Self-oscillating dimmable electronic ballast for fluorescent lamps

This letter presents a low-cost solution for converting the popularly adopted nondimmable electronic ballast circuit for fluorescent lamps with self-oscillating series resonant inverter into a dimmable one. The dimming function is achieved by increasing the switching frequency of the inverter from the natural frequency of the resonant tank, so that less energy is coupled to the lamp. Control of the switching frequency is based on deriving an adjustable dc current source from the inductor in the resonant tank to control the operating point of the saturable chokes for driving the switches in the inverter. The overall circuit does not require any integrated circuit. A 17-W prototype has been built and tested. Theoretical predictions have been verified with experimental results. The lamp can be dimmed to 10% of the full brightness.     

TRIAC dimmable ballast with power equalization

A two-stage, two-wire TRIAC dimmable electronic ballast for fluorescent lamps is presented in this paper. It is constructed by using a flyback converter as the input power factor corrector to supply a half-bridge series-resonant parallel-loaded inverter to ballast the lamp. The flyback converter is operated in discontinuous conduction mode so that the filtered input current profile is the same as the TRIAC-controlled voltage waveform. The switches in the inverter are switched at a constant frequency slightly higher than the resonant frequency of the resonant tank. Based on the constant average input current characteristics of the inverter, the dimming operation is simply achieved by pulsewidth modulation control of the magnitude of the flyback converter output voltage. No synchronization network is required between the input and output stages. In addition, a linear power equalization scheme is developed so that the dc-link voltage (and hence the lamp power) is in a linear relationship with the firing angle of the TRIAC. The average output voltage of the dimmer controls the equalized flyback converter output voltage. Modeling, analysis, and design of the ballast will be described. A prototype was implemented to verify the experimental measurements with the theoretical predictions.     

Analysis and design of a dimmable electronic ballast controlled by a switch-controlled capacitor

This paper presents the related principle and analysis of the dimmable electronic ballast controlled by the switch-controlled capacitor (SCC). A Fourier-series expansion is used to derive the operational principle of the zero-voltage-switching Class-D series-parallel-load-resonant dimmable electronic ballast regulated by the SCC. By the adaptation of the SCC, the lightness of the system can be adjusted, while the operation frequency of the Class-D converter can be kept constant. The dimmable effect controlled by the variable SCC is examined. The analytical results are verified by simulations and experiments. Furthermore, the design considerations for the dimmable electronic ballast with SCC control are also presented in this paper.     

照明电子镇流器的简化

电子镇流器IC已经成为荧光照明设计中的一个关键因素,尤其在制造商致力简化电路、减少开发时间、提高效率和降低成本的时候.     

Charge pump power-factor-correction dimming electronic ballast

A voltage-source charge pump power-factor correction (CPPFC) continuous dimming electronic ballast is proposed in this paper. The basic charge pump PFC principle is presented, and its unity power factor condition is then reviewed. Constant lamp power control and crest factor correction technique in dimming mode operation are then discussed. A continuous dimming controller with average lamp current control and duty-cycle modulation is developed so that the lamp is able to operate in constant power and low crest factor from 20% to 100% dimming level. The developed dimming electronic ballast has features of higher than 0.99 power factor, low crest factor, and low-DC-bus voltage     

Power-mode-controlled power-factor corrector for electronic ballast

Medium- to high-power electronic ballasts are designed with two power conversion stages. The power-factor corrector (PFC) stabilizes the voltage supplied to the second stage and forces the utility current to meet the required standard. The inverter section stabilizes the arc in the lamp, and keeps the lamp power under the specified values. This paper proposes that the PFC section is to provide the power stability of the system while the inverter section operates in open loop. Consequences of this solution are: the power variation in the lamp caused by its aging is prevented, the complex dynamic of the lamp has no influence in the design, some extra voltage is available to achieve the lamp ignition, warmup time is reduced, and dimming control is easily implemented by modifying either the power reference or the bias value in the PFC control circuit. The inverter section is a half-bridge LC/sub p/C/sub s/ resonant inverter designed to require minimum variation of the input voltage to supply constant power to the lamp. In this way the operation point suffers little changes and no overdimensioning of the PFC and inverter components is necessary to meet the power source condition.     

Single-stage electronic ballast with high-power factor

This article proposes a single-stage electronic ballast circuit with high-power factor. The proposed circuit was derived by sharing the switches of the power factor correction (PFC) and the half-bridge LCC resonant inverter. This integration of switches forms the proposed single-stage electronic ballast, which provides an almost unity power factor and a ripple-free input current by using a coupled inductor without increasing the voltage stress. In addition, it realises zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) by employing the self-oscillation technique. The saturable transformer constituting the self-oscillating drive limits the lamp current and dominates the switching frequency of the ballast. Therefore, the proposed single-stage ballast has the advantage of high-power factor, high efficiency, low cost and high reliability. Steady-state analysis of the PFC and the half-bridge LCC resonant inverter are described. The results of experiments performed using a 30 W fluorescent lamp are also presented to confirm the performance of the proposed ballast.     

High-power-factor electronic ballast with constant DC-link voltage

This paper presents a high-power-factor (HPF) electronic ballast based on a single power processing stage with constant DC-link voltage. The switching frequency is controlled to maintain the DC-link voltage and the voltage across the switches constant, independently of changes in the AC-input voltage. This control method assures zero-voltage switching (ZVS) for the specified AC-input-voltage range. Besides, with an appropriate design of the fluorescent lamps' drive circuit, the lamps' power can be kept close to the rated value. The power-factor-correction (PFC) stage is formed by a boost power converter operating in the discontinuous conduction mode, which naturally provides HPF to the utility line. The fluorescent lamps are driven by an unmodulated sine-wave current generated from an LC parallel resonant power converter which operates above the resonant frequency to perform ZVS. Theoretical analysis and experimental results are presented for two series-connected 40 W fluorescent lamps operating from 127 V -15% to +10% 60 Hz utility line. The switching frequency is changed from 25 to 45 kHz to maintain the DC-link voltage regulated at 410 V, which leads to a constant output power. The experimental results confirm the high efficiency and HPF of this electronic ballast     

High-power-factor electronic ballast operating in criticalconduction mode

A high-power factor (HPF) electronic ballast, which exhibits low switching losses, is presented in this paper. The proposed topology is based on a single power-processing stage, which provides high-frequency voltage to fluorescent lamps and HPF to the utility line. The lamps are driven by a self-oscillating LC parallel resonant power converter of great simplicity and attendant low cost and increased reliability. HPF is achieved by using a nonconventional boost power converter operating in critical conduction mode. Theoretical analysis and experimental results for two 40-W fluorescent lamps operating at 50 kHz from a 127-V utility line have been obtained, which demonstrate the high efficiency and HPF of this electronic ballast     

Acoustic-resonance-free electronic ballast for automotive HID lamps

A novel cost-effective and acoustic-resonance-free electronic ballast used to drive automotive high intensity discharging (HID) lamps that utilise a constant lamp power control scheme is proposed. The presented ballast is comprised of a buck-boost flyback converter to provide negative DC voltages and a half-bridge-type inverter to supply the lamp with low-frequency, square-wave AC voltage/ current. Owing to its low-frequency operation, no acoustic resonance occurs on the automotive HID lamps. Design guidelines and experimental results are demonstrated for a 35 Wautomotive HID lamp prototype ballast operating at 400 Hz switching frequency with battery input DC voltage of 12 V.     

Improved start-up scenario for single-stage electronic ballast

This paper presents improved start-up scenario for single-stage electronic ballast derived with a synchronous switch technique (SST). Based on the SST, the derivation of a single-stage inverter (SSI) used for realizing the ballast is then addressed. The SSI can achieve both high power factor and ballasting function. During lamp start-up transition, power imbalance may exist between the power factor correction semi-stage and the ballast semi-stage, and filament preheating is an important issue. Power imbalance usually results in a high DC-link voltage which, in turn, imposes high stress on the switching devices. Investigation of the ballast operation is conducted, from which control strategies for reducing component stresses and hot resistance detection circuits for minimizing electrode sputtering are therefore proposed. Hardware measurements have verified that on-off tests are higher than 18,000 times without significant sputtering     

A resonant inverter for electronic ballast applications

Electronic ballasts must provide enough open circuit voltage to start the fluorescent lamp and current limiting while the lamp is running. Resonant inverters may be utilized in electronic ballasts because of their load-dependent characteristics. The three basic types of resonant inverters, the series-loaded, parallel-loaded, and the series-parallel-loaded, are compared using fundamental approximation techniques for their applicability in electronic ballasts operating from a low voltage source. A parallel-loaded resonant inverter operating slightly above its resonant frequency is selected because of the high voltage gains possible. Operation above the resonant frequency allows zero-voltage turn on of the semiconductor devices. Zero-voltage turn off can be achieved with the addition of lossless snubber capacitors. Experimental results from a lab prototype are used to verify the design procedure     

120W高可靠HID灯电子镇流器

高强度放电(HID)灯以其光效高、寿命长、体积小、控光性强、显色性好、光利用率高等特点,已成为近代照明的主流产品之一.HID灯正从特殊用途,如投影仪,汽车头灯等,向通用领域扩展.由于HID灯的特性,其镇流器也比较复杂.首先,HID灯需要数千伏的高压脉冲来点火,因此要专门设计点火电路.另外,HID灯在高频电源供电情况下极易产生声谐振现象,对外表现为光强不稳,电弧闪烁、扭曲等.此时可出现灯电压和电流起伏,并伴随有与激励源同频率的声波,严重时可能熄弧,甚至造成灯管损坏,所以还需要采用专门的抑制"声共振"的电路.     

A single-stage electronic ballast with high power factor

A single stage electronic ballast with high power factor (HPF) is proposed in this letter. The single-phase boost-type rectifier provides HPF. A saturable transformer constituting the self-oscillating drive limits the lamp current and dominates the switching frequency of the ballast. Experimental results obtained on a 40 W fluorescent lamp are discussed     

High-efficiency low-stress electronic dimming ballast for multiplefluorescent lamps

An electronic dimming ballast with a lead-lag tank operation (LLTO) having the properties of high efficiency and low stress is introduced in this paper. The ballast is configured with a voltage-fed half-bridge series-resonant parallel-loaded inverter (SRPLI) acting as a lamp driver. It is loaded with resonant tanks which are designed and operated to be capacitive and inductive to theoretically achieve both zero-voltage switching (ZVS) and zero current switching (ZCS) and to eliminate the reactive current circulating through the switches, resulting in low switching and conduction losses. Moreover, the merit of a successive lamp ignition can be attained with the proposed operation scheme so that current stress imposed on the switches can be reduced. With the plasma model of fluorescent lamps, the analysis, operating principle, and dimming control strategy of the electronic ballast are described in detail. On the other hand, the limitations of the proposed scheme are pointed out. Computer simulation results and experimental measurements are used to verify the theoretical prediction and analytical discussion     

基于AP1661的荧光灯电子镇流器

随着绿色照明的推广,节能高效的荧光灯及其电子镇流器得到大规模的应用.     

Low-cost high power-density electronic ballast for automotive HIDlamp

A low-cost high-efficiency high power-density electronic ballast for 35 W automotive high intensity discharge (HID) is presented along with the results of theoretical computations and experimental tests. The ballast circuits is based on a 100 kHz resonant inverter, a half-wave rectifier and a 400 Hz operated square-wave inverter. The converter operates at zero turn on losses, nearly zero turn off losses, and at a reduced electromagnetic interference level. The ballast circuit is designed to prevent inappropriate operations due to the acoustic resonances. The lamp voltage waveform has limited dv/dt and no DC component contributing to a long operating life of the lamp. A breadboard of the electronic ballast was designed and experimentally tested on a 35 W lamp, for a DC input voltage ranging from 9 V to 16 V. The electronic ballast performs all the features required to turn-on, warm-up and drive at the steady state a 35 W HID lamp and operates at a maximum steady state efficiency η=84%,     

High frequency electronic ballast provides line frequency lampcurrent

Most electronic ballasts for fluorescent lamps provide a sinusoidal lamp current at the switching frequency. The high-frequency current flowing through the lamp can generate significant radiated noise, which is unacceptable in noise-sensitive applications, such as fluorescent lights in airplanes. Using shielded enclosures for the lamps may solve the problem, but it is expensive. A discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) electronic ballast topology is presented which drives the lamp with line frequency current, just like a magnetic ballast. However, compared to a magnetic ballast, its weight is substantially reduced due to operation at 40 kHz switching frequency. The topology also ensures unity power factor at the input and stable lamp operation at the output     

An improved charge pump power factor correction electronic ballast

An improved charge pump power factor correction (CPPFC) electronic ballast using the charge pump concept is proposed in this paper. Circuit derivation, principle of operation, and the conditions for achieving unity power factor are discussed. The proposed electronic ballast is implemented and tested with two 40 W fluorescent lamps. It is shown that 84% of overall efficiency and 1.6 of crest factor can be achieved with 200-V line input voltage. The measured line input current harmonics satisfy IEC 1000-3-2 Class C requirements. The lamp power variation range is automatically limited within ±15% for ±10% line input voltage variation without feedback control     

Design and analysis of an IC-less self-oscillating series resonant inverter for dimmable electronic ballasts

This paper presents a low-cost solution of converting the popularly adopted nondimmable electronic ballast circuit for fluorescent lamps with self-oscillating series resonant inverter into a dimmable one. The dimming function is achieved by increasing the switching frequency of the inverter from the natural frequency of the resonant tank, so that less energy is coupled to the lamp. Control of the switching frequency is based on deriving an adjustable dc current source from the resonant inductor in the resonant tank to control the operating point of the saturable transformers for driving the switches in the inverter. The overall implementation does not require any integrated circuit. A 17-W prototype has been built and studied. Theoretical predictions have been verified with experimental results. The lamp can be dimmed down to 10% of the full power.