Portable HMI fixture with integral ballast

• US 6,545,416 B1
• Filed: 03/27/2001
• Issued: 04/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ken S. Fisher, Kevin C. Baxter
• Original Assignee: Ken S. Fisher, Kevin C. Baxter
• Inventors: Fisher, Ken S., Baxter, Kevin C.
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, DAVID HUNG
• Application Number:
  US09/818,323
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 315/56, 315/71, 315/72, 362/264, 362/218, 362/310, 362/327
• US Class Current: 315/56
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/30 Pivoted housings or frames
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/02 the elements being transformers, impedances or power supply units, e.g. a transformer with a rectifier
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/15 Thermal insulation
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/406 for theatres, stages or film studios
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/00 Circuit arrangements or apparatus for igniting or operating discharge lamps structurally associated with the discharge lamps H01J61/54, H01J61/56

Abstract

A portable HMI light fixture with integral ballast for use in the motion picture and television industries. The inventive HMI fixture includes: a housing having a front portion and a rear portion; a socket secured in the front portion for removably receiving an HMI bulb; a ballast secured in the rear portion; and a thermal barrier separating the front and rear portions. Preferably the thermal barrier includes a reflective forward surface to direct radiated energy away from the rear portion, provides thermal insulation between the front portion and rear portion, and restricts airflow between the front and rear portions.

Claims

1. A portable HMI light fixture having an integral ballast comprising;

a housing having an interior;

a thermal barrier separating said interior into a front portion and a rear portion;

a socket secured in said front portion for removably receiving an HMI bulb; and

an electronic ballast secured in said rear portion.

2. The HMI light fixture of claim 1 wherein said thermal barrier comprises a reflector for reflecting light and heat radiating from an HMI bulb away from said ballast.

3. The HMI light fixture of claim 1 wherein said thermal barrier comprises an insulative bulkhead.

4. The HMI light fixture of claim 1 wherein said electronic ballast includes an ignitor.

5. The HMI light fixture of claim 1 wherein said electronic ballast has an operating frequency of 200 kilohertz.

6. The HMI light fixture of claim 1 wherein said ballast include hot re-strike capability.

7. The HMI light fixture of claim 1 further comprising a switch having a first position and a second position wherein when said switch is in said first position, electrical power is not applied to said ballast and when said switch is moved from said first position to said second position, electrical power is applied to said ballast and said ballast automatically causes a high voltage ignition pulse to be applied to an HMI bulb.