Cross connection structure for dual high-pressure discharge lamp banks and transformers thereof

Abstract

Two high-pressure discharge lampbanks and transformers thereof are connected via a cross connection manner. The two lamp banks include the same number of high-pressure discharge lamps, and the transformers are in a number corresponding to that of lamps in each lamp bank. All the transformers have two outputs, namely, first and second outputs, at a secondary side thereof. First outputs of all the transformers are separately connected to the lamps in a first one of the two high-pressure discharge lamp banks while second outputs of all the transformers are separately connected to the lamps in a second one of the two high-pressure discharge lamp banks. Thereby, lamps in the same lamp bank are maintained at a voltage having the same phase and have a small potential difference among them to avoid interference noises.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cross connection structure for dual high-pressure discharge lamp banks and transformers thereof. With the cross connection structure, high-pressure discharge lamps in the same lamp bank could be maintained at a voltage having the same phase with a small potential difference among them. The problem of mutually repulsion among the lamps in the same lamp bank is eliminated to ensure safe use of the lamps.

FIG. 1 shows a conventional manner for connecting dual high-pressure discharge lamp banks to transformers thereof. A first high-pressure discharge lamp bank LP 1 includes a plurality of high-pressure discharge lamps LP 11 , LP 12 ; and a second high-pressure discharge lamp bank LP 2 also includes a plurality of high-pressure discharge lamps LP 21 , LP 22 . In the illustrated drawing, only two lamps are shown for each lamp bank. The high-pressure discharge lamps in the same lamp bank correspond to one transformer. A first transformer T 1 corresponded to the first lamp bank LP 1 is connected at two outputs at a secondary side thereof to two lamps of the first high-pressure discharge lamp bank. That is, the first transformer T 1 has a first output T 11 connected to a high-pressure discharge lamp LP 11 , and a second output T 12 connected to another high-pressure discharge lamp LP 12 . The lamps in the second high-pressure discharge lamp bank are also connected to one transformer in the same manner. That is, a second transformer T 2 is connected at two outputs at a secondary side thereof to two lamps of the second high-pressure discharge lamp bank LP 2 . More specifically, a first output T 21 of the second transformer T 2 is connected to a high-pressure discharge lamp LP 21 , and a second output T 22 of the second transformer T 2 is connected to another high-pressure discharge lamp LP 22 in the second lamp bank LP 2 . On the other hand, primary sides of the transformers T 1 and T 2 are connected to drive circuits 1 and 2 , respectively. And, the drive circuits 1 , 2 are connected via a signal line 3 to work synchronously.

The above-described connection between dual high-pressure discharge lamp banks and transformers thereof has the following drawback that two lamps in the same lamp bank separately receive from two outputs at the secondary side of the same transformer positive and negative voltages having the same magnitude but reverse polarities. For example, the lamp LP 11 in the first high-pressure discharge lamp bank LP 1 receives at a certain time point a positive voltage from the first output T 11 of the first transformer T 1 , while another adjacent lamp LP 12 in the same lamp bank LP 1 receives at the same time from the second output T 12 of the first transformer T 1 a negative voltage having a phase reverse to that of the positive voltage received by the lamp LP 11 . The high-pressure discharge lamps in the same lamp bank are very closely arranged, and there is an extremely large potential difference between two adjacent lamps. For example, in the case each of the high-pressure discharge lamps has a voltage of 500V, there will be an instantaneous maximum potential difference as high as 1000V between the positive and the negative voltage of two adjacent lamps. The closely arranged lamps in the same lamp bank and the extremely high potential difference between two adjacent lamps result in noises and mutual interference of these lamps with one another. The same situation also occurs in the second high-pressure discharge lamp bank LP 2 .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a cross connection structure for dual high-pressure discharge lamp banks and transformers thereof to eliminate the drawback existing in the conventional connection manner, so that all high-pressure discharge lamps in the same lamp bank are maintained at a voltage having the same phase without the problem of mutual repulsion between two adjacent lamps.

To achieve the above and other objects, each high-pressure discharge lamp bank includes a plurality of high-pressure discharge lamps, and each transformer includes two outputs at the secondary side. First outputs of all transformers are separately connected to the high-pressure discharge lamps in a first lamp bank, while second outputs of all transformers are separately connected to the high-pressure discharge lamps in a second lamp bank. In this manner, all the high-pressure discharge lamps in the same lamp bank are maintained at a voltage having the same phase with a small potential difference among them. The lamps in the same lamp bank would not mutually repulse and can therefore be safely used. The problem of mutual interference due to noises caused by voltages of different phases and big potential difference can also be avoided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein

FIG. 1 shows a conventional manner of connecting dual high-pressure discharge lamp banks to transformers thereof; and

FIG. 2 shows a cross connection structure for dual high-pressure discharge lamp banks and transformers thereof according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIG. 2 that shows a cross connection structure for dual high-pressure discharge lamp banks and transformers thereof according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2 , the dual high-pressure discharge lamp banks include a first lamp bank LP 1 having a plurality of high-pressure discharge lamps LP 21 , LP 12 , and a second lamp bank LP 2 having a plurality of high-pressure discharge lamps LP 21 , LP 22 . The number of the lamps in the second high-pressure discharge lamp bank LP 2 is the same as that in the first high-pressure discharge lamp bank LP 1 . For simplicity, only two lamps are illustrated in each lamp bank. Moreover, in the present invention, the transformers are in a number the same as that of the lamps in each high-pressure discharge lamp bank. In FIG. 2 , two transformers T 1 and T 2 are illustrated corresponding to two lamps included in each lamp bank.

Primary sides of the transformers T 1 and T 2 are connected to drive circuits 1 and 2 , respectively, and the drive circuits 1 , 2 are connected to each other via a signal line 3 to work synchronously. Secondary sides of the transformers T 1 , T 2 respectively include two outputs. First outputs at the secondary sides of all transformers T 1 , T 2 are separately connected to the high-pressure discharge lamps in the first lamp bank LP 1 , while second outputs at the secondary sides of all transformers T 1 , T 2 are separately connected to the high-pressure discharge lamps in the second lamp bank LP 2 . That is, first outputs T 11 and T 21 of first and second transformers T 1 and T 2 , respectively, are separately connected to two lamps LP 11 , LP 12 in the first lamp bank LP 1 , while second outputs T 12 and T 22 of first and second transformers T 1 and T 2 , respectively, are separately connected to two lamps LP 21 , LP 22 in the second lamp bank LP 2 .

With the above-described cross connection between dual high-pressure discharge lamp banks and transformers thereof, high-pressure discharge lamps in the same lamp bank are maintained at a voltage having the same phase. For example, two lamps LP 11 and LP 12 in the first high-pressure discharge lamp bank LP 1 could obtain positive or negative voltage having the same phase, while another two lamps LP 21 and LP 22 in the second high-pressure discharge lamp bank LP 2 could obtain negative or positive voltage having the same phase. Moreover, there is only a very small potential difference existing between any two adjacent lamps in each lamp bank. The lamps would not mutually repulse to ensure safe use thereof. The problem of interference noises caused by different voltage phases and big potential difference between lamps as otherwise existing in the conventional connection manner is also eliminated.

Claims

1. A cross connection structure for dual high-pressure discharge lamp banks and transformers thereof, comprising:two high-pressure discharge lamp banks including the same number of high-pressure discharge lamps; and a plurality of transformers in a number corresponding to that of said high-pressure discharge lamps in each said high-pressure discharge lamp bank; primary sides of said transformers being respectively connected to drive circuits that are connected to one another via signal lines to work synchronously, and secondary sides of said transformers respectively having two outputs, namely, first and second outputs; said first outputs of all said transformers being separately connected to said lamps in a first one of said two high-pressure discharge lamp banks, and said second outputs of all said transformers being separately connected to said lamps in a second one of said two high-pressure discharge lamp banks.