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. 23, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 15, 1998
Masahiko Kamata, Yokohama, JP;
Tsutomu Kakitani, Yokohama, JP;
Keiichi Shimizu, Yokohama, JP;
Keiji Takahashi, Nagai, JP;
Fuminori Nakaya, Miura, JP;
Abstract
The electrodes of a discharge lamp are prevented from reaching damaging temperatures which tend to occur when the discharge lamp is near the end of its useful life. The combination of a discharge lamp and luminaire contribute to ensuring the discharge lamp remains unilluminated when nearing the end of its useful life to prevent high temperature damage. Load circuit characteristics are set to provide low release voltage and high short-circuit current during full-intensity illumination, and high release voltage and low short-circuit current during dimmed operation. The discharge lamp operating in a dimmed mode at the end of its useful life is switched to full-intensity illumination mode to ensure the discharge lamp becomes unilluminated. This configuration prevents high temperatures at the electrodes from damaging the glass bulb, base, socket and other components of the discharge lamp and luminaire.