Importance

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Abstract

Electrical activation of an arc lamp is accomplished by a plurality of circuits, each of which has a boost topology including a capacitor and a charging circuit for charging the capacitor by a series of current pulses. One of the circuits is an igniter circuit and includes a transformer to convert voltage from a relatively low voltage supply to a relatively high voltage for striking an arc within the lamp. A second of the circuits provides for a steady flow of current to maintain the arc after completion of ignition of the arc. The second circuit is protected from the high voltage of the first circuit by a saturable reactor connected in series between the second circuit and the arc lamp. A further circuit, employed as boost modulator, and constructed with the same form of boost topology, may be connected via a diode to a junction between the saturable reactor and the second of the foregoing circuits, the third circuit being useful for providing substantially larger amounts of plasma current, when desired, than such plasma current as can be provided by the second circuit. Also, if desired, the second circuit can include means for varying amplitudes of charging current pulses in response to an external signal, such as an audio signal, thereby to allow for communication of data on a beam of radiation emitted by the arc lamp.

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First Claim