Apparatus and method for estimating the expired portion of the expected total service life of a mercury vapor lamp based upon the time the lamp is electrically energized
First Claim
1. An apparatus for estimating the expired portion of the expected total service life of a mercury vapor lamp based upon the time that the lamp is electrically energized comprising:
- means for measuring the length of time that the lamp is energized for each time period that the lamp is energized throughout the life of the lamp;
means for determining a lamp usage value for each said time period that the lamp is energized, the lamp usage value for each said time period being determined by assigning a first time dependent value of each time unit of a first predetermined time segment of the time period that the lamp is energized, assigning a second time dependent value for each time unit of a second predetermined time segment of the time period commencing after expiration of the first time segment that the lamp is energized and assigning a third time dependent value for each time unit of the time period that the lamp is energized beyond the expiration of the second time segment, the first, second and third time dependent values being combined to form the lamp usage value for said time period;
means for accumulating the lamp usage values for all said time periods the lamp is energized to provide a current running total of the lamp service life usage value; and
means for displaying the total lamp service life usage value as an indication of the expired life of the lamp.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for estimating the expired portion of the expected total service life of a mercury vapor lamp based upon the time that the lamp is electrically energized. The length of time that the lamp is energized is measured for each time period that the lamp is energized throughout the life of the lamp. A lamp usage value is determined for each time period that the lamp is energized. The lamp usage value for each time period is determined by assigning a first time dependent value for each time unit of a first predetermined time segment of the time period that the lamp is energized. A second time dependent value is assigned for each time unit of a second predetermined time segment of the time period commencing after the expiration of the first time segment that the lamp is energized. A third time dependent value is assigned for each time unit of the time period that the lamp is energized beyond the expiration of the second time segment. The first, second and third time dependent values are combined to form the lamp usage value for each time period. The lamp usage values are accumulated for each time period the lamp is energized to provide a total of the lamp life usage value. The total lamp life usage value is displayed as an indication of the expired life of the lamp.
32 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An apparatus for estimating the expired portion of the expected total service life of a mercury vapor lamp based upon the time that the lamp is electrically energized comprising:
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means for measuring the length of time that the lamp is energized for each time period that the lamp is energized throughout the life of the lamp; means for determining a lamp usage value for each said time period that the lamp is energized, the lamp usage value for each said time period being determined by assigning a first time dependent value of each time unit of a first predetermined time segment of the time period that the lamp is energized, assigning a second time dependent value for each time unit of a second predetermined time segment of the time period commencing after expiration of the first time segment that the lamp is energized and assigning a third time dependent value for each time unit of the time period that the lamp is energized beyond the expiration of the second time segment, the first, second and third time dependent values being combined to form the lamp usage value for said time period; means for accumulating the lamp usage values for all said time periods the lamp is energized to provide a current running total of the lamp service life usage value; and means for displaying the total lamp service life usage value as an indication of the expired life of the lamp. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for estimating the expired portion of the expected total service life of a mercury vapor lamp based upon the time that the lamp is electrically energized, the method comprising the steps of:
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measuring the length of time that the lamp is energized for each time period that the lamp is energized through the life of the lamp; determining a lamp usage value for each said time period that the lamp is energized by assigning a first time dependent value for each time unit of a first predetermined time segment of the time period that the lamp is energized; assigning a second time dependent value for each time unit of a second predetermined time segment of the time period commencing after the expiration of the first time segment that the lamp is energized; assigning a third time dependent value for each time unit of the time period that the lamp is energized beyond the expiration of the second time segment; combining the first, second and third time dependent values to form the lamp usage value for said time period; accumulating the lamp usage values for all said time periods the lamp is energized to provide a total of the lamp life usage value; and displaying the total lamp service life usage value as an indication of the expired service life of the lamp. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification