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  Electronic lighting ballastThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070001617. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 10/975,203, filed Oct. 27, 2004, entitled "Electronic Lighting Ballast", which is a non-provisional application that claims the benefit of the earlier filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. Nos. 60/516,036 filed Oct. 30, 2003, and 60/603,406 filed Aug. 20, 2004. [0002] An embodiment of the invention is related to a lighting control system that uses intelligent power switching elements each of which can drive any one of a variety of electric discharge lamps at different output wattages and different input voltages, with lamp control functions such as dimming and timer being integrated into each element. Other embodiments are also described. BACKGROUND [0003] Ballasts are an integral component of the lighting industry and are either magnetic or electronic. Magnetic ballasts utilize components which are heavy and cumbersome, while electronic ballasts use electric circuits on a light-weight and reduced size circuit board. A ballast may be used to start a high density discharge (HID) lamp, and regulates electrical current used by the lamp. HID lamps are identified by the gas within the lamp--metal halide (MH), high-pressure sodium (HPS) or mercury vapor (MV)--and the gas affects the color of the light. Buyers choose a specific HID lamp based on the color, input voltage, output wattage and the starter (regular or pulse start). [0004] There are two categories of HID ballast: magnetic and electronic. Magnetic ballasts, also called "core and coil" ballasts, dominate the HID market. Although inexpensive, magnetic ballasts flicker, are noisy and weigh as much as 86 lbs. Ballast manufacturers have redesigned their products to reduce electronic interference and noise, and lamp manufacturers have introduced pulse-start lamps to shorten the slow start times. Despite these improvements, magnetic ballasts are still energy-inefficient. Regulatory actions and fines threatens the long-term outlook for magnetic ballasts and, as they fail, many are being replaced with electronic ballasts. [0005] Electronic ballasts may be 30-50% more energy-efficient than magnetic ballasts and deliver a relatively non-flickering, silent light, reduce the problem of magnetic interference, and may weigh less then 8 lbs. Until now, however, most electronic ballast manufacturers have followed a short-sighted, one-to-one design approach, requiring a unique electronic ballast for every input voltage, output wattage and lamp type combination. As an example, a 400 watt GE lamp works at optimal efficiency generally with only one particular ballast, whether the ballast is magnetic or electronic. If the ballast and lamp are not compatible or matched, the operation of the lamp will not be efficient, thereby adversely affecting brightness and the life of the lamp. Additionally, in the case of magnetic ballasts, each ballast has to be specifically wired for each lamp voltage input, such as 100V, 120V and so forth. Such wiring is accomplished at the manufacturer's factory or the end user is required to wire the ballast for each lamp depending on application. Therefore, a different ballast is required for each input voltage. These manufacturers often also sell dimmers, timers and controllers as separate, auxiliary components, to be used with their particular ballast design. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0006] The embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to "an" embodiment of the invention in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and they mean at least one. [0007] FIG. 1 shows a single housing or enclosure of an example, single output lighting ballast. [0008] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of example electronics that may be integrated into the lighting ballast enclosure. [0009] FIG. 3 shows an example "economy version" of the single output lighting ballast. [0010] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of example electronics integrated into the enclosure of the economy version of the ballast. [0011] FIG. 5 is a circuit schematic of an example boost converter/power factor circuit and standby power supply/bias supply. [0012] FIG. 6 is a circuit schematic of an example buck converter. [0013] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an example inverter. [0014] FIGS. 8a and 8b are block diagrams of respective lighting networks that use intelligent power switching elements (IPSEs). [0015] FIGS. 8c-8f are screen shots of example GUI software that can be used to remotely control a lighting network of IPSEs. [0016] FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a larger scale lighting network. [0017] FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a dialog box that may be displayed in a High Level graphical user interface (High Level GUI) of a larger scale lighting network. [0018] FIGS. 11 and 12 are screen shots of an example High Level GUI. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0019] An embodiment of the invention is a ballast or Lighting Control System (LCS) that represents a one-to-many solution. The ballast in some embodiments of the invention replaces several unique HID electronic ballasts, timers, dimmers, on/off switches, photo sensors, control wires, and controls by a single unit. This single unit incorporates a variety of functions internally, eliminating the need to employ several external, or add-on components. For example, the auxiliary components mentioned above in the Background section need not be provided separately, because they have been integrated into a single housing. In another embodiment, the ballast is a universal solution that can be used in may different countries due to its wide input voltage capability, and adjustable output to drive different types of lamps and lamps from different manufacturers. [0020] An embodiment of the ballast (also referred to as an intelligent power switching element, IPSE) may be viewed as an electronic ballast with a brain. For example, microprocessors and sensor circuitry may be incorporated inside the ballast enclosure to create a one-to-many solution that includes many popular, previously add-on, features, such as a timer, dimmer, photo sensor, remote control and communications, and other sensors such as for room occupancy (for dimming during non-use periods) and ambient light levels (for "daylight harvesting"); and for sensing water level, water temperature, water movement, and dosing (e.g., chemical and water mixtures for treatment of water and feeding fish. Such other sensors are particularly useful for an aquarium or agricultural/hydroponic lighting application. The IPSE may thus be viewed as a fully integrated, intelligent lighting control element that fits the needs of many applications. An embodiment of the IPSE is thus believed to address a long-standing need to provide a universal ballast capable of performing a multiplicity of functions and performing the work of several ballasts constructed in a single enclosure of reduced weight and size, replacing the necessity of a great number of separate ballasts. [0021] Examples of the different types of electric discharge lamps that can be driven include high pressure sodium, metal halide, mercury vapor, which are examples of high intensity discharge lamps, as well as fluorescent lamps. The ballast may also be configured to drive either standard ignition or pulse-start lamps. Furthermore, it may eliminate the need for conversion lamps. The wide input range or lamp input voltage may preferably be, but is not limited to be, in the range of approximately 90 VAC to 300 VAC at 50/60 Hz. For example, the same lighting ballast may be able to operate at both 110 VAC in U.S.A., as well as 220 VAC in Europe, without having to perform any rewiring or manual selection. Continue reading... Full patent description for Electronic lighting ballast Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Electronic lighting ballast patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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