Auto-starting system for an electrodeless high intensity discharge lamp
First Claim
1. An auto-starting lamp system, comprising:
- (a) an electrodeless high intensity discharge lamp including;
(i) an arc tube containing an ionizable fill;
(ii) an excitation coil surrounding said arc tube for exciting a discharge in said ionizable fill at least during steady state lamp operation; and
(iii) a starter circuit for facilitating discharge of said ionizable fill;
(b) a controllable radio frequency power source for powering said lamp excitation coil;
(c) an electrical network for matching the impedance of said excitation coil to the impedance of the radio frequency power source, said impedance-matching network providing a single impedance matched value present during both lamp start-up and steady state lamp operation;
(d) control means for causing said radio frequency power source, during lamp start-up, to ramp up in power to a peak level in excess of a steady state lamp operating power level, and then to decrease from the peak level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An auto-starting lamp system comprises an electrodeless high intensity discharge lamp of the type including an arc tube that contains an ionizable fill, an excitation coil surrounding the arc tube for exciting an arc discharge in the ionizable fill at least during steady state lamp operation, and a starter circuit for facilitating arc discharge of the ionizable fill. The system further comprises a controllable r.f. power source for powering the lamp excitation coil, and an electrical network for matching the impedance of the excitation coil to the impedance of the r.f. power source. The impedance-matching network has the same impedance-matching relation during both lamp start-up and steady state lamp operation. A system controller causes the r.f. power source, during lamp start-up, to ramp up in power to a peak level preferably substantially in excess of a steady state lamp operating power level, and then to decrease from the peak level. Preferably, the system further comprises circuitry for re-powering the starter circuit after a predetermined period of time has elapsed that is sufficiently long as to prevent thermal damage to the lamp resulting from powering the starter circuit. The system preferably further comprises control circuitry for alternately turning on and turning off power to the starter circuit after the lamp ionizable fill recovers an ability to reach full arc discharge after being extinguished.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An auto-starting lamp system, comprising:
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(a) an electrodeless high intensity discharge lamp including; (i) an arc tube containing an ionizable fill; (ii) an excitation coil surrounding said arc tube for exciting a discharge in said ionizable fill at least during steady state lamp operation; and (iii) a starter circuit for facilitating discharge of said ionizable fill; (b) a controllable radio frequency power source for powering said lamp excitation coil; (c) an electrical network for matching the impedance of said excitation coil to the impedance of the radio frequency power source, said impedance-matching network providing a single impedance matched value present during both lamp start-up and steady state lamp operation; (d) control means for causing said radio frequency power source, during lamp start-up, to ramp up in power to a peak level in excess of a steady state lamp operating power level, and then to decrease from the peak level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An auto-starting lamp system, comprising:
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(a) an electrodeless high intensity discharge lamp including; (i) an arc tube containing an ionizable fill; (ii) an excitation coil surrounding said arc tube for exciting a discharge in said ionizable fill at least during steady state lamp operation; and (iii) a starter circuit for facilitating discharge of said ionizable fill; (b) a controllable radio frequency power source for powering said lamp excitation coil; (c) an electrical network for matching the impedance of said excitation coil to the impedance of the radio frequency power source, said impedance-matching network providing a single impedance matched value during both lamp start-up and steady state lamp operation; (d) control means for causing said radio frequency power source, during lamp start-up, to ramp up in power to a peak level substantially in excess of a steady state lamp operating power level, and then to decrease from the peak level; (e) means for turning off power to said starter circuit if said lamp ionizable fill has failed to reach discharge within a first predetermined period of time; (f) wherein said lamp includes a gas probe for helping to initiate discharge of said lamp ionizable fill, said gas probe being charged with free electrons by an electron yielding circuit prior to powering of said starter circuit; and (g) wherein a time delay occurs between removal of said free electrons to said gas probe and beginning of said radio frequency power source to such ramp up in power. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification