| 摘要 |
<p>A ballast circuit 10 for a gas discharge lamp 14, incorporates a shutdown circuit 12 for limiting voltage output of a d.c.-to-a.c. converter 21. The shutdown circuit includes a pair of terminals 66 and 68 connecting across an inductor 48 in order to sense the inductive voltage of the d.c.-to-a.c. converter 21. A rectifier network 70-76 receives the inductor voltage and generates a full-wave rectified voltage. A latch 84 is arranged to receive the rectified voltage and to enter an active state when the rectified voltage is above a pre-determined value. A time delay circuit 118 located between the rectifier network 70-76 and the latch 84 provides an adjustable delay time prior to activation of the latch network. Upon activation of the latch, the inductor voltage is decreased and the ballast circuit 10 is taken out of resonance thereby lowering the voltage and current applied to the resonant circuit 28.</p> |
