The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 07, 1992
Filed:
Dec. 04, 1990
John P Cocoma, Clifton Park, NY (US);
George A Farrall, Rexford, NY (US);
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
A starting circuit for an electrodeless HID lamp, comprising a series resonant LC circuit of variable impedance, provides a starting voltage to a fixed or movable starting probe substantially simultaneously with the application of power to the excitation coil from the main power source. In a preferred embodiment, the starting circuit provides a starting signal to a gas probe starter of the type including a fixed starting electrode coupled to a starting chamber which contains a relatively low-pressure gas and is attached to the outer wall of the arc tube. Resonant operation of the starting circuit results in the application of a sufficiently high voltage to ignite a glow discharge in the low-pressure starting chamber. In turn, the starting voltage is capacitively coupled to the arc tube, ionizing the fill and initiating an arc discharge therein. In an alternative embodiment, additional circuitry is provided for ensuring that the glow discharge in the low-pressure starting chamber is extinguished after initiation of the arc discharge.