Electric lamp and discharge devices – With luminescent solid or liquid material – With gaseous discharge medium
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-14
2001-06-26
Philogene, Haissa (Department: 2821)
Electric lamp and discharge devices
With luminescent solid or liquid material
With gaseous discharge medium
C313S634000, C313S575000, C315S248000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06252346
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to discharge lamps. The invention relates more specifically to novel lamp configurations and to an improved method of manufacturing an electrodeless lamp.
2. Related Art
In general, the present invention relates to the type of lamp disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,404,076, as well as U.S. Pat. No. 5,903,091, each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Electrodeless lamps are known in the art. Such lamps may be characterized according to the type of discharge they produce. Electrodeless discharges may be classified as either E discharges, microwave discharges, travelling wave discharges, or H discharges.
FIG. 1
is a schematic diagram of a conventional electrodeless lamp which produces an E discharge. A power source
1
provides power to a capacitor
2
. A gas-filled vessel
3
is placed between the plates of the capacitor
2
. E discharges in electrodeless lamps are similar to arc discharges in an electroded lamp, except that current is usually much less in an E discharge. Once breakdown of the gas to its ionized or plasma state is achieved, current flows through the capacitance of the vessels walls between the plates of the capacitor
2
, thereby producing a discharge current in the plasma.
FIG. 2
is a schematic diagram of a conventional electrodeless lamp which produces a microwave discharge. A microwave power source
11
provides microwave energy which is directed by a waveguide
12
to a microwave cavity
14
which houses a gas-filled bulb
13
. The microwave energy excites the fill in the bulb
13
and produces a plasma discharge. In a microwave discharge, the wavelength of the electromagnetic field is comparable to the dimensions of the exciting structure, and the discharge is excited by both E and H components of the field.
FIG. 3
is a schematic diagram of a conventional electrodeless lamp which produces a travelling wave discharge. A power source
21
provides power to a launcher
22
. A gas-filled vessel
23
is disposed in the launcher
22
. The gap between the electrodes of the launcher
22
provides an E field which launches a surface wave discharge. The plasma in the vessel
23
is the structure along which the wave is then propagated.
FIG. 4
is a schematic diagram of a conventional electrodeless lamp which produces an H discharge. Electrodeless lamps which produce an H discharge are also referred to as inductively coupled lamps. As shown in
FIG. 4
, one example for a conventional inductively coupled lamp includes a low frequency power source
31
providing power to a coil
32
which is wound around a gas-filled vessel
33
. The alternating current around the coil
32
causes a changing magnetic field, which induces an electric field which drives a current in the plasma. In effect, the plasma can be analyzed as a single turn secondary to the coil
32
. An H discharge is characterized by a closed electrical field, which in many examples forms a visible donut-shaped plasma discharge.
A number of parameters characterize highly useful sources of light. These include spectrum, efficiency, brightness, economy, durability (working life), and others. For example, a highly efficient, low wattage light source with a long working life, particularly a light source with high brightness, represents a highly desirable combination of operating features. Electrodeless lamps have the potential to provide a much longer working life than electroded lamps. However, low wattage electrodeless lamps have found only limited commercial applications.
SUMMARY
Various aspects, features, advantages, and applications of electrodeless lamps utilizing the novel integrated lamp head of the present invention may be understood with reference to the parent '230 application.
According to one aspect of the invention, an integrated lamp head for an electrodeless lamp includes a metal-matrix composite body, an insulating material encased by the metal-matrix body, the insulating material having an interior surface, and an excitation structure integrally formed on the interior surface of the insulating material. The insulating material may be, for example, a ceramic. The integrally formed excitation structure may include, for example, an excitation coil. Preferably, the integrally formed excitation structure comprises a wedding ring shape excitation coil. The integrally formed excitation structure may also include a cross-sectional shape generally corresponding to the upper-case Greek letter omega. According to another aspect of the invention, the integrally formed excitation structure comprises a pre-formed connection from an exterior portion of the integrated lamp head to the excitation structure.
The foregoing aspects of the invention are achieved individually and in combination. The invention should not be construed as requiring two or more of the foregoing aspects unless expressly required by the claims.
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Kipling Kent
Shanks Bruce
Smith Malcolm
Turner Brian P.
Fusion Lighting Inc.
Philogene Haissa
Steiner Paul E.
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