Gas probe starter for an electrodeless high intensity discharge lamp
US5095249A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 4, 1990 |
| Grant date | Mar 10, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 4, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02B20/00
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A gas probe starter for an electrodeless high intensity discharge (HID) lamp includes a fixed starting electrode for coupling a starting voltage to a chamber which is attached to the outer wall of the arc tube and contains a gas. The gas in the starting chamber, which is preferably at a low pressure relative to that of the arc tube fill, is switched between conducting and nonconducting states corresponding to lamp-starting and normal running operation, respectively. To start the lamp, the starting voltage is applied to the starting electrode, causing a discharge current to flow in the gas chamber which, in turn, results in the capacitive coupling of a sufficiently high voltage to the arc tube in order to initiate an arc discharge therein. After the arc discharge is initiated, the starting voltage is substantially reduced so that the discharge current in the starting chamber is extinguished.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.