Patent ID: 9474139
Filing Date: 2016-10-18
CPC Classification: H05B,Y02B

Claim Text:
1. A method for ignition of a ceramic high intensity discharge (HID) lamp, wherein the ceramic HID lamp includes an arc chamber and two capillaries each connected to the arc chamber at respective proximal ends, two electrodes each sealed within the capillaries by respective seals near the distal ends of the capillaries, wherein the two electrodes extend from the seals through respective bores in the capillaries and protrude into the arc chamber at the proximal ends of the capillaries, the method including the steps of: applying a train of pre-ignition voltage bursts to the two electrodes while increasing the duration of the pre-ignition voltage bursts; measuring a lamp parameter during a time interval between the pre-ignition voltage bursts; and responsive to the measured lamp parameter, stopping the pre-ignition voltage bursts, wherein the measured lamp parameter is indicative of a stable arc between the proximal ends of the capillaries.