Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems – With automatic shunt and/or cutout
Reexamination Certificate
2001-06-27
2002-09-03
Philogene, Haissa (Department: 2821)
Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems
With automatic shunt and/or cutout
C315S308000, C315S082000, C315SDIG007
Reexamination Certificate
active
06445135
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric-discharge lamp control apparatus and an electric-discharge lamp control method in which the electric-discharge lamp is prevented from flickering.
2. Description of Related Art
In a conventional electric-discharge lamp control apparatus, a voltage applied to an electric-discharge lamp is monitored in an abnormal state judging circuit, and the applied voltage is compared with various reference voltages.
Thereafter, when an abnormal state is detected according to a comparison result in the abnormal state judging circuit of the conventional electric-discharge lamp control apparatus, the electric-discharge lamp is put out by the conventional electric-discharge lamp control apparatus.
The technique in the conventional electric-discharge lamp control apparatus is disclosed in the Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. H8-106986 (1996).
Because the conventional electric-discharge lamp control apparatus has the above-described configuration, a life end of the electric-discharge lamp can be detected. However, when an abnormal state such as the flickering of the electric-discharge lamp occurs because an abnormal circumstance occurs in a peripheral circuit of the electric-discharge lamp, the lighting of the electric-discharge lamp cannot be inhibited. Therefore, there is a problem that the life of the electric-discharge lamp cannot be prevented from being shortened.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide, with due consideration to the drawbacks of the conventional electric-discharge lamp control apparatus and the conventional electric-discharge lamp control method, an electric-discharge lamp control apparatus and an electric-discharge lamp control method in which the life of an electric-discharge lamp is prevented from being shortened according to the flickering of the lamp.
An electric-discharge lamp control apparatus according to the present invention comprises counting means for counting a flickering number in an electric-discharge lamp which flickers according to the control of lamp-lighting control means, and lamp-lighting inhibiting means for inhibiting the lighting of the electric-discharge lamp in a case where the flickering number counted by the counting means exceeds a regular number.
Accordingly, the life of the electric-discharge lamp can be prevented from being shortened.
In the electric-discharge lamp control apparatus according to the present invention, the flickering number counted by the counting means is reset each time a regular time passes, and the lighting of the electric-discharge lamp is inhibited in a case where the flickering number counted within the regular time exceeds the regular number.
Accordingly, in cases where the electric-discharge lamp flickers according to the will of a user, the lighting of the electric-discharge lamp is not inhibited. However, the lighting of the electric-discharge lamp can be inhibited in an only case where a failure occurs.
In the electric-discharge lamp control apparatus according to the present invention, the lighting of the electric-discharge lamp is inhibited in an only case where a flickering time period determined by the light-out and the lighting of the electric-discharge lamp is shorter than a regular time period.
Accordingly, in cases where the electric-discharge lamp flickers according to the will of a user, the lighting of the electric-discharge lamp is not inhibited. However, the lighting of the electric-discharge lamp can be inhibited in an only case where a failure occurs.
An electric-discharge lamp control method according to the present invention comprises the steps of counting a flickering number in an electric-discharge lamp, and inhibiting the lighting of the electric-discharge lamp in a case where the flickering number exceeds a regular number.
Accordingly, the life of the electric-discharge lamp can be prevented from being shortened.
In the electric-discharge lamp control method according to the present invention, the flickering number is reset each time a regular time passes, and the lighting of the electric-discharge lamp is inhibited in a case where the flickering number counted within the regular time exceeds the regular number.
Accordingly, in cases where the electric-discharge lamp flickers according to the will of a user, the lighting of the electric-discharge lamp is not inhibited. However, the lighting of the electric-discharge lamp can be inhibited in an only case where a failure occurs.
In the electric-discharge lamp control method according to the present invention, the lighting of the electric-discharge lamp is inhibited in an only case where a flickering time period determined by the light-out and the lighting of the electric-discharge lamp is shorter than a regular time period.
Accordingly, in cases where the electric-discharge lamp flickers according to the will of a user, the lighting of the electric-discharge lamp is not inhibited. However, the lighting of the electric-discharge lamp can be inhibited in an only case where a failure occurs.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5422548 (1995-06-01), Yamashita et al.
patent: 5880563 (1999-03-01), Toyama et al.
patent: 5973457 (1999-10-01), Yamashita et al.
patent: 62-292549 (1987-12-01), None
patent: 4-12496 (1992-01-01), None
patent: 4-119997 (1992-10-01), None
patent: 8-106986 (1996-04-01), None
patent: 10-312896 (1998-11-01), None
Alemu Ephrem
Mitsubishi Denki & Kabushiki Kaisha
Philogene Haissa
LandOfFree
Electric-discharge lamp control apparatus and... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Electric-discharge lamp control apparatus and..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Electric-discharge lamp control apparatus and... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2865104