Patent ID: 6177765
Filing Date: 2001-01-23
Classification: H01J,H05B

Abstract:
A metal halide lamp comprising:an arc tube containing an ionizable medium, and having main electrodes sealed into opposed ends of the arc tube with a starter electrode sealed into one end of the arc tube adjacent to first of said main electrodes, the ionizable medium including mercury, a metal halide, and an inert gas selected from the group consisting of argon, krypton, and xenon and mixtures thereof; anda starting circuit including,a voltage multiplier circuit portion connected across the main electrodes, wherein the voltage multiplier circuit portion increases the starting voltage applied to the starter electrode, anda disabling circuit portion which at least one of, (i) removes the voltage multiplier circuit portion from the starting circuit or (ii) shorts the voltage multiplier circuit portion to a voltage of the main electrodes, after the lamp has been started.