Arc lamp ignition and operating circuit

Claim 2

IN A CIRCUIT FOR ENERGIZING A XENON ARC LAMP INCLUDING MEANS FOR APPLYING A PULSE OF HIGH VOLTAGE TO THE LAMP TO IONIZE IT AND RENDER IT CONDUCTIVE, THE IMPROVEMENT FOR DISCHARGING CURRENT INTO THE LAMP TO HEAT THE ELECTRODES THEREOF COMMPRISING FIRST VOLTAGE LESS THAN THAT OF SAID HIGH VOLTAGE FOR CHARGED TO A FIRST VOLTAGE LESS THAN THAT OF SAID HIGH VOLTAGE FO DISCHARGEING CURRENT INTO SAID LAMP TO PROVIDE FOR FIRST STAGE HEATING OF SAID ELECTRODES, SECOND CAPACITOR MEANS, CHARGING MEANS FOR CHARGING SAID SECOND CAPACITOR MAENS TO A SECOND VOLTAGE LESS THAN SAID FIRST VOLTAGE BUT SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER THA THE NORMAL OPERATING POTENTIAL OF SAID LAMP FOR DISCHARGING CURRENT INTO SAID LAMP SUFFICIENT TO PROVIDE FOR SECOND STAGE HEATING OF SAID ELECTRODES, AND MEANS FOR COUPLING SAI SECOND CAPACITOR MEANS TO SAID LAMP FOR DISCHARGING CURRENT INTO SAI LAMP ONLY AFTER SUBSTANTIAL DISCHARGE OF CURRENT FROM SAID FIRST CAPACITOR MEANS TO PROVIDE FOR SAID SECOND STAGE HEATING OF

Claim 3

A circuit according to claim 1, including means for supplying an operating potential to said lamp for continuous energization thereof and continuous light output therefrom.

Claim 4

A circuit according to claim 1, including means for successively charging said first and second capacitor means which successively discharge into said lamp for providing successive flashes of light output from said lamp.

Claim 5

A circuit according to claim 2, including means for removing said operating potential from said lamp and means for successively charging said first and second capacitor means which successively discharge into said lamp for providing successive flashes of light output from said lamp.

Claim 6

A circuit for energizing a Xenon arc lamp from a source of DC potential comprising: a. multIvibrator means coupled to said source for developing an AC potential and including transformer means having low potential and high potential winding means, b. means coupled to said high potential winding means for applying a high potential pulse to said lamp to ionize it and render to conductive, c. first capacitor means charged by said high potential winding means to a first voltage for discharging current into said lamp to provide for first stage heating of the electrodes of said lamp, d. second capacitor means charged by said low potential winding means to a second voltage less than said first voltage, e. coupling means for coupling said second capacitor means to said lamp for discharging current into said lamp only after substantial discharge of current from said first capacitor means to provide for second stage heating of said electrodes resulting in enabling said arc lamp to sustain conduction, f. rectifying means, g. said low potential winding means including a section thereof coupled to said source of DC source potential and to said rectifying means for adding said DC source potential to the rectified AC potential generated by said winding section to produce a combined potential which is applied to said lamp for its continuous operation.

Claim 7

A circuit for energizing a Xenon arc lamp from a source of DC potential comprising: a. multIvibrator means coupled to said source for developing an AC potential and including transformer means having low potential and high potential winding means, b. means coupled to said high potential winding means for applying a high potential pulse to said lamp to ionize it and render to conductive, c. first capacitor means charged by said high potential winding means to a first voltage for discharging current into said lamp to provide for first stage heating of the electrodes of said lamp, d. second capacitor means charged by said low potential winding means to a second voltage less than said first voltage, e. coupling means for coupling said second capacitor means to said lamp for discharging current into said lamp only after substantial discharge of current from said first capacitor means to provide for second stage heating of said electrodes resulting in enabling said arc lamp to sustain conduction, f. rectifying means, g. said low potential winding means including a section thereof coupled to said source of DC source potential and to said rectifying means for adding said DC source potential to the rectified AC potential generated by said winding section to produce a combined potential which is applied to said lamp for its continuous operation.

Claim 8

A circuit according to claim 5 including switch means for inhibiting the application of said combined potential to said lamp to permit the successive flashing of the lamp by successive ones of said high potential pulse and successive charging and discharging of said first and second capacitor means.