Patent ID: 6043613
Filing Date: 2000-03-28
Classification: H05B,Y02B

Abstract:
A method for starting an electrodeless discharge lamp of the type having a main arc tube and an excitation coil for exciting a main arc discharge in an ionizable fill contained in the main arc tube when excited by a radio frequency ballast, the main arc tube being coupled to a starting tube in which a starting plasma is initiated to start the lamp, the steps of the method comprising:providing a tuned starting circuit comprising starting circuit components including a starting inductance and a starting capacitance;initiating a starting plasma in the starting tube by exciting the radio frequency ballast; anddetuning the starting circuit using a mechanical detuner without requiring movement of the starting inductance or starting capacitance or leads thereto, the mechanical detuner comprising a conductive element, the detuning step comprising positioning the conductive element sufficiently close to the starting inductance upon lamp starting such that the starting circuit is detuned and the starting plasma is extinguished after initiation of the main arc discharge.