US3909659A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for automatically adjusting the operation time of an irradiation device
Assignee: US Philips Corp
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Filing: 1973-12-19
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Granted: 1975-09-30
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Expires: 1993-12-19
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a sunlamp device. According to the invention a timing circuit of the sunlamp device is first fed through a voltage which is equal to the voltage across the discharge tube and in a subsequent stage by a voltage which is proportional to the mains voltage. It is achieved thereby that a sunlamp is obtained which immediately after ignition of the discharge tube can be used for irradiation, and in which individual differences in the voltage-increasing rate of the operating voltage of the discharge tube and possible mains voltage deviations are compensated for so that the irradiation quantity is maintained equal as well as possible to the desired quantity.
Inventors
- 👤 Der Meulen Andries Van
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 13:43
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N5/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
An irradiation device comprising a pair of input terminals, an electric discharge tube whose operating voltage increases after ignition, means connecting the discharge tube in series with a stabilising resistor across said input terminals of the device, means for shunting the stabilising resistor by an auxiliary branch comprising a first diode and a first noncapacitive impedance and having a tap, a timing circuit for automatic termination of the tube irradiation, means connecting a branch of the timing circuit in parallel with the discharge tube through the tap, characterized in that said first diode is present in the part of the auxiliary branch located between the discharge tube and the tap and the first non-capacitive impedance is present in the part of the auxiliary branch located on the other side of the tap, said branch of the timing circuit including at least a second similar noncapacitive impedance, an integrating member of the timing circuit being arranged across at least part of the second impedance for deriving a command signal for termination of the discharge tube irradiation, and means for limiting the direction of current flow through the first impedance of the auxiliary branch to a direction corresponding to the pass direction of the first diode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
An irradiation device comprising a pair of input terminals, an electric discharge tube whose operating voltage increases after ignition, means connecting the discharge tube in series with a stabilising resistor across said input terminals of the device, means for shunting the stabilising resistor by an auxiliary branch comprising a first diode and a first noncapacitive impedance and having a tap, a timing circuit for automatic termination of the tube irradiation, means connecting a branch of the timing circuit in parallel with the discharge tube through the tap, characterized in that said first diode is present in the part of the auxiliary branch located between the discharge tube and the tap and the first non-capacitive impedance is present in the part of the auxiliary branch located on the other side of the tap, said branch of the timing circuit including at least a second similar noncapacitive impedance, an integrating member of the timing circuit being arranged across at least part of the second impedance for deriving a command signal for termination of the discharge tube irradiation, and means for limiting the direction of current flow through the first impedance of the auxiliary branch to a direction corresponding to the pass direction of the first diode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
An irradiation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said input terminals are adapted for connection to an alternating voltage supply and said means for limiting the direction of current flow through the first impedance in the auxiliary branch comprises a second diode arranged between the second impedance and the tap, the pass directions of the two diodes being in the same direction as viewed from the tap.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
82 words
An irradiation device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a switch in series with the discharge tube and the stabilizing resistor and wherein the integrating member includes a series arrangement of a first capacitor and a first variable resistor with said capacitor coupled to an auxiliary device associated with the timing circuit, the auxiliary device being operative in response to a given threshold voltage on the first capacitor to operate said switch and automatically terminate the operation of the discharge tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
An irradiation device as claimed in claim 3, characterizeD in that the first variable resistor comprises a first potentiometer and the second impedance comprises a second potentiometer with the wipers on the two potentiometers electrically interconnected.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
76 words
An irradiation device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the auxiliary device associated with the timing circuit comprises a parallel arrangement of a second capacitor, an energising winding of a relay and a switching amplifier, means connecting said parallel arrangement in series with a first current-limiting member and a third diode across the input terminals of the device, the contact of the relay being constituted by the switch in series with the discharge tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
154 words
A circuit for operating an electric discharge tube comprising a pair of input terminals for coupling a source of supply voltage to the circuit, a ballast impedance connected in series with the discharge tube across the input terminals, a unidirectional switching device, a timing circuit for controlling the operation of the discharge tube comprising first and second impedance elements and an integrating member connected to the input terminals with a tap point between said first and second impedance elements connected to said discharge tube via said switching device so that a branch of the timing circuit including the second impedance element and the integrating member are arranged in parallel with the discharge tube, means for limiting the direction of current flow through said first impedance element in the pass direction of said unidirectional switching device, and means responsive to the voltage derived across the integrating member for terminating the operation of the discharge tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
154 words
A circuit for operating an electric discharge tube comprising a pair of input terminals for coupling a source of supply voltage to the circuit, a ballast impedance connected in series with the discharge tube across the input terminals, a unidirectional switching device, a timing circuit for controlling the operation of the discharge tube comprising first and second impedance elements and an integrating member connected to the input terminals with a tap point between said first and second impedance elements connected to said discharge tube via said switching device so that a branch of the timing circuit including the second impedance element and the integrating member are arranged in parallel with the discharge tube, means for limiting the direction of current flow through said first impedance element in the pass direction of said unidirectional switching device, and means responsive to the voltage derived across the integrating member for terminating the operation of the discharge tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 6 wherein said first and second impedance elements comprise resistors with said first impedance element and said switching device forming an auxiliary branch in parallel with the ballast impedance.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
96 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 6 wherein said integrating member includes a capacitor and said tube operation terminating means comprises a switch having first and second positions, said first position of the switch being in series with the discharge tube and the ballast impedance across the input terminals to complete the current path from the input terminals to the discharge tube and said second position interrupting said current path while completing a closed loop circuit for the capacitor that includes a current-limiting impedance thereby to discharge the capacitor when the discharge tube operation is terminated.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 6 wherein said switching device comprises a first diode and said means for limiting the direction of current flow comprises a second diode serially connected between said first and second impedance elements.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
88 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 6 wherein said discharge tube is of the type that exhibits an increase in operating voltage for a period of time after ignition, said ballast impedance and said first and second impedance elements being chosen to provide a circuit voltage distribution such that the switching device initially couples the discharge tube operating voltage to the timing circuit upon ignition of the tube and subsequently decouples said tube operating voltage therefrom when the tube reaches a voltage level approximating its nominal operating value.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
64 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 10 wherein said means for terminating the tube operation comprises, a capacitor, a relay winding and a controlled switching device connected in parallel, said relay winding controlling the operation of a contact in series with the discharge tube, and means connecting said parallel arrangement in series with a third impedance element and a diode across the input terminals.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 10 wherein said second impedance element comprises a variable resistor and said integrating member comprises a capacitor, said first impedance element, said variable resistor and said capacitor being serially connected acrOss the input terminals in the order named.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 12 wherein the timing circuit includes a second variable resistor in series with the capacitor and the first impedance element, said first and second variable resistors having wiper arms electrically interconnected.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
111 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 10 wherein said switching device comprises a first diode, a second diode, and means connecting said first impedance element, said second diode, said second impedance element and said integrating member in series circuit across the input terminals such that the first impedance element and the first diode form a series circuit in shunt with the ballast impedance and the second diode, the second impedance element and the integrating member form a series circuit shunting the discharge tube with said first and second diodes oppositely poled in the closed loop circuit formed by the discharge tube, the diodes, the second impedance element and the integrating member.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-29 | 1979-03-31 | 1979-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-29 | 1983-03-31 | 1983-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-29 | 1987-03-31 | 1987-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |