Compact fluorescent lamp fixture ventilation method and apparatus

[0021] Another advantage of the invention is that lamp output is controlled through selective air management such that lamp output does not decline through overcooling.

[0022] In one embodiment a ballast housing or ballast chamber of the luminaire, which includes a lamp chamber supported to the bottom portion of the ballast housing, is provided with a passive cooling vent in the base of the ballast housing. The ballast housing includes ports in the walls and / or in the lid of the ballast housing to allow heated air to escape from the interior of the ballast housing and lamp chamber of the luminaire.

[0023] The above summary does not include an exhaustive list of all aspects of the present invention. Indeed, the inventors contemplate that their invention includes all systems and methods that can be practiced from all suitable combinations of the various aspects summarized above, as well as those disclosed in the detailed description below and particularly pointed out in the claims filed with the application or subsequently added or amended. Such combinations have particular advantages not specifically recited in the above summary.

[0024] The preferred embodiments of the invention presented here are described below in the specification and shown in the figures. Unless specifically noted, it is intended that the words and phrases in the specification and the claims be given the ordinary and accustomed meaning to those of ordinary skill in the applicable arts. If any other special meaning is intended for any word or phrase, the specification will clearly state and define the special meaning. In particular, most words commonly have a generic meaning. If we intend to limit or otherwise narrow the generic meaning, we will use specific descriptive adjectives to do so. Absent the use of special adjectives, it is our intent that the terms in this specification and claims be given their broadest possible, generic meaning.

[0025] Likewise, the use of the words “function,”“means,” or “step” in the specification or claims is not intended to indicate a desire to invoke the special provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, Paragraph 6, to define the invention. To the contrary, if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, Paragraph 6 are sought to be invoked to define the inventions, the claims will specifically state the phrases “means for” or “step for” and a function, without also reciting in such phrases any structure, material or act in support of the function. Even when the claims recite a “means for” or “step for” performing a function, if they also recite any structure, material or acts in support of that means or step, then the intention is not to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, Paragraph 6. Moreover, even if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, Paragraph 6 are invoked to define the inventions, it is intended that the inventions not be limited only to the specific structure, material or acts that are described in the preferred embodiments, but in addition, include any and all structures, materials or acts that perform the claimed function, along with any and all known or later-developed equivalent structures, material or acts for performing the claimed function.

Compact fluorescent lamp fixtures do not run optimally at high temperatures and thus are at a competitive disadvantage to metal halide units and some of the other HID fixtures.

It has also been found through empirical studies that running a CFL fixture too cool with denigrate lamp output.

The need to run CFL fixtures in a cooler, but controlled temperature range, had not been adequately addressed until now as there have been compact fluorescent lamps that were specially manufactured to be heat tolerant.

Air flow control devices and methods disclosed herein result in a decrease in temperature in the vicinity of the compact fluorescent lamps.