IP Library Granted Patent US 8,659,240
Granted Patent B2
US 8,659,240 · App. 13/427,930 · Granted Feb 25, 2014

Filament detection circuit

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,659,240
App. No.
13/427,930
Granted
Feb 25, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a circuit for detecting a filament of a fluorescent lamp, wherein a first end of a first filament is connected to a second end of the first filament via an oscillation circuit, and the first end of the first filament is connected to an output of an inverter; a first end of a second filament is connected to a second end of the second filament via an oscillation circuit, wherein the first end of the second filament is connected to an internal ground; the second end of the second filament is connected to a power source, and a voltage at the second end of the second filament is used for controlling ON and OFF of an MOSFET, wherein a source of the MOSFET is connected to the internal ground.

Claims (31)

1. A circuit for detecting a filament of a fluorescent lamp, wherein:

a first end of a first filament of the fluorescent lamp is connected to a second end of the first filament via an oscillation circuit composed of a capacitor and an inductor, and the first end of the first filament is connected to an output of an inverter;

a first end of a second filament of the fluorescent lamp is connected to a second end of the second filament via an oscillation circuit composed of a capacitor and an inductor,

wherein the first end of the second filament is connected to the internal ground;

wherein the second end of the second filament is connected to a power source via a first resistor, and a voltage at the second end of the second filament is used for controlling ON and OFF of an MOSFET, wherein a source of the MOSFET is connected to the internal ground, and a drain thereof is connected to the power source via a second resistor and a third resistor; and

wherein a node between the second resistor and the third resistor is connected to a VCC pin of an integrated circuit.

2. The circuit according to claim 1 ,

wherein the second end of the second filament is connected to an internal ground via a fourth resistor and a fifth resistor, and a node between the fourth resistor and the fifth resistor is connected to a gate of the MOSFET.

3. The circuit according to claim 2 , further comprising:

a capacitor connected in parallel with the fifth resistor.

4. The circuit according to claim 2 , further comprising:

a clamping diode connected in parallel with the fifth resistor.

5. A circuit for detecting a filament of a fluorescent lamp, wherein:

the fluorescent lamp comprises a first lamp and a second lamp;

a first end of a first filament of the first lamp is connected to a second end of the first filament of the first lamp via an oscillation circuit composed of a capacitor and an inductor, and the first end of the first filament of the first lamp is connected to an output of an inverter;

a first end of a second filament of the second lamp is connected to a second end of the second filament of the second lamp via an oscillation circuit composed of a capacitor and an inductor;

the first end of the second filament of the first lamp is connected to the first end of the first filament of the second lamp, and the second end of the second filament of the first lamp is connected to the second end of the first filament of the second lamp via an oscillation circuit composed of a capacitor and an inductor,

wherein the first end of the second filament of the second lamp is connected to the internal ground;

wherein the second end of the second filament of the first lamp is connected to a power source;

wherein the second end of the second filament of the second lamp is connected to the second end of the first filament of the second lamp via a first resistor, and a voltage at the second end of the second filament of the second lamp is used for controlling ON and OFF of an MOSFET, wherein a source of the MOSFET is connected to the internal ground, and a drain thereof is connected to the second end of the first filament of the second lamp via a second resistor and a third resistor; and

wherein a node between the second resistor and the third resistor is connected to a VCC pin of an integrated circuit.

6. The circuit according to claim 5 ,

wherein the second end of the second filament of the second lamp is connected to the internal ground via a fourth resistor and a fifth resistor, and a node between the fourth resistor and the fifth resistor is connected to a gate of the MOSFET.

7. The circuit according to claim 6 , further comprising:

a capacitor connected in parallel with the fifth resistor.

8. The circuit according to claim 6 , further comprising:

a clamping diode connected in parallel with the fifth resistor.

9. The circuit according to claim 5 ,

wherein the fluorescent lamp further comprises one or more lamps, wherein:

the second filament of the first lamp, the filaments of the one or more lamps, and the first filament of the second lamp are connected to each other via an oscillation circuit composed of a capacitor and an inductor,

a second end of a second filament of one of the one or more lamps that is closest to the second lamp is connected to the power source in place of the second end of the second filament of the first lamp being connected to the power source.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE IN LEGAL FORM Recorded May 5, 2015
From: OSRAM AG
To: OSRAM GMBH
Reel/Frame 035573/0624 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 29, 2012
From: WANG, JUNYING; XUE, YANSHUN; YE, YILONG; ZHONG, GUOJI
To: OSRAM AG
Reel/Frame 028866/0109 →