Power generator for ionic conduction lamp - provides power at high impedance during starting and power at lower impedance during operation of lamp

摘要

The appts. generates power with a relatively high voltage and impedance so as to match the load before starting and generates power of a lower voltage and impedance so as to match the load during the energising and operation of the load. The appts. may have a coil, and a transistor, to develop a voltage over the coil. The coil may be coupled to the lamp through a capacitor or stray capacitance between the lamp and a coil. A tap intermediate the ends of the coil may be coupled to the load. The capacitor is effectively electrically inoperable and out of the circuit after starting of the load. The capacitor is located such that the full voltage developed across the coil is delivered to the load during starting, but after starting and during operation only a portion of the voltage developed between one terminal and the tap of the coil is used to drive the load. The generator eliminates the need of a conventional ballast and starting mechanism. In this way, the lamp can be maintained with energy savings. Further energy savings are achieved by generating current and voltage pulses for operating the lamp where the voltage pulses have a greater decay rate to a zero level than the current pulses which have a more gradual decay.