage-doubler rectifier power supply combined by isolating diodes to form a full-wave voltage-doubler rectifier power supply; a main power supply of the illumination system formed by combining a power supply of full-wave rectified having low voltage and large current with a power supply of full-wave voltage-doubler having high voltage through utilization of potential switched diodes; and a main power supply having high voltage with large internal resistance and low voltage with large current formed by the full-wave voltage-doubler power supply together with the full-wave rectifier power supply for supplying the power to the gas discharge lamp having a plurality of tubes connected in series via the serial inductor and illumination control switch, thus, constituting an illumination system having cold cathode started gas discharge lamps in series with illumination controlled.

## Background
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
This application is a continuation of International application number PCT/CN2004/000404 filed Apr. 26, 2004 which claims priority to Chinese application No. CN 03123028.8 filed Apr. 27, 2003, the contents of both are herein incorporated in their entirety by reference.


TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to a physical, electro-optical source device, particularly, it relates to an illumination system having cold cathode started illumination controlled gas discharge lamps in series.
BACKGROUND ART
The prior gas discharge lamps, such as the fluorescent lamp, high voltage mercury lamp, and the like, are powered by inductive ballasts, neon bimetal sheet startors or electronic ballasts with inverter power supply, because these gas discharge lamps use warm cathode start, so they have some disadvantages, for example, the failures of the tubes may occur easily, such as the filament being broken due to burning, the voltage of the startor being high, and the operation voltage after starting being high, and the like, even not illuminating or starting normally. While processing the wasted fluorescent lamp tubes, it further causes the environment being polluted by the mercury.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide an electro-optical source illumination system having a plurality of sets of cold cathode started tubes with illumination controlled and driven by a set of power supplies, said electro-optical source illumination system has the effects of energy saving, long used life, low cost, safe and reliable, and the tubes being used sufficiently, and the pollution of the environment from the mercury being reduced.
The object of the invention is implemented in such a manner that: an illumination system having cold cathode started, illumination controlled gas discharge lamps in series comprises the parts of a voltage adjustable full-wave voltage-doubler rectifier power supply, a gas discharge lamp operating serially with the full-wave rectifier power supply, an inductor-resistor switches for controlling illumination, and the like, is characterized in that:
1) a plurality of tubes operates serially with cold cathode started;
2) the positive and negative half periods of a half-wave voltage-doubler rectifier power supply are combined by the isolating diodes (D3A, D3B, D3C, and D3D) to form a full-wave voltage-doubler rectifier power supply;
3) a main power supply of the said illumination system is formed by combining a power supply of full-wave rectified having low voltage and large current with a power supply of full-wave voltage-doubler having high voltage through the utilization of the potential switched diodes (DM′, DN′); and
4) a main power supply having high voltage with large internal resistance and low voltage with large current is formed by the full-wave voltage-doubler power supply together with the full-wave rectifier power supply for supplying the power to the gas discharge lamp having a plurality of tubes connected in series via the serial inductor (L) and illumination control switch (K), thus, constituting an illumination system having cold cathode started gas discharge lamps in series with illumination controlled.
In the above illumination system, wherein the said illumination system, which can be cold cathode started in series with illumination controlled, is composed of a plurality of tubes connected in series.
In the above illumination system, wherein the said tube in series is a cold cathode fluorescent lamp tube having single output lead and cover like electrode.
In the above illumination system, wherein two ends of the tube in series are connected with a switch in parallel.
In the above illumination system, wherein an alternating current path in the said full-wave voltage-doubler power supply is formed by the connecting point (E+, F+, E−, or F−) of the voltage-doubler capacitors of the first stage and the access resistor or inductor, or the bi-directional thyristor, or the full-wave rectifier current amplifier.
In the above illumination system, wherein the power is supplied to the tubes by a main power supply combined by a full-wave rectifier power supply having low voltage with large current and a full-wave voltage-doubler high voltage power supply via the potential switched diodes (DM′, DN′) in the said full-wave rectifier power supply.
In the above illumination system, wherein the said main power supply is composed of a full-wave rectification filter capacitor (C3′), which is adjustable at steps, and a resistor (RC′) or a diode connected in series with the capacitor for eliminating the sparks.
In the above illumination system, wherein the full-wave voltage-doubler power supply further comprises a non-polarity large capacitor composed of tandem pairs of an electrolytic capacitor and a diode connected in parallel.
In the above illumination system, wherein the said cold cathode started in series and illumination controlled illumination system further comprises a high voltage full-wave voltage-doubler rectifier power supply controlled by a delay circuit or the lamp current passing through an AC switch, the power supply is cut off after the gas discharge lamp being lighting up, and then the power is supplied by a full-wave rectifier power supply of low voltage with large current or a voltage-doubler power supply.
Because the invention employs a plurality of sets of tubes driven by a set of power supplies which are high voltage with large internal resistance, low voltage with large current, voltage adjustable, reliable, and illumination controlled, and the voltage drop of the tube itself being used as a power supply for other tubes, so it can achieve the object of saving the energy source, and further lead to a result of reducing the cost.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The performances and the features of the invention will be further described below in conjunction with the Drawings and the embodiments, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram in accordance with the invention illustrating a full-wave rectifier power supply having large power, high voltage, and large internal resistance;
FIG. 2(A) is a circuit diagram of a voltage-adjustable full-wave voltage-doubler rectifier power supply controlled by resistor in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2(B) is a circuit diagram of a voltage-adjustable full-wave voltage-doubler rectifier power supply controlled by bidirectional thyristor in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2(C) is a circuit diagram of a voltage-adjustable full-wave voltage-doubler rectifier power supply controlled by photocoupler and full-wave rectifier current amplifier in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2(D) is a circuit diagram of a voltage-adjustable full-wave voltage-doubler rectifier power supply controlled by magnetic saturation reactor and inductor in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a full-wave rectifier power supply having a potential switch in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of an illumination system operated in series with illumination controlled in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of an illumination system which is illumination controlled by a photocoupler in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of an illumination system which is illumination controlled by a magnetic saturation reactor in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 7 is a structure diagram of a cold cathode fluorescent tube having single output lead and cover like electrode in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram of a non-polarity capacitor formed by tandem pairs of an electrolytic capacitor and a diode connected in parallel in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram of an illumination system which is illumination controlled by a full-wave rectification filter capacitor in accordance with the invention; and
FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram of a simple illumination system without illumination control in accordance with the invention.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The following five topics describe the preferred embodiments of the invention, respectively.
I. Full-Wave Voltage-Doubler Rectifier Power Supply Having Large Power And High Voltage With Large Internal Resistance
The circuit diagram of the power supply is shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, the P and Q are the input terminals for AC commercial power, M and N are the output terminals of the high voltage direct current, D is a rectifier diode, and C is a voltage-doubler capacitor.
In FIG. 1, a positive power supply of two stages of the positive half-wave voltage-doubler rectifier is composed of voltage-doubler rectifier diode D1A, with capacitor C1A and D2A with C2A. And a positive power supply of two stages of negative half-wave voltage-doubler rectifier is composed of D1B with C1B and D2B with C2B. The outputted positive supplies are converged by the isolating diodes D3A and D3B at point M and outputted, thus, a positive power supply having a full-wave voltage-doubler output is formed.
The number of the voltage-doubler stages can be increased or decreased to satisfy the required voltage levels of the power supply as required.
When it starts to operate, the voltage on the voltage-doubler capacitor is zero, and it is supposed that the circuit is turned on at the time when the municipal power of the alternating current passes zero.
1) In the Positive Half Period, P is Positive, and Q is Negative.
The voltage-doubler capacitor C1A is charged by the municipal power of the alternating current at point P via the voltage-doubler rectifier diode D1A so that the VC1A is charged to the peak voltage VPQ and then held.
2) In the negative half period, P is negative, and Q is positive.
Similarly, the voltage-doubler capacitor C1B is charged by the municipal power of the alternating current at point Q via the voltage-doubler rectifier diode D1B so that VC1B is charged to a peak voltage VQP and then held.
At this point, C1A is also discharged to the voltage-doubler capacitor C2A via voltage-doubler rectifier diode D2A, and C2A is charged to a peak voltage (VQP+VPQ)[C1A/(C1A+C2A)].
3) Similarly, in the positive half period of the second period, C1A is charged positively via D1A, C1B is discharged to C2B via D2B, and C2B is charged to 2VC1B/(C1B+C2B) (because VPQ=VQP, so they are expressed uniformly by V).
At this point, because the voltage at point P is positive, it allows C2B to discharge to point M via D3A, the discharging voltage is V[1+2C1A/(C1A+C2A)]. If C2A<<C1A, then VMQ=3V. M outputs a voltage that is three times of that in the positive half period.
4) Similarly, in the negative half period of the second period, C1B is charged positively via D1B, C1A is discharged to C2A via D2A, and C2A is charged.
At this point, because the voltage at point Q is positive, it allows C2B to discharge to point M via D3B, the discharging voltage is V[1+2C1B/(C1B+C2B)]. If C2B<<C1B , then VMP=3V. M outputs a voltage that is three times of that in the negative half period.
Similarly, the above results appear on D1C, C1C, D2C, C2C, and D1D, C1D, D2D, C2D, and D3C, D3D, only differing in that the voltage outputted from point N is a voltage that is three times of that in the negative period of the full-wave.
If power is supplied from the M and N to the external, then VM−VN=VMN=5V (VPQ, VQP are canceled each other).
Therefore, the high voltage power supply composed of only the voltage-doubler rectifier diodes and the voltage-doubler capacitors can combine two sets of half-wave voltage-doubler power supply into a full-wave voltage-doubler power supply for outputting.
A high voltage direct current power supply can be obtained by selecting properly the sizes of the diodes and the voltage-doubler capacitors.
II. Voltage Adjustable Full-Wave Voltage-Doubler Rectifier Power Supply
If a discharge path is provided between points E+ and F+ of the voltage-doubler capacitors C1A and C1B, that is, points E+, F+ are connected by a resistor or an inductor to make C1Aand C1B to charge and discharge with each other in the positive and negative half periods, then the output voltage at point M can be adjusted, as shown in FIGS. 2(A), (B), (C), and (D).
As shown in FIG. 2(A), a resistor R is connected between points E+ and F+ to provide a path for C1A and C1B to charge and discharge with each other in the positive and negative half periods. If R=0, then it will be simplified as a positive voltage output arm of a full-wave rectifier bridge formed by connecting D1A and D1B to C1B and C1A in parallel respectively, and the voltage-doubler function will be lost.
If R=∞, then it will be a full-wave voltage-doubler rectifier circuit as described above.
In this manner, VE+F+ can be adjusted continuously between 0 ̃VPQ by adjusting R.
The said resistor can be formed by bi-directional thyristor S or full-wave rectifier current amplifier (D+1, D+2, D+3, D+4, BG+1, BG+2, T+, R+), as shown in FIGS. 2(B), (C). A photocoupler is shown in the dotted box of FIG. 2(C).
In FIG. 2(D), an inductor L+ is connected between points E+ and F+, at this point, a serial loop is formed by C1A, C1B, and L+, the output voltage can be adjusted by changing the magnitude of L+.
When the serial connection of L+ and (C1A+C1B)/2 is resonated with the power supply, VE+F+=QVPQ, (Q is the quality factor of the series resonance loop), it can further boost the output voltage of the power supply to achieve the result of boosting the alternating voltage. Thus, the output voltage of the loop can be adjusted by adjusting the magnitude of L+. If a magnetic saturation reactor is used to control in the primary DC winding, then a satisfactory function of adjusting continuously can be obtained.
III. Full-Wave Rectifier Power Supply Having Potential Switches
A full-wave rectifier power supply having potential switches is composed of rectifier diodes D1A′, D1B′, D1C′, and D1D′, potential switched diodes DM′ and DN′, and filter capacitor C3′, as shown in FIG. 3, wherein DM′ and DN′ function as the potential switches to provide low voltage with large current.
IV. Illumination Controlled Illumination System Running In Serial
The tubes (T1, T2, T3) connected in series are connected to a MN high voltage power supply via an inductor L with a switch K connected to the tube T3 in parallel, and an illumination controlled illumination system is then formed, as shown in FIG. 4. Wherein L is used to increase the time constant of the load for adapting to the power supply, stabilizing the normal illumination and preventing the vibration (flashing).
V. Illumination System Having Cold Cathode Started Gas Discharge Lamp With Illumination Controlled
1) A system with illumination control from photocoupler
The circuit diagram of the whole illumination system is shown in FIG. 5. Wherein a resistor R1 is connected in series in the main loop to shunt, a potentiometer W is connected in series with a light emitting diode of the photocoupler to control the illumination continuously, and the function of the switch K is to intermit the illumination control.
A main power supply is formed by combining the full-wave voltage-doubler power supply MN with the full-wave rectifier power supply via the potential switched diodes DM′ and DN′.
As shown in FIG. 5, the output current of the main loop can be detected by connecting a R1 in the main loop for shunting and sampling, connecting the light emitting diodes T+, T− of the two photocouplers in parallel, and then connecting the potentiometer W to the main loop to connect to R1 in parallel.
The current amplifier tubes BG+1, BG−1 are driven by the phototransistors BG+2, BG−2 of the photocoupler, respectively, to control the output current of the rectifier bridge D+1, D+2, D+3, D+4 and D−1, D−2, D−3, D−4, it has the control function of adjusting the output voltage of the full-wave voltage-doubler rectifier to control the output voltage VMN.
When turning on the power supply, VMN outputs a high voltage, and the main current is zero. When VMN reaches the start voltage of the tubes T1, T2, and T3, the tubes illuminate, the current of the main loop increases, the light emitting diodes of the photocoupler convert the main current into an optical signal which activates the optical current of the photoelectric transistors BG+2, BG−2 of the photocoupler circuit, and drives BG+1, BG−1 to make VE+F+, VE−F− decrease, and causes VMN to decrease. Meanwhile, as the main current increases, the discharge amount of the voltage-doubler capacitors C1ABCD, C2ABCD increases, and it further causes VMN to decrease, and they are combined together to form the internal resistance of the high voltage power supply, and the main current is controlled at a set current to achieve the result of a ballast. Adjusting W can change the sampling value of the main current, and thereby changing the control current can control the illumination of the lamp.
When VMN≦VC3′ (the output voltage of the full-wave rectifier), the power is supplied to the main loop by the municipal power source P, Q via the full-bridge D1A′, D1B′, D1C′, D1D′ and D′M, DN′, at this point, the photocoupler will no longer have the feedback function.
The conversion of two lamps and three lamps can be adjusted by the switch K to obtain weak illumination for three lamps and strong illumination for two lamps.
2) Illumination Controlled System Using Magnetic Saturation Reactor
As the circuit diagram shown in FIG. 6, the L+ and L− are the magnetic saturation reactors, the potentiometer W is connected to the primary winding in parallel as a shunt for controlling the current in the main loop thereby the illumination of the illumination system can be controlled.
3) Illumination System With Illumination Controlled From Full-Wave Rectifier Filter Capacitor (Simplified as Capacitor-Illumination Controlled System)
As the circuit diagram shown in FIG. 9, the output of the full-wave rectifier power supply can be adjusted by adjusting the capacitance of C3′ (switching to the filter capacitors C31′, C32′, and C33′ by a switch K′) to obtain the function of illumination control. The resistors (RC1′, RC2′, and RC3′) or the diodes connected with the capacitors in series function as a means for eliminating the spark in switching.
The power of the high voltage full-wave voltage-doubler rectifier power supply is controlled by a coil Z of a relay connected with the inductor L in series, after illuminating the gas discharge lamp, J2 cuts off the power supply to improve the quality factor. The control coil Z of the relay is connected with the corresponding portion of the inductor L in parallel via the full-wave rectifier bridge of the diodes. Refer to FIG. 10.
The said control circuit can also be formed by a delay relay or a delay circuit, and the contacts of the relay can be formed by electronic switches (for example, bidirectional thyristors, it can be selected preferably based on the specific condition.
The cold cathode started fluorescent lamp does not require to heat the filament, and a structure with single output lead and cover like electrode is used for it in order to increase the area of the electrode and protect the electrode lead. The electronic emission material with low escape level can also be coated on the electrode, as show by FIG. 7.
The aforesaid power supply requires a non-polarity capacitor having large capacitance, which can be formed by the tandem pairs of an electrolytic capacitor and a diode connected in parallel. The negative terminal of the diode is connected with the positive plate of the electrolytic capacitor, and the positive terminal of the diode is connected with the negative plate thereof. See FIG. 8.
Based on different tubes, different usage environments and different requirements, illumination controlled by switches, illumination controlled by full-wave rectifier filter capacitor (illumination controlled by capacitor for short), illumination controlled by photocoupler (illumination controlled by photo coupling for short), and illumination controlled by magnetic saturation reactor (illumination controlled by inductor for short) can be used, respectively. For the sake of popularization, a simplified illumination system without illumination control can be used as shown in FIG. 10.
Now the simplified illumination system without illumination control will be explained.
Turning on the power supply, VMN outputs a high voltage, and the main current is zero. When VMN reaches the start voltage of the tubes T1 and T2, the tubes illuminate, the current in the main loop increases, and VMN decreases.
When VMN≦VC3′, the municipal power source PQ supplies the power to the main loop via the full-wave rectifier and the potential switched diodes DM′ and DN′, the voltage VC3′ of the full-wave rectifier filter decreases as the lamp current increases. It makes the main current to be stable at a set current, and causes the illumination system to illuminate. The lamp illuminates, the current increases, the relay Z closes, the normal closed contact J2 opens, the power supply from the high voltage full-wave voltage-doubler power source is cut off, and the tube is illuminated directly by the municipal power via the full-wave rectifier bridge (or the voltage-doubler circuit) to improve the quality factor of the illumination system.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
The advantages and the results of the invention are as follows.
1. Because the entire illumination system is composed of diodes, capacitors, and inductors, it is highly reliable and durable.
2. The work loss of the diodes and inductors under the direct current state is small and the capacitors have substantially no power dissipation, so it saves the electric energy.
3. Several tubes operate in series to share a power source, and thereby it decreases the cost and saves the electric energy.
4. The power source is not polluted. Since the power factor ≧0.7, it is capacitive to cause a leading current. This is an advantage to compensate the current lag of the municipal power and to decrease the dissipation of the power supplying lines.
5. The intensity of the light is adjusted by switches, capacitors, inductors, and potentiometers. It is easy to use, and it can increase the usage function and improve the quality factor.
6. There is no filament in the cold cathode start. It extends the life of the tube.
7. Since the neon startor is not used, the failure is reduced, and the restriction of the variation of the tube parameters can be relaxed. It makes the tubes which cannot be used in former can be used normally, and it reduces the consumption of the tubes (for example, the tubes, which have the broken filament, cannot be started, and flickers when operating, can be used normally with the series power supply).
8. The exhaustion of the carbon dioxide from the heat and power plant can be reduced, so it belongs to a “green” illumination. Thus, the life of the tube can be prolonged, and most of the wasted tubes can be used so that polluting the environment by the mercury in the wasted tubes can be reduced and the environment can be protected.
9. The diodes, inductors, and capacitors do not produce heat, and the voltage of the inductors operating in the direct current area is low, and thereby it prevents the insulation breakdown from occurring. Even if a capacitor is broken down, the power supply having overload protection can prevent short circuit and fire from occurring, thereby the security is excellent.
10. It can operate under the power supply of the alternating current of 200V and 110V with 50 Hz and 60 Hz.

## Claims

1. An illumination system having cold cathode started, illumination controlled gas discharge lamps in series comprises:
AC input terminals (P, Q);
a DC positive output terminal (M) and a DC positive output terminal (N);
a full-wave voltage-doubler power supply circuit having a positive half-wave voltage-doubler power supply circuit (D1A, C1A, D2A, C2A, D1C, C1C , D2C, C2C) and a negative half-wave voltage-doubler power supply circuit (D1B, C1B, D2B,C2B, D1D,C1D,D2D, C2D) containing a plurality of voltage-doubler rectifier diodes and a plurality of voltage-doubler capacitors connected between the AC input terminals (P, Q), the DC positive output terminal (M) and the DC positive output terminal (N), wherein the positive half-wave voltage-doubler power supply circuit and the negative half-wave voltage-doubler power supply circuit are combined by a plurality of isolating diodes (D3A,D3B,D3C, and D3D) to form the full-wave voltage-doubler power supply circuit;
a full-wave rectifier power supply circuit having a full-wave bridge rectifier circuit (D1A′, D1B′, D1C′, D1D′) connected to the AC input terminals (P, Q); a filter capacitor (C3′) connected between a positive voltage output terminal and a negative voltage output terminal; a positive potential switch diode (DM′) having its anode connected to the positive voltage output terminal and its cathode connected to the DC positive output terminal (M); and a negative potential switch diode (DN′) having its cathode connected to the negative voltage output terminal and its anode connected to the DC negative output terminal (N); and
a plurality of gas discharge lamps and a serial inductor (L) connected in serial between the DC positive output terminal (M) and the DC negative output terminal (N);
wherein said voltage-doubler capacitors (C1A, C2A, C1B, C2B, C1C, C2C, C1D,C2D) are alternately charged and discharged, such that an AC commercial voltage source is transformed into a limited current source with internal resistance to be supplied to said gas discharge lamps.

2. The illumination system as claim 1, wherein said voltage-doubler capacitors are alternately charged and discharged to provide a continuous voltage-doubler output.

3. The illumination system as claim 2, wherein each gas discharge lamp is a cold cathode fluorescent lamp tube having single output lead and cover like electrode.

4. The illumination system as claim 2, wherein two ends of one or more lamps of said plurality of gas discharge lamps are connected to a switch (K) in parallel.

5. The illumination system as claim 1, wherein each gas discharge lamp is a cold cathode fluorescent lamp tube having single output lead and cover like electrode.

6. The illumination system as claim 1, wherein two ends of one or more lamps of said plurality of gas discharge lamps are connected to a switch (K) in parallel.

7. The illumination system as claim 1, wherein an alternating current path in the full-wave voltage-doubler power supply circuit is formed by connecting point (E+, F+, E−, or F−) of the voltage-doubler capacitors of a first stage and an access resistor or inductor or a bi-directional thyristor, or the full-wave rectifier current amplifier.

8. The illumination system as claim 1, wherein said voltage-doubler capacitors are charged by said AC commercial power and discharged to said gas discharge lamps via said isolating diodes (D3A, D3B, D3C, D3D), such that said AC commercial voltage source is transformed into said limited current source with internal resistance.

9. The illumination system as claim 1, wherein the filter capacitor (C3′),further comprises of a the a plurality of rectifier capacitors (C31′, C32′, C33′); a plurality of sparks-eliminating resistors (RC1′, RC2′, RC3′); or diodes respectively connected in series with said plurality of rectifier capacitors; and a switch (K′) for switching among said plurality of rectifier capacitors.

10. The illumination system as claim 1, wherein the full-wave voltage-doubler power supply circuit further comprises a non-polarity large capacitor composed of tandem pairs of an electrolytic capacitor and a diode connected in parallel.

11. The illumination system as claim 1, wherein said full-wave voltage-doubler power supply circuit consists of at least two stages of voltage-doubler power supply circuits, a second and succeeded stages of said voltage-doubler power supply circuits are controlled by a delay circuit or the lamp current passing through an AC switch, and the AC power supply from these circuits is cut off after the gas discharge lamp being lighting up, and then the power of the gas discharge lamp is supplied by said full-wave rectifier power supply circuit or a first stage of said voltage-doubler power supply circuit.