Importance

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Abstract

A fluorescent lamp ballast is provided which is uniquely suited to automated manufacture and assembly. The versatile ballast construction includes primary and lag coil bobbins each having substantially planar flanges at their respective ends, with a magnetic core having portions disposed inside and on opposite sides of the bobbins. A primary coil is wound on the primary coil bobbin, and a lag coil is wound on the lag coil bobbin, the coils having starts, taps and finishes. Each bobbin flange has a plurality of holes extending inwardly from an outer flange edge, with conductive pins partially inserted into a number of the flange end holes, each of the pins being electrically coupled to one of the coil starts, taps and finishes. A planar elongated printed circuit board whose length and width dimensions are approximately the same as that of the bobbins positioned end-to-end, is part of the ballast assembly. The circuit board has a predetermined pattern of holes therethrough, the holes being electrically coupled in a predetermined pattern by conductive strips on the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board is attached substantially perpendicular to and in contact with each of the conductive pin-bearing flange edges, each of the conductive pins extending through one of the holes through the printed circuit board and also being electrically coupled to the printed circuit board conductive strip adjacent the hole through which each respective conductive pin passes.

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First Claim