Abstract :
Integrated circuits for electronic ballasts are a growing market today. Driven by the telecommunication industry, powerful technologies have been developed to handle both, the large scale integrated signal processing, and the power stage driving and control. These technologies are delivering the fundament for IC solutions, which meet both, the cost requirements of ballasts, as well as the aiming at miniaturization, Special custom integrated solutions make sense for high-end comfort ballasts with extended signal processing, focusing on bus connection, comprehensive dimming purpose, and advanced lamp control and protection. For the mass market, a modular system is desirable, which allows for flexible change of product characteristic features. Such a system can be reached by IC families which cover important ballast features, as free chosen frequency, dimming, lamp and ballast overload protection, end-of-life protection, over-voltage and under-voltage protection, power-factor correction (PFC), a simple power-control interface, and last, but not least, a simple adjustment of the output power for any new lamp type
Keywords :
discharge lamps; integrated circuit design; lamp accessories; lighting control; power integrated circuits; application; custom integrated solutions; dimming; electronic ballasts; end-of-life protection; extended signal processing; frequency; high-end comfort ballasts; integrated circuit design; lamp control; lamp protection; overload protection; overvoltage protection; power stage; power-factor correction; undervoltage protection; Communication industry; Electronic ballasts; Industrial control; Integrated circuit synthesis; Integrated circuit technology; Lamps; Large scale integration; Power system protection; Signal processing; Telecommunication control;