Discharge lamp lighting device

• US 7,397,199 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2005
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Harison Toshiba Lighting Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Harison Toshiba Lighting Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Masami
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Thuy V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu; Jimmy T
• Application Number:
  US11/258,095
• Publication Number:
  US 20060087252A1
• Time in Patent Office: 986 Days
• Field of Search: 315/209.R, 315/224, 315/226, 315/291, 315/307, 315/DIG.7, 315/237, 315/276
• US Class Current: 315/291
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/2806 with semiconductor devices and specially adapted for lamps without electrodes in the vessel, e.g. surface discharge lamps, electrodeless discharge lamps
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/00 Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps

Abstract

Output of a chopper circuit is converted to a rectangular wave by a push-pull circuit, and is provided to a step-up transformer. When a switch is turned on, the control voltage of the chopper circuit is relatively low, and a high output voltage is provided to the transformer. Thus, the discharge lamp starts with certainty. When the discharge lamp starts, the transistor is turned on, and the resistance generating the control voltage is connected in parallel to other resistance, and the control voltage is increased. Thus, the output of the chopper circuit is decreased, and thereafter becomes a constant voltage. Thus, the dielectric barrier discharge lamp is started with certainty, and also is driven with stability.

Claims

1. A discharge lamp lighting device comprising:

a transformer for supplying an illuminating voltage to a dielectric barrier discharge lamp;

a voltage control circuit for generating and outputting a voltage supplied to a primary side of said transformer and controlling the generated voltage based on feedback of the outputted voltage;

a converter having an output connected across the primary side of the transformer to convert the output of said voltage control circuit, in positive phase or reverse phase; and

a start-up control circuit which detects an illumination current of said dielectric barrier discharge lamp, and switches the output voltage of said voltage control circuit between at start-up time and other than start-up time of said dielectric barrier discharge lamp by varying the voltage fed back to said voltage control circuit.

2. A discharge lamp lighting device according to claim 1, wherein said voltage control circuit is a step-down chopper circuit or a step-up chopper circuit.

3. A discharge lamp lighting device according to claim 1, wherein said start-up control circuit is such that the output voltage of said voltage control circuit is controlled so as to be higher at start-up time of said dielectric barrier discharge lamp than at time other than start-up time of said dielectric barrier discharge lamp.

4. A discharge lamp lighting device according to claim 1, said start-up control circuit further comprising:

a resistance circuit connected between the output ends of said voltage control circuit; and

a parallel circuit, configured with at least one resistor and a switching device, connected in parallel to said resistance circuit;

wherein the conduction of said switching device is changed at the end of the start-up time, the at least one resistor being connected in parallel to said resistance circuit by the conducting of said switching device.

5. A discharge lamp lighting device according to claim 4, wherein said switching device is configured of a transistor wherein the conducting and non-conducting is controlled by the illuminating current of said dielectric barrier discharge lamp.

6. A discharge lamp lighting device comprising:

a transformer for supplying an illuminating voltage to a dielectric barrier discharge lamp connected to a secondary side;

a voltage control circuit for supplying voltage to a primary side of said transformer;

a converter having an output connected across the primary side of the transformer to convert the output of said voltage control circuit, in positive phase or reverse phase;

an oscillating circuit for generating a signal of which the oscillating frequency is varied; and

a start-up control circuit which detects the start-up time or other than start-up time of said dielectric barrier discharge lamp, based on the illumination current of said dielectric barrier discharge lamp, and switches the oscillating frequency of said oscillating circuit depending on said start-up time or illuminating time.

7. A discharge lamp lighting device according to claim 6, wherein said voltage control circuit is a step-down chopper circuit or a step-up chopper circuit.

8. A discharge lamp lighting device according to claim 6, wherein said start-up control circuit is such that the oscillating frequency of said oscillating circuit is controlled so as to be higher at start-up time of said dielectric barrier discharge lamp than at a time other than start-up time of said dielectric barrier discharge lamp.

9. A discharge lamp lighting device according to claim 6, said start-up control circuit further comprising:

a capacitor and a resistance circuit for determining the oscillating frequency of said oscillating circuit;

wherein the resistance value of said resistance circuit is switched between at start-up time and other than start-up time of said dielectric barrier discharge lamp.

10. A discharge lamp lighting device according to claim 9, said resistance circuit comprising two resistors connected serially;

wherein said start-up control circuit switches the resistance value of said resistance circuit by short-circuiting one of said two resistances, with the switching device of which the conducting and non-conducting is controlled by the illuminating current of said dielectric barrier discharge lamp.