US4616158A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Arrangement for shutting off an inverter
Assignee: Siemens AG
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Filing: 1983-12-19
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Granted: 1986-10-07
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Expires: 2003-12-19
Abstract
Abstract A shut-off device is provided for an inverter which feeds at least one discharge lamp, the shut-off device operable to shut-off the inverter in limiting cases and remaining in this condition until a lamp replacement. The shut-off device flips into its normal condition when a holding current in a monitoring circuit falls below a flyback limit value. In order to keep the losses as low as possible, the monitoring circuit is dimensioned high-resistant and a separate holding circuit is provided, the separate holding circuit having a controlled dependency on the low control current in the monitoring circuit. In the disconnect case, the control current also suffices to hold the shut-off device in the disconnect condition when an electrode is broken.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Krummel
- 👤 Manfred Klamt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 14:22
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B41/00; H05B41/14; H05B41/26; H05B41/28; H05B41/295; H05B41/298; H05B41/2981; H05B41/2985
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
An arrangement for shutting off an inverter which feeds at least one lamp circuit with a discharge lamp which has heatable electrodes, comprising: a bistable shut-off device operable in response to the current in the lamp circuit to switch to a disconnect condition to turn off the inverter when the integral of the current in the lamp circuit reaches a shut-off limit value, the bistable shut-off device being held in said disconnect condition by a holding current and switching back to normal condition when the lamp circuit is disconnected by removing the lamp electrode from the lamp circuit and therefore holding current falls below a predetermined flyback limit value; a monitoring circuit including at least one electrode of the at least one discharge lamp and operable to provide a monitoring current; and a holding circuit connected to said bistable shut-off device including a controllable resistor and providing the holding current as long as the electrode of the at least one lamp is included in the monitoring circuit, said controllable resistor having a resistance controlled by the monitoring current to provide a holding current equal to or greater than a minimum holding current when said bistable shut-off device is in its disconnect condition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
202 words
An arrangement for shutting off an inverter which feeds at least one lamp circuit with a discharge lamp which has heatable electrodes, comprising: a bistable shut-off device operable in response to the current in the lamp circuit to switch to a disconnect condition to turn off the inverter when the integral of the current in the lamp circuit reaches a shut-off limit value, the bistable shut-off device being held in said disconnect condition by a holding current and switching back to normal condition when the lamp circuit is disconnected by removing the lamp electrode from the lamp circuit and therefore holding current falls below a predetermined flyback limit value; a monitoring circuit including at least one electrode of the at least one discharge lamp and operable to provide a monitoring current; and a holding circuit connected to said bistable shut-off device including a controllable resistor and providing the holding current as long as the electrode of the at least one lamp is included in the monitoring circuit, said controllable resistor having a resistance controlled by the monitoring current to provide a holding current equal to or greater than a minimum holding current when said bistable shut-off device is in its disconnect condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
The arrangement of claim 1, and further comprising: a voltage divider, included in said monitoring circuit; and a starting capacitor connected to said voltage divider and to the inverter, said bistable shut-off device including a discharge circuit connected to said starting capacitor, the voltage on said starting capacitor, having a restart value for the inverter when said shut-off device is in its normal condition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
The arrangement of claim 2, wherein: said voltage divider is dimensioned such that the monitoring current flowing therethrough, given a predetermined maximum feed voltage, intact electrodes, and given the normal operation of the shut-off device, lies below a minimum response value which is flowing under the conditions of a broken electrode, of a predetermined minimum feed voltage and of the disconnect condition of said shut-off device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The arrangement of claim 3, wherein: said holding circuit comprises a transistor as said controllable resistance, and a control circuit including a resistor of said monitoring circuit connected to control said transistor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The arrangement of claim 4, wherein: said control circuit is constructed to operate said transistor in saturation in response to a monitoring current, given a broken electrode, which is equal to or greater than the predetermined minimum response value when said shut-off device is in its disconnect condition.
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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) | 1989-10-06 | 1990-04-07 | 1990-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-10-06 | 1994-04-07 | 1994-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-10-06 | 1998-04-07 | 1998-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |