US4275337A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Starting and operating circuit for gaseous discharge lamps
Assignee: General Electric Co
•
Filing: 1979-08-08
•
Granted: 1981-06-23
•
Expires: 1999-08-08
Abstract
Abstract Starting and operating circuit for gaseous discharge lamps has device for quickly re-starting extinguished lamps while still hot. Circuit comprises ballast reactor, pulse transformer having a magnetic core formed with an air gap, charging capacitor and voltage sensitive switch device connected to the pulse transformer to form a series discharge loop with a portion of the transformer, and a storage capacitor connected at the output of the ballast reactor having sufficiently high capacitance to provide, in combination with the pulse transformer, for hot re-start of the lamp.
Inventors
- 👤 David W. Knoble
- 👤 Thomas A. Crane
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 10:05
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B41/00; H05B41/02; H05B41/04; H05B41/042; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S315/00; Y10S315/07
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
A starting and operating circuit for gaseous discharge lamps comprising, in combination, a source of alternating current, ballast induction means connected at its input side to said alternating current source, pulse transformer means connected in series to the output of said ballast induction means, discharge lamp means connected at one side to the output of said pulse transformer means, and at the other side to said alternating current source, storage capacitor means connected to the junction of said ballast induction means and said pulse transformer means across said alternating current source, said pulse transformer means comprising a magnetic core formed with at least one gap therein and induction coil means on said magnetic core, high voltage starting means including a portion of said induction coil means for providing a high voltage starting pulse on said discharge lamp means, the ratio L/C, where L is the inductance of said pulse transformer means and C is the capacitance of said storage capacitor means, being less than about 64,000 ohms 2 .
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
169 words
A starting and operating circuit for gaseous discharge lamps comprising, in combination, a source of alternating current, ballast induction means connected at its input side to said alternating current source, pulse transformer means connected in series to the output of said ballast induction means, discharge lamp means connected at one side to the output of said pulse transformer means, and at the other side to said alternating current source, storage capacitor means connected to the junction of said ballast induction means and said pulse transformer means across said alternating current source, said pulse transformer means comprising a magnetic core formed with at least one gap therein and induction coil means on said magnetic core, high voltage starting means including a portion of said induction coil means for providing a high voltage starting pulse on said discharge lamp means, the ratio L/C, where L is the inductance of said pulse transformer means and C is the capacitance of said storage capacitor means, being less than about 64,000 ohms 2 .
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
A circuit as defined in claim 1, said high voltage starting means comprising a charging capacitor and resistor connected in series across said discharge lamp means, and voltage sensitive switch means having a predetermined breakdown voltage connected across said charging capacitor, said charging capacitor and said voltage sensitive switch means being electrically connected to said portion of said induction coil means and forming a series discharge loop therewith for generating high frequency starting pulses.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A circuit as defined in claim 2, wherein the ratio L/C is in the range of about 10,000 ohms 2 to about 20,000 ohms 2 .
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A circuit as defined in claim 1, the impedance of said storage capacitor being substantially greater than the impedance of said ballast induction means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A circuit as defined in claim 2, the resistance of said resistor being sufficiently low to provide for multiple pulses per half-cycle for starting said discharge lamp means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A circuit as defined in claim 2, said portion of said induction coil means being at the input side of said induction coil means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A circuit as defined in claim 2, said portion of said induction coil means being at the output side of said induction coil means, and inductor means connected in series with said resistor and said charging capacitor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A circuit as defined in claim 2, said core of said pulse transformer means being formed of ferrite.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A circuit as defined in claim 2, said portion of said induction coil means being in isolated, inductively coupled relation to the remainder of said induction coil means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A circuit as defined in claim 2, said switch means comprising a symmetrical semiconductor switch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A circuit as defined in claim 6, said voltage sensitive switch means connected to a tap on said induction coil means defining said portion thereof, said charging capacitor being connected to the input end of said induction coil means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
A circuit as defined in claim 11, the impedance of said storage capacitor being substantially greater than the impedance of said ballast induction means, the ratio L/C being in the range of about 10,000 ohms 2 to about 20,000 ohms 2 .
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3235769A
Cited
US3917976A
Cited
US3963958A
Cited
US4005336A
Cited
US3976910A
Cited
US4143304A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-06-22 | 1984-12-22 | 1985-06-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-06-22 | 1988-12-22 | 1989-06-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-06-22 | 1992-12-22 | 1993-06-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |