Abstract: A discharge lamp lighting apparatus for lighting a discharge lamp, comprises an inverter which reverses a polarity of an output voltage and applies alternating voltage to the discharge lamp, and an inverter control circuit which generates an inverter control signal defining a polarity reversal operation of the inverter, based on a polarity reversal timing signal, wherein when the number of polarity reversals in one cycle of the polarity reversal timing signal is even, the inverter control circuit intermittently performs a first operation in which successive pulse-like part of the polarity reversal operation based on the polarity reversal timing signal is disregarded by odd number of times.

Abstract: A solid product removal method for removing a solid product adhering to a gas exhaust pipe member having a rinsing water inlet pipe member with a tip opening located inside the gas exhaust pipe member for feeding rinsing water into the inside of the gas exhaust pipe member from the tip opening thereof; hence a solid product formed newly upon reaction with the rinsing water and adhering thereto can be rinsed off with the rinsing water introduced from another tip opening located at a different position; and therefore, an adherence of the solid product can be prevented from heating the inner face of the gas exhaust pipe member. A scraping member for scraping the solid product stuck to the inner face of the gas exhaust pipe member may be used.

Abstract: A discharge lamp lighting apparatus for lighting a discharge lamp, comprises an inverter which reverses a polarity of an output voltage and applies alternating voltage to the discharge lamp, and an inverter control circuit which generates an inverter control signal defining a polarity reversal operation of the inverter, based on a polarity reversal timing signal, wherein when the number of polarity reversals in one cycle of the polarity reversal timing signal is even, the inverter control circuit intermittently performs a first operation in which successive pulse-like part of the polarity reversal operation based on the polarity reversal timing signal is disregarded by odd number of times.

Abstract: In a discharge lamp lighting apparatus, increase modulation on lamp current with a pulse is carried out according to a modulation signal. At a start-up of the discharge lamp or immediately thereafter, the increase modulation is restrained, and in a lighting steady state of the discharge lamp, the restraining of the increase modulation is released, and wherein when the restraining of the increase modulation is released, in a transition period from immediately after the start-up of the discharge lamp to the lighting steady state, the restraining of increase modulation is gradually released.

Abstract: To provide a discharge lamp ignition device to light high-intensity discharge lamps in which, during alternating current ignition, the fluctuation of luminous flux on the reversal of polarity of the voltage impressed on the lamp is minimized and in which steady lighting characteristics of the discharge at startup are secured, a discharge lamp ignition device has a capacitor Ch connected to a transformer Th and an intermittent voltage impression arrangement Uj to drive voltage impression on the primary winding Ph, with the secondary winding Sh of the transformer Th constituted so that the voltage generated in the secondary winding Sh can be impressed overlapping the output voltage of an inverter Ui between the electrodes of the discharge lamp Ld by interposing it in the path connecting the output of the inverter Ui and the electrode for the main discharge of the discharge lamp Ld.

Abstract: The present discharge lamp lighting device is capable of rapid modulation in which a lamp current is rapidly reduced and rapidly restored. The current control circuit is provided to perform specific current control such that the brightness of a lamp is reduced by a predetermined percentage without being affected by a variation or change in lamp voltage over time, thereby reducing a lamp current.

Abstract: To provide a discharge lamp ignition device to light high-intensity discharge lamps in which, during alternating current ignition, the fluctuation of luminous flux on the reversal of polarity of the voltage impressed on the lamp is minimized and in which steady lighting characteristics of the discharge at startup are secured, a discharge lamp ignition device has a capacitor Ch connected to a transformer Th and an intermittent voltage impression arrangement Uj to drive voltage impression on the primary winding Ph, with the secondary winding Sh of the transformer Th constituted so that the voltage generated in the secondary winding Sh can be impressed overlapping the output voltage of an inverter Ui between the electrodes of the discharge lamp Ld by interposing it in the path connecting the output of the inverter Ui and the electrode for the main discharge of the discharge lamp Ld.

Abstract: The present discharge lamp lighting device is capable of rapid modulation in which a lamp current is rapidly reduced and rapidly restored. The current control circuit is provided to perform specific current control such that the brightness of a lamp is reduced by a predetermined percentage without being affected by a variation or change in lamp voltage over time, thereby reducing a lamp current.

Abstract: A low cost DC—DC converter which facilitates a reduction of the switching loss in a wide, variable range of the continuity ratio of the main switching device includes a direct current source; an ON-OFF-controllable main switching device; a main coil which is series connected to the main switching device; a fly-wheel diode which is arranged such that the induction current of the above described main coil flows when the main switching device is shifted into the OFF state; a smoothing capacitor for smoothing the output of the main coil; an auxiliary coil, a resonant capacitor and an ON-OFF-controllable auxiliary switching device. The main switching device and the auxiliary switching device are controlled such that each are alternatively shifted into the ON state such that the main switching device is shifted into the ON state within a given time after the auxiliary switching device has been shifted into the OFF state.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter which accomplishes a reduction of the switching loss in the wide, variable range of the continuity ratio of the main switching device includes a direct current source, an ON-OFF-controllable main switching device, a main coil which is series connected to the main switching device, a fly-wheel diode which is arranged such that the induction current of the above described main coil flows when the main switching device is shifted into the OFF state, a smoothing capacitor for smoothing the output of the main coil, an auxiliary coil, a resonant capacitor and an ON-OFF-controllable auxiliary switching device, in which the auxiliary coil and the resonant capacitor are series-connected to form a LC series connection. Further, the LC series connection, the main switching device and the fly-wheel diode are also series connected, with the auxiliary switching device being connected in parallel to the LC series connection.

Abstract: A low cost DC-DC converter facilitates a reduction of the switching loss in the wide, variable range of the continuity ratio for a main switching device. The DC-DC converter includes a direct current source, an ON-OFF-controllable main switching device, a main coil which is series connected to the main switching device, a fly-wheel diode which is arranged such that the induction current of the main coil flows when the main switching device is shifted into the OFF state, and a smoothing capacitor for smoothing the output of the main coil, Also included is an auxiliary transformer with a primary winding as a direct current source and a secondary winding. The main switching device and the auxiliary switching device are controlled such that they are shifted alternatively into the ON state, and the main switching device, is shifted into the ON state a given time after the auxiliary switching device has been shifted into the OFF state.

Abstract: A lamp lighting apparatus has a discharge drive circuit for supplying discharge current to the lamp, a voltage conversion circuit for boosting voltage from DC power and supplying the boosted voltage to the discharge drive circuit, and an arc discharge detecting circuit for detecting that a state of discharge of the lamp changes to arc discharge, and outputting an arc discharge transition signal to the voltage conversion circuit, wherein when the voltage conversion circuit receives the arc discharge transition signal which shows that the transition to the arc discharge does not take place, the voltage conversion circuit supplies a first voltage or higher to the discharge drive circuit, and when the voltage conversion circuit receives the arc discharge transition signal which shows that the transition to the arc discharge takes place, the voltage conversion circuit supplies a second voltage lower than the first voltage to the discharge drive circuit.

Abstract: A low cost DC-DC converter which facilitates a reduction of the switching loss in a wide, variable range of the continuity ratio of the main switching device includes a direct current source; an ON-OFF-controllable main switching device; a main coil which is series connected to the main switching device; a fly-wheel diode which is arranged such that the induction current of the above described main coil flows when the main switching device is shifted into the OFF state; a smoothing capacitor for smoothing the output of the main coil; an auxiliary coil, a resonant capacitor and an ON-OFF-controllable auxiliary switching device. The main switching device and the auxiliary switching device are controlled such that each are alternatively shifted into the ON state such that the main switching device is shifted into the ON state within a given time after the auxiliary switching device has been shifted into the OFF state.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter which accomplishes a reduction of the switching loss in the wide, variable range of the continuity ratio of the main switching device includes a direct current source, an ON-OFF-controllable main switching device, a main coil which is series connected to the main switching device, a fly-wheel diode which is arranged such that the induction current of the above described main coil flows when the main switching device is shifted into the OFF state, a smoothing capacitor for smoothing the output of the main coil, an auxiliary coil, a resonant capacitor and an ON-OFF-controllable auxiliary switching device, in which the auxiliary coil and the resonant capacitor are series-connected to form a LC series connection. Further, the LC series connection, the main switching device and the fly-wheel diode are also series connected, with the auxiliary switching device being connected in parallel to the LC series connection.

Abstract: A low cost DC-DC converter facilitates a reduction of the switching loss in the wide, variable range of the continuity ratio for a main switching device. The DC-DC converter includes a direct current source, an ON-OFF-controllable main switching device, a main coil which is series connected to the main switching device, a fly-wheel diode which is arranged such that the induction current of the main coil flows when the main switching device is shifted into the OFF state, and a smoothing capacitor for smoothing the output of the main coil, Also included is an auxiliary transformer with a primary winding as a direct current source and a secondary winding. The main switching device and the auxiliary switching device are controlled such that they are shifted alternatively into the ON state, and the main switching device, is shifted into the ON state a given time after the auxiliary switching device has been shifted into the OFF state.

Abstract: A lamp lighting apparatus has a discharge drive circuit for supplying discharge current to the lamp, a voltage conversion circuit for boosting voltage from DC power and supplying the boosted voltage to the discharge drive circuit, and an arc discharge detecting circuit for detecting that a state of discharge of the lamp changes to arc discharge, and outputting an arc discharge transition signal to the voltage conversion circuit, wherein when the voltage conversion circuit receives the arc discharge transition signal which shows that the transition to the arc discharge does not take place, the voltage conversion circuit supplies a first voltage or higher to the discharge drive circuit, and when the voltage conversion circuit receives the arc discharge transition signal which shows that the transition to the arc discharge takes place, the voltage conversion circuit supplies a second voltage lower than the first voltage to the discharge drive circuit.

Abstract: A solid product removal apparatus for removing a solid product adhering to an gas exhaust pipe member has a rinsing water inlet pipe member having a tip opening located inside the gas exhaust pipe member for feeding rinsing water into the inside of the gas exhaust pipe member from the tip opening thereof. The solid product removal apparatus is particularly useful when exhaust gas contains an ingredient capable of forming a solid product upon reaction with water inside the gas exhaust pipe member and can rinse off the solid product adhering to the inner face of the gas exhaust pipe member with rinsing water.