Ballasted lamp socket for a compact fluorescent lamp

Abstract

A ballasted lamp socket for a gas discharge lamp, such as a compact fluorescent lamp, is adapted to replace an Edison screw-in lamp socket in a ceiling mounted light fixture, or a table or floor lamp. The ballasted lamp socket comprises a lamp-receiving portion adapted to be coupled to the gas discharge lamp, an enclosure mechanically coupled to the lamp-receiving portion, a dimming ballast circuit electrically coupled to the lamp-receiving portion and housed within the enclosure, and first and second electrical connections. The ballast portion is adapted to receive an AC line voltage and to generate a high- frequency AC voltage for driving the gas discharge lamp and controlling the light intensity of the gas discharge lamp between a high-end intensity and a low-end intensity. The first and second electrical connections are operable to receive the AC line voltage and to provide the AC line voltage to the ballast circuit.

1 . A ballasted lamp socket for a gas discharge lamp, the ballasted lamp socket adapted to replace an Edison lamp socket in a light fixture, the ballasted lamp socket comprising:
 a lamp-receiving portion adapted to be coupled to the gas discharge lamp;   an enclosure mechanically coupled to the lamp-receiving portion;   a dimming ballast circuit electrically coupled to the lamp-receiving portion and housed within the enclosure, the dimming ballast circuit adapted to receive an AC line voltage, and to generate a high-frequency AC voltage for driving the gas discharge lamp and controlling the light intensity of the gas discharge lamp between a high-end intensity and a low-end intensity; and   first and second electrical connections operable to receive the AC line voltage and to provide the AC line voltage to the ballast circuit.   
     
     
         2 . The ballasted lamp socket of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a retaining clip adapted to attach the ballasted lamp socket to the light fixture.   
     
     
         3 . The ballasted lamp socket of  claim 2 , wherein the light fixture comprises a ceiling mounted light fixture. 
     
     
         4 . The ballasted lamp socket of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second electrical connections comprise first and second electrical wires. 
     
     
         5 . The ballasted lamp socket of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second electrical connections comprise stab-in connections. 
     
     
         6 . The ballasted lamp socket of  claim 1 , wherein the ballast circuit comprises a two-wire dimming ballast circuit adapted to receive a phase-controlled voltage. 
     
     
         7 . The ballasted lamp socket of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third electrical connection;   wherein the ballast circuit comprises a three-wire dimming ballast circuit.   
     
     
         8 . The ballasted lamp socket of  claim 1 , wherein the light fixture comprises a table lamp. 
     
     
         9 . The ballasted lamp socket of  claim 1 , wherein the light fixture comprises a floor lamp. 
     
     
         10 . A light fixture for a gas discharge lamp, the light fixture adapted to be mounted in a ceiling, the light fixture comprising:
 a housing adapted to be mounted in the ceiling; a bracket connected to the housing; and   a ballasted lamp socket mechanically attached to the bracket, the ballasted lamp socket comprising:
 a lamp-receiving portion adapted to be coupled to the gas discharge lamp; 
 an enclosure mechanically coupled to the lamp-receiving portion; 
 a dimming ballast circuit electrically coupled to the lamp-receiving portion and housed within the enclosure, the ballast circuit adapted to receive an AC line voltage and to generate a high-frequency AC voltage for driving the gas discharge lamp, and for controlling the light intensity of the gas discharge lamp between a high-end intensity and a low-end intensity; and 
 first and second electrical connections operable to receive the AC line voltage and to provide the AC line voltage to the ballast circuit.