摘要 |
A circuit for starting and operating a high intensity discharge (HID) lamp in a dc mode includes a dc-to-dc converter coupled to a pair of direct current input terminals. The dc-to-dc converter includes a semiconductor switch, a power transformer, input and output capacitors and a diode rectifier. A pulse width modulator is coupled to the dc-to-dc converter and includes a high frequency generator for developing a signal for driving the semiconductor switch of the dc-to-dc converter. A reverse recovery circuit coupled to the diode rectifier of the dc-to-dc converter reduces heat losses, eliminates noise and also returns energy to the input of the dc-to-dc converter. The starting and operating circuit further includes voltage and current sensing circuits coupled to a power control summing amplifier. The output of the power control summing amplifier is coupled to the pulse width modulator so as to control the power delivered to the lamp. A warm-up power control circuit allows operation of the lamp at an elevated power level for a predetermined period of time during start-up of the lamp. Also, the warm-up power control circuit includes circuitry for tracking the amount of time the lamp is off and for adjusting the initial lamp power to a hot lamp to a predetermined level.
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