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. 16, 2001
Filed:
Jul. 02, 1996
Robert Kern, Sasbachwalden, DE;
Robert Bosch GmbH, Stuttgart, DE;
Abstract
A device for operating a gas discharge lamp (,), with the device including an energy supply circuit which provides an alternating-current voltage (U,) or an alternating current (I,) having a predetermined period (T,) during operation at normal rating in order to feed the gas discharge lamp (,) with a predetermined electrical power. When the average lamp power is reduced with respect to operation at normal rating, an extension of the period (T,+T,, T,+T,) is provided. The amount of the extension of the period (T,+T,, T,+T,) is a function of the amount of the reduction in power. The device of the invention for operating the gas discharge lamp (,) extensively prevents an extinguishing of the light arc located in the gas discharge lamp (,) during the pole-reversal process, and therefore assures re-ignition following the pole-reversal process, even during operation with reduced power. A preferred use of the device of the invention is in a gas discharge lamp installed in a motor vehicle.