Patent Abstract:
An electronic ballast circuit having at least two distinct switching cycles also includes an anti-striation feature. More particularly the electronic ballast includes an input section configured to receive an input from a power source. A resonant section receives the signals from the input section in order to generate a resonant signal. An anti-striation component is connected within the electronic ballast circuit to affect operation of the resonant section, which results in an affected resonant signal. A switching arrangement is configured to receive the affected resonant signal from the resonant section and anti-striation component, and is further configured to generate an asymmetric output signal due to the affects of the anti-resonant component, wherein the anti-striation component causes parameters of the resonant section of the electronic ballast circuit to be different for different switching cycles of the electronic ballast circuit. An output section is provided to output the asymmetric output signal to a lamp system.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present application is related to electronic ballasts, and more particular to current-fed electronic ballasts designed to eliminate or minimize the striation phenomenon which can occur in gas discharge type lamps. 
   A gas discharge lamp converts electrical energy into visible energy by utilizing an electronic ballast to provide an alternating current flow through a gas discharge lamp. During operation of a gas discharge lamp, a phenomenon known as striations can occur. Striations can be seen in all types of gas discharge lamps, as zones of differing light intensity, causing the appearance of dark bands. This phenomenon results in an undesirable strobing effect in the lamp. In general, the lower the environment temperature, the more pronounced the striation effect. However, certain lamps will show striations at higher temperatures, including that of room temperature. This situation is particularly an issue with a newer type of energy saving lamps, which employ certain classes of gasses such as krypton. 
   It is well known that providing an asymmetrical current waveform through the gas discharge lamp can effectively eliminate or minimize visible striations. Based on this understanding, the lighting industry has implemented a variety of anti-striation ballast circuit configurations. 
   Examples of various proposed solutions include: 
   US2006/0103328 A1, published May 18, 2006, by General Electric, which teaches the addition of an auxiliary winding on a DC choke connected in series with the common end of the lamps to generate even harmonic current component into lamp current, to reduce or eliminate striation; 
   WO2006/051495A1, U.S. Pat. No. 6,756,747B2, U.S. Pat. No. 6,836,077B2, U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,082, EP852453A1, EP765107A1, teach generating an asymmetrical driver to control the two switches of the circuit, to control a flow of an asymmetrical current waveform through the lamps; 
   US2005/0168171A1, published Aug. 4, 2005, by an individual applicant, uses an unbalanced circuit component (an unbalanced output transformer or an unbalance DC choke) to produce asymmetric lamp current, to control striation; 
   US2006/0097666A1, EP547674A1, WO01/76325A1, EP1269801B1, EP1265461, teaches the addition of a striation correction circuit to inject a DC component directly into the lamp current; and 
   WO98/09484, published Mar. 5, 1998, by Philips Electronics, is directed to producing an asymmetric filament voltage between its opposite polarities to reduce striation, where the anti-striation circuit can be realized with low voltage components. 
   The above do provide various attempts to address the striation problem. However, these proposals present various disadvantages, such as but not limited to, the introduction of DC bias which leads to a shorter lamp life, as well as complicated and/or expensive circuitry. Therefore, it has been considered desirable to find an effective solution to the striation problem, without degrading the performance of the gas discharge lamp system, which also does not substantially increase the cost, particularly when used in association with energy saving high efficiency lamps. 
   BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   An electronic ballast circuit having at least two distinct switching cycles also includes an anti-striation feature. More particularly the electronic ballast includes an input section configured to receive an input from a power source. A resonant section receives the signals from the input section in order to generate a resonant signal. An anti-striation component is connected within the electronic ballast circuit to affect operation of the resonant section, which results in an affected resonant signal. A switching arrangement is configured to receive the affected resonant signal from the resonant section and anti-striation component, and is further configured to generate an asymmetric output signal due to the affects of the anti-resonant component, wherein the anti-striation component causes parameters of the resonant section of the electronic ballast circuit to be different for different switching cycles of the electronic ballast circuit. An output section is provided to output the asymmetric output signal to a lamp system. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a prior art circuit diagram of a current-fed, half-bridge ballast topology; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an embodiment of an anti-striation circuit for an electronic ballast in accordance with the present application; 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the first half-cycle of the resonant circuit of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  depicts the second half-cycle resonant circuit of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 5A  illustrates a simulation waveform for lamp current for the circuit of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIGS. 5B and 5C  depict experimental waveform results for the circuit of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an embodiment of another anti-striation circuit in accordance with the present application; 
       FIG. 7  depicts another embodiment of an anti-striation circuit in accordance with the present application; 
       FIG. 8  depicts still a further embodiment of an anti-striation circuit according to the present application; 
       FIG. 9  depicts still another further embodiment for an anti-striation circuit of the present application; 
       FIGS. 10A-10C  depict simulation waveforms in accordance with the circuit of  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIGS. 10D and 10E  depict experimental waveforms generated by a circuit of  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 11  provides a plurality of auxiliary winding positions for embodiments based on the solutions described in connection with  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a prior art current-fed, half-bridge topology different from  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 13  depicts an anti-striation circuit based on the topology of  FIG. 12 ; 
       FIG. 14  depicts alternative embodiments for an anti-striation circuit employing auxiliary windings at different locations within the circuit in accordance with the concepts of  FIG. 13 ; 
       FIGS. 15-18  describe embodiments for anti-striation circuits employing a capacitor element of various arrangements thereof; 
       FIG. 19  illustrates a further solution to generate asymmetric lamp current by the employment of unequal voltage sources; 
       FIG. 20  illustrates an anti-striation circuit within a push-pull circuit; 
       FIG. 21  depicts another embodiment of an anti-striation circuit in a push-pull circuit; and 
       FIG. 22  depicts still a further embodiment of an anti-striation circuit in accordance with the present application employed in a push-pull circuit. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   With particular attention to  FIG. 1  shown is a prior art current-fed half-bridge inverter ballast  10 , supplied by a power source such as DC power source  12 , and used to feed a lamp system  14 .  FIG. 1  employs a known current-fed topology, having an input section defined by the terminals connected to C 1  and C 2 , a DC choke comprised of capacitors C 1  and C 2 , and bus inductors L 1  and L 2 . A system capacitor C 3  connected across half bridge switches Q 1  and Q 2 , and diodes D 1  and D 2  connected across switches Q 1  and Q 2 . Resonant capacitor C 4  is connected back to the DC choke between C 1  and C 2 , and is connected at its other end across the primary winding of transformer T 1 , wherein the secondary of T 1  is connected to lamp system  14 . The primary of T 1  and capacitor C 4  are part of a resonant tank section of the circuit. Finally, an output or output line is found between the switches Q 1  and Q 2  and connects to the primary of transformer T 1 . 
   An issue with a current-fed topology such as ballast  10  of  FIG. 1 , is its generation of striations in lamps of lamp system  14  which may occur when gas discharge lamps are used, and which are a particular problem when high efficiency energy saving lamps are part of lamp system  14 . 
   A variety of theories have taken the position striations occur as a result of high-frequency currents re-enforcing a standing wave of varying charge distributions between the lamp electrodes. As previously noted, experimentation has shown that by introducing asymmetric lamp current to the circuit, elimination or minimization of the striation phenomenon can be achieved. The circuit configurations that follow provide unique structural arrangements to induce asymmetric lamp current in various generally known ballast circuits, such as current-fed half-bridge or push-pull technologies, to thereby eliminate or minimizing the visible striations in gas discharge lamps of the lamp system. Among the concepts employed by the to-be-described circuits is the idea of generating the asymmetric current by changing the design and operation of the resonant portion of the circuit instead of, for example, changing the base drive impedance. 
     FIG. 2  illustrates a first embodiment for a current-fed half-bridge topology  20  where at least one additional resonant component is added to change the resonant tank parameters between the first half-switching cycle and the second half-switching cycle of the circuit. More particularly, in this embodiment capacitor C 5  (such as a 0.5 n capacitor) is connected across switch Q 1  of the half-bridge. As explained below, addition of C 5  changes the configuration of the resonant tank portion of the circuit creating an asymmetric current for the lamp system. 
     FIGS. 3 and 4  detail operational principles of circuit  20  of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 3  depicts the first half-cycle of the resonant circuit, including resonant capacitor C 5 , where switch Q 1  is OFF. In this portion of the circuit operation, capacitor C 5  is active in conjunction with switch Q 2 . The inactive aspect of switch Q 1  and diode D 1  are illustrated by the lighter drawn lines. Then as shown in  FIG. 4  when switch Q 1  is active, capacitor C 5  is essentially inactive due to switch Q 1  being ON or active, during the second resonant half cycle. Introduction of resonant capacitor C 5  changes the relationship of the resonant circuit and introduces asymmetric outputs from switches Q 1  and Q 2 , and in turn an asymmetric current signal is supplied to the lamps of lamp system  14 , thereby avoiding striation effects without changing the duty cycle of switches Q 1  and Q 2 . 
   Turning to  FIGS. 5A-5C , simulation and experimental waveforms reflecting the circuit design of  FIG. 2  are illustrated. In  FIG. 5A  simulation waveform  30  of the lamp current (absolute value) is depicted with asymmetric portions highlighted by areas  32  and  34 . These areas clearly show the asymmetric output caused by use of capacitor C 5 . The existence of the asymmetric current, again, permits for the elimination or minimization of the striations which would otherwise occur, particularly when using the ballast circuit of  FIG. 2  in connection with high efficiency type gas discharge lamps. 
   Circuit  20  of  FIG. 2 , has been implemented experimentally by the use of an Ultrastart 4L ballast from General Electric having a capacitor, such as capacitor C 5 , added in parallel with switch Q 1 . This newly configured ballast was then connected with an F28 lamp and placed in a low temperature chamber. It was found that for temperatures above 0° C., there was no visible flickering or striation. When the low temperature chamber temperature dropped to −10° C., there were only minor striations. It is considered by the inventors that increasing the added resonant parallel capacitance will achieve anti-striation at even lower temperatures. 
   Waveforms  36  and  38  obtained by this experimentation are shown in  FIGS. 5B and 5C , where  FIG. 5B  depicts a waveform  36  across capacitor C 3 , and waveform  38  is the experimental lamp current having the previously noted asymmetry highlighted  40 , 42 . 
   It is to be appreciated the concept of altering the resonant tank parameters by incorporation of an additional resonant component, in this embodiment capacitor C 5 , may be achieved at other locations within the resonant circuitry. More particularly, in another embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6 , capacitor C 5  may be placed in parallel with half-bridge switch Q 2  of circuit  44 . In this design, actions opposite those from the actions discussed in connection with  FIGS. 3 and 4  will occur. 
     FIG. 7  shows still another embodiment of an electronic ballast circuit  46  incorporating anti-striation features in accordance with the present application. In this embodiment, the additional resonant component capacitor C 5  is placed in relationship to capacitor C 3  such that they are connected at a center point  48  of the circuit output line to transformer T 1 . In this embodiment the imbalance in the resonant circuit is obtained by having capacitors C 3  and C 5  selected to have different values. 
   Turning to  FIG. 8 , depicted is still a further embodiment of an anti-striation circuit for electronic ballast  50  in accordance with the present application. In this design capacitor C 3  is connected to the upper bus and the input of switch Q 1 , and capacitor C 5  is connected to the input of switch Q 2 , and capacitor C 4  and the primary winding of T 1 . 
     FIG. 9  shows a new embodiment of the present application where a current-fed, half-bridge ballast circuit topology  60  incorporates an auxiliary winding L 3  coupled to inductors L 1 , L 2  of the DC choke. Inclusion of auxiliary winding L 3  results in different resonant inductance between the 1 st  half switching cycle and 2 nd  half switching cycle of circuit  60 , which in turn generates an asymmetric lamp current used to minimize or eliminate striations. More particularly, when upper switch Q 1  is turned ON, L 1  (a winding of the DC choke) and inductor L 3  are connected in a same phase/anti-phase arrangement, and the equivalent inductance is increased/decreased due to the effect of mutual inductance. Alternatively, when the lower switch Q 2  is turned ON, L 2  (a winding of the DC choke) and L 3  are connected in anti-phase/same phase arrangement, then the equivalent inductance is decreased/increased also due to the effect of mutual inductance. Because of the different resonant inductance between the two switching cycles, an asymmetric voltage is generated on the primary winding of output transformer T 1 . This results in an asymmetric alternating current flow through the lamp system  14 , eliminating visual striations occurring in the lamps of the lamp system. 
   The concepts taught by circuit  60  of  FIG. 9  were both simulated and experimentally undertaken. The waveforms of the simulation and experiments are illustrated in  FIGS. 10A-10E .  FIG. 10A  illustrates simulated voltage waveform  62  found on capacitor C 3 .  FIG. 10B  illustrates a voltage waveform  64  from on the primary winding of the output transformer (absolute value) T 1 .  FIG. 10C  sets forth a simulated lamp current waveform  66  through the common line (absolute value) which is asymmetric, as illustrated by the area in the highlighted circle  68 . 
   Turning to  FIG. 10D , waveform  70  again shows the voltage waveform on the primary winding of the output transformer T 1  (absolute value), but as obtained from the experimental circuit. 
   Finally,  FIG. 10E  illustrates an experimentally obtained lamp current waveform  72  from the common line (absolute value). The obvious asymmetric aspects of this current waveform are illustrated in the highlighted circled portion  74 . 
   With regard to the experiment, again an Ultrastart 4L ballast was used as the baseline ballast. A 27 uH auxiliary winding L 3  was coupled from the DC choke in series with resonant capacitor C 4 . The ballast circuit output was connected to a F28 lamp, which is known as a high-efficiency lamp, and the lighting arrangement was placed into a low temperature chamber. It was determined that for temperatures above 0° C., no visible striation was found. When the temperature in the low temperature chamber dropped to −10° C., only minor striations were found at the end of the lamps. 
   It has been discovered by the inventors the auxiliary winding as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , which is shown coupled from the DC choke, can in fact be connected at a variety of locations when used in a current-fed topology as shown in  FIG. 9 , to change the configuration of the resonant tank output to an asymmetric output. More particularly, as illustrated by circuit  80  of  FIG. 11 , block designations B-I represent other locations within such a topology for connection of the auxiliary winding which will result in an asymmetric lamp current. Block designation A is the same as the arrangement of  FIG. 9 . Such a finding also points out there is no relationship to the phase of the circuit as related to the present concepts. 
   To more explicitly describe  FIG. 11 , each of blocks A-I represent locations where an auxiliary winding (such as L 3 ) may be connected. Thus, block B corresponds to an embodiment where the auxiliary winding L 3  is placed between capacitor C 4 , and the output line to the primary of the winding T 1 . The auxiliary winding of block C is found in the return line, the auxiliary winding of block D is at the output for the bottom of the primary winding to the return line, the auxiliary winding of block E is at the upper portion of the primary of T 1  and the junction between the C 4  and output from switches Q 1  and Q 2 . The auxiliary winding of block F embodiment has the inductor found to the left of the connection point of capacitor C 4  and the line to the primary of T 1 , and the connection point between diodes D 1  and D 2  of the output line. The embodiment of the auxiliary winding of block G is at the output of connection Q 1  and Q 2  to the connection point between D 1  and D 2 . The embodiment represented by block H has the auxiliary winding at the emitter output of Q 2 , and the node between L 2  and C 3 . Finally, the embodiment represented by block I has the auxiliary winding coupled at the connection point of C 3  and L 1  at one side, and at the collector of Q 1  on the other. 
   It is to be noted in this description only one of the auxiliary windings are needed in the circuit to obtain the desired results. However, in some situations it may be useful to include windings at more than one of the locations designated by blocks A-I in a particular circuit. Therefore it is to be understood blocks A-I of the above described  FIG. 11  may at times be used in combination with each other. For example, a circuit may obtain beneficial results by connecting an auxiliary winding at block location A and block location G. 
   Turning to  FIG. 12 , depicted is another known prior art current-fed, half-bridge ballast circuit topology  90  somewhat different from that shown in  FIG. 1 . Particularly, in this ballast circuit capacitor arrangement C 1 , C 2  is arranged in series instead of having a center-tap between C 1  and C 2  connecting to the primary of T 1  and C 4 . Thus in this design C 2  connects directly to the primary of T 1 . 
     FIG. 13  illustrates a circuit  92  similar to circuit  90  of  FIG. 12 , but which includes anti-striation features which to generate an asymmetric lamp current. In particular, highlighted section  94  of circuit  92  includes auxiliary winding L 3  and capacitor C 4  coupled between the output line to transformer T 1  and C 2 . This arrangement creates an imbalance within the resonant tank circuit of the half-bridge topology resulting in an asymmetric output current to the lamp system. 
   Turning to  FIG. 14 , as illustrated by circuit  96  it has been determined by the inventors the desired asymmetric output may be obtained when inductor L 3  is located at variety of locations in the circuit topology, as represented by blocks A-F. Similar to the discussion related to  FIG. 11 , the desired results may be obtained when just a single location implements the anti-striation components at blocks A-F. However, in some situations benefits may also be obtained by employing such components and a combination of locations represented by blocks A-F in the same circuit. 
   Turning to  FIGS. 15-18 , illustrated is the understanding the striation solutions proposed in connection with  FIGS. 2 ,  6 ,  7  and  8 , which employ a capacitance, may also be applied to the circuit topology of  FIG. 12 . Particularly, in  FIG. 15  circuit  100  includes capacitor C 5  connected in parallel with switch Q 1 .  FIG. 16  shows capacitor C 5  of circuit  102  connected in parallel with switch Q 2 . In  FIG. 17 , capacitor C 3  and capacitor C 5  of circuit  104  are connected to the output line to winding T 1 , and in  FIG. 18 , it is shown that capacitors C 3  and C 5  of circuit  106  are connected, respectively, in parallel to or across switches Q 1  and Q 2  (see  FIG. 8 ), at the same time. In the design of  FIG. 18  capacitors C 3  and C 5  have different values. 
   Turning to  FIG. 19  yet another embodiment of the present application, as applicable to a current-fed, half-bridge circuit such as in  FIG. 1 , is shown by circuit  108 . In this design, the asymmetric lamp current is obtained by using two separate voltage sources  110  and  112  having unequal voltages. 
   In  FIG. 20 , still a further embodiment of the concepts of the present application is illustrated by circuit  114  wherein an asymmetric resonance is obtained by use of additional circuitry, for example, in a known push-pull ballast circuit. As depicted in  FIG. 20 , electronic ballast circuit  114  having the anti-striation features in accordance with the present application includes additional component C 2  in parallel across switch Q 1 , in order to introduce the asymmetric effect between switches Q 1  and Q 2 . 
   Turning to circuit  116  of  FIG. 21 , the resonant capacitive component used to obtain the asymmetric output to the lamp system, capacitor C 2 , is placed in parallel across-switch Q 2 . 
   Finally, turning to  FIG. 22 , depicted is an embodiment of a push-pull circuit  118 , wherein capacitors C 1  and C 2  are each connected in parallel across switches Q 1  and Q 2 , respectively. To obtain the asymmetric output in this embodiment, C 1  and C 2  are selected to have different values from each other. 
   A particular aspect of the foregoing embodiments is that the capacitors added to improve the switching operations, such as described in the foregoing, are configured to not have a relationship to the transistors base drive. Rather, they are added as part of the resonant tank circuit portion. This includes  FIGS. 8 and 18 , as the base drive capacitor is typically not taken as a major resonance capacitor. But rather, it is, along with the other embodiments, one of the non-obvious designs to add a key resonant parameter to existing circuitry, which improves the switching operations of the circuit to minimize striations. 
   It is to be appreciated while the switches depicted in the foregoing discussion and drawings maybe considered BJTs, it is to be appreciated these are depicted in this manner just for explanation purposes and other switch components maybe used, such as FETs or any other appropriate known switching device. Further, it is to be understood ballast circuits described herein are only exemplary and other designs may benefit from the concepts described herein. Thus while the concepts have been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, obviously modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the claims of the present application be construed as including all such modifications and alterations.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7