Starting and operating circuit for gas discharge lamps

Claim 1

A current regulating and starting circuit for connection between a source of direct current and an arc discharge device to be supplied with energy from said source, comprising in combination: a first current gating means having first, second and third terminals, said first gating means providing a low impedance between said first and second terminals in response to current from said second to said third terminal when said current is below a first preselected level, and providing a high impedance between said first and second terminals when said current exceeds said preselected level; a second current gating means having fourth, fifth and sixth terminals, said second gating means providing a low impedance between said fifth and sixth terminals in response to current between said fourth and fifth terminals below a second preselected level and a high impedance between said fifth and sixth terminals in response to current between said fourth and fifth terminals above said second preselected level, said second preselected current level being higher than said first level; an inductor; and a unidirectional conductor means having seventh and eighth terminals and providing a low impedance to currents from said seventh to eighth terminals and a high impedance to currents from said eighth to seventh terminals; said third terminal being connected to said fourth terminal, said inductor being connected between said sixth and seventh terminals, said eightH terminal being connected to said second terminal, said first and seventh terminals being input terminals for connection to said source of direct current, and said fifth and sixth terminals being output terminals for connection to said arc discharge device.