Inventors:
Pamela L. Poljak - Strongsville OH
Raghu Ramaiah - Eastlake OH
Timothy P. Dever - Fairview Park OH
Assignee:
General Electric Company - Schenectady NY
International Classification:
H01J 1346
Abstract:
A metal halide lamp, having a cold fill pressure of at least 50 torr, incorporates a starter circuit with an active device to protect the diode included therein. The active portion of the starter circuit, either removes a voltage multiplying circuit portion, from the starter circuit or shorts out the diode by shunting action of the switch. The voltage multiplier circuit portion is connected across the main electrodes, wherein the voltage multiplier circuit portion increases the starting voltage applied to the starter electrode.
