US Patent:
20080258629, Oct 23, 2008
Inventors:
Yukio AKASHI - Clifton Park NY, US
Terence R. KLEIN - Averill Park NY, US
Assignee:
RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE - Troy NY
International Classification:
H01J 7/24
Abstract:
An apparatus and method are provided for extracting power from and controlling temperature of a fluorescent lamp. The apparatus includes a magnetic structure having a magnetic core and a power extraction winding disposed at least partially around the magnetic core. The magnetic core is sized and configured to surround at least a portion of the fluorescent lamp having plasma current passing therethrough when the fluorescent lamp is powered ON. When the fluorescent lamp is powered ON, with the magnetic core surrounding the portion of the fluorescent lamp, plasma current of the fluorescent lamp forms a primary winding of a transformer defined by the magnetic structure and plasma current of the fluorescent lamp passing therethrough. Power is magnetically coupled via the transformer from the plasma current of the fluorescent lamp to the power extraction winding of the magnetic structure for use in powering a device to be coupled thereto.