US3697805A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gas discharge lamp firing circuit
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1969-05-28
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Granted: 1972-10-10
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Expires: 1989-05-28
Abstract
Abstract A voltage boosting means is provided in a stroboscopic lamp firing circuit for momentarily substantially increasing the available voltage for firing the lamp at the precise point in time that the normal striking means is operated to ready the lamp for firing. The momentary substantial increase in voltage for firing the lamp is provided by a capacitor which is charged to or partly to the normal firing voltage prior to initiation of the striking means for the lamp. A switch means utilized to initiate the striking means also serves to apply a voltage to one side of the capacitor to thereby momentarily substantially increase the voltage on the other side of the capacitor relative to ground. Since the boosted voltage occurs precisely upon operation of the switch means which operation also operates the striking means, the substantially increased voltage is provided at the proper time for assuring firing of the lamp.
Inventors
- 👤 Henry N Switsen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 13:44
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B41/00; H05B41/14; H05B41/30; H05B41/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
In a gas discharge lamp firing circuit, the combination comprising: a voltage source; a storage capacitor connected across said voltage source; a gas discharge lamp; a striking means for said lamp; initiating means for operating said striking means; and booster means for raising the voltage across said lamp from said source means for firing said lamp, the boosted voltage for initiating firing of said lamp being available at the same point in time that said striking means is operated, said initiating means comprising a switch means connected between said voltage source and said striking means, and said booster means including a booster capacitor connected between said lamp and a junction point for receiving voltage from said storage capacitor when said switch means is closed; and a diode connected between the point of connection of said booster capacitor to said lamp and the junction of said switch means and said storage capacitor, said diode being oriented to permit charging of said booster capacitor by said voltage source when said switch means is open and to block current flow from said booster capacitor through said switch means when said switch means is closed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
In a gas discharge lamp firing circuit, the combination comprising: a voltage source; a storage capacitor connected across said voltage source; a gas discharge lamp; a striking means for said lamp; initiating means for operating said striking means; and booster means for raising the voltage across said lamp from said source means for firing said lamp, the boosted voltage for initiating firing of said lamp being available at the same point in time that said striking means is operated, said initiating means comprising a switch means connected between said voltage source and said striking means, and said booster means including a booster capacitor connected between said lamp and a junction point for receiving voltage from said storage capacitor when said switch means is closed; and a diode connected between the point of connection of said booster capacitor to said lamp and the junction of said switch means and said storage capacitor, said diode being oriented to permit charging of said booster capacitor by said voltage source when said switch means is open and to block current flow from said booster capacitor through said switch means when said switch means is closed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
287 words
A circuit for assuring firing of a stroboscopic gas discharge lamp comprising, in combination: a. source means including a voltage source and a storage capacitor connected across said voltage source for providing a given voltage for firing said lamp; b. striking means coupled to said lamp for effecting at least a partial ionization of gas in said lamp to ready said lamp for firing; c. means for initiating operation of said striking means; and d. voltage boosting means connected to said lamp and responsive to said means for initiating operation of said striking means to provide a substantially increased voltage to said lamp over said given voltage at the time of striking of said lamp, whereby firing of said lamp is assured, said means for initiating operation of said striking means including a normally open switch means connected between said source means and said striking means, said voltage boosting means including a booster capacitor connected between said lamp and the junction point of said switch means and said striking means; and a diode connected between the point of connection of said booster capacitor to said lamp and the junction point of said switch means and said storage capacitor, whereby said booster capacitor normally has a voltage on one side corresponding to said given voltage, closing of said switch means applying ground to said one side of said booster capacitor to thereby boost the voltage in a negative direction on the other side so that the voltage across said lamp is substantially double said given voltage, said diode being oriented to block current flow from said booster capacitor back through said switch means when closed so that the boosted voltage is available to initiate firing of said lamp.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
287 words
A circuit for assuring firing of a stroboscopic gas discharge lamp comprising, in combination: a. source means including a voltage source and a storage capacitor connected across said voltage source for providing a given voltage for firing said lamp; b. striking means coupled to said lamp for effecting at least a partial ionization of gas in said lamp to ready said lamp for firing; c. means for initiating operation of said striking means; and d. voltage boosting means connected to said lamp and responsive to said means for initiating operation of said striking means to provide a substantially increased voltage to said lamp over said given voltage at the time of striking of said lamp, whereby firing of said lamp is assured, said means for initiating operation of said striking means including a normally open switch means connected between said source means and said striking means, said voltage boosting means including a booster capacitor connected between said lamp and the junction point of said switch means and said striking means; and a diode connected between the point of connection of said booster capacitor to said lamp and the junction point of said switch means and said storage capacitor, whereby said booster capacitor normally has a voltage on one side corresponding to said given voltage, closing of said switch means applying ground to said one side of said booster capacitor to thereby boost the voltage in a negative direction on the other side so that the voltage across said lamp is substantially double said given voltage, said diode being oriented to block current flow from said booster capacitor back through said switch means when closed so that the boosted voltage is available to initiate firing of said lamp.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
308 words
A circuit for assuring firing of a stroboscopic gas discharge lamp comprising, in combination: a. source means including a voltage source and a storage capacitor connected across said voltage source for providing a given voltage for firing said lamp; b. striking means coupled to said lamp for effecting at least a partial ionization of gas in said lamp to ready said lamp for firing; c. means for initiating operation of said striking means; and d. voltage boosting means connected to said lamp and responsive to said means for initiating operation of said striking means to provide a substantially increased voltage to said lamp over said given voltage at the time of striking of said lamp, whereby firing of said lamp is assured, said means for initiating operation of said striking means including a normally open switch means connected between said source means and said striking means, said voltage boosting means including a booster capacitor connected between said lamp and the junction point of said switch means and said striking means; and a diode connected between the point of connection of said booster capacitor to said lamp and the junction point of said switch means and said storage capacitor, whereby said booster capacitor normally has a voltage on one side corresponding to said given voltage, closing of said switch means applying said given voltage to the other side of said booster capacitor to thereby boost the voltage on said one side to substantially double its value, said diode being oriented to block current flow from said booster capacitor back through said switch means when closed so that the boosted voltage is available to initiate firing of said lamp, said diOde then passing energy from said source means to said lamp when said boosted voltage drops below said value of said given voltage to thereby complete firing of said lamp.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
308 words
A circuit for assuring firing of a stroboscopic gas discharge lamp comprising, in combination: a. source means including a voltage source and a storage capacitor connected across said voltage source for providing a given voltage for firing said lamp; b. striking means coupled to said lamp for effecting at least a partial ionization of gas in said lamp to ready said lamp for firing; c. means for initiating operation of said striking means; and d. voltage boosting means connected to said lamp and responsive to said means for initiating operation of said striking means to provide a substantially increased voltage to said lamp over said given voltage at the time of striking of said lamp, whereby firing of said lamp is assured, said means for initiating operation of said striking means including a normally open switch means connected between said source means and said striking means, said voltage boosting means including a booster capacitor connected between said lamp and the junction point of said switch means and said striking means; and a diode connected between the point of connection of said booster capacitor to said lamp and the junction point of said switch means and said storage capacitor, whereby said booster capacitor normally has a voltage on one side corresponding to said given voltage, closing of said switch means applying said given voltage to the other side of said booster capacitor to thereby boost the voltage on said one side to substantially double its value, said diode being oriented to block current flow from said booster capacitor back through said switch means when closed so that the boosted voltage is available to initiate firing of said lamp, said diOde then passing energy from said source means to said lamp when said boosted voltage drops below said value of said given voltage to thereby complete firing of said lamp.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2724792A
Cited
US3115594A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-10 | 1976-04-10 | 1976-10-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-10 | 1980-04-10 | 1980-10-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-10 | 1984-04-10 | 1984-10-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |