Patent ID: 6731073
Filing Date: 2004-05-04
Classification: H05B,Y10S

Abstract:
A safety starter circuit adapted to control the ignition of a lamp having a lamp electrode at each end, said safety starter circuit comprising:a control means configured to control a preheat current flowing through the lamp electrodes, the preheat current for causing a preheating of the lamp electrodes; and a protection circuit coupled in series with said control means, wherein the series coupled control means and protection circuit couple in parallel with the lamp across the lamp electrodes, said protection circuit configured to limit a duration of the activation of said control means below a predetermined maximum operation interval, said protection circuit comprising: a switch connected in series with the control means and configured to enable an activation of the control means in response to the switch being conductive; and a timer for timing the predetermined maximum operation interval and having an output coupled to a control electrode of the switch to render the switch non-conductive at the end of the predetermined maximum operation interval.