Lamp ignitor with automatic shut-off feature
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Auxiliary equipment for operating an electric discharge lamp comprising:
- a magnetic ballast, having a tapped winding, which is connected in series with the discharge lamp and a source of AC line voltage;
ignitor circuit means connected to provide ignition pulses across a tapped portion of said winding whereby high voltage ignition pulses are coupled to the lamp;
timer means connected to activate and deactivate the ignitor means so that ignition pulses are only generated during a predetermined time period after a reset signal is applied to an input of said timer means;
means for electrically isolating the output of said timer means from said ignitor circuit means;
means for applying said reset signal to said input of said timer means upon application of line voltage to said auxiliary equipment; and
means for manually resetting the timer means after a hot relamping operation.
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Abstract
An ignitor circuit for a discharge lamp is controlled by a timer to shut-off ignition pulses after a predetermined time if the lamp does not ignite. The timer is controlled by the application of power to the input line. Means in the lamp housing allow the timer to be manually reset during a hot relamping operation.
26 Citations
19 Claims
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1. Auxiliary equipment for operating an electric discharge lamp comprising:
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a magnetic ballast, having a tapped winding, which is connected in series with the discharge lamp and a source of AC line voltage; ignitor circuit means connected to provide ignition pulses across a tapped portion of said winding whereby high voltage ignition pulses are coupled to the lamp; timer means connected to activate and deactivate the ignitor means so that ignition pulses are only generated during a predetermined time period after a reset signal is applied to an input of said timer means; means for electrically isolating the output of said timer means from said ignitor circuit means; means for applying said reset signal to said input of said timer means upon application of line voltage to said auxiliary equipment; and means for manually resetting the timer means after a hot relamping operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 17, 18, 19)
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12. Auxiliary equipment operating an electric discharge lamp comprising:
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a magnetic ballast, having a tapped winding, which is connected in series with the discharge lamp and a source of AC line voltage; ignitor circuit means connected to provide ignition pulses across a tapped portion of said winding whereby high voltage ignition pulses are coupled to the lamp; timer means connected to activate and deactivate the ignitor means so that ignition pulses are only generated during a predetermined time period after a reset signal is applied to an input of said timer means; means for applying said reset signal to said input of said timer means upon application of line voltage to said auxiliary equipment; and
wherein the ignitor circuit means and timer means are contained within a common housing which is separate from the magnetic ballast and wherein the means for resetting comprise a multi-pin connector in wiring which connects the housing to the lamp and ballast. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. Auxiliary equipment for operating an electric discharge lamp from an AC power line comprising:
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a pulse ignitor circuit connected to ignite said lamp; timer means which cause said ignitor to operate for a short predetermined period after operating power is applied to said lamp and to thereafter deactivate said ignitor circuit; means for electrically isolating the output of said timer means from said ignitor circuit means; and means for manually resetting said timer means during a hot relamping operation.
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Specification