Two-lead igniter for HID lamps

• US 4,959,593 A
• Filed: 02/15/1989
• Issued: 09/25/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: North American Philips Corp. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: North American Philips Corp. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Joanino, Fernando A.
• Primary Examiner(s): MIS, DAVID C
• Application Number:
  US07/311,559
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 315/289, 315/290, 315/DIG. 7
• US Class Current: 315/290
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/042 using semiconductor devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 315/07 Starting and control circuits for gas discharge lamp using transistors

Abstract

A universal two-lead igniter for high intensity discharge lamps includes a first parallel RC network connected in series circuit with a second network between the two terminals of the igniter. The second network may include a second parallel RC network coupled to the first RC network via a voltage-responsive bidirectional switching device, such as a Sidac. Alternatively, the second network may include a second capacitor and an inductor connected in series with the Sidac device, The igniter is adapted to be connected in parallel with the lamp and generates, by means of a resonant type of operation of the first and second networks, a high frequency, high voltage pulsatory open circuit voltage that provides more reliable ignition of a HID lamp.

Claims

1. Apparatus for starting and operating a high intensity discharge (HID) lamp comprising:

a pair of input terminals for connection to a source of AC supply voltage,

a ballast device coupling a discharge lamp to said pair of input terminals, and

a starter-igniter device having first and second terminals coupled to first and second electrodes, respectively, of the discharge lamp via a circuit that excludes said ballast device, said starter-igniter device comprising;

a first network including a resistor and capacitor connected in parallel,

a second network including one or more passive circuit elements,

a bidirectional voltage-responsive switching device included in one of said first and second networks, and

means connecting said first and second networks in a series circuit between said first and second terminals of the starter-igniter device.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said ballast device includes an element containing an inductance component.

3. Apparatus for starting and operating a high intensity discharge HIO lamp comprising:

a pair of input terminals for connection to a source of AC supply voltage,

a ballast device coupling a discharge lamp to said pair of input terminals, and

aa starter-igniter device having first and second terminals coupled to first and second electrodes, respectively, of the discharge lamp, said starter-igniter device comprising;

a first network including a resistor and capacitor connected in parallel,

a second network including a bidirectional voltage-responsive switching device connected in series with a parallel combination of a second resistor and a second capacitor,

and means connecting said first and second networks in a series circuit between said first and second terminals of the starter-igniter device.

4. Apparatus for starting and operating a high intensity discharge (HID) lamp comprising:

a pair of input terminals for connection to a source of AC supply voltage,

a ballast device coupling a discharge lamp to said pair of input terminals, and

a starter-igniter device having first and second terminals coupled to first and second electrodes, respectively, of the discharge lamp, said starter-igniter device comprising;

a first network including a resistor and capacitor connected in parallel,

a second network including a bidirectional voltage-responsive switching device connected in series with a second capacitor and an inductor,

and means connecting said first and second networks in a series circuit between said first and second terminals of the starter-igniter device.

5. Apparatus for starting and operating a high intensity discharge (HID) lamp comprising:

a pair of input terminals for connection to a source of AC supply voltage,

a ballast device coupling a discharge lamp to said pair of input terminals, and

a starter-igniter device having first and second terminals coupled to first and second electrodes, respectively, of the discharge lamp, said starter-igniter device comprising;

a first network including a resistor and capacitor connected in parallel and a bidirectional voltage-responsive switching device connected in the capacitive branch of the first network,

a second network which comprises a second capacitor connected in series with an inductor,

and means connecting said first and second networks in a series circuit between said first and second terminals of the starter-igniter device.

6. Apparatus for starting and operating a high intensity discharge (HID) lamp comprising:

a pair of input terminals for connection to a source of AC supply voltage,

a ballast device coupling a discharge lamp to said pair of input terminals, and

a starter-igniter device having first and second terminals coupled to first and second electrodes, respectively, of the discharge lamp, said starter-igniter device comprising;

a first network including a resistor and capacitor connected in parallel,

a second network including one or more passive circuit elements,

a bidirectional voltage-responsive switching device included in one of said first and second networks, wherein said bidirectional voltage-responsive switching device has a breakdown voltage level equal to or less than the peak of the AC supply voltage but higher than the lamp operating voltage, and

means connecting said first and second networks in a series circuit between said first and second terminals of the starter-igniter device.

7. A universal two-terminal starter-igniter device for electric discharge lamps comprising:

first and second terminals for external direct connection to electrodes of a discharge lamp,

a frist network including a resistor and capacitor connected in parallel,

a second network including one or more passive circuit elements,

a bidirectional voltage-responsive switching device connected in one of said first and second networks, and

means connecting said first and second networks in a series circuit between said first and second terminals.

8. A universal two-terminal starter-igniter device for electric discharge lamps comprising:

first and second terminals for external connection to a discharge lamp,

a first network including a resistor and capacitor connected in parallel, a second network which comprises a bidirectional voltage-responsive switching device connected in series with a parallel combination of a second resistor and a second capacitor,

and means connecting said first and second networks in a series circuit between said first and second terminals.

9. A universal two-terminal starter-igniter device for electric discharge lamps comprising:

first and second terminals for external connection to a discharge lamp,

a first network including a resistor and capacitor connected in parallel,

a second network which comprises a bidirectional voltage-responsive switching device connected in series with a second capacitor and an inductor,

and means connecting said first and second networks in a series circuit between said first and second terminals.

10. A universal two-terminal starter-igniter device for electric discharge lamps comprising:

first and second terminals for external connection to a discharge lamp,

a first network including a resistor and capacitor connected in parallel, a bidirectional voltage-responsive switching device connected in the capacitive branch of the first network,

a second network which comprises a second capacitor connected in series with an inductor,

and means connecting said first and second networks in a series circuit between said first and second terminals.

11. A universal two-terminal starter-igniter device for an electric discharge lamp comprising:

first and second terminals for external connection to a discharge lamp,

a first network including a resistor and capacitor connected in parallel,

a second network including one or more passive circuit elements,

a bidirectional voltage-responsive switching device connected in one of said first and second networks, said bidirectional voltage-responsive switching device having a breakdown voltage higher than the lamp operating voltage, and

means connecting said first and second networks in a series circuit between said first and second terminals.

12. Apparatus for starting and operating a high intensity discharge (HID) lamp comprising:

a pair of input terminals for connection to a source of AC supply voltage,

a ballast device coupling a discharge lamp to said pair of input terminals, and

a starter-igniter device having first and second terminals coupled to first and second electrodes, respectively, of the discharge lamp, said starter-igniter device comprising;

a first network including a resistor and capacitor connected in parallel,

a second network including one or more passive circuit elements,

a bidirectional voltage-responsive switching device included in one of said first and second networks, said bidirectional voltage-responsive switching device having a breakdown voltage higher than the lamp operating voltage, and

means connecting said first and second networks in a series circuit between said first and second terminals of the starter-igniter device.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said first and second terminals of the starter-igniter device are directly connected to said lamp first and second electrodes, respectively.