Patent ID: 6356033
Filing Date: 2002-03-12
Classification: H05B,Y02B

Abstract:
A dielectric-barrier discharge lamp light source with a dielectric-barrier discharge lamp, said light source comprising:a discharge plasma space filled with a discharge gas in which excimer molecules are formed by dielectric-barrier discharge; two electrodes adapted to induce a discharge phenomenon in said discharge gas, at least one of said two electrodes being separated from said discharge gas by a dielectric; and a power supply means for impressing a substantially cyclical, high-voltage alternating current on said two electrodes of said dielectric-barrier discharge lamp in a manner that, when said power supply means completes a discharge in said dielectric-barrier discharge lamp and the voltage impressed on said dielectric-barrier discharge lamp changes for a subsequent discharge, there is a period of gradual change in a lamp voltage waveform (Vs(t)) before reaching a voltage required for beginning of said subsequent discharge, wherein subsequent to said period of gradual change and prior to reaching the voltage required for beginning of said subsequent discharge, the voltage impressed on said dielectric-barrier discharge lamp by said power supply means changes sharply.