US4724360A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Circuit arrangement for operating a high-pressure discharge lamp
Assignee: US Philips Corp
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Filing: 1986-05-15
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Granted: 1988-02-09
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Expires: 2006-05-15
Abstract
Abstract A circuit for operating a discharge lamp (1) by means of a direct voltage. The circuit comprises direct voltage terminals (A,B) for connection of a direct voltage source, alternating voltage output terminals (K,L) for connection to the discharge lamp, a direct voltage/alternating voltage sine converter (3), and a current limiter (5) for limiting the current through the lamp in its operating condition. A controllable direct voltage converter (2) is coupled between the sine converter and the direct voltage input terminals.
Inventors
- 👤 Meerten Luursema
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 15:18
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B41/00; H05B41/14; H05B41/26; H05B41/28; H05B41/288; H05B41/2885; H05B41/2886; H05B41/36; H05B41/38; H05B41/382; H05B41/388; H05B41/39; H05B41/392; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B20/00; Y10; Y10S; Y10S315/00; Y10S315/07
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A circuit arrangement for operating a high pressure discharge lamp by means of a direct voltage source comprising: direct voltage input terminals for connection to the direct voltage source; alternating voltage output terminals for connection to the discharge lamp, a direct voltage/alternating voltage sine converter, a current limiter for limiting the current through the lamp in the operating condition, a controllable direct voltage converter including a controlled semiconductor element having a control electrode coupled to a control circuit which controls the operation of the controllable direct voltage converter by means of said semiconductor element, and means coupled the controllable direct voltage converter between the direct voltage input terminals and the sine converter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
A circuit arrangement for operating a high pressure discharge lamp by means of a direct voltage source comprising: direct voltage input terminals for connection to the direct voltage source; alternating voltage output terminals for connection to the discharge lamp, a direct voltage/alternating voltage sine converter, a current limiter for limiting the current through the lamp in the operating condition, a controllable direct voltage converter including a controlled semiconductor element having a control electrode coupled to a control circuit which controls the operation of the controllable direct voltage converter by means of said semiconductor element, and means coupled the controllable direct voltage converter between the direct voltage input terminals and the sine converter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the direct voltage converter is an up-converter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the current limiter is connected between the sine converter and the alternating voltage output terminals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the current limiter comprises a parallel arrangement of a self-inductance and a switch in series with a saturable self-inductance.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the current limiter is connected between the sine converter and the alternating voltage output terminals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 5 wherein the current limiter comprises a parallel connection of an inductor and a switch connected in series circuit with a saturable inductor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
111 words
A circuit for operating a high pressure discharge lamp from a low voltage source of DC voltage comprising: a pair of input terminals for connection to the DC voltage source, a pair of output terminals for connection to the discharge lamp to supply the lamp with a sinusoidal alternating voltage, a current limiter for limiting lamp current in the operating condition of the lamp, a controllable direct voltage converter connected in cascade with a direct voltage/alternating voltage sine converter between said input terminals and said output terminals in the order named, and a control circuit coupled to a control terminal of the controllable direct voltage converter for controlling the operation thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
111 words
A circuit for operating a high pressure discharge lamp from a low voltage source of DC voltage comprising: a pair of input terminals for connection to the DC voltage source, a pair of output terminals for connection to the discharge lamp to supply the lamp with a sinusoidal alternating voltage, a current limiter for limiting lamp current in the operating condition of the lamp, a controllable direct voltage converter connected in cascade with a direct voltage/alternating voltage sine converter between said input terminals and said output terminals in the order named, and a control circuit coupled to a control terminal of the controllable direct voltage converter for controlling the operation thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 7 wherein the current limiter is connected between one output terminal of the sine converter and one of said output terminals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
83 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 8 wherein said controllable direct voltage converter includes a semiconductor controlled switching element controlled by a signal at the control terminal of the controllable direct voltage converter, and said control circuit has an input for receiving a voltage determined by the output voltage of the controllable direct voltage converter thereby to supply a control signal to the control terminal of the controllable direct voltage converter to control the operation thereof as a function of said output voltage.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 9 wherein said control circuit has a second input for receiving a signal determined at least in part by the level of lamp current, said control signal supplied by the control circuit further controlling the operation of the controllable direct voltage converter as a function of lamp current.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 8 wherein the controllable direct voltage converter is an up-converter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 8 wherein the current limiter comprises a parallel connection of an inductor and a switching device connected in series circuit with a saturable reactor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
108 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 12 wherein the switching device is part of a switching means including a second switching device operated in synchronism with the first switching device so that when one switching device is closed the other switching device is open, and vice versa, said second switching device when closed coupling an auxiliary voltage to a control input of the control circuit, said switching means being operative to open the first switching device and close the second switching device to provide a keep-alive state for a lamp when connected to said output terminals wherein a low value ionization current will flow through a connected lamp.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 12 wherein the switching device is closed during the start-up phase of a connected lamp and during the operating condition of said lamp and when open provides a keep-alive state for the lamp wherein a low ionization current will flow through the lamp.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
59 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 7 wherein said control circuit includes input means responsive to the output voltage of the controllable direct voltage converter and responsive to a current drawn from said input terminals by the circuit thereby to provide power regulation of a connected lamp by control of the output voltage of the controllable direct voltage converter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 7 wherein the lamp is a headlight for a motor vehicle or the like and said input terminals connect to a vehicle battery operative as the DC voltage source.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 7 wherein the sine converter supplies a continuous high frequency sinusoidal current to a lamp connected to the output terminals.
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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) | 1991-02-08 | 1991-08-10 | 1992-02-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-02-08 | 1995-08-10 | 1996-02-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-02-08 | 1999-08-10 | 2000-02-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |