Circuit arrangement for operation of a high-pressure gas discharge lamp on alternating current

Abstract

A circuit arrangement for generating an a.c. voltage, in particular the operating voltage of a high-pressure gas discharge lamp in a motor vehicle headlight, includes a transformer with a primary winding and a secondary winding which are closely linked together. These two windings form an autotransformer. The primary winding is connected at one terminal to a d.c. voltage source. At its other terminal, the intermediate tap of the transformer, it is connected to the secondary winding and also to a controlled switch. The controlled switch connects the intermediate tap to the negative terminal of the d.c. voltage source. The second terminal of the secondary winding is connected across a capacitor to a high-pressure gas discharge lamp which forms the output load. Output a.c. voltage, i.e., the operating voltage, is applied across this load. The switch is damped by the series connection of a resistor and a capacitor.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.