High intensity discharge lamp starting and operating apparatus

Claim 2

Starting and operating apparatus for a high intensity discharge lamp comprising: first and second pair of terminals formed for connection to an AC source and a high intensity discharge lamp respectively; a ballast means connected to one of said first pair of terminals; an inductor coupling said ballast means to one of said second pair of terminals: a series connected bilateral switch and AC impedance means coupled to said inductor and to the other one of said first and second pairs of terminals: and a charge storage means coupled to the junction of said ballast means and said inductor and to the junction of said series connected bilateral switch and AC impedance.

Claim 3

The starting and operating apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said discharge lamp is in the form of a metal halide discharge lamp.

Claim 4

The starting and operating apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said ballast means is in the form of an inductor.

Claim 5

The starting and operating apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said inductor includes a saturable core whereby voltage build up on said charge storage means is effected.

Claim 6

The starting and operating apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said inductor is in the form of a transformer having a tap with said tap connected to said series connected bilateral switch and AC impedance means.

Claim 7

The starting and operating apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said AC impedance means is in the form of a capacitor.

Claim 8

The starting and operating apparatus of Claim 1 wherein a thermal cutout device is in series connection with said series connected bilateral switch and AC impedance means.

Claim 9

The starting and operating apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said ballast means is in the form of a series-connected inductor and capacitor.

Claim 10

The starting and operating apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said bilateral switch is in the form of a sidac.

Claim 11

The starting and operating apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said bilateral switch is in the form of a solid state bilateral switch.

Claim 12

The starting and operating apparatus of Claim 1 wherein conductivity of said bilateral switch forms a first oscillator circuit and non-conductivity of said bilateral switch effects formation of a second oscillator circuit.

Claim 13

A high intensity discharge lamp starting and operating apparatus comprising: a first pair of terminals formed for connection to an AC voltage source; a second pair of terminals formed for connection to a high intensity discharge lamp; a series connected ballast means and step up transformer having a tap coupled to one of said first and one of said second pair of terminals; a series connected bilateral switch and AC impedance coupled to said step up transformer tap to the other one of said first and the other one of said second pair of terminals; and a charge storage means coupled to the junction of said ballast means and step up transformer and to the junction of said bilateral switch and AC impedance whereby relatively high currents are converted to relatively high voltages and applied to a high intensity discharge lamp.

Claim 14

A high intensity discharge lamp starting and operating apparatus comprising: a first pair of terminals formed for connection to an AC voltage source; a second pair of terminals formed for connection to a high intensity discharge lamp; a series connected ballast means and step up transformer having a tap coupled to one of said first and one of said second pair of terminals; a series connected bilateral switch and AC impedance coupled to said step up transformer tap to the other one of said first and the other one of said second pair of terminals; and a charge storage means coupled to the junction of said ballast means and step up transformer and to the junction of said bilateral switch and AC impedance whereby relatively high currents are converted to relatively high voltages and applied to a high intensity discharge lamp.

Claim 15

The starting and operating apparatus of Claim 12 wherein said ballast means and charge storage means oscillate at a frequency in the range of about 20 to 50 KHZ.

Claim 16

The starting and operating apparatus of Claim 12 wherein said bilateral switch has a breakdown voltage greater than the peak voltage of said high intensity discharge lamp.

Claim 17

The starting and operating apparatus of Claim 12 wherein said ballast means is in the form of an inductor and said charge storage means is in the form of a capacitor.

Claim 18

The starting and operating apparatus of Claim 12 wherein said AC impedance is in the form of a capacitor.

Claim 19

The starting and operating apparatus of Claim 12 wherein said AC impedance provides energy for starting said discharge lamp.

Claim 20

The starting and operating apparatus of Claim 12 including a thermal cutout device in series connection with said bilateral switch and AC impedance.

Claim 21

19 . The starting and operating apparatus of Claim 12 including a thermal output device in the form of a positive temperature compensated (PTC) device in series connection with said bilateral switch and AC impedance.

Claim 22

The starting and operating apparatus of Claim 20 wherein said bilateral switch is in the form of a sidac.

Claim 23

The starting and operating apparatus of Claim 12 wherein said AC impedance is in the form of an inductor.

Claim 24

The starting and operating apparatus of Claim 12 wherein said AC impedance is in the form of a resistor.