Dimming ballast and drive method for a metal halide lamp using a frequency controlled loosely coupled transformer

摘要

A dimmer ballast or output drive circuit and a drive method for a high intensity discharge lamp utilizes an overwound loosely coupled transformer having a turns ratio of preferably about one to one with a peaking capacitor across the secondary output terminals of the transformer and in parallel with the HID lamp arc electrodes. A control circuit provides a variable frequency drive voltage to the primary of the transformer. The frequency of the output voltage is adjustably controlled above the peak load power frequency. The load power and hence the light output of the lamp varies according to the frequency of the output voltage permitting a user to adjustably dim the high intensity discharge lamp.