Patent · US Expired

Rapid restrike metal halide lamp and a method of operating such

US4723097A · kind A · utility

6Cited by
3References
5Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 5, 1987
Grant dateFeb 2, 1988
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 5, 2007

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02B20/00
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A rapid restrike metal halide lamp and method of operating such a lamp are disclosed which are particularly suitable for sports stadium lighting applications. The rapid restrike metal halide lamp has an arc tube containing constituents which require a waveform having a relatively high voltage and at a relatively high current in order to rapidly restrike the arc tube after the lamp has experienced a power interruption so as to initiate a sustaining arc condition of the arc tube. The relatively high waveform in the form of a series of pulse trains is routed to the arc tube by means of a two path arrangement comprising a conductive base at the bottom of the lamp and a insulative cap at the top of the lamp. This two-way path substantially reduces and even eliminates any arcing condition within the confines of the lamp. The rapid restrike metal halide lamp may have a keep-alive heater arranged around at least a portion of the arc tube so as to assist in the rapid restriking of the lamp after the lamp has experienced an extended shut-down or cool-down condition. The disclosed method specifies particular ranges for an ignition voltage which obtain the rapid restrike of the arc tube.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.