An instant restrike igniter for use with a high-intensity discharge (HID) lamp and having a bleeder circuit including a resistor in parallel with a capacitor. The bleeder circuit in electrical communication with a voltage source. A transformer is in electrical communication with the bleeder circuit. The transformer includes a first winding that is in communication with and powers a lamp and a second winding. A triggering circuit is in electrical communication with the second winding of the transformer and the bleeder circuit. The triggering circuit has a minimum holding current of 50 mA and is configured to discharge the capacitor to generate high voltage pulses that are sent, via the transformer, to the lamp to reignite the lamp after a power interruption that extinguishes the lamp.

FIELD

Embodiments relate an ignitor for use with different types of high intensity discharge (HID) lamps and ballasts. The invention also relates to an ignitor which can be used to start a conventional HID lamp, as well as to start and hot restrike a HID lamp with a hot restrike capability.

SUMMARY

An instant restrike ignitor for use with a high-intensity discharge (HID) lamp. The instant restrike ignitor includes a bleeder circuit including a resistor in parallel with a capacitor, the bleeder circuit in electrical communication with a voltage source; a transformer in electrical communication with the bleeder circuit, the transformer including a first winding that is in communication with and powers a lamp and a second winding; and a triggering circuit in electrical communication with the second winding of the transformer and the bleeder circuit, the triggering circuit configured to discharge the capacitor to generate high voltage pulses that are sent, via the transformer, to the lamp to reignite the lamp after a power interruption that extinguishes the lamp.

In another embodiment, an instant restrike igniter for use with a high-intensity discharge (HID) lamp and having a bleeder circuit including a resistor in parallel with a capacitor. The bleeder circuit in electrical communication with a voltage source. A transformer is in electrical communication with the bleeder circuit. The transformer includes a first winding that is in communication with and powers a lamp and a second winding. A triggering circuit is in electrical communication with the second winding of the transformer and the bleeder circuit. The triggering circuit has a minimum holding current of 50 mA and is configured to discharge the capacitor to generate high voltage pulses that are sent, via the transformer, to the lamp to reignite the lamp after a power interruption that extinguishes the lamp.

In another embodiment, an instant restrike igniter for use with a high-intensity discharge (HID) lamp and having a bleeder circuit including a resistor in parallel with a capacitor. The bleeder circuit in electrical communication with a voltage source. A transformer is in electrical communication with the bleeder circuit. The transformer includes a first winding that is in communication with and powers a lamp and a second winding. A sidac is in electrical communication with the second winding of the transformer and the bleeder circuit. The sidac has a minimum holding current 50 mA and is configured to discharge the capacitor to generate high voltage pulses that are sent, via the transformer, to the lamp to reignite the lamp after a power interruption that extinguishes the lamp.

In another embodiment, a method of reigniting an arc of a lamp when there is a power interruption to the lamp that extinguishes the lamp. The method includes providing a triggering circuit in electrical communication with the lamp, providing voltage to a triggering circuit until a predetermined breakage voltage point is reached, and when the predetermined breakage voltage point is reached, discharging five or less high voltage pulses to the lamp.

Other aspects of embodiments detailed below will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any embodiments are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the application is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. Other embodiments, than those described below, are capable of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.

FIGS.1and2shows a restrike ignitor10according to one embodiment. The restrike ignitor10is capable of generating igniting voltage of between 4 kV and 5 kV to ignite a high-intensity discharge (HID) lamp14(FIG.6) such as a high-pressure sodium (HPS) lamp of 70 W, 100 W, and 150 W. As shown the restrike ignitor10includes a housing18, a printed circuit board22positioned within the housing18, and a plurality of wires26,30,34extending from the printed circuit board22. Each of the wires26,30,34is in electrical communication with the printed circuit board22. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing18is substantially ovular and encloses the printed circuit board22(FIGS.8a-8e). As shown, the housing18has a length L, a width W, a depth D, and a wall thickness T. In the illustrated embodiment, the length L may measure 88 mm, the width W may measure 66 mm, the depth D may measure 38 mm, and the wall thickness T may measure 0.6 mm. In other embodiments, the length L, the width W, the depth D, and the wall thickness T may have other suitable dimensions. Further, as shown, a bottom wall of the housing and a side wall of the housing may be coupled by rounded edges. In the illustrated embodiment, an interior radius R1of the edge may be 0.6 mm, while an exterior radius R2of the rounded edges may be 1.2 mm. The interior radius R1and exterior radius R2may have other suitable dimensions in other embodiments. In still other embodiments, the edges may not be rounded. Also, the housing18is constructed from an aluminum material in the illustrated embodiment. One of the plurality of wires26(e.g., a first wire) is configured to be electrically coupled to a common connection of an alternating current (AC) input, one of the plurality of wires30(e.g., a second wire) is configured to be electrically coupled to a hot line connection of AC input, and one of the plurality of wires34(e.g., a third wire) is configured to be electrically coupled to the HID lamp14. The third wire34(and therefore the lamp) is in a series circuit relationship with a ballast38(shown schematically inFIG.6) via the first and second wires26,30. With respect toFIGS.3-7, the printed circuit board22of the restrike ignitor includes a thermal protector40, a first bleeder circuit44, a second bleeder circuit48, a triggering circuit52, and a transformer56.

The thermal protector40is in electrical communication with the first wire26, the second wire30, and the first and second bleeder circuits44,48. The thermal protector40has an opening temperature of 130° C. The thermal protector40has a bimetal snap-action disc. When the temperature of this disc reaches 130° C., it snaps open, resulting in an open circuit. This temperature is reached during a fault condition, caused by either an increase in ambient temperature, an increase in current flowing through the disc, or a combination of both an increase in ambient temperature and an increase in current flowing through the disc. After the thermal protector40breaks the circuit, the system cools and the thermal protector40automatically resets allowing power to be restored to the circuit.

The first bleeder circuit44is in electrical communication with first wire26, the second wire30, the thermal protector40, and the transformer56. The first bleeder circuit44includes a resistor60and a capacitor64that are connected in parallel. The function of bleeder resistor60in this circuit is to discharge the capacitor64as a safety measure whenever the power is switched off and to improve the voltage regulation by providing a minimum load resistance. The discharged voltage is passed through to the transformer56. In the illustrated embodiment, the resistor60has a resistance of 1K Ohms (with a power rating of 15 W) and the capacitor64has a capacitance of 3.3 μF per 450 Vic (e.g., equivalent AC voltage being 3.3 μF per 230 VAC). In additional or alternative embodiments, the resistor60and capacitor64may have other suitable values.

The second bleeder circuit48is in electrical communication with the second wire30, the first wire26, the thermal protector40, and the transformer56. The second bleeder circuit48includes a resistor70and a capacitor74that are connected in parallel. The function of bleeder resistor70in this circuit is to discharge the capacitor74as a safety measure whenever the power is switched off and to improve the voltage regulation by providing a minimum load resistance. The discharged voltage is passed through to the transformer56. In the illustrated embodiment, the resistor70has a resistance of 470K Ohms (with a power rating of 0.5 W) and the capacitor74has a capacitance of 1 μF per 450 Vic (e.g., equivalent AC voltage being 1 μF per 230 VAC). In additional or alternative embodiments, the resistor70and capacitor74may have other suitable values.

The transformer56is in electrical communication with the first, second, and third wires26,30,34and the second bleeder circuit48. The transformer56receives input from the second bleeder circuit48via the second wire30. The transformer56includes a first winding80that is in electrical communication with the third wire34, and therefore the lamp14, and a second winding84that is in electrical communication with a sidac88of the triggering circuit52. In the illustrated embodiment, the inductance of the first winding80is twenty times greater than the inductance of the second winding84. Accordingly, in the illustrated embodiment, the inductance of the first winding80is 20 mH and the inductance of the second winding84is 20 μH.

The triggering circuit52is in electrical communication with the transformer56and the second bleeder circuit48. The triggering circuit52includes the sidac88and an inductor92that are connected in series. An input of the sidac88is in communication with the transformer56and the output of the sidac88is in communication the inductor. An output of sidac88is connected to the inductor, which is used for inter stage coupling and to reduce the noise. In the illustrated embodiment, the inductor has an inductance of 1 uH, although inductors having another suitable inductance may be used. When the voltage exceeds a breakover voltage point (e.g., 120V) of the sidac88, the sidac88switches through a negative resistance region to a low on-state voltage. Conduction continues until the current is interrupted or drops below the minimum holding current of the device. In the illustrated embodiment, the minimum holding current of the triggering circuit52is 50 mA because the minimum holding current of the sidac is 50 mA.

In use, voltage from the second wire30moves to the transformer56and then via the first winding80to the lamp14and the second winding84to the triggering circuit52. More specifically, voltage enters the second wire30and moves across the capacitor74of the second bleeder circuit48. Voltage from the second bleeder circuit48moves via the first winding80to the lamp14and via the second winding84to the sidac88. If there is a power interruption to the lamp14, voltage continues to move to the triggering circuit52until the voltage exceeds the breakover voltage point, which causes the triggering circuit52to send high voltage pulses to the transformer56and then via the first winding80to the lamp14and the second winding84to the triggering circuit52. That is, voltage moving to the sidac88increases until it reaches the breakover voltage point (e.g., 120V), which causes the sidac88to switch through a negative resistance region to a low on-state voltage thereby causing the capacitor74of the second bleeder circuit48to discharge a high voltage pulse (e.g., a pulse of 4 KV to 5 KV) to the transformer56. The sidac88, via discharge of the capacitor74of the second bleeder circuit48, generates voltage, and therefore pulses, until the current is interrupted or drops below the minimum holding current of the sidac88. The minimum holding current (e.g., 50 mA) of the device is such that the number of pulses is controlled to five or less, which importantly complies with the relevant IEC standard. In particular, IEC60927 requires that a lamp be reignited using less than 5 pulses. Accordingly, if power is interrupted and the lamp14gets extinguished, the sidac88generates five pulses or less to restrike the lamp arc, which is less pulses than conventional instant restrike ignitors. This is because the holding current of conventional restrike ignitors is larger (e.g., 150 mA) than the minimal holding current of the present sidac88and therefore number of pulses required to restrike conventional ignitors is greater too (e.g., about 8 pulses).

The thermal protector40and the bleeder circuits44,48are safety measures. That is, when the opening temperature of the thermal protector40is exceeded, the circuit is opened until the temperature or current through the system is reduced. If the thermal protector40opens while sidac88is in conduction, the voltage discharge moves through the second winding84to the sidac88and a single pulse will be generated at the output of transformer56. Accordingly, a first pulse will move via the first winding to the lamp14. If the thermal protector40opens while sidac88is not in conduction, the voltage discharge moves the through the resistors60,70of the first and second bleeder circuits44,48to the transformer56. Accordingly, voltage from the first and second bleeder circuits44,48moves via the first winding to the lamp14and via the second winding to the sidac88.