Starter assembly for a gas discharge lamp
First Claim
1. A starter assembly for a gas discharge lamp, the starter assembly comprising:
- at least one switch located in the gas discharge lamp;
a control unit operable for actuating the switch;
wherein the control unit actuates the switch for a predetermined length of time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention comprises a unique starter assembly for a gas discharge lamp. The starter assembly comprises a main current path with a first leg connected to one electrode of a gas discharge lamp, and a second leg connected to a second electrode of the gas discharge lamp. A starting current path is provided between the first and second electrode, and comprises an magnetic switch. The magnetic switch is actuated by an electromagnet controlled by a control circuit. The control unit may be programmed with the start time required for a particular lamp design. In an alternative embodiment, the starter assembly further comprises a radio frequency identification system. The radio frequency identification system includes a gas discharge lamp transponder. The lamp transponder is used to communicate specific lamp information to the control circuit. The control circuit may then modify the start time for that lamp based on this information.
19 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A starter assembly for a gas discharge lamp, the starter assembly comprising:
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at least one switch located in the gas discharge lamp;
a control unit operable for actuating the switch;
wherein the control unit actuates the switch for a predetermined length of time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A starter assembly for a gas discharge lamp, the starter assembly comprising:
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a magnetic switch located in the gas discharge lamp;
an electronics module operable to actuate the magnetic switch, the electronics module further comprising;
an electromagnet;
a control unit operable to control the operation of the electromagnet;
wherein the electronics module actuates the magnetic switch for a pre-determined length of time. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A starter assembly for a gas discharge lamp comprising at least two electrodes, the starter assembly comprising:
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a normally open magnetic switch connected in series between the at least two electrodes of the gas discharge lamp an electromagnet operable to close the normally open magnetic switch;
a programmable microprocessor operable to control the operation of the electromagnet;
wherein the microprocessor is programmed to operate the electromagnet for a first predetermined length of time, thereby closing the magnetic switch for a first predetermined length of time. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A starter assembly for a gas discharge lamp assembly, the starter assembly comprising:
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at least one switch located in series between at least two electrodes of the gas discharge lamp;
a control unit operable for actuating the switch;
a base station electrically connected to said control unit; and
at least one radio frequency identification transponder located in the gas discharge lamp assembly that is in radio communication with the base station. wherein the control unit actuates the switch according to information received from the transponder. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of starting a gas discharge lamp comprising the steps of:
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connecting a normally open magnetic switch in series with at least two electrodes of gas discharge lamp;
closing said magnetic switch for a predetermined length of time with an electromagnet;
providing electric current through the electrodes and the magnetic switch during the predetermined length of time. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification