Starter auxillary electrode starting device with an arc gap
A device for operating or starting a high-pressure discharge lamp ( 18 ), provided with an auxiliary starting electrode ( 181 ), includes a voltage-dependent switch member( 16 ), for providing the starting voltage for the high-pressure discharge lamp ( 18 ) to the auxiliary starting electrode ( 181 ) and the switch threshold voltage of the voltage-dependent switch member ( 16 ) is greater than or the same as the starting voltage of the high-pressure discharge lamp ( 18 ).
1 . A device for operating or igniting a high-pressure discharge lamp ( 18 ), which has been provided with an auxiliary ignition electrode (ZE, 181 ), the device having a voltage-dependent switching means ( 16 ) for applying the ignition voltage for the high-pressure discharge lamp ( 18 ) to the auxiliary ignition electrode (ZE, 181 ), characterized in that the switching threshold voltage of the voltage-dependent switching means ( 16 ) is greater than or equal to the ignition voltage of the high-pressure discharge lamp ( 18 ).
2 . The device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the voltage-dependent switching means comprises at least one spark gap ( 16 ).
3 . The device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that a charge storage means ( 15 ) is provided which can be charged to the switching threshold voltage.
4 . The device as claimed in claim 3 , characterized in that the charge storage means comprises at least one capacitor ( 15 ).
5 . The device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that a voltage convertor ( 10 ) is provided which is used for supplying voltage to the voltage-dependent switching means ( 16 ) and to supply the high-pressure discharge lamp ( 18 ) with a current of alternating polarity.
6 . The device as claimed in claim 3 , characterized in that, in order to charge the charge storage means ( 15 ), a resonant circuit ( 11 a , 12 ) and/or a voltage multiplication circuit ( 231 , 232 , 251 , 252 ) and/or a piezo transformer ( 59 ) is/are provided.
7 . A lamp base ( 4 ) for a high-pressure discharge lamp ( 18 ), which has been provided with an auxiliary ignition electrode (ZE, 181 ), with a device as claimed in claim 1 .
8 . A lighting system having at least one high-pressure discharge lamp, which has been provided with an auxiliary ignition electrode, and at least one device as claimed in claim 1 .
9 . A method for operating a high-pressure discharge lamp ( 18 ), which has been provided with an auxiliary ignition electrode (ZE, 181 ), voltage pulses for igniting a gas discharge in the high-pressure discharge lamp ( 18 ) being applied to the auxiliary ignition electrode (ZE, 181 ) by means of a voltage-dependent switching means ( 16 ), characterized in that the switching threshold voltage of the voltage-dependent switching means ( 16 ) is greater than or equal to the ignition voltage required for igniting the gas discharge in the high-pressure discharge lamp.
10 . The method as claimed in claim 9 , characterized in that, in order to ignite the gas discharge in the high-pressure discharge lamp ( 18 ), a charge storage means ( 15 ) is charged to the switching threshold voltage of the voltage-dependent switching means ( 16 ).
11 . The method as claimed in claim 9 , characterized in that, with the aid of a voltage convertor ( 10 ), during the ignition phase of the high-pressure discharge lamp ( 18 ) a first supply voltage is provided for the voltage-dependent switching means ( 16 ) and, once the gas discharge in the high-pressure discharge lamp ( 18 ) has been ignited, a second supply voltage is provided for the high-pressure discharge lamp ( 18 ), for the purpose of producing a lamp current with alternating polarity.
12 . The method as claimed in claim 11 , characterized in that the voltage convertor ( 10 ) is in the form of an inverter or AC voltage convertor, which is operated for the purpose of producing the first and second supply voltage with switching frequencies from different frequency ranges.
13 . The method as claimed in claim 10 , characterized in that, once the gas discharge in the high-pressure discharge lamp ( 18 ) has been ignited, the charge storage means ( 15 ) is charged to a voltage which is well within the switching threshold voltage of the voltage-dependent switching means ( 16 ).
14 . The method as claimed in claim 10 , characterized in that, with the aid of a voltage convertor ( 10 ), during the ignition phase of the high-pressure discharge lamp ( 18 ) a first supply voltage is provided for the voltage-dependent switching means ( 16 ) and, once the gas discharge in the high-pressure discharge lamp ( 18 ) has been ignited, a second supply voltage is provided for the high-pressure discharge lamp ( 18 ), for the purpose of producing a lamp current with alternating polarity.
15 . The method as claimed in claim 11 , characterized in that, once the gas discharge in the high-pressure discharge lamp ( 18 ) has been ignited, the charge storage means ( 15 ) is charged to a voltage which is well within the switching threshold voltage of the voltage-dependent switching means ( 16 ).
16 . The method as claimed in claim 12 , characterized in that, once the gas discharge in the high-pressure discharge lamp ( 18 ) has been ignited, the charge storage means ( 15 ) is charged to a voltage which is well within the switching threshold voltage of the voltage-dependent switching means ( 16 ).
17 . The device as claimed in claim 2 , characterized in that a voltage convertor ( 10 ) is provided which is used for supplying voltage to the voltage-dependent switching means ( 16 ) and to supply the high-pressure discharge lamp ( 18 ) with a current of alternating polarity.
18 . The device as claimed in claim 3 , characterized in that a voltage convertor ( 10 ) is provided which is used for supplying voltage to the voltage-dependent switching means ( 16 ) and to supply the high-pressure discharge lamp ( 18 ) with a current of alternating polarity.
19 . The device as claimed in claim 4 , characterized in that a voltage convertor ( 10 ) is provided which is used for supplying voltage to the voltage-dependent switching means ( 16 ) and to supply the high-pressure discharge lamp ( 18 ) with a current of alternating polarity.
20 . The device as claimed in claim 5 , characterized in that, in order to charge the charge storage means ( 15 ), a resonant circuit ( 11 a , 12 ) and/or a voltage multiplication circuit ( 231 , 232 , 251 , 252 ) and/or a piezo transformer ( 59 ) is/are provided.