Electric high-pressure discharge lamp for use as a motor vehicle headlamp

• US 5,051,658 A
• Filed: 10/02/1990
• Issued: 09/24/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Van Pijkeren, Dirk
• Primary Examiner(s): LaRoche, Eugene R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): YOO, DO H
• Application Number:
  US07/591,575
• Time in Patent Office: 357 Days
• Field of Search: 315/82, 315/58, 315/151, 313/318, 313/51, 362/221, 362/265
• US Class Current: 315/82
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 61/56 One or more circuit elements structurally associated with the lamp

Abstract

The lamp has a holder body in which an end portion of the discharge vessel is secured. A light-receiving window of a photoelectrical element is positioned inside the holder body and aimed at a sealed end portion of the discharge vessel. The photoelectrical element may be connected to the control of the electric supply of the lamp in order to obtain a high luminous flux within a short period after ignition of the lamp. External factors have little influence on the control action thanks to the position of the window.

Claims

1. An electric high-pressure discharge lamp for use as a motor vehicle headlamp, comprising

a discharge vessel defining a lamp axis and enclosing a discharge space between, said discharge vessel having first and second portion end portions each comprising a respective seal adjoining said discharge space, a pair of electrodes and a gas filling in said discharge space, and current supply conductors of the pair of electrodes extending from each electrode through a respective seal to the exterior of said discharge vessel,

a holder body of insulating material in which said first end portion of said discharge vessel is indetachably secured, said holder body having electrical contacts connected to respective said current supply conductors,

characterized in that:

a light-receiving window of a photoelectric element is positioned inside said holder body and aimed at said first end portion of said discharge vessel.

2. An electric discharge lamp as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said light receiving window is mounted in contact with said first end portion of said discharge vessel.