US4763044A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Start, hot restart and operating lamp circuit
Assignee: Hubbell Inc
•
Filing: 1987-04-06
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Granted: 1988-08-09
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Expires: 2007-04-06
Abstract
Abstract A starting, hot restarting and operating circuit includes a pulse circuit for applying high voltage pulses to an HID lamp for starting or hot restarting. After a set interval of pulses if the lamp has not ignited, the pulse circuit is turned off for a selected inactive interval after which pulses are applied to the lamp again. If ignition does not occur after several active/inactive cycles, the circuit is deactivated until reset by turning the power off and on.
Inventors
- 👤 Joe A. Nuckolls
- 👤 Isaac L. Flory, IV
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 19:57
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B41/00; H05B41/14; H05B41/36; H05B41/38; H05B41/382; H05B41/384; H05B41/02; H05B41/04; H05B41/042; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B20/00; Y10; Y10S; Y10S315/00; Y10S315/07
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
A starting and operating circuit for a high intensity discharge lamp comprising the combination of an AC voltage source; lamp ballast means having an input connected to said source and having an AC output; a controlled high-voltage lamp pulsing circuit means connected between said AC output of said ballast means and said lamp for applying to said lamp a series of high voltage pulses having peak voltages significantly greater than the normal lamp starting and operating voltage magnitudes; first circuit means for terminating said series of pulses after a first predetermined active interval in the absence of lamp ignition and for suspending the application of high voltage pulses to said lamp for a second or quiet interval and for allowing said lamp pulsing circuit means to again apply high voltage pulses to said lamp at the end of said second interval; second circuit means for terminating application of said high voltage pulses to said lamp after the lamp completely ignites; and third circuit means for terminating application of said high voltage pulses to said lamp after a predetermined number of active and quiet intervals without ignition until said AC source is turned off and back on to reset said starting and operating circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
203 words
A starting and operating circuit for a high intensity discharge lamp comprising the combination of an AC voltage source; lamp ballast means having an input connected to said source and having an AC output; a controlled high-voltage lamp pulsing circuit means connected between said AC output of said ballast means and said lamp for applying to said lamp a series of high voltage pulses having peak voltages significantly greater than the normal lamp starting and operating voltage magnitudes; first circuit means for terminating said series of pulses after a first predetermined active interval in the absence of lamp ignition and for suspending the application of high voltage pulses to said lamp for a second or quiet interval and for allowing said lamp pulsing circuit means to again apply high voltage pulses to said lamp at the end of said second interval; second circuit means for terminating application of said high voltage pulses to said lamp after the lamp completely ignites; and third circuit means for terminating application of said high voltage pulses to said lamp after a predetermined number of active and quiet intervals without ignition until said AC source is turned off and back on to reset said starting and operating circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
A circuit according to claim 1 wherein said first circuit means includes a pulse transformer having a toroidal core, a secondary winding connected to said lamp and to said ballast means, a primary winding, a capacitor connected in series with said primary winding and a solid state switch connected in parallel with the series circuit including said capacitor and primary winding.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
A circuit according to claim 2 wherein said first circuit means includes a normally conductive controllable switch means connected in series with said lamp pulsing circuit means so that opening said switch means deactivates said first circuit means, and timing means connected to said AC source for opening said switch means after said first predetermined active interval to suspend application of said pulses.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A circuit according to claim 3 wherein said timing means includes a resistor, a diode and a capacitor connected in series across said output of said ballast means and also to said switch means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A circuit according to claim 4 wherein said controllable switch means includes a relay having a normally closed contact set and an energizing winding connected across said capacitor thereby making said switch means responsive to said resistor in said resistor-diode-capacitor circuit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A circuit according to claim 4 wherein said first circuit means further includes means for rapidly discharging said capacitor at the end of said quiet interval to reclose said switch means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A circuit according to claim 6 wherein said means for discharging includes a triggerable semiconductor switch connected in parallel with said capacitor and a gating circuit having a time constant for establishing the duration of said quiet interval.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
A circuit according to claim 7 wherein said second circuit means includes a heating resistor connected across said AC source and a negative temperature coefficient resistor thermally coupled to said heating resistor and connected to said gating circuit, the resistance of said NTC resistor being reduced after an interval of heating to a value at which said gating circuit becomes inoperative.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A circuit according to claim 4 wherein said second circuit means includes a heating element and means thermally responsive thereto for keeping said switch means open.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of quickly restarting a hot high intensity discharge lamp which was operating and was then extinguished by a temporary power interruption or the like including the steps of generating a series of high voltage pulses having peak voltage magnitudes significantly greater than normal lamp operating voltage, applying the high voltage pulses to the lamp for a first active interval of predetermined length, suspending application of high voltage pulses to the lamp for a quiet interval of predetermined length if the lamp does not ignite as the result of the pulses applied during the first active interval, applying a series of the high voltage pulses to the lamp for a second active interval having the same length as the first active interval, repeating the suspension and application of pulses for a selected number of quiet and active intervals, absent lamp ignition; and terminating the application of pulses after the selected number of quiet and active intervals without ignition.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of quickly restarting a hot high intensity discharge lamp which was operating and was then extinguished by a temporary power interruption or the like including the steps of generating a series of high voltage pulses having peak voltage magnitudes significantly greater than normal lamp operating voltage, applying the high voltage pulses to the lamp for a first active interval of predetermined length, suspending application of high voltage pulses to the lamp for a quiet interval of predetermined length if the lamp does not ignite as the result of the pulses applied during the first active interval, applying a series of the high voltage pulses to the lamp for a second active interval having the same length as the first active interval, repeating the suspension and application of pulses for a selected number of quiet and active intervals, absent lamp ignition; and terminating the application of pulses after the selected number of quiet and active intervals without ignition.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein the magnitude of the high voltage pulses is at least 40 times the magnitude of the normal lamp operating voltage.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein the duration of each active interval is between about 0.25 seconds and about 1.0 second and the duration of each quiet interval is between about 0.5 seconds and about 2.5 seconds.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 12 wherein the duration of each active interval is about 0.67 seconds and the duration of each quiet interval is about 1.5 seconds.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein the duration of each active interval is between about 0.25 seconds and about 1.0 second and the duration of each quiet interval is between about 0.5 seconds and about 2.5 seconds.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 14 wherein the duration of each active interval is about 0.67 seconds and the duration of each quiet interval is about 1.5 seconds.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
217 words
A method of quickly restarting a hot high intensity discharge lamp which was operating and was then extinguished by a temporary power interruption or the like including the steps of generating a series of high voltage pulses having peak voltage magnitudes significantly greater than normal lamp operating voltage, applying the high voltage pulses to the lamp for a first active interval of predetermined length to initiate a streamer arc in the lamp and, if the streamer arc is initiated, applying an intermediate level current pulse having a current magnitude greater than normal lamp operating current and a voltage in the order of magnitude of normal lamp operating voltage; suspending application of high voltage pulses to the lamp for a quiet interval of predetermined length if the streamer arc is not initiated as the result of the pulses applied during the first active interval, in the absence of arc initiation, applying a series of the high voltage pulses to the lamp for a second active interval having the same length as the first active interval, followed by another intermediate level current pulse, repeating the suspension and application of pulses for a selected number of quiet and active intervals, absent lamp ignition; and terminating the application of pulses after the selected number of quiet and active intervals without ignition.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
217 words
A method of quickly restarting a hot high intensity discharge lamp which was operating and was then extinguished by a temporary power interruption or the like including the steps of generating a series of high voltage pulses having peak voltage magnitudes significantly greater than normal lamp operating voltage, applying the high voltage pulses to the lamp for a first active interval of predetermined length to initiate a streamer arc in the lamp and, if the streamer arc is initiated, applying an intermediate level current pulse having a current magnitude greater than normal lamp operating current and a voltage in the order of magnitude of normal lamp operating voltage; suspending application of high voltage pulses to the lamp for a quiet interval of predetermined length if the streamer arc is not initiated as the result of the pulses applied during the first active interval, in the absence of arc initiation, applying a series of the high voltage pulses to the lamp for a second active interval having the same length as the first active interval, followed by another intermediate level current pulse, repeating the suspension and application of pulses for a selected number of quiet and active intervals, absent lamp ignition; and terminating the application of pulses after the selected number of quiet and active intervals without ignition.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 16 wherein the magnitude of the high voltage pulses is at least 40 times the magnitude of the normal lamp operating voltage.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 17 wherein the duration of each active interval is between about 0.25 seconds and about 1.0 second and the duration of each quiet interval is between about 0.5 seconds and about 2.5 seconds.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 18 wherein the duration of each active interval is about 0.67 seconds and the duration of each quiet interval is about 1.5 seconds.
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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) | 1991-08-09 | 1992-02-08 | 1992-08-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-08-09 | 1996-02-08 | 1996-08-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-08-09 | 2000-02-08 | 2000-08-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |