Ignition Device

Abstract

In order further to improve the ignition of gas-discharge lamps, in particular high-pressure gas discharge lamps, there is proposed an ignition circuit arrangement for a discharge lamp, with which there is associated a supply circuit for providing an ac supply voltage to the lamp. The ignition circuit arrangement according to the invention (1) includes an ignition transformer (20) which is connected to a trigger circuit (2) on the primary side and to the lamp (3) on the secondary side for transmitting an ignition pulse; an input energy source (30) for the ignition trigger circuit; a first switch means (40) in the trigger circuit and a control means which actuates the first switch means. The ignition circuit arrangement according to the invention is distinguished in that to assist with the ignition process an energy storage means (10) controllable by the control means, in particular a voltage source controllable by the control means, is arranged in the supply circuit in series with the gas-discharge lamp (3). In that case the controllable energy storage means serves to provide an additional energy supply during the ignition process beyond the actual ac supply for the lamp. In addition the invention concerns a method of igniting a gas-discharge lamp.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.