US3624447A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of operating a high-pressure gaseous discharge lamp with improved efficiency
Assignee: Philips North America LLC
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Filing: 1969-06-25
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Granted: 1971-11-30
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Expires: 1989-06-25
Abstract
Abstract The efficiency of a conventional high-pressure gaseous discharge lamp, such as a 400 watt mercury-vapor lamp, is increased by pulse-operating the lamp at power loadings which are higher than the average rated power input of the lamp. The highpower pulses are of such magnitude and duration that the resultant average power input does not exceed the power loading for which the lamp is designed and rated. This is achieved by generating a series of high-voltage pulses with a suitable circuit and applying the pulses to the lamp electrodes. Optimum results in the case of conventional high-pressure mercury-vapor discharge lamps having ratings of from 100 to 1,000 watts are obtained with pulses that have a magnitude of from 60 to 600 volts, are 0.2 to 5 milliseconds in duration and have a repetition rate of from 50 to 500 pulses per second. In order to prevent arc extinction between pulses, the latter are preferably superimposed on a ''''keep-alive'''' DC potential that constitutes from three to 20 percent of the rated average power input of the lamp.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert G Young
- 👤 Daniel A Larson
- 👤 Leslie M Marks Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 18:01
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B41/00; H05B41/14; H05B41/36; H05B41/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
The method of operating a high-pressure gaseous discharge lamp that has a pair of spaced main electrodes, a predetermined wattage rating, and operates with a predetermined efficiency when energized by an alternating-current or a direct-current power source which supplies a power input to the lamp that corresponds to said wattage rating and thus constitutes the rated average power input for said lamp, which method comprises; generating from 50 to 500 high-voltage pulses per second and applying said pulses to the main electrodes of said lamp, and controlling the magnitude, the duration, and the repetition rate of said applied high-voltage pulses so that (a) the pulses have a duty cycle of from 5 percent to 25 percent and the instantaneous power input supplied to the lamp is greater than the rated average power input of said lamp but the average power input produced by said high-voltage pulses does not exceed said rated average power input, and (b) said lamp is thereby continuously operated solely by said applied highvoltage pulses at a power loading that increases the efficiency of the lamp without exceeding its wattage rating.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
184 words
The method of operating a high-pressure gaseous discharge lamp that has a pair of spaced main electrodes, a predetermined wattage rating, and operates with a predetermined efficiency when energized by an alternating-current or a direct-current power source which supplies a power input to the lamp that corresponds to said wattage rating and thus constitutes the rated average power input for said lamp, which method comprises; generating from 50 to 500 high-voltage pulses per second and applying said pulses to the main electrodes of said lamp, and controlling the magnitude, the duration, and the repetition rate of said applied high-voltage pulses so that (a) the pulses have a duty cycle of from 5 percent to 25 percent and the instantaneous power input supplied to the lamp is greater than the rated average power input of said lamp but the average power input produced by said high-voltage pulses does not exceed said rated average power input, and (b) said lamp is thereby continuously operated solely by said applied highvoltage pulses at a power loading that increases the efficiency of the lamp without exceeding its wattage rating.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein; the pulse repetition rate is within the range of about 60 to 110 pulses per second, and the duty cycle is approximately 20 percent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 1 wherein; a keep-alive voltage of substantially constant magnitude is concurrently applied to the lamp electrodes, said high-voltage pulses are superimposed on said keep-alive voltage, and said keep-alive voltage is of such magnitude that it constitutes from 3 percent to 20 percent of the rated average power input of said lamp.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the magnitude of said applied high-voltage pulses is within a range of from 60 to 600 volts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
83 words
The method of claim 1 wherein; said lamp comprises a high-pressure mercury-vapor discharge lamp having a rating of 100 watts, the magnitude of said applied high-voltage pulses is approximately 90 volts and approximately 9 amperes, the duration of said applied high-voltage pulses is 2 milliseconds, and the repetition rate and duty cycle of said applied high-voltage pulses is 60 pulses per second and 12 percent, respectively, so that the instantaneous power input supplied to said lamp by said pulses is about 830 watts.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
84 words
The method of claim 1 wherein; said lamp comprises a high-pressure mercury-vapor discharge lamp having a rating of 100 watts, the magnitude of said applied high-voltage pulses is approximately 90 volts and approximately 5 amperes, the duration of said applied high-voltage pulses is 2 milliseconds, and the repetition rate and duty cycle of said applied high-voltage pulses is about 110 pulses per second and 22 percent, respectively, so that the instantaneous power input supplied to said lamp by said pulses is about 460 watts.
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) | 1974-11-29 | 1975-05-31 | 1975-11-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-29 | 1979-05-31 | 1979-11-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-29 | 1983-05-31 | 1983-11-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |