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:
Jan. 09, 2001
Filed:
May. 05, 1997
Robert Kern, Sasbachwalden, DE;
Robert Bosch GmbH, Stuttgart, DE;
Abstract
A device for operating a gas discharge lamp (,) is proposed, having a power supply circuit which makes available an alternating voltage (U,) or an alternating current (I,) of a predetermined period duration (T,) for the supply of the gas discharge lamp (,) with predetermined electrical power. During an intended reduction of the mean lamp rating compared to the operation at normal rating, an increase of the instantaneous power is provided within a half period duration (T,/2) prior to the pole change of the alternating voltage (U,) or alternating current (I,). Preferably, the duration of the increase of the instantaneous power is a function of the period duration (T,). The device according to the invention for operating the gas discharge lamp (,) largely prevents the arc comprised in the gas discharge lamp (,) from going out during the pole-changing process and therefore ensures reignition following the pole-changing process. A preferred application of the device according to the invention is a gas discharge lamp (,) which is installed in a motor vehicle.