Fast reignition of a high intensity discharge lamp

An apparatus for a fast reignition of a high intensity discharge lamp comprising:

• a ballast operatively coupled to said lamp, and configured to receive power from a power supply;
• and
• a resistive-capacitive timer circuit configured to be charged by said power supply, discharge when said lamp ceases to receive power from said power supply, and output a timer voltage;
• wherein said ballast will not strike said lamp if said timer voltage is above a predetermined voltage level;
• wherein said timer circuit further comprises a resistive-capacitive circuit configured to be charged by said power supply when said lamp is receiving power from said power supply, to discharge when said timer circuit is in said timing phase, and to output a timer voltage;
• and
• wherein said control circuit is configured to permit said ballast to restrike said lamp when said timer voltage drops below a predetermined level which indicates that a cool-down period of said lamp has elapsed.

A method for a fast reignition of a high intensity discharge lamp comprising the steps of:

• shifting a timer circuit into a timing phase when said lamp has ceased to receive power from a power supply;
• producing a quantum of timing information using an internally powered timer system during said timing phase;
• and
• limiting a ballast from re-striking said lamp for a time period based at least in part on said quantum of timing information;
• wherein said timer circuit further comprises a resistive-capacitive circuit configured to be charged by said power supply when said lamp is receiving power from said power supply, to discharge when said timer circuit is in said timing phase, and to output a timer voltage;
• and
• wherein a control circuit is configured to permit said ballast to restrike said lamp when said timer voltage drops below a predetermined level which indicates that a cool-down period of said lamp has elapsed.