1. A discharge lamp lighting apparatus comprising:
a lamp voltage detection circuit configured to detect a lamp voltage of a discharge lamp;
a lamp current detection circuit configured to detect a lamp current of the discharge lamp; and
a control circuit configured to perform a starting-time control that applies at least one of a current and power that is greater than a corresponding rated value of the discharge lamp, respectively, in order to light the discharge lamp substantially instantaneously, the control circuit also configured to perform a stable-time control to light the discharge lamp at a substantially constant rated power, and wherein
the control circuit is configured to control at least one of lamp current and lamp power from a starting time to a stable time in accordance with a voltage value detected by the lamp voltage detection circuit, and the control circuit is configured to switch from the starting-time control to the stable-time control depending on an increase in the voltage value detected by the lamp voltage detection circuit from the starting time to the stable time and depending on a lapse of an arbitrary time from the starting time to a time greater then zero.
2. The discharge lamp lighting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a timer configured to determine the lapse of arbitrary time since the discharge lamp is lit, the timer having a different time constant for charging and discharging, respectively, where the time constant for charging is greater than the time constant for discharging.
3. The discharge lamp lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lamp current detection circuit is configured to feed back a lamp current detecting signal to the lamp voltage detection circuit to apply a bias voltage during control from the starting time to the stable time of the discharge lamp.
4. The discharge lamp lighting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the lamp current detection circuit is configured to feed back a lamp current detecting signal to the lamp voltage detection circuit to apply a bias voltage during control from the starting time to the stable time of the discharge lamp.
5. A discharge lamp lighting apparatus comprising:
a lamp voltage detection circuit configured to detect a lamp voltage of the discharge lamp;
a lamp current detection circuit configured to detect a lamp current of the discharge lamp; and
a control circuit configured to perform a starting-time control that applies at least one of a current and power that is greater than a corresponding rated value of the discharge lamp, respectively, in order to light the discharge lamp substantially instantaneously, the control circuit also configured to provide a stable-time control for lighting the discharge lamp stably at substantially constant rated power, and wherein
the control circuit is configured to control at least one of the lamp current and the lamp power from a starting time to a stable time in accordance with a voltage value detected by the lamp voltage detection circuit, and
the lamp current detection circuit is configured to feed back a lamp current detecting signal to the lamp voltage detection circuit to apply a bias voltage during control from the starting time to the stable time.
6. A discharge lamp lighting apparatus comprising:
an application unit for applying a voltage and a current to a discharge lamp;
a detecting unit for detecting a lamp voltage and a lamp current applied to the discharge lamp;
a control unit for performing a starting-time control for controlling a value of at least one of the current and power to a predetermined value exceeding a corresponding rated value of the discharge lamp based on the lamp voltage, and a stable-time control for controlling the value of the lamp current so that at least one of the current and power has the corresponding rated value; and
a switching unit for switching between the starting-time control and the stable-time control when the lamp voltage reaches or exceeds a predetermined voltage value and a predetermined time has elapsed since lighting.
7. A discharge lamp lighting method comprising:
applying a voltage and a current to a discharge lamp;
detecting a lamp voltage and a lamp current applied to the discharge lamp;
performing a starting-time control by controlling a value of at least one of the current and power to be a predetermined value exceeding a corresponding rated value of the discharge lamp based on the lamp voltage;
performing a stable-time control by controlling the value of the lamp current so that at least one of the current and power has the rated value; and
switching between the starting-time control and the stable-time control when the lamp voltage reaches or exceeds a predetermined voltage value and a predetermined time has elapsed since applying the voltage and current to the discharge lamp.
8. A discharge lamp lighting method in which a computer executes:
applying a voltage and a current to a discharge lamp;
detecting a lamp voltage and a lamp current applied to the discharge lamp;
performing a starting-time control by controlling a value of at least one of the current and power to a predetermined value exceeding a corresponding rated value of the discharge lamp based on the lamp voltage;
performing a stable-time control by controlling the value of the lamp current so that at least one of the current and power has the corresponding rated value; and
switching between the starting-time control and the stable-time control when the lamp voltage reaches or exceeds a predetermined voltage value and a predetermined time has elapsed since applying the voltage and current to the discharge lamp.
9. A program for making a computer execute:
applying a voltage and a current to a discharge lamp;
detecting a lamp voltage and a lamp current applied to the discharge lamp;
performing a starting-time control by controlling a value of at least one of the current and power to a predetermined value exceeding a corresponding rated value of the discharge lamp based on the lamp voltage;
performing a stable-time control by controlling the value of the lamp current so that at least one of the current and power has the corresponding rated value; and
switching between the starting-time control and the stable-time control when the lamp voltage reaches or exceeds a predetermined voltage value and a predetermined time has elapsed since applying the voltage and current to the discharge lamp.
10. A computer-readable medium for use with a discharge lamp that has at least one of a rated current and a rated power, the computer readable medium having a program for making a computer execute:
applying a voltage and a current to a discharge lamp;
detecting at least one of a lamp voltage and a lamp current applied to the discharge lamp;
performing a starting-time control to control a value of at least one of the current and power to a predetermined value exceeding the rated value thereof based on the lamp voltage;
performing a stable-time control to control the value of the lamp current so that at least one of the current and the power has the rated value thereof; and
switching between the starting-time control and the stable-time control when the lamp voltage reaches or exceeds a predetermined voltage value and a predetermined time has elapsed since applying the voltage and current to the discharge lamp.
11. The discharge lamp lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the current and the power applied by the control circuit during starting-time control is several times greater than the corresponding rated value of the discharge lamp, respectively.
12. The discharge lamp lighting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the current and the power applied by the control circuit during starting-time control is several times greater than the corresponding rated value of the discharge lamp, respectively.
13. The discharge lamp lighting apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:
a timer configured to determine the lapse of arbitrary time since the discharge lamp is lit, the timer having a different time constant for charging and discharging, respectively, where the time constant for charging is greater than the time constant for discharging.
14. The discharge lamp lighting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the lamp current detection circuit is configured to feed back a lamp current detecting signal to the lamp voltage detection circuit to apply a bias voltage during control from the starting time to the stable time of the discharge lamp.
15. The discharge lamp lighting apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:
a timer configured to determine the lapse of arbitrary time since the discharge lamp is lit, the timer having a different time constant for charging and discharging, respectively, where the time constant for charging is greater than the time constant for discharging.
16. The discharge lamp lighting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the lamp current detection circuit is configured to feed back a lamp current detecting signal to the lamp voltage detection circuit to apply a bias voltage during control from the starting time to the stable time of the discharge lamp.
17. The discharge lamp lighting method according to claim 7, further comprising:
feeding back a lamp current detecting signal to a lamp voltage detection circuit and applying a bias voltage during a time period from starting time control to stable time control of the discharge lamp.
18. The discharge lamp lighting method according to claim 7, further comprising:
providing a timer configured to determine the lapse of time since applying the voltage and current to the discharge lamp, the timer having a different time constant for charging and discharging, respectively, and the time constant for charging is greater than the time constant for discharging.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An animal restraining apparatus comprising:
a support frame,
a trapping means operable between an animal release position and an animal restraining position where the animal is restrained in the neck region,
a drive means to operate the trapping means between said positions, and,
a releasable brake comprising:
a braking member which moves upon operation of the trapping means and
a friction member engageable and disengageable with the braking member to hold the braking member in a particular position thereby locking the trapping means in position.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the trapping means comprises a pair of trapping members.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the trapping members comprise neck bars.
4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the trapping members comprise gates.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the trapping members reciprocate between the release position and the restraining position.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drive means comprises a ram.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ram is a pneumatic ram.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the braking member of the releasable brake comprises a slide member which slides upon operation of the trapping members.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the friction member comprises a brake caliper with pair of brake pads adapted to frictionally engage to the braking member.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the friction member of the releasable brake is pneumatically operated.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the releasable brake comprises an air cylinder, a piston extendible and retractable by the air cylinder; the friction member comprising a brake caliper with brake pads adapted to frictionally lock to the braking member, the brake caliper being operatively associated with the piston whereby operation of the air cylinder caused operation of the brake caliper.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, including switches to operate the drive means and the releasable brake.
13. The apparatus of claim 1, including a compressor to operate the drive means and the releasable brake.