Circuit for the operating of gas discharge lamps
First Claim
1. A circuit for the operating of gas discharge lamps, particularly fluorescent tubes, in which the gas discharge lamp is connected to a source of current, particularly a source of direct current, a starting circuit for starting the lamp and having a starter transformer as well as a source of auxiliary voltage which can be disconnected from the lamp after starting being provided for the starting of the gas discharge lamp, characterized by the fact that as the source of current there is provided a full-wave rectifier (6) with a connection via a control element (4) to the lamp and to which rectifier (6) there are connected in parallel a capacitor circuit and a switch control circuit (7), said capacitor circuit comprising a series combination of a charging capacitor (10) with a switch contact (9) actuated by said switch control circuit (7) in response to voltage developed across said rectifier, the charging capacitor (10) supplying the operating voltage for the gas discharge lamp (3) and being recharged to a voltage by successive closures of the switch control (9), and the full-wave rectifier (6) serving as source of auxiliary voltage for the gas discharge lamp (3), which, after the starting of the gas discharge lamp (3), can be disconnected via the control element (4), developed in particular as a semiconductor switch element, and by the fact that the starting circuit (2, 17) is connected to the charging capacitor (10) and that the secondary winding of the starter transformer (17, 17a) is connected to the gas discharge lamp (3) separately from the operating circuit of said lamp.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In a circuit for the operating of gas discharge lamps in which a starting circuit (2, 17) having a starter transformer (17) and a source of auxiliary voltage which can be disconnected after starting has been effected are provided for the starting of the lamp, there is provided a full-wave rectifier (6) with which a charging capacitor (10) and a voltage-dependent electronic switch element (8) are connected in parallel. A switch contact (9) which is in series with the charging capacitor (10) can be actuated by the switch element (8). The charging capacitor (10) which supplies the operating voltage for the gas discharge lamp (3) can be charged to a voltage which can be selected by means of the switch element (8). The full-wave rectifier (6) which serves a source of auxiliary voltage can be disconnected by means of a control element (4) from the gas discharge lamp (3) after the latter has been started. The starting circuit (2, 17) is connected to the charging capacitor (10), the secondary winding of the starter transformer (17) being connected to the gas discharge lamp (3) separately from the operating circuit of said lamp.
14 Citations
13 Claims
- 1. A circuit for the operating of gas discharge lamps, particularly fluorescent tubes, in which the gas discharge lamp is connected to a source of current, particularly a source of direct current, a starting circuit for starting the lamp and having a starter transformer as well as a source of auxiliary voltage which can be disconnected from the lamp after starting being provided for the starting of the gas discharge lamp, characterized by the fact that as the source of current there is provided a full-wave rectifier (6) with a connection via a control element (4) to the lamp and to which rectifier (6) there are connected in parallel a capacitor circuit and a switch control circuit (7), said capacitor circuit comprising a series combination of a charging capacitor (10) with a switch contact (9) actuated by said switch control circuit (7) in response to voltage developed across said rectifier, the charging capacitor (10) supplying the operating voltage for the gas discharge lamp (3) and being recharged to a voltage by successive closures of the switch control (9), and the full-wave rectifier (6) serving as source of auxiliary voltage for the gas discharge lamp (3), which, after the starting of the gas discharge lamp (3), can be disconnected via the control element (4), developed in particular as a semiconductor switch element, and by the fact that the starting circuit (2, 17) is connected to the charging capacitor (10) and that the secondary winding of the starter transformer (17, 17a) is connected to the gas discharge lamp (3) separately from the operating circuit of said lamp.
-
12. A circuit for the operation of a gas discharge lamp, comprising:
-
a full-wave bridge rectifier providing electrical power to said lamp; a capacitor coupled at a first terminal thereof to a first output terminal of said rectifier; a switch connected between a second output terminal of said rectifier and a second terminal of said capacitor, there being a first current path connecting said first terminal of said capacitor to a first terminal of said lamp, there being a second current conducting path between a second terminal of said lamp and the junction of said switch and said capacitor, there being a third current conducting path between said second output terminal of said rectifier and said second terminal of said lamp; a switch control circuit responsive to the output voltage of said rectifier developed between said first and said second output terminals of said rectifier connecting with said switch and operating said switch to provide a succession of closures thereof in response to pulsations in the output voltage of said rectifier; and means disposed within said third conducting path and activated by a voltage developed across an open contact of said switch for terminating the flow of current along said third conducting path, said capacitor providing power to said lamp during starting and running conditions thereof. - View Dependent Claims (13)
-
Specification