US3573544A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
A gas discharge lamp circuit employing a transistorized oscillator
Assignee: Energy Electronics Inc
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Filing: 1969-05-21
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Granted: 1971-04-06
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Expires: 1989-05-21
Abstract
Abstract An oscillator circuit for starting and operating gas-filled tubes having a starting mode which provides a signal of high voltage and very high frequency followed by an operating mode after the tube ionizes whereby the voltage and frequency are considerably reduced, but current through the tube is increased. In the operating mode, the impedance of the secondary is substantially the ohmic resistance of the tube so that overall efficiency is very high.
Inventors
- 👤 Jerome Zonis
- 👤 Everett R Eu Daly
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 22:00
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B41/00; H05B41/14; H05B41/26; H05B41/28; H05B41/282; H05B41/2821; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S315/00; Y10S315/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
A system for starting and operating a gas-filled tube, the system comprising: an oscillator circuit adapted for connection to a source of electrical potential, said oscillator circuit having a starting mode characterized by a starting frequency and an operating mode characterized by an operating frequency; a transformer connected into and forming a part of said oscillator circuit, said transformer having a primary and a secondary winding, said starting frequency being at least in part determined by the transformer; a load circuit connected across said secondary winding, said load circuit consisting of capacitor means and a gas-filled tube connected in series circuit relationship so the capacitor means is decoupled from the transformer when the gas-filled tube is nonconductive; the secondary winding of said transformer being related to the primary winding so as to develop across the secondary winding as soon as said oscillator is energized a high frequency voltage of sufficient magnitude which automatically initiates a glow discharge type of ionization within said tube during said starting mode; and said operating frequency being substantially altered by said capacitor means when the gas tube is conductive.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
184 words
A system for starting and operating a gas-filled tube, the system comprising: an oscillator circuit adapted for connection to a source of electrical potential, said oscillator circuit having a starting mode characterized by a starting frequency and an operating mode characterized by an operating frequency; a transformer connected into and forming a part of said oscillator circuit, said transformer having a primary and a secondary winding, said starting frequency being at least in part determined by the transformer; a load circuit connected across said secondary winding, said load circuit consisting of capacitor means and a gas-filled tube connected in series circuit relationship so the capacitor means is decoupled from the transformer when the gas-filled tube is nonconductive; the secondary winding of said transformer being related to the primary winding so as to develop across the secondary winding as soon as said oscillator is energized a high frequency voltage of sufficient magnitude which automatically initiates a glow discharge type of ionization within said tube during said starting mode; and said operating frequency being substantially altered by said capacitor means when the gas tube is conductive.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A syStem as set forth in claim 1 wherein said capacitance of said capacitor means is of sufficient magnitude to control the current through said tube during said operating mode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said capacitance means is of sufficient magnitude to provide a high operating current through said tube with a low-voltage drop across said tube during said operating mode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
101 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said oscillator circuit includes: a transistor having a collector, an emitter and a base, said source of electric potential being connected in proper biasing relationship across said emitter and said base and being connected through said collector and said emitter across said primary winding of said transformer, said transformer including a feedback winding connected between said source of electric potential and said base of said transistor, and a base circuit impedance connected between said feedback winding and said base of said transistor for controlling the voltage and current applied to said base.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said base circuit impedance includes a feedback resistor and a bypass capacitor connected in parallel between said base and said source of electric potential, and a capacitor connected between said base and said feedback winding.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
248 words
A system for starting and operating a gas-filled tube, the system comprising: an oscillator circuit including current control device means adapted for connection to a source of electrical potential, said oscillator circuit having a starting mode characterized by a starting frequency and an operating mode characterized by an operating frequency; a transformer connected into and forming a part of said oscillator circuit, said transformer having primary, secondary and feedback winding means; an output circuit connected across said secondary winding, said output circuit including capacitor means and a gas-filled tube connected in series circuit relationship so the capacitor is decoupled from the transformer when the gas-filled tube is nonconductive; the primary, secondary and feedback winding means of said transformer being related to the current control device means to form an oscillator circuit which develops across the secondary winding means a high starting voltage of sufficient magnitude to initiate a glow discharge type of ionization within said tube during said starting mode; and said operating frequency being a frequency substantially different from said starting frequency due to the coupling to said transformer of said capacitor means when the gas tube is conductive; said operating frequency being selected to provide maximum output efficiency from said tube and being the resonant frequency for the inductance of said secondary winding means, the capacitance of said capacitor means and the ohmic resistance of said tube whereby the impedance of the output circuit at said operating frequency is essentially the ohmic resistance of said tube.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
248 words
A system for starting and operating a gas-filled tube, the system comprising: an oscillator circuit including current control device means adapted for connection to a source of electrical potential, said oscillator circuit having a starting mode characterized by a starting frequency and an operating mode characterized by an operating frequency; a transformer connected into and forming a part of said oscillator circuit, said transformer having primary, secondary and feedback winding means; an output circuit connected across said secondary winding, said output circuit including capacitor means and a gas-filled tube connected in series circuit relationship so the capacitor is decoupled from the transformer when the gas-filled tube is nonconductive; the primary, secondary and feedback winding means of said transformer being related to the current control device means to form an oscillator circuit which develops across the secondary winding means a high starting voltage of sufficient magnitude to initiate a glow discharge type of ionization within said tube during said starting mode; and said operating frequency being a frequency substantially different from said starting frequency due to the coupling to said transformer of said capacitor means when the gas tube is conductive; said operating frequency being selected to provide maximum output efficiency from said tube and being the resonant frequency for the inductance of said secondary winding means, the capacitance of said capacitor means and the ohmic resistance of said tube whereby the impedance of the output circuit at said operating frequency is essentially the ohmic resistance of said tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The starting and operating system of claim 6 wherein said starting frequency is at least a number of times higher than said operating frequency.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
102 words
A system for starting and operating a gas-filled tube comprising: a transformer having primary and secondary windings and a load circuit consisting of capacitor means and a gas-filled tube connected in series circuit relationship with said secondary winding, means connected to said transformer for driving said secondary winding in a starting mode having a characteristic starting frequency which automatically ionizes the gas in said tube as soon as said secondary winding is so driven and in an operating mode having a characteristic operating frequency to provide alternating current to said tube, and a source of electric potential connected to said driving means.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
102 words
A system for starting and operating a gas-filled tube comprising: a transformer having primary and secondary windings and a load circuit consisting of capacitor means and a gas-filled tube connected in series circuit relationship with said secondary winding, means connected to said transformer for driving said secondary winding in a starting mode having a characteristic starting frequency which automatically ionizes the gas in said tube as soon as said secondary winding is so driven and in an operating mode having a characteristic operating frequency to provide alternating current to said tube, and a source of electric potential connected to said driving means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
A system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said transformer forms part of a frequency determining portion of an oscillator formed by said driving means, and said transformer in combination with said drivinG means provides a high frequency voltage across said secondary winding to start the tube during the starting mode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said capacitor means forms parts of the frequency determining portion of the oscillator and has sufficient capacitance to alter substantially the operating frequency of the oscillator when said gas tube is operating.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said capacitor means has sufficient capacitance to control the current through said tube during said operating mode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as set forth in claim 8 wherein the elements of said system being designed to provide an operating frequency between 30 and 50 kiloHertz.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
233 words
A system for starting and operating a gas-filled tube, the system comprising: an oscillator circuit including current control device means adapted for connection to a source of electrical potential, said oscillator circuit having a starting mode characterized by a starting frequency and an operating mode characterized by an operating frequency; a transformer connected into and forming a part of said oscillator circuit, said transformer having primary, secondary and feedback winding means; an output circuit connected across said secondary winding, said output circuit including capacitor means and a gas-filled tube connected in series circuit relationship so the capacitor is decoupled from the transformer when the gas-filled tube is nonconductive; the primary, secondary and feedback winding means of said transformer being related to the current control device means to form an oscillator circuit which develops across the secondary winding means a high starting frequency voltage of sufficient magnitude to initiate a glow discharge type of ionization within said tube during said starting mode; and said operating frequency being a frequency substantially different from said starting frequency due to the coupling to said transformer of said capacitor means when the gas tube is conductive, said operating frequency being determined at least in part by the resonant frequency for the inductance of said secondary winding and the capacitance of said capacitor means operating through at least feedback winding means to alter the starting frequency of the oscillator.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
233 words
A system for starting and operating a gas-filled tube, the system comprising: an oscillator circuit including current control device means adapted for connection to a source of electrical potential, said oscillator circuit having a starting mode characterized by a starting frequency and an operating mode characterized by an operating frequency; a transformer connected into and forming a part of said oscillator circuit, said transformer having primary, secondary and feedback winding means; an output circuit connected across said secondary winding, said output circuit including capacitor means and a gas-filled tube connected in series circuit relationship so the capacitor is decoupled from the transformer when the gas-filled tube is nonconductive; the primary, secondary and feedback winding means of said transformer being related to the current control device means to form an oscillator circuit which develops across the secondary winding means a high starting frequency voltage of sufficient magnitude to initiate a glow discharge type of ionization within said tube during said starting mode; and said operating frequency being a frequency substantially different from said starting frequency due to the coupling to said transformer of said capacitor means when the gas tube is conductive, said operating frequency being determined at least in part by the resonant frequency for the inductance of said secondary winding and the capacitance of said capacitor means operating through at least feedback winding means to alter the starting frequency of the oscillator.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-04-05 | 1974-10-05 | 1975-04-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-04-05 | 1978-10-05 | 1979-04-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-04-05 | 1982-10-05 | 1983-04-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |