US3890534A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lighting control system
Assignee: CURRENT IND Inc
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Filing: 1974-06-19
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Granted: 1975-06-17
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Expires: 1994-06-19
Abstract
Abstract A system for providing light from an auxiliary light source only during hot start conditions of a mercury vapor lamp by sensing voltage across the mercury vapor lamp and, if that voltage exceeds 235.V, indicating that a hot start condition is present, closing contacts in circuit with the auxiliary light source. Upon striking, the voltage across the mercury vapor lamp decreases, and the circuit of the auxiliary lamp opens. In a solid state version of the system, voltage across the mercury vapor lamp is sensed by a neon tube which illuminates a photoconductor in the control circuit of a triac, which controls current to the auxiliary lamp. In a relay version, a relay coil, which closes its contacts only in response to above 225.V, is connected across the mercury vapor lamp, and has contacts connected in series with the auxiliary lamp.
Inventors
- 👤 Victor Horowitz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 07:46
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B41/00; H05B41/14; H05B41/46; H02; H02J; H02J9/00; H02J9/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
213 words
A circuit for energizing an auxiliary lamp only in response to hot start condition of a high intensity discharge lamp, consisting of a voltage sensing circuit connected directly across said high intensity discharge lamp, means responsive only to a voltage as sensed by said voltage sensing circuit indicating that said high intensity lamp is in hot start condition for supplying energizing current to said auxiliary lamp, and a common source of ac voltage for said lamps, wherein said voltage sensing circuit includes a resistive voltage divider connected directly across said high intensity discharge lamp, a neon lamp connected across one of the resistors of said resistive voltage divider, said resistive voltage divider having a division relation such that said neon lamp is illuminated only in response to hot start conditions of said high intensIty discharge lamp, said auxiliary lamp current supplying means including a triac connected in series with said auxiliary lamp across said source of AC voltage, and means including a photocell responsive only to illumination of said neon lamp for firing said triac, said last means including a phasing capacitor and a phasing resistance connected in series with said photocell across said source of ac voltage, and means connecting a trigger circuit of said triac to an electrode of said capacitor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
213 words
A circuit for energizing an auxiliary lamp only in response to hot start condition of a high intensity discharge lamp, consisting of a voltage sensing circuit connected directly across said high intensity discharge lamp, means responsive only to a voltage as sensed by said voltage sensing circuit indicating that said high intensity lamp is in hot start condition for supplying energizing current to said auxiliary lamp, and a common source of ac voltage for said lamps, wherein said voltage sensing circuit includes a resistive voltage divider connected directly across said high intensity discharge lamp, a neon lamp connected across one of the resistors of said resistive voltage divider, said resistive voltage divider having a division relation such that said neon lamp is illuminated only in response to hot start conditions of said high intensIty discharge lamp, said auxiliary lamp current supplying means including a triac connected in series with said auxiliary lamp across said source of AC voltage, and means including a photocell responsive only to illumination of said neon lamp for firing said triac, said last means including a phasing capacitor and a phasing resistance connected in series with said photocell across said source of ac voltage, and means connecting a trigger circuit of said triac to an electrode of said capacitor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
190 words
In a system for energizing an auxiliary lamp only in response to a hot start condition of a high intensity discharge lamp, a source of ac voltage, means connecting said high intensity discharge lamp across said source of ac voltage, a resistive voltage divider circuit connected across said high intensity discharge lamp, a neon cell connected across a portion of said resistive voltage divider circuit, said portion being selected to fire said neon cell only during hot start conditions of said high intensity discharge lamp, a triac connected in series with said auxiliary lamp across said source of ac voltage, said triac having a firing electrode, a phase shifting capacitor, means including a photo-cell connected in series with said phase shifting capacitor across said source of ac voltage to provide a phase shifting circuit, means connecting said firing electrode to a point of said phase shifting circuit such that in the dark condition of said photo-cell said triac remains unfired, said neon cell being located to illuminate said photo-cell, said phase shift circuit being operative to cause firing of said triac while said photo-cell is illuminated by said neon cell.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
190 words
In a system for energizing an auxiliary lamp only in response to a hot start condition of a high intensity discharge lamp, a source of ac voltage, means connecting said high intensity discharge lamp across said source of ac voltage, a resistive voltage divider circuit connected across said high intensity discharge lamp, a neon cell connected across a portion of said resistive voltage divider circuit, said portion being selected to fire said neon cell only during hot start conditions of said high intensity discharge lamp, a triac connected in series with said auxiliary lamp across said source of ac voltage, said triac having a firing electrode, a phase shifting capacitor, means including a photo-cell connected in series with said phase shifting capacitor across said source of ac voltage to provide a phase shifting circuit, means connecting said firing electrode to a point of said phase shifting circuit such that in the dark condition of said photo-cell said triac remains unfired, said neon cell being located to illuminate said photo-cell, said phase shift circuit being operative to cause firing of said triac while said photo-cell is illuminated by said neon cell.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination according to claim 2, wherein there is provided a disc connecting said firing electrode to an electrode of said capacitor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination according to claim 2, wherein said firing electrode is connected to an electrode of said capacitor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination according to claim 4, wherein said phase shifting circuit is connected in series with said auxiliary lamp across said source of ac voltage.
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) | 1978-06-16 | 1978-12-16 | 1979-06-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-16 | 1982-12-16 | 1983-06-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-16 | 1986-12-16 | 1987-06-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |