Rapid starting of gas discharge lamps

Abstract

A starting device for a gas discharge lamp, to whose electrodes AC voltage is applied, comprises: a. first means electrically connected with at least one lamp electrode to apply to the lamp a transient voltage pulse which initially changes in amplitude in a polarity direction relatively in opposition to the polarity of the main voltage simultaneously supplied to the electrodes, b. said first means including circuitry to cause said pulse to thereafter change in amplitude in a polarity direction in aid of the polarity of the main voltage simultaneously supplied to the electrodes.

I claim: 
     
       1. In a starting device for a gas discharge lamp to which main AC voltage is supplied via lamp electrodes, a. first means electrically connected with at least one lamp electrode to apply to the lamp a . .transient voltage pulse.!. .Iadd.succession of transient voltage pulses of declining amplitudes .Iaddend.which initially . .changes.!. .Iadd.change .Iaddend.in amplitude in a polarity direction relatively in opposition to the polarity of the main voltage simultaneously supplied to .Iadd.at least one of .Iaddend.the electrodes,   b. said first means including circuitry to cause said . .pulse.!. .Iadd.pulses .Iaddend.to thereafter change in amplitude in a polarity direction in aid of the polarity of the main voltage simultaneously supplied to .Iadd.at least one of .Iaddend.the electrodes, whereby the lamp may be re-started when hot.   
     
     
       2. The device of claim 1 wherein said circuitry includes series connected capacitance and inductance characterized as causing said pulse to have a transient wave form, of a frequency substantially higher than the frequency of said main AC voltage. 
     
     
       3. The device of claim 2 including control means connected with said circuitry, to effect pulse production in response to predetermined change in amplitude of said main AC voltage. 
     
     
       4. The device of claim 3 wherein said control means includes zener diode means connected with at least one of said lamp electrodes, capacitance connected in series with said zener diode means to charge when the zener diode means conducts, and elements to discharge said capacitance when the voltage thereon reaches a predetermined level. 
     
     
       5. The device of claim 1 including second means to produce ionization of gas within the lamp during application of said voltage pulse to the lamp electrode. 
     
     
       6. In a starting device for a gas discharge lamp to which main AC voltage is supplied via lamp electrodes, a. first means electrically connected with at least one lamp electrode to apply to the lamp a transient voltage pulse which initially changes in amplitude in a polarity direction relatively in opposition to the polarity of the main voltage simultaneously supplied to the electrodes,   b. said first means including circuitry to cause said pulse to thereafter change in amplitude in a polarity direction in aid of the polarity of the main voltage simultaneously supplied to the electrodes, whereby the lamp may be re-started when hot,   c. and second means to produce ionization of gas within the lamp during application of said voltage pulse to the lamp electrode, said second means including an ion gun at the exterior of the lamp and proximate thereto, and other circuitry to apply an auxiliary multi-kilovolt pulse to the gun.   
     
     
       7. In a starting device for a gas discharge lamp to which main AC voltage is supplied via lamp electrodes, a. first means electrically connected with at least one lamp electrode to apply to the lamp a transient voltage pulse which initially changes in amplitude in a polarity direction relatively in opposition to the polarity of the main voltage simultaneously supplied to the electrodes,   b. said first means including circuitry to cause said pulse to thereafter change in amplitude in a polarity direction in aid of the polarity of the main voltage simultaneously supplied to the electrodes,   c. and second means to produce ionization of gas within the lamp during application of said voltage pulse to the lamp electrode, said second means including an ion gun, and other circuitry to apply an auxiliary voltage pulse to the gun, said other circuitry including a transformer T 2  connected with said gun and also having an intermediate tap, capacitance connected between said tap and the main voltage input to the lamp, and there being means to suddenly discharge said capacitor to approximately coincide with said application of said voltage pulse to the lamp electrode.   
     
     
       8. In a starting device for a gas discharge lamp to which main AC voltage is supplied via lamp electrodes, a. first means electrically connected with at least one lamp electrode to apply to the lamp a transient voltage pulse which initially changes in amplitude in a polarity direction relatively in opposition to the polarity of the main voltage simultaneously supplied to the electrodes,   b. said first means including circuitry to cause said pulse to thereafter change in amplitude in a polarity direction in aid of the polarity of the main voltage simultaneously supplied to the electrodes, and   c. ballast circuitry connected between a source of main AC voltage and the lamp, said circuitry including an autotransformer and a gate controlled bilaterally conductive device connected in series between source terminals, the autotransformer having an intermediate tap connected with a lamp electrode.   
     
     
       9. The device of claim 8 including an inhibit circuit connected between said tap and a source terminal to which said bilaterally conductive device is directly connected, and a pulse generator responsive to the output of the inhibit circuit to control the gate of said bilaterally conductive device. 
     
     
       10. For use in combination with a gas discharge lamp to which main AC voltage is supplied, a ballast circuit connected between the AC source and the lamp, the source having terminals, the lamp having two electrodes, said ballast circuit comprising a. an autotransformer and a gate controlled bilaterally conductive device connected in series between said source terminals, and   b. the autotransformer having an intermediate tap connected with one lamp electrode,   c. the other lamp electrode being electrically connected with a source terminal to which the bilaterally conductive device is also electrically connected.   
     
     
       11. The ballast of claim 10 including an inhibit circuit connected between said tap and the source terminal to which said bilaterally conductive device is directly connected, and a pulse generator responsive to the output of the inhibit circuit to control the gate of said device. .Iadd. 
     
     
       12.  A starting device for a gas discharge lamp to which a low frequency main AC voltage and a succession of multiple transient ignition voltage oscillations per half wave of higher frequency than that of the main AC voltage and in a polarity direction in aid of and/or in opposition to the polarity of the main voltage are supplied via lamp electrodes, said ignition voltage oscillations being produced in a capacitive inductive oscillatory circuit, characterized in that the oscillatory circuit is connected for the supply of pulses (16), always performing an initial ignition amplitude change (16a) in opposition to the polarity of the main AC voltage (15) and subsequently an ignition amplitude change (16b) in a polarity direction in aid of the polarity of the main AC voltage. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 
     
     
       13.  In a starting device for a gas discharge lamp to which main AC voltage is supplied via lamp electrodes, the combination comprising (a) first means including circuitry and control means and connected with at least one lamp electrode for applying to the lamp transient voltage pulses,   (b) said circuitry for generating and applying said transient voltage pulses including series connected capacitance and inductance, said series connected capacitance and inductance being arranged to cause each of the pulses initially changing in amplitude in a polarity direction relatively in opposition to the polarity of the main AC voltage simultaneously supplied to the electrode and thereafter changing in amplitude in a polarity direction in aid of the polarity of the main voltage, said series connected capacitance and inductance defined to generate in each half cycle of the main AC voltage a sequence of transient voltage pulses of declining amplitudes all of which are in a polarity direction relatively in opposition to the polarity of the main voltage simultaneously supplied to the electrodes, the first pulse of said sequence of transient voltage pulses having the largest amplitude, whereby the lamp may be immediately re-started when hot, and   (c) said control means connected with said circuitry to effect pulse production in response to a predetermined change in amplitude of said main AC voltage. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       14.  The combination of claim 13 including additional means to produce ionization of gas within the lamp during application of said voltage pulses to the lamp electrode, said additional means including an ion gun at the exterior of the lamp and proximate thereto, and other circuitry to apply an auxiliary multi-kilovolt pulse to the gun. .Iaddend.