| 摘要 |
Methods and apparatus for electronically igniting gas discharge lamps, such as hot- or cold-cathode fluorescent lamps, various high-pressure, metal-gas, and halogen-gas lamps. The initial heater current, in the case of hot-cathode lamps, or the initial high voltage across the unignited lamp, in the case of cold-cathode lamps, is used to heat a positive temperature coefficient resistor. The heat generated by this resistor causes a striker mechanism, consisting in essence of a pre-tensioned bi-metal disc or strip, to buckle, the said buckling striking a piezo-electric crystal, thereby inducing a high voltage, which ignites the lamp. Various coupling circuits between the mechanism and the lamp are described. The important features, compared to presently known igniters relate to the flickerless and reliable ignition of the lamp, more reliable igniter structure, and lengthened life time of the lamps.
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