Robert Alexander Erhardt, 65511 Redwood Ln, Schaumburg, IL 60193

6373199, Apr 16, 2002

Apr 12, 2000

09/548113

Robert Erhardt - Schaumburg IL
Oscar Deurloo - Rosmalen, NL

Philips Electronics North America Corporation - New York NY

H05B 3700

315289, 315291, 315307, 315209 R

Igniter circuitry for a gaseous discharge lamp includes an inductive igniting pulse generating circuit and a capacitive timing circuit. The pulse generating circuit includes a unidirectional voltage-sensitive switch which is electrically connected in series with a capacitor in the timing circuit to unidirectionally limit common current.

6489729, Dec 3, 2002

Jun 11, 2001

09/878833

Robert Erhardt - Schaumburg IL
Ching-Yao Hung - Palatine IL
Raymond Kulka - Chicago IL
Seymour Perkins, III - Hinsdale IL
Oscar Deurloo - Arlington Heights IL

Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. - Eindhoven

H05B 3702

315209R, 315291, 315307, 315244, 315194, 362 20, 314 1

An auxiliary lighting system for a high-intensity discharge lamp. In one embodiment, the auxiliary lighting system has an auxiliary light source, an HID lamp status circuit having an input for connection to a status signal representative of the operational state of a high-intensity discharge lamp wherein the HID lamp status circuit determines whether the status signal meets predetermined signal criteria, a switch circuit having a first state that effects application of a voltage source to the auxiliary light source, and a second state that isolates the voltage source from the auxiliary light source, and a control circuit responsive to the HID lamp status circuit for controlling the switch circuit. The control circuit has a first state when the HID lamp status circuit determines that the status signal meets the predetermined signal criteria and a second state when the HID lamp status circuit determines that the status signal does not meet the predetermined signal criteria. When the control circuit is in the first state, the control circuit outputs a control signal for input into the switch circuit that configures the switch circuit into the first state.

6507157, Jan 14, 2003

Sep 25, 2001

09/963753

Robert Alexander Erhardt - Schaumburg IL
Steven Pilgrim - Waukegan IL
Raymond Kulka - Chicago IL
Ching-Yao Hung - Palatine IL

Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. - Eindhoven

H05B 3702

315224, 315307, 315291, 315DIG 4, 315209 R

Control circuitry for controlling the output power of an electronic ballast system having a power supply branch circuit having power lines comprising a line voltage line and a common line, and a ballast stage having (i) inputs connected to the power lines for providing power to the lamp, (ii) internal power control feedback circuitry that defines a feedback loop for controlling the amount of power applied to the lamp, and (iii) a control signal input for receiving a control signal that affects operation the internal power control feedback circuitry and the level of power outputted by the ballast stage. The control circuitry comprises a first circuit having an input for connection to one of the power lines. The first circuit generates a control signal for input into the control input of the ballast stage. The control circuitry having a first predetermined magnitude when one of the power lines is connected to the input of the first circuit and a second predetermined magnitude when the power lines are isolated from the input of the first circuit.

6583588, Jun 24, 2003

May 29, 2001

09/867350

Robert Alexander Erhardt - Schaumburg IL

Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. - Eindhoven

H05B 4136

315360, 307140

A system and method of automatic cycling control for HID lamps, comprising a switching device for switching power to the HID lamp, a first timer operatively connected to the power switching device, and a second timer operatively connected to the power switching device, wherein the first timer starts timing when the power switching device powers the HID lamp and signals the power switching device to extinguish the HID lamp when the first timer counts to an operating time setpoint, and the second timer starts timing when the power switching device extinguishes the HID lamp and signals the power switching device to power the HID lamp when the second timer counts to a cooling time setpoint. If the lamp is turned off and on before the operating time setpoint is met, the system will reset and begin a new operating timing period.

6686703, Feb 3, 2004

Jan 10, 2002

10/043586

Robert A. Erhardt - Schaumburg IL
Oscar J. Deurloo - Arlington Heights IL
Jerzy Janczak - Eindhoven, NL
Hendrik A. Van Esveld - Geldrop, NL
Winston D. Couwenberg - Veldhoven, NL
Ronald H. Van Der Voort - Helmond, NL

Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. - Eindhoven

H05B 3702

315247, 315209 R, 315224

An improved high frequency ballast is disclosed. The high frequency ballast establishes a lamp current for a gas discharge lamp during a starting operation of the gas discharge lamp wherein an operating ampere level of the lamp current facilitates a substantial achievement by the gas discharge lamp of a color specification associated with the gas discharge lamp. Thereafter, during a stable operation of the gas discharge lamp, the high frequency ballast applies a frequency modulation to an operating frequency of the lamp current and/or an amplitude modulation of the lamp current.

6713973, Mar 30, 2004

Apr 14, 2003

10/413125

Robert Alexander Erhardt - Schaumburg IL

Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. - Eindhoven

H05B 4136

315291, 315360

The present invention provides a system and method of automatic cycling control for HID lamps, comprising a device for switching power to the HID lamp, a first timer operatively connected to the power switching device, and a second timer operatively connected to the power switching device, wherein the first timer starts timing when the power switching device powers the HID lamp and signals the power switching device to extinguish the HID lamp when the first timer counts to an operating time setpoint, and the second timer starts timing when the power switching device extinguishes the HID lamp and signals the power switching device to power the HID lamp when the second timer counts to a cooling time setpoint. If the lamp is turned off and on before the operating time setpoint is met, the system will reset and begin a new operating timing period.

6853150, Feb 8, 2005

Dec 28, 2001

10/037490

Bernd Clauberg - Schaumburg IL, US
Robert A. Erhardt - Schaumburg IL, US

Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. - Eindhoven

H01B037/00
H01B037/02

315185R, 315244, 315291

A LED driver includes a high frequency inverter and an impedance circuit. The high frequency inverter operates to produce a high frequency voltage source whereby the impedance circuit directs a flow of alternating current through a LED array including one or more anti-parallel LED pairs, one or more anti-parallel LED strings, and/or one or more anti-parallel LED matrixes. A transistor can be employed to divert the flow of the alternating current from the LED array, or to vary the flow of the alternating current through LED array.

6853154, Feb 8, 2005

Apr 30, 2002

10/135347

Robert A. Erhardt - Schaumburg IL, US

Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. - Eindhoven

G05F001/00
H01K001/62

315291, 315224, 315209 R

A system and method for open loop bi-level ballast control providing multiple levels of illumination from a ballast-driven lamp. Power to a lamp is adjusted in response to a lamp control signal by adjusting the frequency driving the ballast powering the lamp. Line voltage feeds an AC/DC converter, which supplies DC voltage to a high frequency (HF) ballast. A frequency control circuit responds to a lamp control signal and supplies a ballast frequency signal to the HF ballast, which responds to the ballast frequency signal and adjusts the current supplied to the lamp accordingly. In one embodiment, the lamp control signal can be a bi-level signal providing bi-level illumination.