Discharge lamp lighting device

• US 6,066,921 A
• Filed: 01/29/1997
• Issued: 05/23/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Asahi Matsushita Electric Works Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakamura, Toshiaki, Kato, Nobuo, Hamada, Hideki, Maruyama, Ryosuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Wilson
• Application Number:
  US08/727,629
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: 315/307, 315/224, 315/71, 315/DIG. 5, 315/291, 315/82, 315/56, 315/119, 362/260, 362/263
• US Class Current: 315/71
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0094 Arrangement of electronic circuits separated from the light source, e.g. mounting of housings for starter circuits for discharge lamps arrangements being part of the light source holder F21V17/06, F21S43/195
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0408 built into the vehicle body, e.g. details concerning the mounting of the headlamps on the vehicle body B60Q1/0491, B60Q1/05 take precedence, integrated front ends B62D25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/172 High-intensity discharge light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/192 Details of lamp holders, terminals or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/2881 Load circuits; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/2925 against abnormal lamp operating conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/384 in case of hot-restriking
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/388 for a transition from glow to arc
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/00 Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps

Abstract

A discharge lamp lighting device comprising a lamp socket for connecting the discharge lamp; a stabilizing circuit connected to the power source and outputting a voltage to the lamp socket; a starting circuit connected between the stabilizing circuit and the lamp socket, and activated before the discharge lamp begins discharging to generate a high voltage required to start discharging, and deactivated after discharging begins; and a means for disabling the starting circuit when the discharge lamp is not installed in response to the installation or non-installation of the discharge lamp to the lamp socket.

Preferably, the starting circuit is integrated with the lamp socket, thus forming a lamp socket unit comprising a starting circuit.

Claims

1. A discharge lamp lighting device comprising:

a lamp socket including a pair of main electrodes for connecting a discharge lamp;

a stabilizing circuit connected to a power source and outputting a voltage to said lamp socket;

a starting circuit connected between said stabilizing circuit and said lamp socket, activated before said discharge lamp begins discharging to generate a high voltage required to start discharging, and deactivated after discharging begins;

means for deactivating said starting circuit when said discharge lamp is not installed in response to installation or non-installation of said discharge lamp to said lamp socket; and

said deactivating means including an auxiliary electrode to deactivate said starting circuit when said discharge lamp is not installed by interrupting a connection between said auxiliary electrode and one of said pair of main electrodes, and activating said starting circuit when said discharge lamp is installed by connecting conductively said auxiliary electrode and said one of said pair of main electrodes.

3. A discharge lamp lighting device according to claim 1 wherein said deactivating means is a means that switches the electrical connection between said stabilizing circuit and said starting circuit on and off in response to installation or non-installation of said discharge lamp.

4. A discharge lamp lighting device according to claim 1 wherein said deactivating means is a means forming a closed circuit to the output of said stabilizing circuit when said discharge lamp is not installed, and opening said closed circuit when said discharge lamp is installed.

5. A discharge lamp lighting device according to claim 1 wherein said deactivating means is provided inside said lamp socket.

6. A discharge lamp lighting device according to claim 1 wherein said starting circuit is assembled integrally to said lamp socket.

7. A discharge lamp lighting device according to claim 5 wherein the connection between said auxiliary electrode and one of the main electrodes is established by a conductive part of said discharge lamp.

8. A discharge lamp lighting device according to claim 7 wherein the conductive part of said discharge lamp is an outside electrode provided in the base of said discharge lamp.

9. A discharge lamp lighting device according to claim 7 wherein the conductive part of said discharge lamp is the center electrode provided in the base of said discharge lamp.

10. A discharge lamp lighting device according to claim 1 wherein one main electrode of said lamp socket is connected to an output terminal of said stabilizing circuit by means of said starting circuit, and the other main electrode is connected directly to the output terminal of said stabilizing circuit.

11. A discharge lamp lighting device according to claim 1 wherein both of the pair of main electrodes for said lamp socket are connected to the output terminal of said stabilizing circuit by means of said starting circuit such that a high voltage differing in polarity is applied to each electrode, and

a high voltage blocking means is connected to said auxiliary electrode.

12. A discharge lamp lighting device according to claim 11 wherein said high voltage blocking means is a secondary coil of a high voltage transformer provided in said starting circuit and generating a high voltage approximately equal to and having the same polarity as the high voltage applied to the other main electrode.

13. A discharge lamp lighting device according to claim 1 wherein said auxiliary electrode is connected to a conductive part of said discharge lamp when said discharge lamp is connected, and the position of this auxiliary electrode connection is disposed toward the inside of said lamp socket from the contact position between the other main electrode and the conductive part of said discharge lamp.

14. A discharge lamp lighting device according to claim 1 wherein said starting circuit is located outside of said lamp socket.

15. A discharge lamp light device according to claim 14 wherein said high voltage blocking means connected to said auxiliary electrode is integrally assembled with said lamp socket.

2. A discharge lamp lighting device comprising:

a lamp socket including a pair of main electrodes for connecting a discharge lamp;

a stabilizing circuit connected to a power source and outputting a first voltage and a second voltage that is lower than said first voltage;

a starting circuit that is connected between said stabilizing circuit and said lamp socket, being activated when said first voltage is input from said stabilizing circuit to discharge said discharge lamp by generating a high voltage required to start said discharge lamp discharging, and being deactivated when said second voltage is input thereto after discharging begins, connecting said stabilizing circuit directly to said lamp socket to stably discharge said discharge lamp;

means for deactivating said starting circuit in response to installation or non-installation of said discharge lamp to said lamp socket; and

said deactivating means including an auxiliary electrode to deactive said starting circuit when said discharge lamp is not installed by interrupting a connection between said auxilialy electrode and one of said pair of main electrodes, and activating said starting circuit when said discharge lamp is installed by connecting conductively said auxiliary electrode and said one of said pair of main electrodes.

16. A discharge lamp lighting unit comprising

a lamp socket member for connecting a discharge lamp;

a case comprising a high voltage transformer housing and a main igniter circuit housing;

a high voltage transformer housed in said high voltage transformer housing and forming part of a main igniter circuit embedded in a filler; and

said main igniter circuit housed in said main igniter circuit housing and embedded in the filler.

17. A discharge lamp lighting unit according to claim 16 wherein said high voltage transformer housing and said main igniter circuit housing are separated by a partition wall.

18. A discharge lamp lighting unit according to claim 17 wherein said high voltage transformer housing is formed on one side of said case, and said main igniter circuit housing is housed on the other side of said case.

19. A discharge lamp lighting unit according to claim 18 wherein an opening to said high voltage transformer housing is oriented in the same direction as the opening of said lamp socket member of said case.

20. A discharge lamp lighting unit according to claim 18 wherein an opening to said main igniter circuit housing is oriented in the same direction as the opening of said lamp socket member of said case.

21. A discharge lamp lighting unit according to claim 17 wherein said lamp socket member is disposed between said high voltage transformer housing and said main igniter circuit housing.

22. A discharge lamp lighting unit according to claim 21 wherein openings of said high voltage transformer housing and said main igniter circuit housing are oriented in the same direction as the opening of said lamp socket member of said case.

23. A discharge lamp lighting unit according to claim 21 wherein openings of said high voltage transformer housing and said main igniter circuit housing are oriented in the direction opposite that of the lamp socket of said lamp socket member of said case.

24. A discharge lamp lighting unit according to claim 17 wherein said partition wall is formed separately to said case.

25. A discharge lamp lighting unit according to claim 16 wherein said case has an opening opened to said main igniter circuit housing and said high voltage transformer housing in the direction perpendicular to the orientation of the opening of said lamp pocket means.

26. A discharge lamp lighting unit according to claim 16 wherein said case is separated into said main igniter circuit housing and a part integrating said lamp socket member and said high voltage transformer housing, and said lamp socket member and said high voltage transformer are embedded in a filler contained in said main igniter circuit housing.

27. A discharge lamp lighting unit according to claim 16 further comprising a deactivating means for deactivating said igniter circuit when said discharge lamp is not installed.

28. A discharge lamp lighting unit according to claim 27 wherein said deactivating means is provided in said lamp socket member.

29. A discharge lamp lighting unit according to claim 16 wherein said case has a mounting member for mounting said discharge lamp lighting unit to a discharge lamp reflector or barrel.