Philips Cures the Problem of Flashing Strip Lights.

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 4, 1996--A fluorescent strip light that constantly flashes, either because the tube or its starter has failed, can be very annoying. Even worse, it can cause headaches and nausea. Philips Semiconductors has solved the problem for ever. The new UBA 2000T Electronic TL-Lamp Starter IC provides optimal ignition conditions for working tubes and prevents wasted attempts to re-light dead tubes. To ensure 100% compatibility with existing lighting equipment, the UBA2000T and all its associated components can be fitted within a standard glow-switch starter casing.

"The UBA2000T is the first viable, low-cost, electronic alternative to conventional glow-switch starters," said Product Marketing Manager Bas Fransen. "Because it has no moving contacts, it's a far more reliable solution."

By counting AC line supply cycles after the strip light is turned on, the UBA2000T generates a precisely defined electrode pre-heat period of 1.52 seconds for 50 Hz supplies or 1.27 seconds for 60 Hz supplies. During this period of time it turns an external thyristor or MOSFET on to allow pre-heat current to flow through the tube's electrodes. After the pre-heat period has elapsed, the external switching device is turned off at a guaranteed level. This ensures that sufficient striking voltage is generated by the inductive lighting ballast to instantly ignite the fluorescent tube.

In the unlikely event that the tube doesn't ignite first time, a reduced pre-heat time of 0.64 seconds (50 Hz supply) or 0.53 seconds (60 Hz supply) is applied and a second attempt is made at ignition. If after seven attempts the tube has still not ignited, the UBA2000T is latched into its off-state and no further attempts are made to ignite the tube until the device is reset by turning the AC line supply off and on again.

When a failed tube is replaced by a new one, the UBA2000T resets during the replacement action and ignites the tube immediately. "Even the point in the AC line cycle at which the pre-heat current is turned on is carefully controlled so that harmonic currents generated in the AC line supply are kept well within EMC limits. This overcomes a further major disadvantage of glow-switch starters," said Fransen.

The UBA2000T operates in conjunction with five or six passive components, a bridge rectifier and a low-cost gate turn-off thyristor or MOSFET switch. All these components can easily be accommodated within a standard glow-switch type starter casing.

The UBA2000T is packaged in an 8-lead small-outline surface-mount plastic package, delivered in tubes or in tape-on-reel form. Volume quantities are available on a lead time of 12 weeks after receipt of order. The pricing of the UBA2000T for 10,000 OEM quantities is US $1.02. For pricing and availability outside the United States, contact your local Philips Semiconductor Sales Office or Authorized Philips Distributor. For the U.S., please quote order number UBA2000TD.

Philips Semiconductors, a division of Philips Electronics NV headquartered in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, is the eleventh largest semiconductor supplier. Philips Semiconductors' innovations in digital audio, video, and mobile technology position the company as a leader in the consumer, multimedia, and wireless communications markets. Sales offices are located in all major markets around the world and are supported by regional customer application labs. -0-

Note to Editors: Additional information on Philips Semiconductors can be obtained by accessing their home page at http://www.semiconductors.philips.com/ps/.

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