Starting aid for high intensity discharge lamps

摘要

A high intensity discharge lamp comprises an elongated, main arc tube containing a gas fill. First and second in-leads are connected to first and second electrodes within the arc tube, with an arc gap being defined in the arc tube between the electrodes. The fist and second in-leads are adapted to be connected to first and second power leads of a ballast circuit. A starting aid is included for the main arc tube and comprises a path generally parallel to the main arc tube along the arc gap and which is conductive during starting of the main arc tube; an electron barrier disposed between the path and the main arc tube for preventing a substantial amount of photoelectrons from collecting on an outer surface of the main arc tube; and first and second ends of the path being coupled to the first and second in-leads by first and second electrical couplings. The claimed invention enables cold starting of an IUD lamp at higher fill pressures than previously used, for better lamp performance, and enables hot starting of an HID lamp while avoiding the damaging photoelectron effect.