Patent US3917976A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3917976A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Starting and operating circuit for gaseous discharge lamps
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1974-08-26
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Granted: 1975-11-04
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Expires: 1994-08-26
Abstract
Abstract Operating circuits for gaseous discharge lamps, such as those of metal vapor type, having ballast devices of conventional type are provided with high voltage generating means for applying high voltage starting pulses on the lamp. The circuits comprise a charging capacitor and a voltage sensitive switch device forming a series discharge loop with a selected number of turns of the ballast coil winding at its output end, a resistor in series with the capacitor, and a choke coil in series with the resistor to provide improved ignition voltage and energy for starting lamps of relatively low operating voltage.
Inventors
- 👤 Joe A Nuckolls
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 13:48
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B41/00; H05B41/02; H05B41/04; H05B41/042; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S315/00; Y10S315/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A starting and operating circuit for gaseous discharge lamps comprising a source of alternating current, ballasting means connected at its input side to said alternating current source, discharge lamp means connected to the output side of said ballasting means, and high voltage starting means including a portion of said ballasting means connected to said ballasting means at its output side for providing a high voltage starting pulse on said discharge lamp means, said high voltage starting means comprising a charging capacitor and a resistor connected in series across said discharge lamp means, voltage sensitive switch means having a predetermined breakdown voltage connected across said charging capacitor and said portion of said ballasting means and forming a series discharge loop therewith for generating high frequency starting pulses, and induction means connected in series with said charging capacitor and said resistor for providing rapid charging of said charging capacitor and effective impedance to the high frequency starting pulses generated by said series discharge loop.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
A starting and operating circuit for gaseous discharge lamps comprising a source of alternating current, ballasting means connected at its input side to said alternating current source, discharge lamp means connected to the output side of said ballasting means, and high voltage starting means including a portion of said ballasting means connected to said ballasting means at its output side for providing a high voltage starting pulse on said discharge lamp means, said high voltage starting means comprising a charging capacitor and a resistor connected in series across said discharge lamp means, voltage sensitive switch means having a predetermined breakdown voltage connected across said charging capacitor and said portion of said ballasting means and forming a series discharge loop therewith for generating high frequency starting pulses, and induction means connected in series with said charging capacitor and said resistor for providing rapid charging of said charging capacitor and effective impedance to the high frequency starting pulses generated by said series discharge loop.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
A circuit as defined in claim 1, said ballasting means comprising inductance coil means having a plurality of turns, said portion of said ballasting means comprising a predetermined number of turns of said inductance coil means at its output side, said inductance coil means stepping up the voltage produced across said predetermined number of turns by operation of said discharge loop.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A circuit as defined in claim 1, said induction means comprising a radio frequency choke coil.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A circuit as defined in claim 3, said voltage sensitive switch means comprising a controlled semiconductor switch having a control electrode, and voltage sensitive trigger means connected to said control electrode and said charging capacitor for triggering the operation of said controlled switch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A circuit as defined in claim 4, wherein said switch means comprises a bi-lateral conducting switch and said triggering means comprises a voltage sensitive bi-lateral conducting device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
73 words
A circuit as defined in claim 4, said trigger means comprising a circuit for triggering the operation of said controlled switch at a predetermined time in each cycle, said circuit comprising resistance means connected across said switch means, a voltage sensitive trigger device connected to said control electrode and said resistance means, and capacitance means connected to said trigger device and said switch means so as to form a series discharge loop therewith.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A circuit as defined in claim 1, including a high frequency by-pass capacitor connected across said alternating current source on the input side of said ballasting means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein said discharge lamp means comprises a lamp having an operating voltage of about 45 to 65 volts.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A circuit as defined in claim 8, wherein the open-circuit-voltage across said lamp is about 105 to 125 volts.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3364386A
Cited
US3522475A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-03 | 1979-05-05 | 1979-11-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-03 | 1983-05-05 | 1983-11-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-03 | 1987-05-05 | 1987-11-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |