Neon discharging lamp lighting apparatus with improved lighting

• US 6,054,813 A
• Filed: 02/29/1996
• Issued: 04/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Harison Electric Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Harison Electric Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Watanabe, Shigeru, Takeda, Masaru, Abe, Eiji
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, DAVID HUNG
• Application Number:
  US08/609,047
• Time in Patent Office: 1,517 Days
• Field of Search: 315/219, 315/209 R, 315/283, 315/DIG. 5, 315/DIG. 7, 315/224, 315/291, 315/307
• US Class Current: 315/209.00R
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/2821 by means of a single-switch converter or a parallel push-pull converter in the final stage H05B41/285 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/2858 for protecting the lamp against abnormal operating conditions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 315/07 Starting and control circuits for gas discharge lamp using transistors

Abstract

A neon discharging lamp lighting apparatus comprises a high frequency inverter of which an asymmetrical ratio of an output voltage waveform thereof is designated from 10 to 60% and a low pressure type neon discharging lamp connected to the high frequency inverter. Since the high frequency inverter circuit applies to the low pressure type neon discharging lamp a voltage having a waveform with an asymmetrical ratio for allowing rays of light free from luminance irregularity to be emitted, fringes can be prevented from taking place in rays of light emitted by the low pressure type neon discharging lamp. Thus, the low pressure type neon discharging lamp can operate as a high quality light source.

Claims

1. A neon discharging lamp lighting apparatus, comprising:

a high frequency inverter of which an asymmetrical ratio of an output voltage waveform thereof is designated from 10 to 60%, said high frequency inverter being composed of Royer circuit; and

a low pressure type neon discharging lamp connected to said high frequency inverter;

wherein the Royer circuit comprises;

a power supply input terminal connected to a DC power supply;

a pair of a first transistor and a second transistor whose bases are connected to said power supply input terminal and whose emitters are grounded; and

a transformer having a first primary winding, a second primary winding, a third primary winding, and a secondary winding, the first primary winding having a center tap and being connected between a collector of said first transistor and a collector of said second transistor, the second primary winding being connected between said power supply input terminal and the center tap, the third primary winding being connected between the base of said first transistor and the base of said second transistor.

2. The neon discharging lamp lighting apparatus as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the number of turns of the first primary winding, the number of turns of the second primary winding, and the number of turns of the third primary winding are designated so that the asymmetrical ratio of the waveform of the output voltage of said transformer is in the range from 10 to 60%.

3. The neon discharging lamp lighting apparatus as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the Royer circuit further comprises:

a current regulating inductance disposed between said power supply input terminal and the second primary winding.

4. The neon discharging lamp lighting apparatus as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the Royer circuit further comprises:

a resonance condenser connected in parallel with the first primary winding.

5. The neon discharging lamp lighting apparatus as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the Royer circuit further comprises:

a ballast condenser disposed between one terminal of the secondary winding of said transformer and one terminal of said low voltage type neon discharging lamp.

6. A neon discharging lamp lighting apparatus, comprising:

a high frequency inverter of which an asymmetrical ratio of an output voltage waveform thereof is designated from 10 to 60%, said high frequency inverter being composed of a Royer circuit; and

a low pressure type neon discharging lamp connected to said high frequency inverter;

wherein the Royer circuit comprises;

a power supply input terminal connected to a DC power supply;

a pair of a first transistor and a second transistor whose bases are connected to said power supply input terminal and whose emitters are grounded; and

a transformer having a first primary winding, a second primary winding, and a secondary winding, the first primary winding having a center tap connected to said power supply input terminal and being connected between a collector of said first transistor and a collector of said second transistor, the second primary winding being connected between the base of said first transistor and the base of said second transistor.

7. The neon discharging lamp lighting apparatus as set forth in claim 6,

wherein the number of turns of the first primary winding and the number of turns of the second primary winding are designated so that the asymmetrical ratio of the waveform of the output voltage of said transformer is in the range from 10 to 60%.

8. The neon discharging lamp lighting apparatus as set forth in claim 6,

wherein the Royer circuit further comprises:

a current regulating inductance disposed between said power supply input terminal and the second primary winding.

9. The neon discharging lamp lighting apparatus as set forth in claim 6,

wherein the Royer circuit further comprises:

a resonance condenser connected in parallel with the first primary winding.

10. The neon discharging lamp lighting apparatus as set forth in claim 6,

wherein the Royer circuit further comprises:

a ballast condenser disposed between one terminal of the secondary winding of said transformer and one terminal of said low voltage type neon discharging lamp.

11. A neon discharging lamp lighting apparatus, comprising:

a power supply input terminal connected to a DC power supply;

a pair of a first transistor and a second transistor whose bases are connected to said power supply input terminal and whose emitters are grounded;

a transformer having a first primary winding, a second primary winding, a third primary winding, and a secondary winding, the first primary winding having a center tap and being connected between a collector of said first transistor and a collector of said second transistor, the second primary winding being connected between said power supply input terminal and the center tap, the third primary winding being connected between the base of said first transistor and the base of said second transistor; and

a low pressure type neon discharging lamp connected to the secondary wiring of said transformer.

12. The neon discharging lamp lighting apparatus as set forth in claim 11,

wherein the asymmetrical ratio of the waveform of the output voltage of said transformer is designated in the range from 10 to 60%.

13. The neon discharging lamp lighting apparatus as set forth in claim 12,

wherein the number of turns of the first primary winding, the number of turns of the second primary winding, and the number of turns of the third primary winding are designated so that the asymmetrical ratio of the waveform of the output voltage of said transformer is in the range from 10 to 60%.

14. The neon discharging lamp lighting apparatus as set forth in claim 11, further comprising:

a current regulating inductance disposed between the power supply input terminal and the second primary winding.

15. The neon discharging lamp lighting apparatus as set forth in claim 11, further comprising:

a resonance condenser connected in parallel with the first primary winding.

16. The neon discharging lamp lighting apparatus as set forth in claim 11, further comprising:

a ballast condenser disposed between one terminal of the secondary winding of said transformer and one terminal of the low pressure type neon discharging lamp.

17. A neon discharging lamp lighting apparatus, comprising:

a power supply input terminal connected to a DC power supply;

a pair of a first transistor and a second transistor whose bases are connected to said power supply input terminal and whose emitters are grounded;

a transformer having a first primary winding, a second primary winding, and a secondary winding, the first primary winding having a center tap connected to said power supply input terminal and being connected between a collector of said first transistor and a collector of said second transistor, the second primary winding being connected between the base of said first transistor and the base of said second transistor; and

a low pressure type neon discharging lamp connected to the secondary wiring of said transformer.

18. The neon discharging lamp lighting apparatus as set forth in claim 17,

wherein the asymmetrical ratio of the waveform of the output voltage of said transformer is designated in the range from 10 to 60%.

19. The neon discharging lamp lighting apparatus as set forth in claim 18,

wherein the number of turns of the first primary winding and the number of turns of the second primary winding are designated so that the asymmetrical ratio of the waveform of the output voltage of said transformer is in the range from 10 to 60%.

20. The neon discharging lamp lighting apparatus as set forth in claim 17, further comprising:

a current regulating inductance disposed between said power supply input terminal and the second primary winding.

21. The neon discharging lamp lighting apparatus as set forth in claim 17, further comprising:

a resonance condenser connected in parallel with the first primary winding.

22. The neon discharging lamp lighting apparatus as set forth in claim 17, further comprising:

a ballast condenser disposed between one terminal of the secondary winding of said transformer and one terminal of the low pressure type neon discharging lamp.