摘要 |
A ballast for operating a plurality of parallel fluorescent lamps includes an inverter, coupled to a DC input, and configured to produce an inverter output voltage to power the plurality of parallel fluorescent lamps. A plurality of ballasting capacitors are individually coupled in series between the inverter output voltage and a corresponding one of the plurality of fluorescent lamps. A voltage regulator is coupled to the inverter and controls the inverter output at a generally constant operational voltage such that a lighted lamp remains lighted and an unlighted lamp remains unlighted. At least one dimming circuit is included and each included dimming circuit is operatively coupled to a corresponding ballasting capacitor and configured to receive a lamp control signal. Upon receiving the lamp control signal, each dimming circuit becomes operative to extinguish the corresponding lamp, and upon removal of the lamp control signal each dimming circuit becomes inoperative. |