Switching power supply for discharge lamp and method for powering a lamp
AssigneeLempi SA
InventorAlain Denes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention concerns a method for powering a discharge lamp with a switching power supply. Said method is characterised in that it consists in: applying a voltage firing the lamp, then after the lamp has been energized, applying a lower service voltage to the firing voltage. The firing and service voltages can be generated by using a resonant circuit at the terminals of which a chopped voltage is applied with different frequencies. The invention also concerns a light source comprising a discharge lamp and a switching power supply. Said light source can be equipped with devices for measuring several parameters, such as power, light intensity or the amplitude of vibrations. The invention is useful for producing public lighting.
Claims17
A light source comprising:
- a discharge lamp;
- and
- a switch mode power supply powering the discharge lamp, the switch mode power supply supplying the lamp selectively with at least one startup voltage and with a service voltage lower than the startup voltage;
- wherein the switch mode power supply comprises:
- voltage chopping means;
- a transformer supplied by the chopping means, the transformer having a first output providing the startup voltage and a second output supplying the service voltage;
- and
- means for selectively applying the startup voltage and the service voltage to the lamp.
A light source comprising:
- a discharge lamp;
- and
- a switch mode power supply powering the discharge lamp, the switch mode power supply supplying the lamp selectively with at least one startup voltage and with a service voltage lower than the startup voltage;
- wherein the switch mode power supply comprises:
- voltage chopping means;
- a transformer supplied by the chopping means, the transformer having a first output providing the startup voltage and a second output supplying the service voltage;
- and
- means for selectively applying the startup voltage and the service voltage to the lamp;
- and wherein the switch mode power supply supplies the lamp with the service voltage after startup, the switch mode power supply comprising means for determining the end of startup as a function of the duration of startup voltage application.
A light source comprising:
- a discharge lamp;
- and
- a switch mode power supply powering the discharge lamp, the switch mode power supply supplying the lamp selectively with at least one startup voltage and with a service voltage lower than the startup voltage;
- wherein the switch mode power supply comprises:
- voltage chopping means;
- a transformer supplied by the chopping means, the transformer having a first output providing the startup voltage and a second output supplying the service voltage;
- and
- means for selectively applying the startup voltage and the service voltage to the lamp;
- and wherein the switch mode power supply supplies the lamp with the service voltage after startup, the switch mode power supply comprising means for determining the end of startup as a function of the current flowing through the lamp.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.