Micro-controller-operated high intensity discharge lamp ballast system and method

摘要

The present invention is related to a micro-controller-operated high intensity discharge lamp ballast system. This system comprises the following elements: a boost pre-regulator means to convert a DC voltage into a high voltage DC bus to facilitate proper lamp power regulation, an inverter means to convert the high voltage DC bus into a high frequency FM modulated square wave voltage, a lamp matching network and filter means to convert the high frequency FM modulated square wave voltage into a high frequency FM modulated current facilitating the proper lamp power regulation, a lamp current and voltage sensing means to sense a lamp voltage and a lamp current across the high intensity discharge lamp and to feed the lamp voltage and lamp current into a micro-controller means adapted to facilitate proper functioning of the high intensity discharge lamp ballast system by means of sending a predetermined set of commands provided to monitor and control all elements of this system. The micro-controller means is adapted to control the lamp power by means of sending control signals to the boost pre-regulator means adapted to adjust the high voltage DC bus. The micro-controller means is also adapted to send drive signals to the inverter means to generate a high frequency FM modulated gating and shaping of the inverter means provided to obtain a stable operation of the high intensity discharge lamp at high frequencies and to eliminate acoustical resonance.