RU2498541C2 - Inductive supply circuit of gas-discharge lamp - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: electricity.

SUBSTANCE: gas-discharge lamp unit with inductive supply has secondary circuit with starting circuit which provides preliminary heating at energy supply to secondary circuit with frequency of preliminary heating at energy supply to secondary circuit with operating frequency. In one version of the invention implementation starting circuit triggers preheating capacitor connected between electrodes of the lamp and working capacitor located between secondary winding and the lamp. Preheating capacitor is selected so that the way of electricity delivery through it has lesser resistance than the way of electricity delivery through gas of the lamp; at delivery of energy to secondary circuit with frequency of preliminary heating and so that the way of electricity delivery through it has bigger resistance than the way of electricity delivery through gas at delivery of energy with operating frequency. Primary circuit can include resonance circuit with resonance frequency which can be adjusted up to frequency equal to frequency of preliminary heating and operating frequency.

EFFECT: higher reliability of lamp operation.

32 cl, 6 dwg

Description

This invention relates to discharge lamps, and more particularly, to circuits for starting and supplying discharge lamps.

Discharge lamps are used in many applications. A conventional discharge lamp includes a pair of electrodes spaced from each other inside a lamp tube. Discharge lamps are usually filled with inert gas. In many applications, metal vapors are added to the gas to increase light output or otherwise influence it. During operation, an electric current is forced to flow between the electrodes through the gas. This causes a discharge glow in the gas. The wavelength (eg color) of the light can be changed by applying different gases and different additives to the gas. In some applications, for example, in traditional fluorescent lamps, the gas emits ultraviolet light, which is converted by the fluorescent coating inside the lamp tube into visible light.

Although the operating principles of a traditional discharge lamp are relatively simple, they usually require a special start-up process. For example, the traditional process of starting a traditional gas discharge lamp is to pre-heat the electrodes to produce an excess of electrons around the electrodes (pre-heating stage) and then apply a surge of electric current of sufficient magnitude to the electrodes to create an electric arc between them through the gas (ignition stage) ) Immediately after the arc is established through the gas, the power is reduced, since much less energy is required to maintain the lamp.

In many practical applications, preheating is carried out by connecting the electrodes in series and passing current through them, as if they were filaments in incandescent lamps. When current flows through the electrodes, their internal resistance leads to the excitation of electrons. As soon as the electrodes are sufficiently preheated, a direct electrical connection opens between them, leaving a path through the gas as the only direction for the passage of electricity between the electrodes. At about the same time, the energy supplied to the electrodes increases until they provide the electron potential difference sufficient to ignite the arc between the electrodes.

Trigger circuits come in a wide variety of designs and work in a variety of ways. In one application, the power supply circuit includes a pair of transformers configured to supply preheating current through two electrodes only when energy is supplied in a specific range. The preheating process can be selectively controlled by changing the energy frequency. Although functionally this power supply circuit requires the use of two additional transformers, which seriously increase the cost and size of the power supply circuit. Additionally, this circuit includes a direct electrical connection between the energy source and the lamp. Direct electrical connection has several disadvantages. For example, direct electrical connections require the user to make electrical connections (and often mechanical connections) when installing or removing a lamp. In addition, direct electrical connection creates a relatively high risk associated with the problem of electrical short circuits between the energy source and the lamp.

In some applications, a discharge lamp is provided with energy through an inductive coupling. This eliminates the need for a direct electrical connection, such as splicing wires, and also provides some degree of isolation between the power supply and the discharge lamp. Although the inductive coupling provides many advantages over the direct electrical connection, the use of the inductive coupling makes the starting process difficult. One way to control the operation of the start circuit in an inductive system is to provide a reed magnetically controlled switch that can be used to provide selective direct electrical connection between the electrodes. Despite reliability, this form of start-up requires a close proximity of the electromagnet and reed switch. It also requires a certain orientation of the two components. Together, these requirements can impose significant restrictions on the design and shape of the power supply circuit and the lamp circuit as a whole.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an inductive power source for a discharge lamp, which selectively operates in preheating and operating modes by changing the frequency of the energy supplied to the secondary circuit. In one embodiment, the power supply circuit typically includes a primary circuit with a frequency controller for varying the frequency of energy supplied to the primary, and a secondary circuit with a secondary for inductively receiving energy from the primary, a discharge lamp, and a preheater. The pre-heating condenser is selected for pre-heating the lamp during operation of the primary winding within the frequency range of the pre-heating and assuming normal operation of the lamp during operation of the primary winding within the operating frequency range. In one embodiment of the invention, a preheating capacitor is connected in series between the electrodes of the lamp.

In one embodiment of the invention, the preheating capacitor, the preheating frequency and the operating frequency are selected so that the resistance of the electricity flow path through the lamp is greater than the resistance of the electricity flow path through the electrodes at the preheating frequency, and so that the resistance of the electricity flow through the lamp is less, than the resistance of the path of the flow of electricity through the electrodes at the operating frequency.

In one embodiment, the secondary circuit further includes a working capacitor located in series between the secondary winding and the lamp. The capacitance of the working capacitor can be selected, essentially, to balance the inductance of the secondary winding. In this embodiment, the preheating condenser may have a capacity that is approximately equal to the capacity of the working condenser.

In one embodiment of the invention, the primary circuit is adapted to operate in resonance with the pre-heating frequency and the operating frequency. In one embodiment, the primary circuit includes a variable capacitance resonant circuit and a controller capable of selectively changing the capacitance of the resonant circuit. The primary circuit may include alternative circuits for changing the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit, such as a variable inductance coil (variometer).

In one embodiment of the invention, the alternating resonant circuit includes a plurality of capacitors, which can be selectively controlled by one or more switches. The switch (s) may be arranged to be actuated between a first position in which the effective capacitance of the resonant circuit is set to provide resonance of the primary circuit with an approximate pre-heating frequency, and a second position in which the effective capacitance of the resonant circuit is set to provide resonance of the primary circuit at approximately the operating frequency.

In one embodiment of the invention, the resonant circuit may include a resonant operating capacitor that is connected between the primary winding and ground, and a resonant preheating capacitor that is connected between the primary winding and ground via a switching line, parallel to the preheating condenser. During operation, the switch can be used to selectively enable or disable the preheating capacitor, thereby switching the resonant frequency of the primary circuit between the preheating frequency and the operating frequency.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for starting and operating a discharge lamp. In one embodiment of this object, the method may include the steps of preheating the lamp by supplying energy to the secondary circuit with a preheating frequency at which the resistance of the electricity path through the lamp is greater than the resistance of the electricity path through the preheating capacitor for a period of time sufficient to preheat the lamp , and the operation of the lamp by supplying energy to the secondary circuit with an operating frequency at which the resistance of the electricity path through the lamp is less than the resistance Adding electrical path through the preheating capacitor.

In one embodiment of the invention, the preheating frequency corresponds to approximately the resonant frequency of the secondary circuit, taking into account the combined capacitance of the preheating condenser and the working capacitor, and the operating frequency corresponds to the approximately resonant frequency of the secondary circuit, taking into account only the capacitance of the working capacitor.

In one embodiment of the invention, the method further comprises the step of changing the resonant frequency of the primary circuit to correspond to the frequency of the preheating during the preheating stage, and to correspond to the operating frequency at the operation stage. In one embodiment of the invention, this step is further formed to change the effective capacitance of the resonant circuit between the preheating step and the operation step. In another embodiment of the invention, this step is further formed to change the effective inductance of the resonance circuit between the preheating step and the operation step.

The present invention provides a simple and efficient circuit and method for preheating, starting, and powering a discharge lamp. This invention uses a minimum number of components to achieve comprehensive functionality. This reduces the overall cost and size of the circuitry. The present invention also provides potential for increased reliability since it includes a small number of components, the components being passive in nature and less complex in terms of operation. In typical applications, the system automatically starts (or lights) the lamp when the primary circuit is switched from the preheating frequency to the operating frequency. The initial inclusion creates a sufficient voltage between the electrodes to cause an electric arc in the gas between them. After starting the lamp, the resistance in it falls, creating a further greater difference between the resistance of the electricity path through the lamp and the electricity path through the preheating capacitor. This further reduces the amount of current that will pass through the preheater during normal operation. In applications where the resonant frequency of the primary circuit is selectively controlled, the primary circuit can be configured to provide effective resonant operation during both preheating and operation. Additionally, secondary circuit components can be easily inserted into the lamp base, thereby facilitating practical implementation.

These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be readily understood and appreciated by the detailed description of this embodiment of the invention and the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a discharge lamp system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a secondary circuit and a resonant circuit.

Figure 3 is a flowchart showing the main stages of a method for starting and operating a discharge lamp.

4 is a schematic diagram of an alternative resonant circuit.

5 is a flowchart showing the main stages of a method for starting and operating a discharge lamp.

6 is a schematic diagram of a second alternative resonant circuit.

A discharge lamp system 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. The discharge lamp system 10 typically includes a primary circuit 12 and a secondary circuit 14 for supplying power to the discharge lamp 16. The primary circuit 12 includes a regulator 20 for selectively changing the frequency of energy inductively transmitted by the primary circuit 12. The secondary circuit 14 includes a secondary winding 22 for inductively receiving energy from the primary windings 18 and discharge lamp 16. Secondary winding 22 further includes a working capacitor 30 connected between the secondary winding 22 and lamp 16, and a preheater capacitor 32 connected in series between the lamp electrodes 24 and 26. In operation, the regulator 20 pre-heats the lamp 16 by supplying energy to the secondary circuit 14 with a pre-heating frequency selected so that the resistance of the electricity path through the pre-heating capacitor 32 is less than the resistance of the electricity path through gas in the discharge lamp 16. After pre-heating, the controller 20 supplies energy to the secondary winding 14 with an operating frequency selected so that the resistance of the electricity path through the preheating capacitor 32 is greater than the resistance of the electricity path through the gas in the gas discharge lamp 16. This causes a “mismatch” in the preheating capacitor 32, which in turn leads to the flow of electricity along the path through the gas in the gas discharge lamp 16.

As noted above, FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the primary circuit 12 includes a primary winding 18 and a frequency controller 20 for supplying energy to the primary winding 18 at a predetermined frequency. The frequency controller 20 of the illustrated embodiment typically includes a microcontroller 40, an oscillator 42, a drive 44, and a inverter 46. The oscillator 42 and the drive 44 may be separate components or integrated into the microcontroller 40, for example, as internal modules within the microcontroller 40. In this embodiment of the invention, these components together trigger the resonant circuit 48. More specifically, the inverter 46 provides the resonant circuit 48 with alternating current energy from an energy source 50 and DC. The resonant circuit 48 includes a primary winding 18 and may also include a capacitor 52 selected to balance the resistance of the primary winding 18 with the expected operating parameters. The resonant circuit 48 may be either a serial or parallel resonant circuit. In this embodiment, the actuator 44 provides the signals necessary for operation of the switches inside the inverter 46. In turn, the actuator 44 operates at the frequency set by the oscillator 42. In turn, the oscillator 42 is controlled by the microcontroller 40. The microcontroller 40 could be represented by a microcontroller PIC18LF1320, or a microprocessor of more general purpose. The primary circuit 12 shown is merely exemplary, and essentially any primary circuit capable of providing inductive energy with varying frequencies can be incorporated into the present invention. This invention may be included in the inductive primary circuit shown in US Pat. No. 6,825,620 to Kuennen et al., Entitled “Inductively Coupled Ballast Circuit”, and issued November 30, 2004. US Patent 6,825,620 incorporated herein by reference.

As noted above, the secondary circuit 14 includes a secondary winding 22 for inductively receiving energy from the primary winding 18, a discharge lamp 16, a working capacitor 30, and a preheating capacitor 32. Turning now to FIG. 2, the gas discharge lamp 16 includes a pair of electrodes 24 and 26 that are spaced from each other inside the lamp insulating tube 60. The lamp insulating tube 60 contains a predetermined inert gas, and may also optionally include metal vapors. The lamp 16 is connected in series with the secondary winding 22. In this embodiment, the first electrode 24 is connected to one wire of the secondary winding 22 and the second electrode 26 is connected to the opposite wire of the secondary winding 22. In this embodiment, the working capacitor 30 is connected in series between the secondary winding 22 and the first electrode 24, and the preheating capacitor 32 is connected in series between the first electrode 24 and the second electrode 26. In FIG. 2, the resonant circuit 48 connected by the primary winding 18 and the capacitor 52. Although not shown in FIG. 2, the resonant circuit 48 is connected via an electrical connector 49 to the inverter 46.

The operation of the system 10 is described using figure 3. The method generally includes the steps of supplying 100 energy to the secondary circuit 14 with a preheating frequency. The preheating frequency is selected as the frequency at which the resistance of the electricity path through the lamp is greater than the electricity path through the preheater capacitor 32. In one embodiment of the invention, the frequency controller 20 preheats the lamp 16 by supplying energy to the secondary circuit 14 with a preheating frequency approximately equal in series to the resonant frequency of the working capacitor 30 and the preheating capacitor 32, denoted by fs The formula for calculating fs in this embodiment presented below. At a pre-heating frequency, the pre-heating capacitor 32 is finely tuned to provide a direct electrical connection between the electrodes 24 and 26. This allows electricity to flow directly through the electrodes 24 and 26 through the pre-heating capacitor 32. This current flow preheats the electrodes 24 and 26. The system 10 continues to supply energy with a preheating frequency in step 102 until the electrodes 24 and 26 are preheated sufficiently. The duration of the preheating phase will vary from application to application, but will usually take a predetermined period time and for traditional discharge lamps, perhaps, may be in the range of 1-5 seconds. After pre-heating in step 104, the controller 20 supplies energy to the secondary circuit 14 with an operating frequency selected as the frequency at which the resistance of the electricity path through the lamp is less than the electricity path through the pre-heating capacitor 32. In this embodiment, the operating frequency is approximately equal to the resonant frequency of the working capacitor 30, denoted by fo. The formula for calculating fo in this embodiment is presented below. This change in frequency causes the preheating capacitor 32 to malfunction, which actually causes the electric current to flow through the lamp 16. Although the frequency change does not usually cause the preheating capacitor to work as an open circuit, it will limit the amount of electric current through the preheating capacitor in an amount sufficient to create arcs in the gas of the discharge lamp 16. As a result, the operating frequency switch causes the energy supplied to the secondary circuit 14 to follow tee 24 from one electrode to the other electrode 26 through the gas in the insulating tube 60 of the lamp. In the beginning, this change in frequency will cause the lamp to start (or ignition), since the frustrated preheating capacitor allows the creation of sufficient voltage on the electrodes 24 and 26 to cause an arc of current through the gas. After starting, the lamp will continue to operate at the corresponding operating frequency. In other words, a single change in the frequency supplied to the secondary circuit 14 causes the lamp to transition from the preheating phase through the start (or ignition) phase to the working phase.

L = secondary circuit inductance;

C1 = capacitance of the working capacitor;

C2 = preheating capacitor capacity;

fs = preheating frequency;

fo = operating frequency.

Although the formulas for determining the pre-heating frequency and the operating frequency give out certain frequencies, it is clear that the terms “pre-heating frequency” and “working frequency” in the detailed description and in the claims cover a frequency range including the calculated “pre-heating frequency” and "operating frequency". Generally speaking, system performance may suffer when the actual frequency is far from the calculated frequency. In normal applications, it is desirable that the actual preheating frequency and the actual operating frequency are within a certain percentage of the calculated frequencies. However, there is no strict restriction, and more significant deviations allow for the continued functioning of the circuit with acceptable efficiency. For many applications, the preheating frequency is approximately double the operating frequency. The primary circuit 12 may continue to supply energy to the secondary circuit 14 until the continued operation of the discharge lamp 16 of step 106 is further undesirable.

If desired, the primary circuit 12 'can be made with the possibility of selectively adjustable resonance, so that the primary circuit 12' operates in resonance with both the pre-heating frequency and the operating frequency. In one embodiment of the invention containing this functionality, the primary circuit 12 ′ may include a variable capacitance resonant circuit 48 ′ (see FIG. 4), which allows selective adjustment of the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit 48 ′ to equal the preheating frequency and the operating frequency frequency. Figure 4 shows a simple circuit for changing the capacitance of the resonant circuit 48 '. In the illustrated embodiment, the resonant circuit 48 'includes a resonant working capacitor 52a' connected between the primary winding 18 'and ground, and a resonant capacitor 52b' connected via a switching line between the primary winding 18 'and ground in parallel with the resonant working capacitor 52a'. The switching line includes a switch 53 ', which operates selectively to open the switching line, thereby effectively removing the resonant preheating capacitor 52b' from the resonant circuit 48 '. The operation of the switch 53 'can be controlled, for example, by a frequency controller 20, a microcontroller 40, or a separate controller. Essentially, the switch 53 'may be any type of electrical switch, for example, a relay, FET, triac or conventional AC switching device.

The operation of this alternative is generally described in FIG. 5. The primary circuit 12 'in step 200 adjusts the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit 48' to approximately equal the preheating frequency. The primary circuit 12 'then supplies, at step 202, energy to the secondary circuit with a pre-heating frequency. The primary circuit 12 'continues to supply energy to the secondary circuit with a preheating frequency in step 204 until the electrodes 24 and 26 are sufficiently preheated. With sufficient preheating of the electrodes, the primary circuit 12 'in step 206 adjusts the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit 48' to approximately equal to the operating frequency. The primary circuit 12 'switches its operating frequency in step 208 to supply energy to the secondary circuit 14' with an operating frequency. The primary circuit 12 'may continue to supply energy in step 210 until it becomes undesirable. The device 10 may also include a fault logic that stops operation when a fault condition occurs (for example, when a lamp burns out or is removed, or a short circuit occurs).

Variable capacitance can be implemented by using alternative parallel and serial capacitive subcircuits. For example, FIG. 6 shows an alternative resonant preheating circuit 12 ″ in which the preheating resonant capacitor 52b ″ is connected in series with the resonant working capacitor 52a ″ but the switching line is turned on to close the circuit around the preheating condenser 52a ″ switch 53 ″ to practically remove the preheater capacitor 52b ″ from the circuit.

Despite the description regarding the variable capacitance resonant circuit 48 ', the present invention extends to other methods for changing the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit 48' or the primary circuit 12 'between the preheating mode and the operating mode. For example, the primary circuit may include a variable inductance. In this embodiment (not shown), the resonant circuit may include a variometer and a controller for selectively controlling the variometer inductance. As another example (not shown), a resonant circuit can include a plurality of inductors that can be connected to and disconnected from the circuit by a controller, in much the same way as described above with respect to a variable capacitance resonant circuit.

The above description relates to this embodiment of the invention. Various alternatives and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and broader objects of the invention defined in the attached claims, which should be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law, including the theory of equivalents. Any reference to the declared elements, for example, the use of the articles "a", "an", "the" or "said", should not be taken as an element of restriction of a single element.

Claims (40)

1. The secondary circuit of the node of a discharge lamp with inductive power, containing:
- a lamp having a first electrode and a second electrode spaced from each other inside the gas;
- a secondary winding electrically connected to said first electrode and said second electrode;
moreover, the preheating capacitor is connected in series between said first electrode and said second electrode, so that at a preheating frequency, the preheating capacitor is configured to provide a direct electrical connection between the first electrode and the second electrode. 2. The secondary circuit according to claim 1, wherein said first capacitor has characteristics selected so that the electricity flow path through said first capacitor has less resistance than the electricity flow path through said gas when power is supplied to the secondary circuit with a preheating frequency , and so that the specified path of the flow of electricity through the specified capacitor preheating has a greater resistance than the specified path of the flow of electricity through the specified gas, when the energy is supplied to secondary circuit with an operating frequency. 3. The secondary circuit according to claim 1, further comprising a second capacitor connected in series between said secondary winding and said first electrode. 4. The secondary circuit according to claim 3, wherein said preheating frequency is approximately equal to the resonant frequency of said secondary winding, said preheating capacitor, and said second capacitor. 5. The secondary circuit according to claim 3, in which the specified operating frequency is approximately equal to the resonant frequency of the specified second winding and the specified second capacitor. 6. A gas discharge lamp assembly comprising:
- a primary circuit having a frequency controller and a primary winding;
- a secondary circuit having a secondary winding, a discharge lamp and a preheating capacitor, said discharge lamp having a first electrode and a second electrode spaced apart from each other inside the gas, wherein said preheating capacitor is connected in series between said first electrode and said second electrode;
- the specified frequency controller that selectively controls the preheating frequency at which the specified preheating capacitor prevents the flow of electricity from the specified first electrode to the specified second electrode through the specified gas, and the operating frequency at which the specified preheating capacitor allows the flow of electricity from the specified first electrode to the specified second electrode through the specified gas. 7. The node according to claim 6, in which the specified secondary circuit includes a working capacitor. 8. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein said working capacitor is connected in series between said secondary winding and said first electrode. 9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein said preheating frequency is further set approximately successively to the resonant frequency of said second winding, said preheating capacitor, and said working capacitor. 10. The node according to claim 9, in which the specified operating frequency is additionally set approximately equal to the resonant frequency of the specified secondary winding and the specified working capacitor. 11. A method of starting and operating a gas discharge lamp having first and second electrodes spaced from each other inside the gas, comprising the steps of:
provide a secondary circuit having a secondary winding connected to the lamp, and a capacitor connected in series between the first electrode and the second electrode;
- supply energy to the secondary circuit with a preheating frequency at which the resistance of the electricity flow path through the preheating capacitor is less than the resistance of the electricity flow path through the gas; and
- supply energy to the secondary circuit with an operating frequency at which the resistance of the path of electricity flow through the preheating capacitor is higher than the resistance of the path of electricity flow through the gas. 12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said step of supplying energy with a pre-heating frequency is performed for a period of time sufficient to pre-heat the lamp. 13. The method according to claim 11, wherein said step of supplying energy with a pre-heating frequency is performed in a predetermined period of time sufficient to pre-heat the lamp. 14. The method according to claim 11, in which the secondary circuit further includes a working capacitor, and in which the preheating frequency is approximately equal to the resonant frequency of the secondary winding, the working capacitor and the preheating capacitor. 15. The method according to claim 11, in which the operating frequency is approximately equal to the resonant frequency of the secondary winding and the working capacitor. 16. A method of starting and operating a gas discharge lamp having a pair of electrodes spaced from each other inside the gas, comprising the steps of:
- provide a secondary circuit having a preheating capacitor electrically connected between the electrodes of the discharge lamp;
- supply energy to the secondary circuit with a pre-heating frequency selected to allow the flow of electricity from one of the electrodes to the other from the electrodes through the pre-heating capacitor; and
- supply energy to the secondary circuit with an operating frequency selected to allow the flow of electricity from one of the electrodes to another of the electrodes through the gas. 17. The method according to clause 16, further comprising a step in which the secondary circuit is provided with a working capacitor; and
- at which the indicated preheating frequency is approximately equal to the resonant frequency of the secondary winding, the working capacitor and the preheating capacitor in series. 18. The method according to clause 16, further comprising a stage in which the secondary circuit is provided with a working capacitor; and
- at which the specified operating frequency is approximately equal to the sequentially resonant frequency of the secondary winding and the working capacitor. 19. The method according to clause 16, in which the preheating frequency is approximately double the operating frequency. 20. The method according to clause 16, in which the specified stage of the energy supply with a pre-heating frequency is performed in a period of time varying in the range from about 1 to about 5 seconds. 21. An inductive power supply system for a gas discharge lamp unit with inductive power, comprising:
- a primary circuit having a resonant circuit operating with a pre-heating frequency and an operating frequency, said primary circuit having a resonant frequency controller for selectively changing a resonant frequency of said resonant circuit;
- a lamp having a first electrode and a second electrode spaced from each other inside the gas;
- a secondary winding electrically connected to said first electrode and said second electrode; and
- a first capacitor connected in series between said first electrode and said second electrode. 22. The system according to item 21, in which the specified first capacitor has characteristics selected so that the path of the flow of electricity through the specified first capacitor has less resistance than the path of the flow of electricity through the specified gas, when power is supplied to the secondary circuit with a pre-heating frequency, and so that the specified path of the flow of electricity through the specified first capacitor has a greater resistance than the specified path of the flow of electricity through the specified gas, when energy is supplied to the secondary circuit with a working frequency. 23. The system of claim 21, further comprising a second capacitor connected in series between said secondary winding and said first electrode. 24. The system of claim 23, wherein said preheating frequency is approximately equal to the resonant frequency of said secondary winding, said first capacitor, and said second capacitor. 25. The secondary circuit according to item 23, in which the specified operating frequency is approximately equal to the resonant frequency of the specified secondary winding and the specified second capacitor. 26. A gas discharge lamp assembly comprising:
- a primary circuit having a frequency controller and a resonant circuit, and the frequency controller selectively operates with a pre-heating frequency and an operating frequency, wherein said primary circuit further includes means for selectively changing the resonant frequency of said resonant circuit, and
- a secondary circuit having a secondary winding, a discharge lamp and a preheating capacitor, said discharge lamp having a first electrode and a second electrode spaced apart from each other inside the gas, wherein said preheating capacitor is connected in series between said first electrode and said second electrode, wherein said preheating capacitor prevents the flow of electricity from said first electrode to said second electrode through a decree gas, when energy is supplied to the specified secondary circuit with the indicated preheating frequency, while the specified preheating capacitor allows electricity to flow from the specified first electrode to the specified second electrode through the specified gas, when energy is supplied to the specified secondary circuit with the specified operating frequency. 27. The assembly of claim 26, wherein said means for changing a resonant frequency of said resonant circuit includes means for changing a capacitance of said resonant circuit. 28. The assembly of claim 26, wherein said means for changing a resonant frequency of said resonant circuit includes means for changing an inductance of said resonant circuit. 29. The assembly of claim 26, wherein said secondary circuit includes a working capacitor. 30. The assembly of claim 29, wherein said working capacitor is connected in series between said secondary winding and said first electrode. 31. The assembly according to claim 30, wherein said preheating frequency is further set approximately successively to the resonant frequency of said secondary winding, said preheating capacitor, and said working capacitor. 32. The node according to p, in which the specified operating frequency is additionally set approximately equal to the resonant frequency of the specified secondary winding and the specified working capacitor. 33. The assembly according to claim 32, wherein said means for changing the resonant frequency of said resonant circuit includes a controller for adjusting said resonant frequency to approximately the indicated operating frequency, while supplying said primary winding of energy to said secondary winding with said operating frequency, and until approximately corresponding to the indicated frequency of preheating, when the specified primary winding energizes the specified secondary winding with the specified frequency tion heating. 34. A method of starting and operating a gas discharge lamp having first and second electrodes spaced apart from each other in a gas, comprising stages in which:
- provide a primary circuit having a resonant circuit and a resonant frequency controller of the resonant circuit;
- provide a secondary circuit having a secondary winding connected to the lamp, and a preheating capacitor connected in series between the first electrode and the second electrode;
- supply energy to the secondary circuit with a preheating frequency at which the resistance of the electricity flow path through the preheating capacitor is less than the resistance of the electricity flow path through the gas;
- adjust the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit to a frequency approximately corresponding to the frequency of preheating during the indicated stage of supplying energy to the secondary circuit with the frequency of preheating;
- supply energy to the secondary circuit with an operating frequency at which the resistance of the path of the flow of electricity through the preheater is less than the resistance of the path of the flow of electricity through gas; and
- adjust the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit to approximately the corresponding operating frequency during the indicated step of supplying energy to the secondary circuit with the operating frequency. 35. The method according to clause 34, wherein said step of supplying energy with a frequency of preheating is performed in a predetermined period of time sufficient to preheat the lamp. 36. The method according to clause 34, in which at least one of these stages of regulation includes the stage of changing the capacitance of the resonant circuit. 37. The method according to clause 34, in which at least one of these stages of regulation includes the stage of changing the inductance of the resonant circuit. 38. A method of starting and operating a gas discharge lamp having a pair of electrodes spaced from each other inside the gas, comprising the steps of:
- provide a primary circuit having a resonant circuit;
- provide a secondary circuit having a preheating capacitor electrically connected between the electrodes of the discharge lamp;
- adjust the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit to essentially equal to the frequency of preheating;
- supply energy to the secondary circuit with a preheating frequency, and the frequency of the working heating is chosen so as to allow the flow of electricity from one of the electrodes to the other from the electrodes through the preheater;
- adjust the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit to a frequency substantially equal to the operating frequency; and
- supply energy to the secondary circuit with a working frequency, and the working frequency is chosen to allow the flow of electricity from one of the electrodes to the other from the electrodes through the gas. 39. The method according to § 38, in which at least one of these stages of regulation includes the stage of changing at least one of: the capacitance of the resonant circuit or the inductance of the resonant circuit. 40. The method according to § 39, further comprising a stage in which the secondary circuit is provided with a working capacitor;
- at which the indicated pre-heating frequency is approximately equal to the resonant frequency of the secondary winding, the working capacitor and the pre-heating capacitor in series; and
- at which the indicated frequency is approximately equal in series to the resonant frequency of the secondary winding and the working capacitor.

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