Abstract: A light source (7) with a gas-discharge lamp includes a control module (16) with a driver circuit, an ignition module (17) for producing a substantially high voltage, and a gas-filled burner (18) in which an electric arc is ignited and maintained between two electrodes (19, 20). The control module (16), ignition module (17), and burner (18) are attached to a mutual support system (21) and combined in a single unit. Lighting equipment (1) for a motor vehicle includes at least one light source (7).

Abstract: A lamp 10 is described comprising a burner 14 fixed to a lamp base 12. An operating circuit 50 is arranged within the lamp base 12 for supplying electrical power to the burner 14. The operating circuit 50 is electrically connected to at least one elongate contact path element 70 extending within the base. The contact path element 70 is supported within the base 12 and comprises a first portion 70a fixed within the base and a second portion 70b slidably received within the base 12. The contact path element 70 is fixed to the operating circuit 50 at a position arranged in longitudinal direction from the second portion 70b. This allows a manufacturing method, where the contact path element is fixed to the operating circuit 50 at a position arranged in longitudinal direction from the second portion, so that a longitudinal movement of the second portion is possible to compensate for manufacturing tolerances.

Abstract: A lighting assembly (100) includes an electronic driver circuit (110) and a discharge lamp (10). The discharge lamp (10) is driven with a steady-state average power of 20-30 W. It includes a discharge vessel (20) of a maximum inner dimension ID of less than 3 mm with two electrodes (24). A discharge vessel filling comprises a rare gas and a metal halide composition provided in an amount per volume of the discharge vessel (20) of less than 13.2 ?g/?l. Electrical energy is supplied as an alternating current IL where pulses (150a-150d) are superimposed. The pulses occur in a time interval of 20% of a half-cycle time before or after a polarity change of the alternating current IL. During the pulses the current IL reaches the current value of at least 1.2 times the RMS value of the current IL.

Abstract: The invention describes a method of driving a gas-discharge lamp (1) according to conditions in a specific region (R) of the lamp (1), which gas-discharge lamp (1) comprises a burner (2) in which a first electrode (4) and a second electrode (5) are arranged on either side of a discharge gap, which lamp (1) is realised such that the position (PCs) of a coldest spot during an AC mode of operation is in the vicinity of the first electrode (4), which method comprises the steps of initially driving the lamp (1) in the AC mode of operation; monitoring an environment variable of the lamp (1), which environment variable is indicative of conditions in a specific region (R) of the lamp (1); switching to a temporary DC mode of operation at a DC power value on the basis of the monitored environment variable, whereby the first electrode (4) is allocated as the anode; and driving the lamp (1) in the DC mode of operation until the monitored environment variable has returned to an intermediate environment variable threshold

Abstract: A lamp (10) is described comprising a burner (14) fixed to a lamp base (12). The lamp base (12) comprises a metal housing part (40). The metal housing part (40) comprises a contact sheet element (82) made out of a different metal material. Electrical contacts are provided within the base (12), including an electrical ground contact (70). A contact spring (76) is provided for contacting the electrical ground contact (70) to the metal housing part (40). The contact spring (76) is arranged to press against the contact sheet element (82) to provide electrical ground connection to the metal housing part (40).

Abstract: The invention describes a method of driving an arc-discharge lamp (1), which method comprises the steps of detecting a mechanically induced fluctuation in luminous flux of the lamp (1) occurring as a result of a physical displacement of the discharge arc (2), determining a characteristic (43, 51, 63) of the mechanically induced fluctuation in luminous flux of the lamp (1), and adjusting the lamp power on the basis of the determined characteristic (43, 51, 63) to suppress the mechanically induced fluctuation in luminous flux of the lamp (1).

Abstract: A lamp (10) is described comprising a burner (14) fixed to a lamp base (12). The lamp base (12) includes a top wall oriented towards the burner (14). Within the top wall, an opening (28) is provided. The lamp base (12) further comprises an insulation chamber (42) where an electrical component, e. g. a transformer (54), is embedded within an insulation compound (43). In order to prevent possibly spilled insulation compound from leaking through the opening (28), a raised retention wall (46) is provided around the opening.

Abstract: A lamp (10) is described comprising a burner (14) fixed to a lamp base (12). The lamp base (12) comprises a metal housing part (40). The metal housing part (40) comprises a contact sheet element (82) made out of a different metal material. Electrical contacts are provided within the base (12), including an electrical ground contact (70). A contact spring (76) is provided for contacting the electrical ground contact (70) to the metal housing part (40). The contact spring (76) is arranged to press against the contact sheet element (82) to provide electrical ground connection to the metal housing part (40).

Abstract: A lamp 10 is described comprising a burner 14 fixed to a lamp base 12. An operating circuit 50 is arranged within the lamp base 12 for supplying electrical power to the burner 14. The operating circuit 50 is electrically connected to at least one elongate contact path element 70 extending within the base. The contact path element 70 is supported within the base 12 and comprises a first portion 70a fixed within the base and a second portion 70b slidably received within the base 12. The contact path element 70 is fixed to the operating circuit 50 at a position arranged in longitudinal direction from the second portion 70b. This allows a manufacturing method, where the contact path element is fixed to the operating circuit 50 at a position arranged in longitudinal direction from the second portion, so that a longitudinal movement of the second portion is possible to compensate for manufacturing tolerances.

Abstract: It is provided a burner for automotive lamps, particularly HID lamps, comprising a discharge vessel for generating light by means of a discharge arc. A glass body for protecting the discharge vessel comprises a shaft for being inserted into a socket. The shaft comprises at least one insulation pocket for receiving a rib of the socket and for insulating the first electrode outside the glass body. Due to the insulation pocket the glass body may provide an umbrella-like dielectric increasing the minimum necessary way for a high voltage discharge arc to the uncovered part of the first electrode at the proximal end of the shaft. Due to the improved insulation effect by means of the insulation pocket, the height of the shaft of the glass body may be significantly reduced leading to a reduced height of the burner without impairing the insulation of the burner.

Abstract: The invention describes a method of driving a gas-discharge lamp (1) according to conditions in a specific region (R) of the lamp (1), which gas-discharge lamp (1) comprises a burner (2) in which a first electrode (4) and a second electrode (5) are arranged on either side of a discharge gap, which lamp (1) is realised such that the position (PCs) of a coldest spot during an AC mode of operation is in the vicinity of the first electrode (4), which method comprises the steps of initially driving the lamp (1) in the AC mode of operation; monitoring an environment variable of the lamp (1), which environment variable is indicative of conditions in a specific region (R) of the lamp (1); switching to a temporary DC mode of operation at a DC power value on the basis of the monitored environment variable, whereby the first electrode (4) is allocated as the anode; and driving the lamp (1) in the DC mode of op eration until the monitored environment variable has returned to an intermediate environment variable threshold

Abstract: The invention describes a method of driving an arc-discharge lamp (1), which method comprises the steps of detecting a mechanically induced fluctuation in luminous flux of the lamp (1) occurring as a result of a physical displacement of the discharge arc (2), determining a characteristic (43, 51, 63) of the mechanically induced fluctuation in luminous flux of the lamp (1), and adjusting the lamp power on the basis of the determined characteristic (43, 51, 63) to suppress the mechanically induced fluctuation in luminous flux of the lamp (1).

Abstract: A discharge lighting assembly and a method of operating a discharge lamp 10 are described. The discharge lamp 10 includes a discharge vessel 20 with two electrodes 24 for forming an arc discharge. A driver circuit 12 supplies electrical power to the lamp 10 as an alternating lamp current IL and/or an alternating lamp voltage UL with a commutation between half periods of positive and negative values. The driver circuit 12 is controlled to be able to deliver at a predetermined delivery time tD of 10-100 ?s after commutation a voltage level Up which varies in dependence on the lifetime L of the lamp 10.

Abstract: It is provided a socket (16) for an automotive lamp (10), particularly HID lamp, for use in an automotive headlight (12), comprising a bottom housing part (24) comprising a bottom surface (30) defining a proximal end of the socket (16), a top housing part (26) directly connected to the bottom housing part (24), wherein the top housing part (26) comprises a top surface (32) pointing away from the bottom housing part (24), and reference protrusions (36) for aligning a burner (14) with respect to the reference protrusions (36) during connecting the burner (14) to the socket (16), wherein the reference protrusions (36) protrudes from the level (34) of the top surface (32) or starting from below the level (34) of the top surface (32). Since a metal reference ring protruding from the socket (16) can be saved the height of the socket (16) can be reduced leading to a reduced total height of an automotive lamp (10) comprising this socket (16).

Abstract: A method of generating a measuring signal indicating arc straightness in a gas discharge lamp (L) comprises the following steps: in a first step, applying a first lamp current (IN) to the lamp; in a second step, adding a brief pulse current (Ip) to the first lamp current (IN), allowing the lamp voltage to regain a steady state, and measuring the resulting average value of the lamp voltage (V2) in this steady state; generating a measuring signal indicating arc straightness on the basis of said average lamp voltage (V2) measured in the second step.

Abstract: It is provided a burner (12) for automotive lamps (10), particularly HID lamps, comprising a discharge vessel (14) for generating light by means of a discharge arc. A first electrode (16) terminates in the discharge vessel (14). A second electrode (18) terminates in the discharge vessel (14) for generating the discharge arc in cooperation with the first electrode (16). A glass body (20) for protecting the discharge vessel (14) is provided. The glass body (20) comprises a shaft (22) for being inserted into a socket (24). The first electrode (16) is led through the shaft (22) out of the glass body (20) in a proximal direction (32) and the second electrode (18) is led spaced to the first electrode (16) outside the shaft (22) in proximal direction (32). The shaft (22) comprises at least one insulation pocket (26) for receiving a rib (36) of the socket (24) and for insulating the first electrode (16) outside the glass body (20).

Abstract: A lighting assembly (100) includes an electronic driver circuit (110) and a discharge lamp (10). The discharge lamp (10) is driven with a steady-state average power of 20-30 W. It includes a discharge vessel (20) of a maximum inner dimension ID of less than 3 mm with two electrodes (24). A discharge vessel filling comprises a rare gas and a metal halide composition provided in an amount per volume of the discharge vessel (20) of less than 13.2 ?g/?l. Electrical energy is supplied as an alternating current IL where pulses (150a-150d) are superimposed. The pulses occur in a time interval of 20% of a half-cycle time before or after a polarity change of the alternating current IL. During the pulses the current IL reaches the current value of at least 1.2 times the RMS value of the current IL.

Abstract: A light source (7) with a gas-discharge lamp includes a control module (16) with a driver circuit, an ignition module (17) for producing a substantially high voltage, and a gas-filled burner (18) in which an electric arc is ignited and maintained between two electrodes (19, 20). The control module (16), ignition module (17), and burner (18) are attached to a mutual support system (21) and combined in a single unit. Lighting equipment (1) for a motor vehicle includes at least one light source (7).