US3621331A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Arrangement for igniting and operating gaseous discharge lamps
Assignee: Cox and Co Inc
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Filing: 1969-01-08
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Granted: 1971-11-16
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Expires: 1989-01-08
Abstract
Abstract An arrangement for applying a train of pulses to a gaseous discharge lamp, so that each pulse has imparted to it the characteristics required for igniting the lamp and maintaining the latter in operation after ignition. A switching transistor operated by a pulse train derived from a pulse generator, applies its output pulses to a transformer with its secondary winding applied across the base-emitter path of the transistor. An inductor connected to the primary winding of the transformer and to the lamp to be operated, applies breakdown voltage to the lamp when the transistor is turned off. The inductor stores energy for transfer to the lamp once the latter has been ignited through the striking of an arc. Dimming of the lamp is accomplished by varying the energy imparted to the individual pulses or by varying the repetition rate of the pulses without incurring energy losses in the process.
Inventors
- 👤 Benjamin Barron
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 21:04
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B41/00; H05B41/14; H05B41/36; H05B41/38; H05B41/39; H05B41/392; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S315/00; Y10S315/02; Y10S315/07
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
An arrangement for the operation of a gaseous discharge lamp, comprising, in combination, gaseous lamp means adapted to be lIghted by striking an arc within said lamp means; a source of DC voltage connected in circuit with said lamp means; a single energy storage means arranged in said circuit; pulse-generating means connected to said source of DC voltage and emitting a train of pulses; and semiconductor switching means having an on state and an off state and controlled by said pulse-generating means for alternately causing storage of energy from said source of DC voltage in said energy storage means, during said on state, and discharge of the stored energy into said lamp means, during said off state, said switching means having a sufficiently rapid rate of change from said on state to said off state so that at each discharge there is produced a voltage spike sufficient in amplitude to fire said lamp means followed by a current pulse as soon as said lamp means is ignited.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
An arrangement for the operation of a gaseous discharge lamp, comprising, in combination, gaseous lamp means adapted to be lIghted by striking an arc within said lamp means; a source of DC voltage connected in circuit with said lamp means; a single energy storage means arranged in said circuit; pulse-generating means connected to said source of DC voltage and emitting a train of pulses; and semiconductor switching means having an on state and an off state and controlled by said pulse-generating means for alternately causing storage of energy from said source of DC voltage in said energy storage means, during said on state, and discharge of the stored energy into said lamp means, during said off state, said switching means having a sufficiently rapid rate of change from said on state to said off state so that at each discharge there is produced a voltage spike sufficient in amplitude to fire said lamp means followed by a current pulse as soon as said lamp means is ignited.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
An arrangement for the operation of a gaseous discharge lamp as defined in claim 1 including means for modifying the repetition rate of said pulses.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
The arrangement for the operation of a gaseous discharge lamp as defined in claim 1, further including auxiliary switching means, said energy storage means enabling operation of said lamp means by said source of DC voltage and said auxiliary switching means having a voltage rating less than the operating voltage drop of said lamp means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The arrangement for the operation of a gaseous discharge lamp as defined in claim 1, wherein filamentary-type lamp means are operated without filament heating and gaseous discharge lamps are operated that do not have filaments.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The arrangement for the operation of a gaseous discharge lamp as defined in claim 1, wherein said switching means includes positive feedback means for accelerating said rate of charge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
133 words
The arrangement for the operation of a gaseous discharge lamp as defined in claim 5, wherein said semiconductor switching means includes a transistor, and said positive feedback means includes a transformer with a ferromagnetic core, primary winding means wound about said core and connected in series with said transistor, and secondary winding means wound about said core and connected to said transistor so as to drive the base-emitter circuit thereof, said secondary winding means being magnetically linked with said primary winding means so that there is positive feedback from the former to the latter for causing saturation of said transistor for a period determined by the characteristics of said core and for causing a sufficiently rapid opening of said transistor so as to obtain the required said voltage spike and said current pulse.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
76 words
The arrangement for the operation of a gaseous discharge lamp as defined in claim 6, wherein said transformer further includes control winding means for controlling and varying the duration of said pulses; and variable resistor means connected in series with said control winding means for varying the current through said control winding means, the series combination of said control winding means and said variable resistor means being connected in parallel with said source of DC voltage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The arrangement for the operation of a gaseous discharge lamp as defined in claim 6, including thermally dependent resistor means connected in series with said transformer secondary winding means for stabilizing the energy content of the pulses.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
An arrangement for the operation of a gaseous discharge lamp as defined in claim 6, wherein said positive feedback means includes means for modifying the width of said pulses after generation by said pulse-generating means so as to change the total energy in each pulse.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
160 words
An arrangement for the operation of a gaseous discharge lamp, comprising, in combination, gaseous lamp means adapted to be lighted by striking an arc within said lamp means; a source of DC voltage connected in circuit with said lamp means; a single energy storage means arranged in said circuit, said energy storage means including inductor means having a ferromaGnetic core, said inductor means being connected between said source of DC voltage and said lamp means; pulse-generating means connected to said source of DC voltage and emitting a train of pulses; and switching means controlled by said pulse-generating means and connected to said inductor means for alternately causing storage of energy from said source of DC voltage in said inductor means and discharge of the stored energy into said lamp means so that at each discharge there is produced a voltage spike sufficient in amplitude to fire said lamp means followed by a high-frequency discontinuous current conducted through said lamp means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
160 words
An arrangement for the operation of a gaseous discharge lamp, comprising, in combination, gaseous lamp means adapted to be lighted by striking an arc within said lamp means; a source of DC voltage connected in circuit with said lamp means; a single energy storage means arranged in said circuit, said energy storage means including inductor means having a ferromaGnetic core, said inductor means being connected between said source of DC voltage and said lamp means; pulse-generating means connected to said source of DC voltage and emitting a train of pulses; and switching means controlled by said pulse-generating means and connected to said inductor means for alternately causing storage of energy from said source of DC voltage in said inductor means and discharge of the stored energy into said lamp means so that at each discharge there is produced a voltage spike sufficient in amplitude to fire said lamp means followed by a high-frequency discontinuous current conducted through said lamp means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The arrangement for the operation of a gaseous discharge lamp as defined in claim 10, including diode means connected between said lamp means and said inductor means to isolate said lamp means while the pulse energy is being stored in said inductor means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
70 words
The arrangement for the operation of a gaseous discharge lamp as defined in claim 10, wherein said inductor means includes safety winding means connected across said source of DC voltage; and steering diode means connected in series with said safety winding means for returning energy to said source of DC voltage when said lamp means fails to ignite after the application of a said voltage spike to said lamp means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
The arrangement for the operation of a gaseous discharge lamp as defined in claim 10, wherein said switching means includes a transistor, and further including at least one auxiliary transistor connected in parallel with said transistor for reducing the current therethrough.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
72 words
An arrangement for the operation of a gaseous discharge lamp as defined in claim 10, wherein said inductor means has a primary winding means and a secondary winding means, said primary winding means being connected between said source of DC voltage and said switching means, said secondary winding means being magnetically linked with said primary winding means through said ferromagnetic core and connected to said lamp means and said primary winding means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The arrangement for the operation of a gaseous discharge lamp as defined in claim 10, wherein said inductor means includes auxiliary starting winding means connected across said lamp means for increasing the starting voltage applied across said lamp means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The arrangement for the operation of a gaseous discharge lamp as defined in claim 15, including capacitor means connected in series with said auxiliary starting winding means for limiting the current therethrough.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
108 words
An arrangement for the operation of a gaseous discharge lamp as defined in claim 10, wherein said switching means includes a transistor, and further including a transformer with a ferromagnetic core, primary winding means on said core connected in series with the emitter-collector path of said transistor, secondary winding means on said core connected in parallel with the base-emitter path of said transistor so as to provide positive feedback from said primary winding means to said secondary winding means so as to accelerate the discharge of the stored energy into said lamp means and thereby to obtain the desired said voltage spike followed by said high-frequency discontinuous current.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The arrangement for the operation of a gaseous discharge lamp as defined in claim 16, wherein said transformer further includes control winding means for controlling the energy content of each said current pulse.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The arrangement for the operation of a gaseous discharge lamp as defined in claim 16, wherein said inductor means includes booster winding means connected in series with said transformer secondary winding means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-15 | 1975-05-17 | 1975-11-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-15 | 1979-05-17 | 1979-11-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-15 | 1983-05-17 | 1983-11-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |