Power supply for gas discharge tube

A method of controlling the flow of power to a gas discharge tube from a power supply circuit which includes a first valve means and a transformer having primary winding means in circuit with the first valve means and secondary winding means coupled to the gas discharge tube, said first valve means being operative to control the flow of current to the primary winding means, comprising the steps of:

• providing an enabling signal to the first valve means, conducting current to the primary winding means through said first valve means, said current being functionally related to the magnitude of the enabling signal for inducing load current flow in the secondary winding means to the discharge tube, disabling said first valve means so that current flow to the primary winding means is interrupted, returning energy to said primary winding means from energy storage means, and regulating the magnitude of the enabling signal so that the current in the secondary winding means is maintained within preselected limits.

A power supply for gas discharge tubes and including oscillator means, said oscillator means including a first transformer having a primary winding means and a secondary winding means adapted to be connected to a gas discharge tube,

• said oscillator means also including first electrical valve means connected to the primary winding means and having first gate means, said first electrical valve means being constructed and arranged to conduct current to the primary winding means whose magnitude is functionally related to the magnitude of the gate signal supplied to the first gate means,
• feedback means coupled to said primary winding means and to the first gate means and being operative to provide a first gate signal to the first gate means when voltage is induced in said secondary winding means,
• and current regulating means in circuit with said feedback means and said first gate means and including sensing means coupled to said secondary winding means for sensing the magnitude of the current therein and for controlling the magnitude of the current in the secondary winding means whereby the current flowing to the gas discharge tube from the secondary winding means is maintained within predetermined limits.

A method of controlling the flow of power to a gas discharge tube from a power supply circuit which includes valve means and a transformer having primary winding means in circuit with the valve means and secondary winding means coupled to the gas discharge tube, said valve means being operative to control the flow of current to the primary winding means, comprising the steps of:

• providing an enabling signal to the valve means, conducting current to the primary winding means through said valve means, said current being functionally related to the magnitude of the enabling signal for including load current flow in the secondary winding means to the discharge tube, sensing the magnitude of the current flowing in said secondary winding means, and regulating the magnitude of the enabling signal so that the current in the secondary winding means is maintained within preselected limits.

A power supply for gas discharge tubes and including oscillator means, said oscillator means including a transformer having a primary winding means and a secondary winding means adapted to be connected to a gas discharge tube,

• said oscillator means being connected to the primary winding means and being operative to conduct alternating current to the primary winding means, said oscillator means including control means responsive to the magnitude of a control signal for controlling the magnitude of the alternating primary winding current,
• and current regulating means including sensing means in circuit with said secondary winding means for sensing the magnitude of the secondary current flowing to said gas discharge tube, said sensing means being coupled to said control means and being operative to provide a control signal whose magnitude is functionally related to the magnitude of the secondary current whereby the current flowing to the gas discharge tube from the secondary winding means is maintained within predetermined limits.

A method of controlling the flow of power to a gas discharge tube from a power supply circuit which includes oscillator means, a transformer having primary winding means in circuit with the oscillator means and secondary winding means coupled to the gas discharge tube, said oscillator means being operative to control the flow of current to the primary winding means, comprising the steps of:

• providing an enabling signal to the oscillator means, conducting current to the primary winding means from said oscillator means, said current being functionally related to the magnitude of the enabling signal for inducing load current flow in the secondary winding means to the discharge tube, sensing the magnitude of the current flowing in said secondary winding means, and regulating the magnitude of the enabling signal so that the current in the secondary winding means is maintained within preselected limits.