Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110054780 | LOCATION TRACKING FOR MOBILE COMPUTING DEVICE - A mobile computing device comprises a wireless transceiver and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to store a data set for a predetermined location, the data set comprising location data and a location name. The processing circuit is further configured to compare a current location to the location data, to compare an updated location to the location data at a time calculated based on heuristic data, and to generate a notification message based on the mobile computing device arriving at or near the predetermined location. | 03-03-2011 |
20110269476 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DYNAMICALLY MANAGING CONNECTIONS USING A COVERAGE DATABASE - Techniques to dynamically manage wireless connections using a coverage database are described. For example, a mobile computing device may comprise a connection management module operative to dynamically select a wireless connection technology based on a location of the mobile computing device and information from a coverage database, and to initiate a wireless connection using the selected wireless connection technology. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 11-03-2011 |
20120028637 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR NETWORK SCANNING FOR MANUAL PLMN SEARCH - Various embodiments for providing enhanced manual PLMN search in mobile devices are described. In one or more embodiments, a user may initiate a manual PLMN search while the mobile device has a data connection to a network. The mobile network carrier may receive a request from the mobile device to suspend the data connection between the device and the mobile network carrier while the device performs the manual public land mobile network (PLMN) search. The mobile network may suspend the data connection. The suspended data connection may be resumed, without being torn down and re-established, if the user re-selects the mobile network after the manual PLMN search. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 02-02-2012 |
20120122461 | TECHNIQUES FOR MANAGING COMMUNICATIONS RESOURCES FOR A MOBILE DEVICE - Techniques to manage communications resources for a mobile device are described. An apparatus may comprise a mobile computing device having a radio arranged to communicate information over a wireless link, a link classifier arranged to generate a class parameter for the wireless link based on signal quality measurements of the wireless link, and a data service manager arranged to receive a data service request from an application, determine whether the application may communicate information over the wireless link based on the class parameter for the wireless link, and generate a control directive for the application granting or denying the data service request. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 05-17-2012 |
20130166200 | LOCATION TRACKING FOR MOBILE COMPUTING DEVICE - A mobile computing device is disclosed. The mobile computing device includes a location determination circuit and a processing circuit. The processing circuit determines a current location of the mobile computing device and a destination location. The processing circuit determines an expected travel time from the current location to the destination location, and disables continuous location tracking for a duration of time. The duration is determined based on the expected travel time. Once the duration of time has elapsed, the processing circuit enables continuous location tracking. | 06-27-2013 |
20140243014 | USE OF WIRELESS ACCESS POINT ID FOR POSITION DETERMINATION - A mobile computing device comprises a wireless transceiver and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to identify a location, to identify a wireless access point within a predetermined distance of the location, to detect a wireless access point identifier using the wireless transceiver, to compare the detected wireless access point identifier to the identified wireless access point, and to initiate location determination based on the comparison. | 08-28-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100124229 | FORWARDING PACKETS USING NEXT-HOP INFORMATION - A method may include receiving a packet associated with a flow of packets, the packet including a destination address; selecting one of a plurality of memory banks, the selected memory bank being associated with the flow of packets, wherein each of the plurality of memory banks stores the same next-hop information for forwarding the packet to the destination address; accessing, in the selected memory bank, the next-hop information for forwarding the packet to the destination address; and forwarding the packet to the destination address based on the next-hop information. | 05-20-2010 |
20100175715 | Combinatorial Approach to the Development of Cleaning Formulations For Wet Removal of High Dose Implant Photoresist - Embodiments of the current invention describe a cleaning solution for the removal of high dose implanted photoresist, along with methods of applying the cleaning solution to remove the high dose implanted photoresist and combinatorially developing the cleaning solution. | 07-15-2010 |
20100288725 | Acid Chemistries and Methodologies for Texturing Transparent Conductive Oxide Materials - Surface texturing of the transparent conductive oxide (TCO) front contact of a thin film photovoltaic (TFPV) solar cell is needed to enhance the light-trapping capability of the TFPV solar cells and thus improving the solar cell efficiency. Embodiments of the current invention describe chemical formulations and methods for the wet etching of the TCO. The formulations and methods may be optimized to tune the surface texturing of the TCO as desired. | 11-18-2010 |
20110020971 | Combinatorial Screening of Transparent Conductive Oxide Materials for Solar Applications - Embodiments of the current invention include methods of improving a process of forming a textured TCO film by combinatorial methods. The combinatorial method may include depositing a TCO by physical vapor deposition or sputtering, annealing the TCO, and etching the TCO where at least one of the depositing, the annealing, or the etching is performed combinatorially. Embodiments of the current invention also include improved methods of forming the TCO based on the results of combinatorial testing. | 01-27-2011 |
20110151105 | High-Throughput Combinatorial Dip-Coating Apparatus and Methodologies - Embodiments of the current invention describe a high performance combinatorial method and apparatus for the combinatorial development of coatings by a dip-coating process. The dip-coating process may be used for multiple applications, including forming coatings from varied sol-gel formulations, coating substrates uniformly with particles to combinatorially test particle removal formulations, and the dipping of substrates into texturing formulations to combinatorially develop the texturing formulations. | 06-23-2011 |
20110164872 | FAST CONVERGENCE ON CHILD LINK FAILURES AND WEIGHTED LOAD BALANCING OF AGGREGATE ETHERNET/SONET BUNDLES - A network device provides a selector list that includes indices of child nexthops associated with the network device, where each of the child nexthops is associated with a corresponding child link provided in an aggregated bundle of child links. The network device also receives an indication of a failure of a child link in the aggregated bundle of child links, and removes, from the selector list, an index of a child nexthop associated with the failed child link. The network device further receives probabilities associated with the child links of the aggregated bundle of child links. Each of the probabilities indicates a probability of a packet exiting the network device on a child link. The network device also creates a distribution table based on the probabilities associated with the child links, and rearranges values provided in the distribution table. | 07-07-2011 |
20110194557 | DATA STRUCTURE-LESS DISTRIBUTED FABRIC MULTICAST - A network device receives a packet with a multicast nexthop identifier, and creates a mask that includes addresses of egress packet forwarding engines, of the network device, to which to provide the packet. The network device divides the mask into two portions, generates two copies of the packet, provides a first portion of the mask in a first copy of the packet, and provides a second portion of the mask in a second copy of the packet. The network device also forwards the first copy of the packet to an address of a first egress packet forwarding engine provided in the first portion of the mask, and forwards the second copy of the packet to an address of a second egress packet forwarding engine provided in the second portion of the mask. | 08-11-2011 |
20110199853 | Combinatorial Processing Including Stirring - Combinatorial processing including stirring is described, including defining multiple regions of a substrate, processing the multiple regions of the substrate in a combinatorial manner, introducing a fluid into a first aperture at a first end of a body to dispense the fluid out of a second aperture at a second end of the body and into one of the multiple regions, and agitating the fluid using an impeller at a second end of the body to facilitate interaction of the fluid with a surface of the substrate. | 08-18-2011 |
20110201149 | METHODS FOR FORMING RESISTIVE SWITCHING MEMORY ELEMENTS - Resistive switching memory elements are provided that may contain electroless metal electrodes and metal oxides formed from electroless metal. The resistive switching memory elements may exhibit bistability and may be used in high-density multi-layer memory integrated circuits. Electroless conductive materials such as nickel-based materials may be selectively deposited on a conductor on a silicon wafer or other suitable substrate. The electroless conductive materials can be oxidized to form a metal oxide for a resistive switching memory element. Multiple layers of conductive materials can be deposited each of which has a different oxidation rate. The differential oxidization rates of the conductive layers can be exploited to ensure that metal oxide layers of desired thicknesses are formed during fabrication. | 08-18-2011 |
20110228793 | CUSTOMIZED CLASSIFICATION OF HOST BOUND TRAFFIC - A network device component receives traffic, determines whether the traffic is host bound traffic or non-host bound traffic, and classifies, based on a user-defined classification scheme, the traffic when the traffic is host bound traffic. The network device component also assigns, based on the classification, the classified host bound traffic to a queue associated with network device component for forwarding the classified host bound traffic to a host component of the network device. | 09-22-2011 |
20110268115 | MULTICAST OVER LAG AND IRB IN A ROUTING DEVICE - Techniques for handling multicast over link aggregated (LAG) interfaces and integrated routing and bridging (IRB) interfaces in a network device are described in which interfaces, at which a data unit is to be transmitted, may be represented hierarchically in which the LAG interfaces and IRB interfaces are represented as pointers. In one implementation, a device may determine routes for data units, where a route for a multicast data unit is represented as a set of interfaces of the device at which the data unit is to be output. Entries in the set of interfaces may include physical interfaces of the device and pointers to LAG interfaces or pointers to the IRB interfaces. The device may generate tokens to represent routes for data units and resolve the pointers to the LAG interfaces or the IRB interfaces to obtain physical interfaces of the router corresponding to a LAG or an IRB. | 11-03-2011 |
20110280245 | NEXT HOP CHAINING FOR FORWARDING DATA IN A NETWORK SWITCHING DEVICE - A route for a data unit through a network may be defined based on a number of next hops. Exemplary embodiments described herein may implement a router forwarding table as a chained list of references to next hops. In one implementation, a device includes a forwarding table that includes: a first table configured to store, for each of a plurality of routes for data units in a network, a chain of links to next hops for the routes; and a second table configured to store the next hops. The device also includes a forwarding engine configured to assemble the next hops for the data units based on using the chain of links in the first table to retrieve the next hops in the second table and to forward the data units in the network based on the assembled next hops. | 11-17-2011 |
20120001320 | SUBSTRATE PROCESSING INCLUDING A MASKING LAYER - Methods for substrate processing are described. The methods include forming a material layer on a substrate. The methods include selecting constituents of a molecular masking layer (MML) to remove an effect of variations in the material layer as a result of substrate processing. The methods include normalizing the surface characteristics of the material layer by selectively depositing the MML on the material layer. | 01-05-2012 |
20120074376 | NONVOLATILE MEMORY ELEMENTS WITH METAL DEFICIENT RESISTIVE SWITCHING METAL OXIDES - Nonvolatile memory elements are provided that have resistive switching metal oxides. The nonvolatile memory elements may be formed by depositing a metal-containing material on a silicon-containing material. The metal-containing material may be oxidized to form a resistive-switching metal oxide. The silicon in the silicon-containing material reacts with the metal in the metal-containing material when heat is applied. This forms a metal silicide lower electrode for the nonvolatile memory element. An upper electrode may be deposited on top of the metal oxide. Because the silicon in the silicon-containing layer reacts with some of the metal in the metal-containing layer, the resistive-switching metal oxide that is formed is metal deficient when compared to a stoichiometric metal oxide formed from the same metal. | 03-29-2012 |
20120156498 | High-Throughput Combinatorial Dip-Coating Apparatus and Methodologies - Embodiments of the current invention describe a high performance combinatorial method and apparatus for the combinatorial development of coatings by a dip-coating process. The dip-coating process may be used for multiple applications, including forming coatings from varied sol-gel formulations, coating substrates uniformly with particles to combinatorially test particle removal formulations, and the dipping of substrates into texturing formulations to combinatorially develop the texturing formulations. | 06-21-2012 |
20120196397 | Methods of Building Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells For Use In Combinatorial Screening - Embodiments of the current invention describe methods of forming different types of crystalline silicon based solar cells that can be combinatorially varied and evaluated. Examples of these different types of solar cells include front and back contact silicon based solar cells, all-back contact solar cells and selective emitter solar cells. These methodologies all incorporate the formation of site-isolated regions using a combinatorial processing tool and the use of these site-isolated regions to form the solar cell area. Therefore, multiple solar cells may be rapidly formed on a single crystalline silicon substrate for use in combinatorial methodologies. Any of the individual processes of the methods described may be varied combinatorially to test varied process conditions or materials. | 08-02-2012 |
20120237676 | SOL-GEL BASED FORMULATIONS AND METHODS FOR PREPARATION OF HYDROPHOBIC ULTRA LOW REFRACTIVE INDEX ANTI-REFLECTIVE COATINGS ON GLASS - Embodiments of the invention relate generally to methods and compositions for forming porous low refractive index coatings on substrates. In one embodiment, a method of forming a porous coating on a substrate is provided. The method comprises coating a substrate with a sol-gel composition comprising at least one self assembling molecular porogen and annealing the coated substrate to remove the at least one self assembling molecular porogen to form the porous coating. Use of the self assembling molecular porogens leads to the formation of stable pores with larger volume and an increased reduction in the refractive index of the coating. Further, the size and interconnectivity of the pores may be controlled via selection of the self assembling molecular porogens structure, the total porogen fraction, polarity of the molecule and solvent, and other physiochemical properties of the gel phase. | 09-20-2012 |
20120251718 | SOL-GEL TRANSITION CONTROL OF COATINGS BY ADDITION OF SOLIDIFIERS FOR CONFORMAL COATINGS ON TEXTURED GLASS - Embodiments of the invention generally relate to methods and compositions for forming conformal coatings on textured substrates. More specifically, embodiments of the invention generally relate to sol-gel processes and sol-gel compositions for forming low refractive index conformal coatings on textured transparent substrates. In one embodiment a method of forming a conformal coating on a textured glass substrate is provided. The method comprises coating the textured glass substrate with a sol-gel composition comprising a solidifier. It is believed that use of the solidifier expedites the sol-gel transition point of the sol-gel composition leading to more conformal deposition of coatings on textured substrates. | 10-04-2012 |
20120300674 | FAST CONVERGENCE ON CHILD LINK FAILURES AND WEIGHTED LOAD BALANCING OF AGGREGATE ETHERNET/SONET BUNDLES - A network device provides a selector list that includes indices of child nexthops associated with the network device, where each of the child nexthops is associated with a corresponding child link provided in an aggregated bundle of child links. The network device also receives an indication of a failure of a child link in the aggregated bundle of child links, and removes, from the selector list, an index of a child nexthop associated with the failed child link. The network device further receives probabilities associated with the child links of the aggregated bundle of child links. Each of the probabilities indicates a probability of a packet exiting the network device on a child link. The network device also creates a distribution table based on the probabilities associated with the child links, and rearranges values provided in the distribution table. | 11-29-2012 |
20130034653 | ANTIREFLECTIVE SILICA COATINGS BASED ON SOL-GEL TECHNIQUE WITH CONTROLLABLE PORE SIZE, DENSITY, AND DISTRIBUTION BY MANIPULATION OF INTER-PARTICLE INTERACTIONS USING PRE-FUNCTIONALIZED PARTICLES AND ADDITIVES - Methods and compositions for forming durable porous low refractive index coatings on substrates are provided. In one embodiment, a method of forming a porous coating on a substrate is provided. The method comprises coating a substrate with a sol-formulation comprising a silane-based binder, silica-based nanoparticles, and an inter-particle interaction modifier for regulating interactions between the silica-based nanoparticles and annealing the coated substrate. Porous coatings formed according to the embodiments described herein demonstrate good optical properties (e.g., a low refractive index) while maintaining good mechanical durability due to the presence of the inter-particle interaction modifier. The inter-particle interaction modifier increases the strength of the particle network countering capillary forces produced during drying to maintain the porosity structure. | 02-07-2013 |
20130034722 | SOL-GEL BASED ANTIREFLECTIVE COATINGS USING PARTICLE-BINDER APPROACH WITH HIGH DURABILITY, MOISTURE RESISTANCE, CLOSED PORE STRUCTURE AND CONTROLLABLE PORE SIZE - Durable porous low refractive index coatings, methods and compositions for forming the porous low refractive index coatings are provided. The method comprises coating a substrate with a sol formulation comprising a silane-based binder having one or more reactive groups and silica based nanoparticles and annealing the coated substrate. The silane-based binder comprises from about 30 wt. % to about 70 wt. % ash contribution in the total ash content of the sol formulation. Porous coatings formed according to the embodiments described herein demonstrate good optical properties (e.g., a low refractive index) while maintaining good mechanical durability due to the presence of a high amount of binder and a closed pore structure. | 02-07-2013 |
20130071982 | Nonvolatile Memory Elements with Metal-Deficient Resistive-Switching Metal Oxides - Nonvolatile memory elements are provided that have resistive switching metal oxides. The nonvolatile memory elements may be formed by depositing a metal-containing material on a silicon-containing material. The metal-containing material may be oxidized to form a resistive-switching metal oxide. The silicon in the silicon-containing material reacts with the metal in the metal-containing material when heat is applied. This forms a metal silicide lower electrode for the nonvolatile memory element. An upper electrode may be deposited on top of the metal oxide. Because the silicon in the silicon-containing layer reacts with some of the metal in the metal-containing layer, the resistive-switching metal oxide that is formed is metal deficient when compared to a stoichiometric metal oxide formed from the same metal. | 03-21-2013 |
20130156032 | DATA STRUCTURE-LESS DISTRIBUTED FABRIC MULTICAST - A network device receives a packet with a multicast nexthop identifier, and creates a mask that includes addresses of egress packet forwarding engines, of the network device, to which to provide the packet. The network device divides the mask into two portions, generates two copies of the packet, provides a first portion of the mask in a first copy of the packet, and provides a second portion of the mask in a second copy of the packet. The network device also forwards the first copy of the packet to an address of a first egress packet forwarding engine provided in the first portion of the mask, and forwards the second copy of the packet to an address of a second egress packet forwarding engine provided in the second portion of the mask. | 06-20-2013 |
20130217238 | Substrate Processing Including A Masking Layer - Methods for substrate processing are described. The methods include forming a material layer on a substrate. The methods include selecting constituents of a molecular masking layer (MML) to remove an effect of variations in the material layer as a result of substrate processing. The methods include normalizing the surface characteristics of the material layer by selectively depositing the MML on the material layer. | 08-22-2013 |
20130260508 | Methods for forming resistive switching memory elements - Resistive switching memory elements are provided that may contain electroless metal electrodes and metal oxides formed from electroless metal. The resistive switching memory elements may exhibit bistability and may be used in high-density multi-layer memory integrated circuits. Electroless conductive materials such as nickel-based materials may be selectively deposited on a conductor on a silicon wafer or other suitable substrate. The electroless conductive materials can be oxidized to form a metal oxide for a resistive switching memory element. Multiple layers of conductive materials can be deposited each of which has a different oxidation rate. The differential oxidization rates of the conductive layers can be exploited to ensure that metal oxide layers of desired thicknesses are formed during fabrication. | 10-03-2013 |
20130329603 | NEXT HOP CHAINING FOR FORWARDING DATA IN A NETWORK SWITCHING DEVICE - A route for a data unit through a network may be defined based on a number of next hops. Exemplary embodiments described herein may implement a router forwarding table as a chained list of references to next hops. In one implementation, a device includes a forwarding table that includes: a first table configured to store, for each of a plurality of routes for data units in a network, a chain of links to next hops for the routes; and a second table configured to store the next hops. The device also includes a forwarding engine configured to assemble the next hops for the data units based on using the chain of links in the first table to retrieve the next hops in the second table and to forward the data units in the network based on the assembled next hops. | 12-12-2013 |
20130338305 | Methods for Coating a Substrate with an Amphiphilic Compound - Methods of modifying a patterned semiconductor substrate are presented including: providing a patterned semiconductor substrate surface including a dielectric region and a conductive region; and applying an amphiphilic surface modifier to the dielectric region to modify the dielectric region. In some embodiments, modifying the dielectric region includes modifying a wetting angle of the dielectric region. In some embodiments, modifying the wetting angle includes making a surface of the dielectric region hydrophilic. In some embodiments, methods further include applying an aqueous solution to the patterned semiconductor substrate surface. In some embodiments, the conductive region is selectively enhanced by the aqueous solution. In some embodiments, methods further include providing the dielectric region formed of a low-k dielectric material. In some embodiments, applying the amphiphilic surface modifier modifies an interaction of the low-k dielectric region with a subsequent process. | 12-19-2013 |
20130340805 | Methods of Building Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells for Use in Combinatorial Screening - Embodiments of the current invention describe methods of forming different types of crystalline silicon based solar cells that can be combinatorially varied and evaluated. Examples of these different types of solar cells include front and back contact silicon based solar cells, all-back contact solar cells and selective emitter solar cells. These methodologies all incorporate the formation of site-isolated regions using a combinatorial processing tool and the use of these site-isolated regions to form the solar cell area. Therefore, multiple solar cells may be rapidly formed on a single crystalline silicon substrate for use in combinatorial methodologies. Any of the individual processes of the methods described may be varied combinatorially to test varied process conditions or materials. | 12-26-2013 |
20140231704 | Silicon Texturing Formulations - The present disclosure includes a texture formulation that includes an aliphatic diol, an alkaline compound and water which provides a consistent textured region across a silicon surface suitable for solar cell applications. The current invention describes silicon texturing formulations that include at least one high boiling point additive. The high boiling point additive may be a derivative compound of propylene glycol or a derivative compound of ethylene glycol. Processes for texturing a crystalline silicon substrate using these formulations are also described. Additionally, a combinatorial method of optimizing the textured surface of a crystalline silicon substrate is described. | 08-21-2014 |
20140231744 | Methods for forming resistive switching memory elements - Resistive switching memory elements are provided that may contain electroless metal electrodes and metal oxides formed from electroless metal. The resistive switching memory elements may exhibit bistability and may be used in high-density multi-layer memory integrated circuits. Electroless conductive materials such as nickel-based materials may be selectively deposited on a conductor on a silicon wafer or other suitable substrate. The electroless conductive materials can be oxidized to form a metal oxide for a resistive switching memory element. Multiple layers of conductive materials can be deposited each of which has a different oxidation rate. The differential oxidization rates of the conductive layers can be exploited to ensure that metal oxide layers of desired thicknesses are formed during fabrication. | 08-21-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100301752 | RESETTING AN ELECTRONIC BALLAST IN THE EVENT OF FAULT - A ballast for driving one or more lamps includes a controller and a current reduction circuit for accelerating a controller reset. Upon detecting a fault, the controller disables the ballast for a preset period of time, and resets. The controller additionally resets when the ratio of a supplied second value to a supplied first value falls below a threshold value. The current reduction circuit reduces the supplied second value in less than the preset period of time, such that the ratio falls below the threshold value and the controller resets. An emergency lighting system includes the ballast as a primary ballast, a backup ballast, and a primary power source. The controller detects a fault if the primary power source de-energizes and the backup ballast disconnects the one or more lamps from the primary ballast. The current reduction circuit accelerates the reset of the controller when the primary power source de-energizes. | 12-02-2010 |
20100301754 | Electronic Ballast Control Circuit - A control circuit for use in a ballast configured for powering a first lamp set and a second lamp set. The second lamp set is operated via a controller and a second lamp driver circuit. The controller enables the second lamp driver circuit as a function of a monitored value corresponding to a current through a lamp of the second lamp set. The control circuit includes first and second input terminals for selectively connecting to the power supply. The control circuit reduces the monitored value as a function of a connection state of the first and second input terminals of the control circuit to the power supply. Thus, the control circuit causes the controller to selectively operate the second lamp driver circuit in order to energize the second lamp set in combination with the first lamp set. | 12-02-2010 |
20100301759 | RESTART CIRCUIT FOR MULTIPLE LAMP ELECTRONIC BALLAST - A restart circuit for causing an electronic ballast to perform a restart in response to reconnecting any lamp of a multiple lamp configuration of the electronic ballast to the electronic ballast is disclosed. The electronic ballast includes a filament health check circuit for providing a first current through a monitored filament of the lamps to a controller of the ballast. The controller restarts the electronic ballast when a determined ratio of the first current to a reference current indicates that the monitored filament has been disconnected or broken (i.e., the first current substantially decreases) and is subsequently replaced or reconnected to the ballast (i.e., the first current returns to a predetermined level). The ballast further comprises a dv/dt circuit for reducing the first current for a transient time period in response to reconnecting a filament other than the monitored filament to the ballast, causing the controller to restart the ballast. | 12-02-2010 |
20110163685 | Lamp End of Life (EOL) Detection Circuit - A lamp driver circuit to selectively energize one or more lamps is provided. The inverter circuit has a transformer with primary and secondary windings to provide voltage to the lamps. A filter is connected to the primary winding to receive a primary winding signal representative of the voltage across the primary winding. The primary winding signal has a frequency spectrum and the filter detects a particular characteristic of the frequency spectrum that is indicative of an end of life (EOL) condition of the one or more lamps. A control circuit is connected to the inverter circuit and to the filter. The control circuit is configured to discontinue energizing of the one or more lamps by the inverter circuit when the particular characteristic of the frequency spectrum of the primary winding signal is detected by the filter. | 07-07-2011 |
20120206059 | TWO LEVEL LIGHTING BALLAST - A two level lighting ballast is provided, which includes a self-oscillating inverter circuit and a control circuit. The inverter includes an input; an output to selectively provide current to energize a lamp; a switching circuit operating at a switching frequency; a feedback transformer; and an impedance component. The feedback transformer is connected to the output, and drives the switching circuit based on the lamp current. The impedance component is connected in parallel with the feedback transformer, and is operated by the control circuit. When the control circuit enables the impedance component, the switching circuit operates in a first frequency range, and a first lamp current is provided. When the control circuit disables the impedance component, the switching circuit operates in a second frequency range, and a second lamp current is provided. The first frequency range is lower than the second, and the first lamp current is greater than the second. | 08-16-2012 |
20120248983 | MULTIPLE LIGHT LEVEL ELECTRONIC POWER CONVERTER - A lighting system converter circuit of a lamp power converter to selectively operate a plurality of lamps connected thereto is provided. The lighting system converter circuit includes a first impedance circuit and a second impedance circuit. Each impedance circuit includes an input terminal, an impedance component, and a switching network. The impedance components are each configured to connect in series with the lamps. Each input terminal is configured to receive a control signal that indicates a state of a switch. Each control signal has a first logic level, indicating the switch is non-conductive, and a second logic level, indicating the switch is conductive. Each switching network is connected to its respective input terminal and in parallel with its respective impedance component, and is configured to selectively operate between a conductive state and a non-conductive state, as a function of the logic level of its respective control signal. | 10-04-2012 |
20120274229 | MULTIPLE STRIKE BALLAST FOR ELECTRODELESS LAMP - A multi-strike ballast to ignite an electrodless lamp is disclosed, and includes an inverter circuit, an output voltage detection circuit (OVDC), and an inverter shutdown circuit. The inverter circuit, upon activation, sends an ignition pulse to the electrodeless lamp. The inverter circuit shut downs upon receiving a deactivation signal, and activates upon receiving an activation signal, triggering another ignition pulse. The OVDC detects an output voltage across the lamp. The inverter shutdown circuit includes a multi-strike diac and receives the detected output voltage. The multi-strike diac breaks upon the output voltage reaching a predetermined level. In response, a deactivation signal is sent to the inverter circuit. The multi-strike diac turns off upon the output voltage falling below the predetermined level. In response, an activation signal is sent to the inverter circuit, triggering a further ignition pulse. The process repeats, providing multiple ignition pulses to the lamp. | 11-01-2012 |
20120286682 | BI-LEVEL LAMP BALLAST - A bi-level lamp ballast to selectively operate two lamps is provided. The ballast includes a control circuit having an input, connected to a switching network, and an output, which provides a particular control signal based on the state of the switching network. The ballast also includes respective lamp control switches, each having respective outputs. The first switch is connected to the output and a ballast power supply. In its first state, it connects the ballast power supply to its first output, and in its second state, it connects the ballast power supply to its second output. The second switch is connected to the output and a ground. In its first state, it connects the ground to its first output, and in its second state, it connects the ground to its second output. The state of each lamp control switch depends on the control signal generated by the control circuit. | 11-15-2012 |
20120313538 | DIMMING BALLAST FOR ELECTRODELESS LAMP - A ballast to energize a lamp at a selected lighting level is provided. The ballast includes a rectifier, a buck converter, and a controller. The rectifier produces a DC voltage with a substantially constant magnitude. The buck converter generates a lamp voltage output from the DC voltage based on a duty cycle. The output has a magnitude that is varied based on the duty cycle to energize the lamp at a selected lighting level. The controller receives a dim input signal indicating the selected lighting level, and provides an appropriate control signal to the buck converter. The appropriate control signal indicates a particular duty cycle corresponding to magnitude of the output to produce the selected lighting level. In response to receiving the control signal, the buck converter adjusts the duty cycle accordingly, producing the output having the magnitude to energize the lamp at the selected lighting level. | 12-13-2012 |
20120326609 | MULTIPLE LAMP LIGHTING LEVEL BALLAST FOR SERIES CONNECTED LAMPS - A ballast that selectively operates multiple lamps is provided. The ballast includes a switching network, capable of operating in a number of switching configurations. The ballast also includes a control circuit, and two lamp control switches. The control circuit is connected to the switching network, and provides respective control signals via respective output terminals as a function of the switching configuration of the switching network. Each lamp control switch is in parallel with its lamp and is connected to a respective output terminal. The first lamp control switch is connected to a ballast power supply, and either provides power to the first lamp or does not, depending on the first control signal. The second lamp control switch is connected to the first lamp control switch and to ground, and either provides power to the second lamp or does not, depending on the second control signal. | 12-27-2012 |
20130057172 | THREE LIGHT LEVEL ELECTRONIC BALLAST - A three light level electronic ballast, and methods of operating lamps at three light levels, are provided. The ballast includes a rectifier, a power factor correction circuit, an inverter circuit, a first circuit, a second circuit, and a control circuit. The rectifier receives an AC voltage signal and produces a rectified voltage signal, which the power factor correction circuit receives and uses to provide a corrected voltage signal. The inverter circuit receives the corrected voltage signal and provides an energizing signal to power at least two lamps. The first circuit selectively reduces the current applied to the lamps by the energizing signal. The second circuit selectively prevents the second lamp from being energized by the energizing signal. The control circuit controls the first circuit and the second circuit. | 03-07-2013 |
20130099664 | AMALGAM TIP TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR AN ELECTRODELESS LAMP - A electrodeless lamp including a fluorescent discharge vessel, a tip, an amalgam, a lamp core, and a heater. The vessel contains a gas having a partial vapor pressure and a fluorescent material. The tip has an inner end engaging the vessel, and an opening in communication with the gas. The amalgam is positioned within the opening, in heat transfer relation with the tip. When the temperature of the amalgam decreases, mercury vapor in the gas condensates onto the amalgam, causing a decrease in the partial vapor pressure of the gas. The opposite occurs when the amalgam temperature increases. The lamp core generates a magnetic flux, causing an electrical discharge in the gas. The heater includes a positive temperature coefficient connected to a winding of the lamp core. The heater is in heat transfer relation with the tip and heats the tip when the electrodeless lamp is in a dimming mode. | 04-25-2013 |
20130127355 | STARTING CIRCUIT FOR BUCK CONVERTER - A ballast to energize a lamp is provided. The ballast comprises a buck converter connected to an inverter via a switching component. The buck converter includes a transistor, a capacitor, a diode, and an inductor. The switching component has a predetermined breakover voltage value and is configured to provide a start up signal to the inverter when voltage at the switching component increases to the predetermined breakover voltage value. A control circuit is configured to monitor the voltage at the switching component while the voltage at the switching component increases to the predetermined breakover voltage, and is configured to generate a gate drive pulse at a gate terminal of the transistor when the voltage at the switching component reaches a predetermined voltage that is less than the breakover voltage of the switching component. | 05-23-2013 |
20130181627 | DIMMABLE INSTANT START BALLAST - A ballast for dimming a lamp is provided. The ballast includes an inverter circuit for providing a lamp current for energizing the lamp and a dim interface for receiving an input indicative of a selected lighting level. A control circuit is connected to the dim interface for generating a pulse-width-modulated signal having a duty cycle corresponding to the selected lighting level. A switching network is connected to the control circuit for receiving the pulse-width-modulated signal. The switching network operates between a conductive state and a non-conductive state as a function of the pulse-width-modulated signal. An impedance device is connected across the switching network and is configured for connecting in series with the lamp so that the impedance device receives the lamp current when the switching network is operating in the non-conductive state and the lamp current bypasses the capacitor when the switching network is operating in the conductive state. | 07-18-2013 |
20140001971 | DIM MODE START FOR ELECTRODELESS LAMP BALLAST | 01-02-2014 |
20140049159 | MULTIPLE STRIKE BALLAST WITH LAMP PROTECTION FOR ELECTRODELESS LAMP - A multi-strike ballast to ignite an electrodeless lamp is disclosed, and includes an inverter circuit, a protection circuit, and a controller. The inverter circuit, upon activation, sends an ignition pulse to the lamp. The inverter circuit shuts down upon receiving a deactivation signal, and activates upon receiving an activation signal, triggering another ignition pulse. The protection circuit senses a change in a voltage associated with the lamp. The sensed changed may indicate that the lamp has not yet ignited or that the lamp is broken. The controller receives the sensed change in voltage and, in response, sends a deactivation signal to the inverter circuit. The controller waits a predetermined time and then sends an activation signal to the inverter circuit. The controller repeats until a change in voltage associated with the lamp is not sensed, or until a predefined number of repeats occur, providing multiple ignition pulses to the lamp. | 02-20-2014 |
20140246984 | BALLAST WITH CURRENT CONTROL CIRCUIT - A ballast configured to connect to a set of lamps to energize the set of lamps is provided. The ballast comprises an inverter circuit for generating an oscillating power signal, wherein the oscillating power signal has a frequency, and a resonant tank circuit electrically connected to the inverter circuit for receiving the oscillating power signal and therefrom providing a lamp current to the set of lamps. A resistance circuit is connected to the inverter circuit. The resistance circuit has a resistance that defines the frequency of the oscillating power signal generated by the inverter circuit. A current control circuit is connected to the resistance circuit for adjusting the resistance of the resistance circuit as a function of a number of lamps that are connected to the ballast. | 09-04-2014 |
20140368120 | BALLAST WITH ANTI-STRIATION CIRCUIT - A ballast comprises an inverter circuit for providing an oscillating current signal for energizing the at least one lamp. The inverter circuit comprises a first switching component and a second switching component each having a collector terminal, a base terminal, and an emitter terminal. And, each switching component is configured for alternately operating between a conductive state and a non-conductive state. A first collector-emitter circuit is connected between the collector terminal and the emitter terminal of the first switching component, wherein the first collector-emitter circuit has a first resistance of zero or more Ohms. A second collector-emitter circuit is connected between the collector terminal and the emitter terminal of the second switching component, wherein the second collector-emitter circuit has a second resistance of zero or more Ohms and the first resistance and the second resistance are unequal. | 12-18-2014 |