Dimmer arrangement for gas discharge lamp with inductive ballast

摘要

A dimmer arrangement for a lamp assembly including a gas discharge lamp and an inductive ballast connected to a domestic AC power supply includes a first controllable switch deployed in series with the lamp assembly so as to selectively close a circuit from the power supply through the lamp assembly and a second controllable switch deployed in parallel with the gas discharge lamp assembly so as to selectively close a circuit including the gas discharge lamp and the inductive ballast. A controller cyclically: (a) closes the first controllable switch and opens the second controllable switch, and (b) closes the second controllable switch and opens the first controllable switch. A non-linear saturating inductance connected serially with the first and second controllable switches controls the current during momentary overlap when both switches are closed.