Thermal protection for lamp ballasts

1. A method of monitoring an over-temperature condition in a ballast, the method comprising:

automatically reducing output current to a lamp as a result of an over-temperature condition of the ballast, wherein the current is abruptly reduced in a step-wise manner from a first operational current level to a second operational current level and wherein the current reduction comprises a visibly perceptible decrease in light intensity.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

further reducing the output current to the lamp in a continuous manner, wherein the current is automatically reduced from the second operational current level to a third operational current level and wherein the current reduction comprises a decrease in light intensity that is gradual and not visibly perceptible.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

initially reducing the output current to the lamp in a continuous manner, wherein the current is first automatically reduced from a beginning operational current level to the first operational current level and wherein the current reduction comprises a decrease in light intensity that is gradual and not visibly perceptible.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

terminating the output current to the lamp if an maximum safe temperature condition is reached, wherein the termination of output current is visibly perceptible.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

increasing the output current of the lamp as a result of the over-temperature condition subsiding, wherein the current is automatically increased in a step-wise manner from the second operational current level to the first operational current level and wherein the current increase comprises a visibly perceptible increase in light intensity.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein automatically reducing output current to a lamp in a step-wise manner wherein the current reduction comprises a visibly perceptible decrease in light intensity comprises a visible alert that an over-temperature condition exists.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

further reducing the output current to a lamp in a step-wise manner, wherein the further reduction occurs in one or more successive instances and wherein each instance of step-wise reduction comprises a visibly perceptible decrease in light intensity.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

reducing the output current to the lamp in a continuous manner, wherein the current reduction comprises a decrease in light intensity that is gradual and not visibly perceptible.

9. An apparatus to control illumination comprising:

a lamp;

a ballast having an output current driving the lamp;

a temperature detection circuit; and

an output current control circuit;

wherein upon a detection of an over-temperature condition in the ballast, the control circuit automatically reduces the output current in a step-wise manner from a first operational current level to a second operational current level and wherein the current reduction comprises an abrupt and visibly noticeable decrease in light intensity from the lamp.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising:

wherein, as a result of the over-temperature condition subsiding, the control circuit automatically increases the output current of the ballast from the second operational current level to the first operational current level and wherein the current increase comprises an abrupt and visibly noticeable increase in light intensity from the lamp.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein a further reduction in the output current to the lamp occurs in a continuous manner such that the current is automatically reduced from the second operational current level to a third operational current level and wherein the current reduction comprises a decrease in light intensity that is gradual and not visibly noticeable.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the control circuit initially reduces the output current to the lamp in a continuous manner, wherein the current is first automatically reduced from a beginning operational current level to the first operational current level and wherein the current reduction comprises a decrease in light intensity that is gradual and not visibly noticeable.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the control circuit further reduces the output current to the lamp in at least one additional step-wise manner and wherein each instance of step-wise reduction comprises a visibly noticeable decrease in light intensity.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the control circuit further reduces the output current to the lamp in a continuous manner comprising a decrease in light intensity that is gradual and not visibly noticeable.

15. The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising:

a thermal cut-out circuit for terminating the output current to the lamp if a maximum safe temperature condition is reached.

16. A ballast comprising:

(a) a ballast temperature sensor providing a ballast temperature signal indicative of a ballast temperature;

(b) a foldback protection circuit receiving the ballast temperature signal and providing a foldback protection signal responsive to the ballast temperature signal;

(c) a ballast drive circuit receiving the foldback protection signal and providing at least one switching control signal; and

(d) a DC/AC back end receiving the at least one switching control signal and providing an output current to drive a lamp;

wherein the output current is responsive to the ballast temperature signal according to one of (i) a step function or (ii) a combination of step and continuous functions.

17. The ballast of claim 16 further comprising:

(e) a high end clamp receiving the foldback protection signal and providing a DC control signal to the ballast drive circuit.

18. The ballast according to claim 16 further comprising:

(e) a high end clamp providing a maximum current limiting signal indicative of a maximum current to be supplied by the ballast to the lamp; and

(f) a multiplier receiving the foldback protection signal and the maximum current limiting signal and providing a DC control signal to the ballast drive circuit.