EP0011410B1 - Circuits électroniques de démarrage pour lampes à décharge - Google Patents

Circuits électroniques de démarrage pour lampes à décharge Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0011410B1
EP0011410B1 EP79302368A EP79302368A EP0011410B1 EP 0011410 B1 EP0011410 B1 EP 0011410B1 EP 79302368 A EP79302368 A EP 79302368A EP 79302368 A EP79302368 A EP 79302368A EP 0011410 B1 EP0011410 B1 EP 0011410B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
capacitor
circuit
switch
starter
lamp
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP79302368A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0011410A1 (fr
Inventor
Mark Weinberg
Mendel Krichevsky
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ben Gurion University of the Negev Research and Development Authority Ltd
Original Assignee
Ben Gurion University of the Negev Research and Development Authority Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ben Gurion University of the Negev Research and Development Authority Ltd filed Critical Ben Gurion University of the Negev Research and Development Authority Ltd
Publication of EP0011410A1 publication Critical patent/EP0011410A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0011410B1 publication Critical patent/EP0011410B1/fr
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B41/00—Circuit arrangements or apparatus for igniting or operating discharge lamps
    • H05B41/02—Details
    • H05B41/04—Starting switches
    • H05B41/042—Starting switches using semiconductor devices
    • H05B41/044—Starting switches using semiconductor devices for lamp provided with pre-heating electrodes
    • H05B41/046—Starting switches using semiconductor devices for lamp provided with pre-heating electrodes using controlled semiconductor devices

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to electronic starter circuits for igniting discharge lamps.
  • an electronic starter circuit for a discharge lamp provided with pre-heatable electrodes, each of which has a first terminal connectable to a respective input terminal of an AC voltage source and one of the first terminals being connected to the AC voltage source through an inductance.
  • the circuit comprises a thyristor switch connected in series to a pair of second terminals of the lamp electrodes, and an ignition circuit which repeatedly renders the thyristor switch conductive during a period which does not exceed a given limit if the lamp fails to ignite.
  • the starter circuit proposed in the above application further comprises a first capacitor having first and second plates respectively connected to the anode of the thyristor through a diode and to the gate of the thyristor to a Shockley diode or diac and a second capacitor and appropriate discharge resistors.
  • the first capacitor receives during each positive half-cycle a charge which is greater than that which it loses through the discharge resistor during the following negative half-cycle, thereby progressively increasing its charge and consequently decreasing the charge which is taken by the second capacitor during successive positive half-cycles.
  • the interval of time during which the thyristor is open is progressively reduced and finally reaches a zero.
  • This previously proposed electronic starter circuit therefore operates for a predetermined number of cyclces irrespective of whether the lamp ignites. If the lamp does ignite during the operation of the circuit it will be repeatedly turned off and on and will therefore create an annoying flicker until the predetermined number of cycles is reached. Also wastage of energy will occur due to the operation of the starter circuit when this is no longer required.
  • an electronic starter circuit for a discharge lamp having pre-heatable electrodes provided with respective first terminals connectable to a pair of input terminals of an AC voltage source and respective second terminals between which a thyristor switch is connected, said starter circuit further comprising an ignition circuit connected to the switch to render it repeatedly conductive during a number of cycles which does not exceed a given limit if the lamp fails to ignite and including a capacitor which is connected to the anode of the switch through a diode which is conductive when said anode is positive with respect to the cathode of the switch and to the gate of the switch through a threshold element, the number of cycles for which the ignition circuit repeatedly renders the switch conductive being dependent on the capacity of the capacitor, characterised in that the gate-connected side of the threshold element is connected to the cathode of the switch through an impedance and in that the threshold element of the ignition circuit has its threshold level set so that it is inhibited from conducting when the voltage across the switch falls to the level it adopts when the
  • the starter of the present invention operates on the principle of ignition time, resulting in a safe, flickerless and a more rapid fluorescent-lamp starting system.
  • the electronic starter of the present invention includes a controlled switch which is constituted by a thyristor and an ignition circuit.
  • thyristor used herein is meant to refer to the electronic solid state components, such as, a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR), a Diac, a Triac and their equivalents.
  • the actuation of the controlled switch i.e. the rendering of said thyristor into its conduction state in order to pass current therethrough for igniting the lamp, is repeatedly effected for a predetermined period of time by means of properly chosen values of the components of the ignition circuit.
  • This predetermined period of time is chosen or adjusted to be of a duration which is always at least equal to, and preferably greater than the longest duration required for a positive sure ignition of a lamp under the commonly acceptable conditions for igniting the kind of lamps for which the proposed starter is intended.
  • FIG. 1 there are shown input terminals 2 and 4 which are intended to be connected to a standard AC supply source.
  • the terminals 2 and 4 are shunted by a series arrangement of an inductance (choke) 6 and a discharge lamp 8.
  • the lamp 8 is provided with preheatable electrodes 10 and 12.
  • the terminals of the electrodes which are remote from the terminals 2 and 4 are respectively connected across a starter circuit including an ignition circuit, a capacitor 14 and a SCR 16, which capacitor is adapted to protect the SCR against pulses of high voltage from the mains.
  • the components of the ignition circuit include a threshold element in the form of a zener diode 18, connected between the gate of the SCR 16 and a first capacitor 22, a diode 20 connected between the anode of the SCR 16 and the plate of the capacitor 22, remote from the zener diode 18, and a discharge resistor 24 in parallel with the diode 20.
  • a capacitor 28 which protects the gate of the SCR 16 against impulses of high voltage which may appear in the circuit and which also acts as an impedance to establish a potential between the gate of SCR 16 and the cathode of the SCR 16.
  • capacitor 22 starts to charge and the charging current passes through the diode 20.
  • the gate of the thyristor 16 will tender the latter conductive and the thyristor will fire, when the potential across it reaches its firing voltage V th'
  • the thyristor will close and there will be formed an instant high voltage pulse for igniting the lamp.
  • the capacitor 14 and the choke 6 effectively act to widen the igniting pulse.
  • capacitor 22 receives an additional charge V as is seen in Figure 2.
  • V the capacitor 22 becomes fully charged, after the predetermined number of cycles, the thyristor 16 will no longer fire and the heating of the lamps electrodes will cease.
  • the lamp 8 does fire, the voltage across the lamp will become lower and the zener diode 18 in combination with the capacitor 22 will no longer be capable of firing the thyristor, the threshold value of the diode being set to enable this effect to be achieved.
  • a second capacitor 26 connected in parallel with the capacitor 22 between the cathode of the SCR 16 and the plate of the capacitor 22 remote from the zener diode 18.
  • the combined values of the two capacitors 22 and 26 will determine the period of time (or the number of cycles) in which the ignition circuit repeatedly renders the thyristor conductive to ignite the lamp.
  • the second capacitor 26 also facilitates a substantial decrease in the values of the capacitor 22 and of the discharge resistor 24, and this second capacitor will cause the current which passes through the zener diode 18 and the thyristor 16, to be advantageously smaller.
  • the second capacitor When the second capacitor is in circuit, upon the actuation of the starter, it is first charged through the diode 20. Until the potential across the capacitor 26 reaches the breakdown voltage of the zener diode 18, there will be no current flow through capacitor 22. During the heating of the lamp's electrodes, capacitor 26 discharges through the resistor 24 and since the potential across the capacitor 26 is higher than the potential across the capacitor 22, the latter capacitor does not discharge.
  • FIG 3 there is shown a modification of the circuit of Figure 1 in which the discharging resistor 24 is connected in parallel with the second capacitor 26. Also, instead of the capacitor 28 of Figure 1 there is provided a resistor which, together with the zener diode 18, determines the potential at which the thyristor is ignited or conducts. The added diode 32 serves to provide additional protection to the circuit from high voltage impulses originating at the AC source to form impulses which are formed during the ignition process. Otherwise, the operation of this circuit is similar to the operation of the circuit of Figure 1.

Landscapes

  • Circuit Arrangements For Discharge Lamps (AREA)

Claims (7)

1. Un circuit de starter électronique pour un tube à décharge (8) muni d'électrodes pré- chauffables (10, 12) pourvues de premières bornes respectives, connectables à une paire de bornes d'entrée (2, 4) d'une source de tension de courant alternatif, et de secondes bornes respectives entre lesquelles un commutateur à thyristor (16) est branché, le dit circuit de starter comportant en outre un circuit d'allumage connecté au commutateur (16), afin de la rendre conductible de façon réitérable pendant un nombre de périodes qui ne dépassera pas une limite donnée si le tube n'arrive pas à s'allumer, et y compris un condensateur (22) branché à l'anode du commutateur (16) par une diode (20), conductible lorsque la dite anode este positive par rapport à la cathode du commutateur (16), et au déclencher du commutateur par un élément limiteur (18), tandis que la périodicité pour laquelle le circuit d'allumage rend le commutateur (16) conductible de façon réitérable dépend de la puissance utile du condensateur (22), caractérisé par le fait que le côté - connecté au déclencheur - de l'élément limiteur (18) est branché sur la cathode du commutateur (16) par une impédance (28 ou 30), et par le fait que l'élément limiteur (18) du circuit d'allumage a un niveau de stabilisation réglé de sorte à limiter sa conductibilité, lorsque la tension à travers le commutateur (16) descend au niveau qu'elle atteint lorsque le tube est allumé.
2. Un circuit comme spécifié dans la spécification 1, caractérisé par le fait qu'un second condensateur (26) est branché entre la cathode du commutateur à thyristor (16) et la plaque du premier condensateur (22) qui se trouve éliogné de l'élément limiteur (18).
3. Un circuit comme spécifié dans la spécification 1 ou la spécification 2, caractérisé par le fait qu'un resistor à décharge (24) est monté en parallèle avec la diode (20).
4. Un circuit comme spécifié dans la spécification 2, caractérisé par le fait qu'un resistor à décharge (24) est monté en parallèle avec le second condensateur (26).
5.Un starter comme spécifié dans la spécification 4, comportant en outre une diode (34) montée en série entre les dits premier et second condensateurs (22, 26).
6. Un starter comme spécifié dans chacune des spécifications de la 1 à 5, caractérisé par le fait que élément limiteur est une diode de Zener (18).
7. Un starter comme spécifié dans chacune des spécifications de la 1 à 5, comportant en outre une diode (32) montée entre le tube et à la fois l'anode du commutateur à thyristor (16) et le circuit d'allumage pour la protection due circuit contre les impulsions de haut tension.
EP79302368A 1978-11-06 1979-10-30 Circuits électroniques de démarrage pour lampes à décharge Expired EP0011410B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IL55875 1978-11-06
IL55875A IL55875A (en) 1978-11-06 1978-11-06 Eletronic starters for discharge lamps

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0011410A1 EP0011410A1 (fr) 1980-05-28
EP0011410B1 true EP0011410B1 (fr) 1983-06-01

Family

ID=11050645

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP79302368A Expired EP0011410B1 (fr) 1978-11-06 1979-10-30 Circuits électroniques de démarrage pour lampes à décharge

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0011410B1 (fr)
JP (1) JPS5566897A (fr)
DE (1) DE2965584D1 (fr)
IL (1) IL55875A (fr)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5750797A (en) * 1980-09-11 1982-03-25 Mitsubishi Electric Corp Device for firing discharge lamp
JPS58192293A (ja) * 1982-05-06 1983-11-09 三菱電機株式会社 放電灯点灯装置
JPS6185096U (fr) * 1984-11-12 1986-06-04
JPH0665168B2 (ja) * 1988-05-18 1994-08-22 春夫 橋本 蛍光灯電子点灯装置

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL158054B (nl) * 1968-11-20 1978-09-15 Auco Nv Van twee aansluitorganen voorziene hulpinrichting voor het ontsteken van een gasontladingsbuis.
NL7012255A (fr) * 1970-08-19 1972-02-22
GB1511237A (en) * 1974-07-02 1978-05-17 Gen Electric Circuits for operating electric discharge lamps

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0011410A1 (fr) 1980-05-28
IL55875A0 (en) 1979-01-31
IL55875A (en) 1981-07-31
DE2965584D1 (en) 1983-07-07
JPS5566897A (en) 1980-05-20

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