Patent · US Expired

Circuit configuration for operating at least one discharge lamp

US6198231A · kind A · utility

16Cited by
5References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 22, 1999
Grant dateMar 6, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 22, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S315/07
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The invention relates to a circuit arrangement for operating at least one discharge lamp (LP) on a half-bridge inverter (Q1, Q2), having at least one coupling capacitor (C3) and having a switch-off device (T1, A) which permanently switches off the half-bridge inverter (Q1, Q2) when the lamp (LP) refuses to start. According to the invention, the circuit arrangement has first and second devices (V1, V2) for monitoring the voltage drop across the at least one coupling capacitor (C3) and for activating the switch-off device (T1, A) as a function of the voltage drop detected across the at least one coupling capacitor (C3). If the voltage across the coupling capacitor (C3) deviates substantially from its normal value, for example owing to the occurrence or the rectifying effect at the end of the service life of the discharge lamp (LP), the half-bridge inverter (Q1, Q2) is shut down by the switch-off device (T1, A).

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