Patent ID: 6150770
Filing Date: 2000-11-21
Classification: H05B

Abstract:
A flash apparatus comprising:a main capacitor;a flash tube;a first discharge path disposed between said main capacitor and said flash tube and including a self-maintaining switch element having a high-potential-side electrode connected to said main capacitor and a low-potential-side electrode connected to said flash tube;a second discharge path formed through the flash tube, disposed in parallel with said discharge path and having an impedance value different from that of said first discharge path;a control circuit which selects one of said first discharge path and said second discharge path by turning on or off said self-maintaining switch element in emitting flash light and which causes electric charge accumulated in said main capacitor to be discharged through the selected one of said first discharge path and said second discharge path; anda bias circuit which, when said first discharge path is selected, allows said control circuit to turn on said self-maintaining switch element by applying a control signal to a control electrode of said self-maintaining switch element, and which, when said second discharge path is selected, reverse-biases the control electrode of said self-maintaining switch element.