Industry News

PureSpectrum, Inc. has filed a patent application for dimmable ballast circuitry that is addressable to all forms of Cold Cathode fluorescent lighting (CCFL) to augment and diversify its product offerings for residential, commercial and industrial lighting markets.

The company filed the application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office last week and has begun due diligence to pursue appropriate international intellectual property protection pursuant to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). In addition to addressing the methods and apparatus for a high Power Factor, dimmable, energy efficient, rapid starting electronic ballast for Cold Cathode lighting, the patent application also includes provisions that would allow PureSpectrum to develop proprietary Cold Cathode fluorescent bulbs which incorporate the company's ballast technology.

PureSpectrum's current product lines for the multibillion dollar domestic and international residential and commercial lighting markets features a full line of dimmable Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL) ranging from nine to 23 watts and dimmable ballasts for T-8 andT-5 linear fluorescent lighting. The company is planning to launch its branded line of dimmable CFLs and linear fluorescent bulbs at LightFair International in New York in May.

While conventional fluorescent lighting is filament based, CCFLs do not contain a filament and provide several advantages over filament-based applications, including longer life spans and higher efficiency. Because of their low maintenance properties and longevity, Cold Cathode applications have been used in the past to provide backlighting for laptop monitors, photocopiers, cell phones and television screens.

The technology for CCFLs was introduced more than 30 years ago, but PureSpectrum president and CEO Lee Vanatta said the CCFL had been used primarily in niche applications because of pricing concerns. Applying PureSpectrum's breakthrough dimmable ballast circuitry to a CCFL application eliminates the pricing concerns, and Vanatta said there are nearly limitless usages for CCFLs built with PureSpectrum ballast technology.

"CCFLs may ultimately represent the evolution of fluorescent lighting, but it took our ballast design to make the CCFL truly viable across an entire industry rather than only applicable in certain sectors of the industry," Vanatta said. "The enhanced functionality and efficiency available through the use of the PureSpectrum ballast design will result in a more rapid recognition of the benefits and potential presented by CCFLs."

Because CCFLs do not contain a filament, there is a reduction of the amount of heat generated during operation and proportional gains in energy efficiency. PureSpectrum's ballast circuitry will make the CCFL even more efficient, enabling unprecedented levels of energy efficiency for fluorescent lighting. And while CCFL bulbs are typically dimmable and enjoy a long lifespan, PureSpectrum's technology will provide additional dimming control and an even further extended lifespan for CCFL bulbs.

CCFLs have not yet been fully absorbed into the mainstream lighting markets, but two years ago a Southern California utility company initiated a rebate program for energy customers willing to replace their incandescent bulbs with CCFL CFLs. PureSpectrum vice president of sales Garth Kullman said the absence of affordable CCFL bulbs in appropriate applications has restricted the usage and acceptance of CCFLs, but he believes PureSpectrum's superior ballast technology provides the bridge between theory and reality for Cold Cathode lighting.

"PureSpectrum has always been a technology development company driven by the needs of the marketplace, and the addition of fully dimmable Cold Cathode products to our product line allows us to more fully meet the demand for dimmable energy efficient products which exists in the marketplace," Kullman said. "While Cold Cathode lighting is still only beginning to be introduced as a potential replacement for inefficient lighting, the continued development of Cold Cathode technology will almost certainly lead to future energy efficient lighting solutions. PureSpectrum has always operated ahead of the curve by directly addressing consumer needs, and improvements we have made to Cold Cathdode lighting strengthens our position at the forefront of the movement to provide consumers with high performance green lighting products."

Call (912) 961-4980 for more information about PureSpectrum, Inc. or visit www.purespectrumlighting.com to see a short video featuring PureSpectrum's dimming technology compared to commercially available dimmable CFL bulbs. Please contact Shareholder Development Group at (770) 518-3449 or [email protected] for investment information.