JPH1154290A - Light source device for discharge lamp - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a light source device for a discharge lamp, provided with a control means for making the light source device unlightable for a specified time, after the discharge lamp has been lighted out. SOLUTION: This light source device for a discharge lamp comprises a high- voltage generating circuit for lighting 5 which lights and drives a discharge lamp 7, a lighting condition detecting circuit which outputs a lighting or lighting- out detecting signal of the discharge lamp 7 and a start of lighting restricting circuit 6 which restricts the lighting drive operation of the discharge lamp by the high-voltage generating circuit for lighting 5 for a specified time, on the basis of the result of the detection of the lighting-out of the discharge lamp 7 by the lighting condition detecting circuit.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a light source device for a discharge lamp, and more particularly, to a light source device for a discharge lamp (discharge lamp). The present invention relates to a light source device for a discharge lamp having a function that contributes to extending the life of a discharge lamp.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a discharge lamp such as a high-pressure mercury lamp has been generally used as a light source for observing a fluorescence microscope or a high-intensity light source. At the time of lighting such a discharge lamp, a trigger discharge by a high voltage is necessary due to its characteristics. When a high voltage is applied between the electrodes of the discharge lamp, an arc discharge is started, and the mercury evaporates due to the heat generated by the discharge. When the mercury completely evaporates within a few minutes, the emission characteristics of the discharge lamp are stabilized.

[0003] The time from the start of discharge to the stabilization of the light emission characteristics is generally called "starting time". During this “starting time”, the amount of emitted light is poor and the emission characteristics are not stable, so that it is not suitable for use as observation light with a microscope or the like.

Further, turning off the discharge lamp during the process of evaporating mercury during the "starting time", that is, turning off the light before the emission characteristics are stabilized, adversely affects the life of the discharge lamp. For this reason, turning off the light at an arbitrary point should be prohibited. However, it is not preferable in terms of safety in an emergency to add a means for prohibiting turning off the discharge lamp during the “starting time”.

[0005]

In order to prohibit turning off at any time as described above, it is usually specified that the prohibition of turning off at any time is specified in the instruction manual of the discharge lamp. Although there are many cases, just by giving an instruction based on a reference time such as "Do not turn off for 10 minutes after lighting", is the actual discharge lamp ending the "starting time" and reaching the period where the emission characteristics are stable? There was a problem that it could not be clearly identified whether or not it was.

On the other hand, once turned off, the discharge lamp has a characteristic that it cannot be turned on again immediately because of the high mercury vapor pressure.
In other words, after a certain period of time has passed, when the arc tube temperature of the discharge lamp is lowered to a certain level of mercury vapor pressure, restart is possible. This time is called "restart time", and about 10 minutes is required unless a special high pressure discharge lamp is used.

During this "restart time", applying a high voltage to the discharge lamp for lighting must be avoided in order to shorten the life of the discharge lamp. There was also a problem that it was only instructing.

In rare cases, the discharge lamp may not be lit even when a high voltage for lighting is applied. Therefore, the conventional light source device detects the lighting of the discharge lamp, and detects the light emitting diode (LED).
Some devices have a means for indicating that the lamp has been turned on by emitting light, but even in this case, a means for indicating that the “starting time” has ended is not provided, and the user actually observes the discharge lamp. However, there is a problem that it is necessary to confirm the stable state of the emission characteristics of the discharge lamp or to determine that the "starting time" has ended from the lapse of time after lighting.

In particular, when using a discharge lamp with a microscope,
In general, a lamp house is provided separately from the light source device, and the lamp house is attached to a microscope. This lamp house blocks leakage of light other than the observation light from the lamp house in consideration of the fact that light other than the observation light leaks from the lamp house to the outside, which obstructs observation. It has a structure in which it is not known whether the light is on.

For this purpose, a display means for displaying that the discharge lamp is turned on by a light emitting diode or the like is provided in the power supply device. However, from the viewpoint of securing a desktop space, the user rarely places the power supply device in a place that is immediately visible, such as near a microscope. Therefore, even in the case of the power supply device provided with the display means, there is a problem that it is difficult for the user to determine whether or not the discharge lamp is lit.

Further, applying a high voltage to the discharge lamp after lighting shortens the life of the discharge lamp, so that it is necessary to detect whether or not the discharge lamp is lit. As a general lighting detection means, the lamp current of the discharge lamp is detected to determine whether the discharge lamp is turned on or off. As other lighting detection means, a voltage signal proportional to the luminous flux of the lamp is detected using an optical sensor as in the invention described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-283280, and based on this voltage signal, the discharge lamp is detected. Lighting,
Techniques for determining the lifetime have been proposed.

However, even in this case, there is no disclosure of detecting that the discharge lamp has passed the “starting time” and the light emission characteristics have become stable, and notifying the user.

As other means for detecting the lighting and non-lighting of the discharge lamp, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 5-340802 and 57-13
As in the invention described in Japanese Patent No. 9317, the energy of light other than visible light, which is the main object, is separated by a cold mirror, and the light other than visible light is converted into electric energy by a photoelectric conversion element and displayed by the electric energy. There is also proposed a device having a means for driving a function and enabling visual judgment of lighting of a discharge lamp. However, even in the case of these technologies, even if the lighting of the discharge lamp is detected and the lighting state is displayed, the detection is not performed until the discharge lamp has passed the "starting time" and the emission characteristics have entered a stable period. I haven't.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a light source device for a discharge lamp in which after the discharge lamp is turned off, the lighting is restricted and the life of the discharge lamp is extended. Another object of the present invention is to provide a light source device for a discharge lamp that notifies that the time until the light emission characteristics of the discharge lamp has stabilized and that the light emission characteristics of the discharge lamp are in a stable state. Things.

[0015]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a light source device for a discharge lamp, which includes a lighting drive circuit for driving a discharge lamp and a restart until the light can be re-lit after the discharge lamp is turned off. Lighting limit determining means for measuring time and determining whether lighting limitation is necessary based on the measurement result; and lighting for limiting lighting driving operation during the restart time based on an output result from the lighting limit determining means. And limiting means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a light source device for a discharge lamp, a lighting drive unit for lighting and driving the discharge lamp, a lighting detection unit for outputting a detection signal according to lighting or extinguishing of the discharge lamp, and a discharge lamp. Light emission characteristic measuring means for measuring the time from the start of lighting to the time when the light emission characteristic is stabilized, and the state from the start of lighting to the light emission characteristic being stabilized based on the measurement result of the light emission characteristic measurement means. And a notifying means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a light source device for a discharge lamp, a lighting drive unit for lighting and driving the discharge lamp, a lighting detection unit for outputting a detection signal according to lighting or extinguishing of the discharge lamp; A light emission characteristic determining unit that measures a time until the light emission characteristic reaches a stable state after the start of lighting, and a notification that the light emission characteristic of the discharge lamp is in a stable state based on the measurement result of the light emission characteristic determination unit. Means.

The operation of the present invention will be described below. Claim 1
According to the invention, the lighting restriction determining means measures a restart time from when the discharge lamp is turned off until relighting becomes possible, and determines whether or not the lighting restriction is necessary based on the measurement result. In the case where the lighting restriction is required based on the output result from the lighting device, the lighting limiting means limits the lighting driving operation during the restart time of the lighting driving circuit. Therefore, during the restart time from when the discharge lamp is turned off to when the discharge lamp can be turned on again, re-lighting of the discharge lamp can be prohibited, thereby prolonging the life of the discharge lamp.
In addition, even when the discharge lamp is turned off, if the lighting restriction determining unit determines that the lighting restriction is not necessary, the lighting driving unit can immediately drive the discharge lamp to be turned on. Lighting can be performed immediately.

However, in general, when the discharge lamp is turned off, the power switch is often turned off. In this case, all the power supplies of the discharge lamp power supply are turned off. Power must be secured. in this case,
Although a battery-powered timer can be installed, for example, by using a time period for discharging the electric energy charged in the capacitor at the time of lighting through a resistor, there is no need for another power source such as a battery. It can be simply and inexpensively constructed.

As the driving power source, a photoelectric element for converting light energy of a discharge lamp into an electric signal can be used to obtain electric energy for charging a capacitor.
By using such a photoelectric element, a circuit configuration with less influence of noise can be obtained.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the time from when the discharge lamp is turned on to when the emission characteristics of the discharge lamp reaches a stable state (hereinafter referred to as "starting time") is measured, and based on the measurement result. The state from the start of lighting to the stable state of the light emission characteristics is notified to the user. That is, the fact that the discharge lamp is turned on is detected based on the current of the discharge lamp or the like, and is notified to the user by optical information, for example, by notification means using an LED, and this is continued until the time when the “starting time” ends.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the time from when the discharge lamp is turned on is measured, and when the "starting time" has passed, the light emission characteristics of the discharge lamp are predicted to be stable. This informs the user of the stable state of the emission characteristics of the discharge lamp.

In this case, the measurement of the time required to reach the stable state of the light emission characteristics can be realized by a timer circuit, but can also be realized by a simple circuit configuration utilizing the charging time of the capacitor. An optoelectronic device can be used as a means for detecting the timing of the arrival.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to start the lighting of the discharge lamp by the lighting driving means, and to receive light emitted from the discharge lamp, and the photoelectric element converts light energy into electric energy. . Utilizing the electric energy, the user is notified by the light information by the notification means using the LED similarly to the invention of claim 2. Specifically, LED
Using the notification means using, for example, the time when the "start time" is predicted to end after the discharge lamp is turned on is set in advance, and during the start time, the notification means using the LED is used. The "starting time LED" is turned on, and when the set time has passed, the "stable display LED" of the notification means using the LED is turned on, and the user is notified that the "starting time" of the discharge lamp has ended. To inform. As a result, the user can be informed that the discharge lamp can be used for observation of a microscope or the like by the notification by the notification means.

Further, in the instruction manual or the like, the "starting time LE
By explaining the description of "D" and prohibiting turning off the light within the "starting time", the user is prevented from turning off the discharge lamp during the "starting time" when the "starting time LED" is lit. You can also do so.

Further, the light source device for a discharge lamp can be separated from a power supply device and arranged in a lamp house of a microscope. Thus, the observer can determine that the emission characteristics of the discharge lamp are stable in the observation posture without looking at the power supply device.
In this case, in addition to the method of supplying energy to the discharge lamp light source device in the lamp house from the power supply device, the power supply device and the discharge lamp light source device are used by using only electric energy obtained from the photoelectric element. It can also be separated.
By separating the power supply device, the power supply device is completely electrically insulated from the control system for performing lighting processing and the like, and the influence of noise can be reduced.

[0027]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, a light source device for a discharge lamp according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 shows a case where the first embodiment is applied to a light source device for a discharge lamp for a microscope, and a power supply device 1 and a lamp house 2 are separated from each other.

In the discharge lamp light source device shown in FIG. 1, the power supply device 1 includes an on / off operation switch S1, a lamp control circuit 4, and a lighting drive of a discharge lamp 7 in a lamp house 2, which will be described later. Lighting high voltage generation circuit 5 as a lighting driving means for turning on and a reference voltage generator 31 for supplying a reference voltage
A third comparator 14 for comparing an output of a second integrator 17 to be described later with a reference voltage from a reference voltage generator 31,
An OR (OR) circuit 15 for calculating the logical sum of the output of the third comparator 14 and the output of the first comparator 12 described later;
A lighting start limiting circuit 6 serving as lighting limiting means for limiting the lighting start time of the discharge lamp 7 described later based on the output of the R circuit 15.
Are provided.

On the other hand, the lamp house 2 includes a discharge lamp 7 which is driven to be lit by the lighting high voltage generating circuit 5, a photoelectric element 10 for converting light from the discharge lamp 7 into a voltage, a reference voltage generator 32, A lighting detector comprising a first comparator 12, the photoelectric element 10, a first integrator 16 for integrating the output voltage of the photoelectric element 10, a reference voltage generator 33, and a reference voltage from the reference voltage generator 33; And a second comparator 13 for comparing the output voltage of the first integrator 16 with a lighting state determining means for determining the lighting state of the discharge lamp 7, and inverting the output of the second comparator 13. An inverter circuit (inverter) 11, a first AND circuit 18 for calculating the logical product of the output of the first comparator 12 and the output of the inverter circuit 11, and the lighting drive by the output of the first AND circuit 18 Starting LED and start time notification means for notifying the start time of the (light emitting diode) 8 composed of the discharge lamp 7,
A second AND circuit 19 which takes the logical product of the output of the first comparator 12 and the output of the second comparator 13 and a stable display L which is lighted and driven by the output of the first AND circuit 18
And a stable state notifying means for notifying the stable state of the discharge lamp 7 composed of the ED 9.

A lighting limit determining means for determining whether or not the lighting of the discharge lamp 7 is required by the photoelectric element 10, the second integrator 17, the reference voltage generator 31, the third comparator 14, and the OR circuit 15 is constituted. doing.

The first integrator 16 and the second integrator 17
Have a configuration using a capacitor and a resistor, and operate with a predetermined time constant.

As a typical example of the photoelectric element 10, there is a solar cell. If a high-capacity solar cell is used, it is possible to supply all the power required to drive each element in the lamp house 2.

FIG. 2 shows the appearance of the lamp house 2 in which the start time LED 8 and the stability display LED 9 are incorporated.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.
When the switch S is turned on after a sufficient time has passed after the discharge lamp 7 has been turned off, the lighting start limiting circuit 6 is off. Therefore, the discharge lamp 7 is driven by the high voltage generated by the lighting high voltage generation circuit 5. Start discharging. The lit discharge lamp 7 emits light energy. Unnecessary light that is not used as the original main observation light is taken into the photoelectric element 10. This photoelectric device 1
The light energy is converted into a voltage (electric energy) by 0, and compared with the reference voltage from the reference voltage generator 32 by the first comparator 12, and when the voltage becomes higher than the reference voltage, a positive logic signal is generated. Is output.

On the other hand, the voltage obtained from the photoelectric element 10 is the first voltage.
When the integrated potential is lower than the reference voltage from the reference voltage generator 33, the second comparator 13 outputs a negative logic signal. Second comparator 1
The output signal from 3 is converted by the inverter circuit 11 into a reverse logical value. In the first AND circuit 18, a signal of negative logic is output from the first comparator 13. Second comparator 1
The output signal from 3 is converted by the inverter circuit 11 into a reverse logical value. The first AND circuit 18 drives and turns on the start time LED 8 only when both signals of the first comparator 12 and the inverter circuit 11 have positive logic. The case where both signals are of positive logic means that the voltage from the photoelectric element 10 is equal to or higher than the reference voltage for the first comparator 12 and the output voltage of the first integrator 16 is the reference voltage for the second comparator 13. It is limited to the case of the voltage or less. That is, it is limited to only within the “starting time” after the discharge lamp 7 is turned on.

When a predetermined time (“starting time”) is predicted until the emission characteristic of the discharge lamp 7 stabilizes, the output voltage of the first integrator 16 changes to the second comparator. When the reference voltage exceeds thirteen reference voltages, a positive logic signal is output. The second AND circuit 19 includes a first comparator 12, a second comparator
Only when the signals from both of the comparators 13 have positive logic, the lamp stability display LED 9 is driven to be lit.

The case where both signals are of positive logic means that the voltage from the photoelectric element 12 is equal to or higher than the reference voltage of the first comparator 12 (the state in which the discharge lamp 7 is turned on) and the first Is higher than or equal to the reference voltage of the second comparator 13 (a state in which the light emission characteristic of the discharge lamp 7 has been stabilized).

In such a state, the lamp stability display LED
9 turns on. The positive logic signal from the second comparator 13 is
Since the inverter 11 converts the signal into a negative logic signal, a negative logic signal is input to the first AND circuit 18, whereby the starting time LED 8 is turned off and the discharge lamp 7 has passed the “starting time” state. It represents that. After the “starting time”, the user is notified that turning off the light does not affect the life of the discharge lamp 7.

On the other hand, the positive logic signal from the first comparator 12 is input to the OR circuit 15 in the power supply 1 to turn on the lighting start limiting circuit 6 and to turn on the high voltage by the lighting high voltage generating circuit 5. Limit occurrences. This prevents a high voltage from being applied when the discharge lamp 7 is turned on.

In this state, when the switch S1 is turned off, the discharge lamp 7 is turned off, the photoelectric element 10 cannot output a voltage, the output of the first comparator 12 becomes negative logic, and the first A
Both the ND circuit 18 and the second AND circuit 19 output signals of negative logic. As a result, both the start time LED 8 and the lamp stability display LED 9 are turned off.

On the other hand, the electric charge charged in the capacitor of the second integrator 17 is discharged via the resistor, and the discharged voltage is lower than the reference voltage of the third comparator 14 in the power supply 1. Unless the positive logic signal from the OR circuit 15 is input to the lighting start restriction circuit 6 and the switch S is turned on, the lighting high voltage generation circuit 5 does not operate.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, for convenience, the capacitor of the first integrator 16 and the capacitor of the second integrator 17 can be grasped as separate components. However, in an actual circuit, they are configured as one. It is also possible.

FIG. 3 shows a timing chart of the charging / discharging operation when the capacitor of the first integrator 16 and the capacitor of the second integrator 17 are integrated into one.

The photoelectric element 10 obtains electric energy obtained by converting the light from the discharge lamp 7, detects the lighting of the discharge lamp 7, and turns on the starting time LED8. While the discharge lamp 7 is lit, electric energy from the photoelectric element 10 is charged in one capacitor. When the charging voltage of this capacitor exceeds the "stable display voltage A" shown in FIG. 3, the stability display LED 9 is turned on.

On the other hand, when the discharge lamp 7 is turned off, the electric energy charged in the capacitor is discharged via the resistor. When the voltage of the capacitor that keeps discharging becomes lower than the voltage (lighting limit voltage B) for turning off the lighting start limiting circuit 6 that controls the lighting high voltage generating circuit 5, the discharge lamp 7 can be relighted. The time until the light emission characteristics of the discharge lamp 7 are stabilized and the time until the light can be turned on again are set based on the resistance values of the charge and discharge circuits and the reference voltage.

Further, when the discharge lamp 7 goes out in the middle of lighting, the photoelectric element 10 cannot convert sufficient energy and does not reach the reference voltage of the first comparator 12, so that the first Since a negative logic signal is output from the comparator 12 and the second integrator 17 is not charged with sufficient electric energy, a negative logic signal is output from the OR circuit 15. The lighting start restriction circuit 6 does not operate, and the discharge lamp 7 can be immediately lighted again.

(Embodiment 2) In Embodiment 1 described above, the time constant of the resistor and the capacitor is used for setting the time. However, in Embodiment 2, the lighting state determination means and the lighting limit are used. A timer is used in each of the determination means. In this case, a timer is connected instead of the first integrator 16 and the second integrator 17 shown in FIG. The timer starts measuring time in response to a signal from the photoelectric element 10. The measurement time of the timer is set by the first integrator 16 and the second integrator 17 in the first embodiment.
Set in the same way as when determining the time constant of Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and thus, the same operations and effects as those of the first embodiment can be exhibited.

(Embodiment 3) In this embodiment 3, instead of the photoelectric device 10 of the embodiment 1, Cd
A circuit similar to that of the first embodiment can be configured by using a photoconductive element such as an S cell and utilizing the characteristic that the resistance value changes depending on the amount of light received on the light receiving surface of the photoconductive element. According to the third embodiment, the same operation and effect as those of the first embodiment can be exhibited.

(Embodiment 4) FIG. 4 shows Embodiment 4 of the present invention. In the fourth embodiment, a thermoelectric element 20, a voltage amplifying circuit 21 for amplifying an output voltage of the thermoelectric element 20, a reference voltage generator, as a lighting restriction determining means instead of the lighting restriction determining means in the first embodiment. 31 and the third comparator 14 are used. That is, the thermoelectric element 20 in this case is used only for a circuit that determines whether or not the lighting of the discharge lamp 7 is restricted.

In FIG. 4, in the fourth embodiment, the means for indicating that the "starting time" has ended after the discharge lamp 7 has been turned on and the time until the light emission characteristics have stabilized is widely used at present. Current detection, or
The stable display LED 9 as in the first embodiment may be used.

FIG. 4 shows a fourth embodiment in which the thermoelectric element 2
0 has a characteristic that a higher potential is generated as the ambient temperature is higher. The voltage (electric energy) generated in the thermoelectric element 20 by the heat generated when the discharge lamp 7 is turned on is amplified by the voltage amplification circuit 21. The amplified signal is input to the third comparator 14 inside the power supply device 1 and compared with the reference voltage from the reference voltage generator 31 supplied to the third comparator 14. Thermoelectric element 2
The voltage from 0 (the output voltage of the voltage amplifying circuit 21) becomes higher than the reference voltage when the discharge lamp 7 is sufficiently heated after the discharge lamp 7 is turned on. As a result, the third comparator 14 outputs a positive logic signal. Is output. The signal of the positive logic is input to the lighting start limiting circuit 6, which limits the relighting of the discharge lamp 7.

When the switch S1 is turned off after the discharge lamp 7 has been turned on for a sufficient time, the discharge lamp 7 is turned off. However, due to the residual heat of the discharge lamp 7 and the residual heat of its surroundings, the thermoelectric element 20 is not heated. Until the voltage amplified by the voltage amplifying circuit 21 does not fall below the reference voltage, the lighting start limiting circuit 6 continues to operate, and even if the switch S1 is turned on, the lighting high voltage generating circuit 5 does not work.

In the case where the discharge lamp 7 is cut off during lighting, the discharge lamp 7 and its surroundings generate a small amount of heat.
The output voltage from the voltage amplifying circuit 21 does not reach the reference voltage, so that the lighting start limiting circuit 6 is not driven by the output of the third comparator 14, and the discharge lamp 7 can be relighted. . Other configurations and operations are the same as those in the first embodiment. According to such a fourth embodiment,
The residual heat of the discharge lamp 7 and the residual heat around the discharge lamp 7 are monitored by the thermoelectric element 20 to restrict relighting of the discharge lamp 7 when the amount of heat is large, and to restrict relighting of the discharge lamp 7 when the amount of heat is small. In addition, re-lighting can be performed without any trouble in the case where the discharge lamp 7 is cut off during lighting.

(Fifth Embodiment) FIG. 5 shows a fifth embodiment. In the fifth embodiment, a current detection circuit 22 is used instead of the photoelectric element 10 of the first embodiment, and the discharge lamp 7 is used.
Is detected by a current detection circuit 22 to operate in the same manner as the photoelectric device 10.

Further, in the fifth embodiment, the discharge lamp 7 is provided in the lamp house 2, and each circuit other than the discharge lamp 7 is provided in the power supply device 1. Also, instead of the photoelectric element 10,
The circuit configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the current detection circuit 22 is connected to the drive circuit of the discharge lamp 7, and the operation after the output of the current detection circuit 22 is the same as that of the first embodiment. . According to the fifth embodiment, the discharge lamp 7 can be installed at a position distant from the power supply device 1, and the same operation and effect as in the case of the first embodiment can be exhibited.

In the first to fifth embodiments described above,
Although LEDs are used for confirming "starting time" and "stable display", a sounding means such as a chime may be provided instead of the LEDs, or a flag or the like may be provided from the lamp house 2 instead of each LED. A mechanical display means such as starting up may be used. As shown in FIG. 6, the photoelectric element 10 is disposed at an appropriate position in the lamp house 2 so as not to hinder the optical path of the direct light from the discharge lamp 7 or the reflected light from the mirror 30 provided in the lamp house 2. I have. This is because the lamp house 2 is full of reflected light and scattered light of the light from the mercury lamp, and it is considered that the light is received.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and changes are possible.

According to the present invention described above, the following configuration can be added.

(1) In the light source device for a discharge lamp according to claim 1, the lighting limit judging means includes means for detecting lighting of the discharge lamp, and integration for integrating an output signal from the means with a predetermined time constant. Means for measuring the restart time by comparing an output signal from the integration means with a predetermined reference value. Normally, when turning off the discharge lamp, the power switch is often turned off, in which case all the power supplies of the power supply are turned off, so another power supply must be secured for time measurement However, according to the configuration of the supplementary note (1), the restart time is measured by comparing the output signal from the integration means with a predetermined reference value. This makes it possible to easily and inexpensively configure the lighting restriction determination means without having to perform another operation and without having another power source such as a battery.

(2) In the discharge lamp light source device described in the appendix 1, the means for detecting the lighting of the discharge lamp detects light energy from the discharge lamp.

(3) In the light source device for a discharge lamp according to Supplementary Note 1, the means for detecting the lighting of the discharge lamp detects a driving current of the discharge lamp.

(4) In the light source device for a discharge lamp according to claim 1, the lighting restriction determining means has a thermoelectric element for detecting thermal energy from the discharge lamp, and outputs an output signal of the thermoelectric element to a predetermined reference value. The restart time is measured by comparing with. According to this configuration, it is possible to determine whether or not it is necessary to limit the lighting of the discharge lamp according to the amount of residual heat in or around the discharge lamp.

(5) The light source device for a discharge lamp according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the lighting detecting means detects light from the discharge lamp.

(6) In the light source device for a discharge lamp according to the second or third aspect, the lighting detection means detects a drive current of the discharge lamp.

(7) In the light source device for a discharge lamp according to claim 2 or 3, the light emission characteristic judging means is means for detecting lighting of the discharge lamp, and integrates an output signal from this means with a predetermined time constant. Integrating means for comparing the output signal from the integrating means with a predetermined reference value to measure the time from the start of the lighting until the emission characteristic becomes stable. And According to this configuration,
By comparing the output signal from the integrating means with a predetermined reference value, the starting time is measured, without the need for a battery-powered timer,
Further, the light emission characteristic determination means can be configured simply and inexpensively without having another power source such as a battery.

(8) The means for detecting the lighting of the discharge lamp according to Appendix 7 detects light energy from the discharge lamp.

(9) In the light source device for a discharge lamp according to Supplementary Note 7, the means for detecting the lighting of the discharge lamp detects a drive current of the discharge lamp.

[0068]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a light source device for a discharge lamp which can extend the life of the discharge lamp and can immediately relight the discharge lamp when it goes out. be able to.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the user is informed that the light emission characteristics of the discharge lamp reach a stable state from the time when the discharge lamp is turned on.
It is possible to provide a light source device for a discharge lamp, which can prevent a light-extinguishing operation in this state and thereby prolong the life of the discharge lamp.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the fact that the luminous characteristics of the discharge lamp are in a stable state is notified, so that the discharge lamp can be used in a state where the luminous characteristics of the discharge lamp are stable. The light source device for use can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a discharge lamp light source device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a lamp house of the discharge lamp light source device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a timing chart for explaining a charge / discharge operation of the capacitor according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a discharge lamp light source device according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a light source device for a discharge lamp according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an arrangement of a discharge lamp and a photoelectric element in each embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Power supply device 2 Lamp house 4 Lamp control circuit 5 High voltage generation circuit for lighting 6 Lighting start restriction circuit 7 Discharge lamp 8 Starting time LED 9 Lamp stable display LED 10 Photoelectric element 11 Inverter circuit 12 First comparator 13 Second 14 Third comparator 15 OR (OR) circuit 16 First integrator 17 Second integrator 18 First AND circuit 19 Second AND circuit 20 Thermoelectric element 21 Voltage amplifier 22 Current detection circuit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A lighting drive circuit for lighting and driving a discharge lamp, and a restart time from a time when the discharge lamp is turned off to a time when re-lighting is enabled is measured. A light source device for a discharge lamp, comprising: lighting limit determining means; and lighting limiting means for limiting a lighting drive operation during the restart time based on an output result from the lighting limit determining means. 2. A lighting drive unit for lighting and driving a discharge lamp, a lighting detection unit for outputting a detection signal in accordance with lighting or extinguishing of the discharge lamp, and from the start of lighting of the discharge lamp until the emission characteristic becomes stable. A light emission characteristic measuring means for measuring the time of the light emission; and a notifying means for notifying a state from the start of lighting to a stable state of the light emission characteristic based on the measurement result of the light emission characteristic measurement means. Light source device for electric lights. 3. A lighting drive means for lighting and driving a discharge lamp; a lighting detection means for outputting a detection signal in accordance with lighting or extinguishing of the discharge lamp; A light emission characteristic determining means for measuring the time of the discharge lamp; and a notifying means for notifying that the light emission characteristic of the discharge lamp is in a stable state based on the measurement result of the light emission characteristic determination means. Light source device.