| LUXIM CORPORATION Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
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| 20120112634 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO REDUCE ARCING IN ELECTRODELESS LAMPS - A lamp and methods of forming are shown. In one example, a dielectric layer is formed over a gap between conductors in a plasma lamp. Electric arcing is reduced or eliminated, thus allowing tighter gaps and/or higher voltages. In one example a glass frit method is used to apply the dielectric layer. A lamp is shown with a barrier layer that prevents tarnish such as tarnish from sulfur exposure. The barrier layer reduces or prevents degradation of the lamp due to conversion of a conductor material to non-conductive tarnish material. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120086334 | PLASMA LAMP WITH LUMPED COMPONENTS - An electrodeless plasma lamp is provided. The lamp includes a conductive enclosure including a dielectric material (e.g., air) and a bulb containing a fill to form a light emitting plasma. A radio frequency (RF) power source is coupled into to the enclosure. At least one conductive applicator applies power from the enclosure to the bulb and at least one limped inductive element is coupled between the RF feed and applicator. The lumped inductive element may be a helically wound coil. In an example embodiment, the lamp includes first and second lumped inductive elements. The first and second lumped inductive elements may extend from opposed end walls of the enclosure. The first lumped inductive element may be connected to a first conductive applicator located proximate a first end of the bulb and the second lumped inductive element may be connected to a second conductive applicator located proximate a second end of the bulb. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20110298354 | PLASMA LAMP WITH SMALL POWER COUPLING SURFACE - In an example embodiment, an electrodeless plasma lamp is provided which comprises a dielectric body having an effective dielectric constant greater than two. The dielectric body may have a surface with a first region coated with an electrically conductive material and a second region that is not coated with the electrically conductive material. A bulb is located proximate to the second region of the dielectric body and having an outer surface area and the second region may have an uncoated surface area that is less than about sixty percent (60%) of the outer surface area of the bulb. A power source is coupled to the dielectric body to provide radio frequency power to the dielectric body at a frequency that resonates at a fundamental mode in the dielectric body. The bulb contains a fill that forms a plasma when the radio frequency power is provided from the dielectric body through the second region. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110221342 | PLASMA LAMP WITH DIELECTRIC WAVEGUIDE INTEGRATED WITH TRANSPARENT BULB - A dielectric waveguide integrated plasma lamp (DWIPL) with a body comprising at least one dielectric material having a dielectric constant greater than approximately 2, and having a shape and dimensions such that the body resonates in at least one resonant mode when microwave energy of an appropriate frequency is coupled into the body. A dielectric bulb within a lamp chamber in the body contains a fill which when receiving energy from the resonating body forms a light-emitting plasma. The bulb is transparent to visible light and infrared radiation emitted by the plasma. Radiative energy lost from the plasma is recycled by reflecting the radiation from thin-film, multi-layer coatings on bulb exterior surfaces and/or lamp chamber surfaces back into the bulb. The lamp further includes two- or three-microwave probe configurations minimizing power reflected from the body back to the microwave source when the source operates: (a) at a frequency such that the body resonates in a single mode; or (b) at one frequency such that the body resonates in a relatively higher mode before a plasma is formed, and at another frequency such that the body resonates in a relatively lower order mode after the plasma reaches steady state. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20110221341 | PLASMA LAMP WITH DIELECTRIC WAVEGUIDE - A dielectric waveguide integrated plasma lamp is disclosed for powering a small and bright bulb with a diameter of a few millimeters. The lamp is contained within a high dielectric constant material which guides the microwaves to the bulb, provides heat isolation to the drive circuit, contains the microwaves, provides structural stability and ease of manufacturing and allows efficient energy coupling to the bulb when used as a dielectric resonant oscillator. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20110221340 | PLASMA LAMP WITH CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL POSITIONED RELATIVE TO RF FEED - In an example embodiment, an electrodeless plasma lamp is provided which comprises a lamp body comprising a dielectric material having a relative permittivity greater than 2, and a bulb adjacent to the lamp body, the bulb containing a fill that forms a plasma when RF power is coupled to the fill from the lamp body. An RF feed is coupled to the lamp body and a radio frequency (RF) power source for coupling power into the lamp body through the RF feed is provided. A shortest distance between an end of the bulb and a point on the RF feed traverses at least one electrically conductive material of the lamp body. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20110181184 | PLASMA LAMP WITH FIELD-CONCENTRATING ANTENNA - An electrodeless plasma lamp is described comprising a lamp body including a solid dielectric material. The lamp includes a bulb received at least partially within an opening in the solid dielectric material and a radio frequency (RF) feed configured to provide power to the solid dielectric material. A conductive material is provided adjacent to the bulb to concentrate the power proximate the bulb. The conductive material may be located below an upper surface of the solid dielectric material. The conductive material may modify at least a portion of an electric field proximate the bulb so that the portion of the electric field is oriented substantially parallel to an upper surface of the lamp body. | 07-28-2011 |
| 20110148316 | PLASMA LAMP HAVING TUNABLE FREQUENCY DIELECTRIC WAVEGUIDE WITH STABILIZED PERMITTIVITY - An electrodeless plasma lamp and method of generating light are described. The lamp may comprise a lamp body, a source of radio frequency (RF) power and a bulb. The lamp body may comprise a solid dielectric material and at least one conductive element within the solid dielectric material. The source of RF power is configured to provide RF power and an RF feed configured to radiate the RF power from the RF source into the lamp body. One or more tuning mechanisms allow tuning of the lamp body to a given resonant frequency. The bulb is positioned proximate the lamp body and contains a fill that forms a plasma when the RF power is coupled to the fill from the lamp body. The at least one conductive element is configured to concentrate an electric field proximate the bulb. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110148293 | PLASMA LAMP HAVING TUNABLE FREQUENCY DIELECTRIC WAVEGUIDE WITH STABILIZED PERMITTIVITY - An electrodeless plasma lamp and method of generating light are described. The lamp may comprise a lamp body, a source of radio frequency (RF) power and a bulb. The lamp body may comprise a solid dielectric material and at least one conductive element within the solid dielectric material. The source of RF power is configured to provide RF power and an RF feed configured to radiate the RF power from the RF source into the lamp body. One or more tuning mechanisms allow tuning of the lamp body to a given resonant frequency. The bulb is positioned proximate the lamp body and contains a fill that forms a plasma when the RF power is coupled to the fill from the lamp body. The at least one conductive element is configured to concentrate an electric field proximate the bulb. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110037403 | MODULATED LIGHT SOURCE SYSTEMS AND METHODS. - An electrodeless plasma lamp and method of generating light is described. The lamp may comprise a lamp body comprising a dielectric material having a relative permittivity greater than 2. A lamp drive circuit is coupled to the lamp body and configured to provide radio frequency (RF) power to the lamp body. A bulb is positioned adjacent to the lamp body, the bulb containing a fill that forms a plasma when the RF power is coupled to the fill from the lamp body. The lamp drive circuit includes a control circuit to control the RF power to vary a temperature of the fill to emit light at adjustable output intensities. The control circuit may be configured to modulate a frequency of the RF power. In an example embodiment, the control circuit is configured to modulate the frequency in the range of 10 Hz to 10 KHz. | 02-17-2011 |
| 20100320905 | PLASMA LAMP USING A SHAPED WAVEGUIDE BODY - A plasma lamp for an electrodeless plasma lamp having a shaped dielectric waveguide body. The shaped body may have a relatively thin region containing a bulb, and a second region thicker than the first region. Microwave probes may be positioned in the second region to provide power to the waveguide body. The body may be shaped to intensify the electric field in the first region adjacent to the bulb to allow operation at a lower frequency than a solid cylindrical or rectangular waveguide body having the same volume and dielectric constant. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20100315000 | PLASMA LAMP WITH FIELD-CONCENTRATING ANTENNA - An electrodeless plasma lamp is described comprising a lamp body including a solid dielectric material. The lamp includes a bulb received at least partially within an opening in the solid dielectric material and a radio frequency (RF) feed configured to provide power to the solid dielectric material. A conductive material is provided adjacent to the bulb to concentrate the power proximate the bulb. The conductive material may be located below an upper surface of the solid dielectric material. The conductive material may modify at least a portion of an electric field proximate the bulb so that the portion of the electric field is oriented substantially parallel to an upper surface of the lamp body. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100295453 | ELECTRODELESS PLASMA LAMP SYSTEMS AND METHODS - An electrodeless plasma lamp having a bulb containing a fill that forms a light-emitting plasma is described. The lamp includes a power amplifier to provide radio frequency power to the fill at a frequency in the range of about 50 MHz to 10 GHz and the power amplifier is configured to operate in at least two classes of operation. Control electronics of the lamp is configured to change the class of operation of the power amplifier during operation of the plasma lamp. For example, the power amplifier may be configured to operate as a class A/B amplifier during at least a first mode of operation and a class C amplifier during at least a second mode of operation. | 11-25-2010 |
| 20100171436 | LOW FREQUENCY ELECTRODELESS PLASMA LAMP - In various exemplary embodiments, an electrodeless plasma lamp includes a bulb configured to be coupled to a source of radio frequency (RF) power. The bulb contains a fill that forms a plasma when the RF power is coupled to the fill. An electrically-conductive convex shield is positioned proximate to the bulb with a convex surface of the shield being distal to the bulb. A resonant structure having a quarter wave resonant mode includes a lamp body having a dielectric material having a relative permittivity greater than 2 with an inner conductor and an outer conductor. The source of RF power is configured to provide RF power to the lamp body at about a resonant frequency for the resonant structure. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20100156310 | LOW FREQUENCY ELECTRODELESS PLASMA LAMP - An electrodeless plasma lamp and a method of generating light are provided. The plasma lamp may comprise a power source to provide radio frequency (RF) power, and a bulb containing a fill that forms a plasma when the RF power is coupled to the fill. The plasma lamp further comprises a resonant structure having a quarter wave resonant mode. The resonant structure includes a lamp body comprising a dielectric material having a relative permittivity greater than 2, an inner conductor, and an outer conductor. The power source is configured to provide the RF power to the lamp body at about a resonant frequency for the resonant structure. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100156301 | ELECTRODELESS PLASMA LAMP AND DRIVE CIRCUIT - An electrodeless plasma lamp and a method of controlling operation of a plasma lamp are provided. The plasma lamp may a power source to provide radio frequency (RF) power and a lamp body to receive the RF power from a feed. The lamp body may comprise a dielectric material having a dielectric constant greater than 2 and bulb is provided that contains a fill that forms a plasma that emits light when at least a portion of the RF power is coupled to the fill. A light guide directs light from the bulb to a photosensor that is shielded from light output from a front side of the lamp body. The lamp includes a drive circuit to control operation of the lamp based on a level of light detected by the photosensor. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100123407 | LIGHT COLLECTION SYSTEM FOR AN ELECTRODELESS RF PLASMA LAMP - An electrodeless plasma lamp and a method of generating light are provided. The plasma lamp may comprise a power source to provide radio frequency (RF) power and a lamp body to receive the RF power. The lamp body may include a dielectric material having a relative permittivity greater than 2. A bulb is provided that contains a fill that forms a light emitting plasma when the RF power is coupled to the fill. Collection optics is provided to direct the light along an optical path to an aperture, wherein the optical path includes at least one reflective surface and at least two refractive surfaces. | 05-20-2010 |
| 20100123396 | REPLACEABLE LAMP BODIES FOR ELECTRODELESS PLASMA LAMPS - An electrodeless plasma lamp comprising a lamp housing and a lamp body releasably received with the lamp housing. The lamp housing includes a first electrical connector operatively coupled a power source to provide radio frequency (RF) power. The lamp body includes a second electrical connector to releasably engage with the first electrical connector of the lamp housing. The lamp body includes a dielectric material having a relative permittivity greater than 2. RF power is coupled by the lamp body to a bulb containing a fill that forms a light emitting plasma. In an example embodiment, the plasma lamp includes a retaining arrangement releasably to retain the lamp body at least partially within the lamp housing. | 05-20-2010 |
| 20100102724 | METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING CERAMIC BODY ELECTRODELESS LAMPS - A ceramic body electrodeless lamp and a method to produce the lamp are provided. In an example embodiment, the ceramic body electrodeless lamp may include an open tubular arm body, a filler rod formed to have an outer diameter sized to fit at least partially within an inner diameter of the open tubular arm body, and a frit material to form a seal between the open tubular arm body and the filler rod once the frit material is melted. | 04-29-2010 |
| 20090284166 | ELECTRODELESS LAMPS AND METHODS - An electrodeless plasma lamp and method of generating light are described. The lamp may comprise a lamp body, a source of radio frequency (RF) power and a bulb. The lamp body may comprise a solid dielectric material and at least one conductive element within the solid dielectric material. The source of RF power is configured to provide RF power and an RF feed configured to radiate the RF power from the RF source into the lamp body. The bulb is positioned proximate the lamp body and contains a fill that forms a plasma when the RF power is coupled to the fill from the lamp body. The at least one conductive element is configured to concentrate an electric field proximate the bulb. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20090146543 | PLASMA LAMP WITH DIELECTRIC WAVEGUIDE INTEGRATED WITH TRANSPARENT BULB - A dielectric waveguide integrated plasma lamp (DWIPL) with a body comprising at least one dielectric material having a dielectric constant greater than approximately 2, and having a shape and dimensions such that the body resonates in at least one resonant mode when microwave energy of an appropriate frequency is coupled into the body. A dielectric bulb within a lamp chamber in the body contains a fill which when receiving energy from the resonating body forms a light-emitting plasma. The bulb is transparent to visible light and infrared radiation emitted by the plasma. Radiative energy lost from the plasma is recycled by reflecting the radiation from thin-film, multi-layer coatings on bulb exterior surfaces and/or lamp chamber surfaces back into the bulb. The lamp further includes two- or three-microwave probe configurations minimizing power reflected from the body back to the microwave source when the source operates: (a) at a frequency such that the body resonates in a single mode; or (b) at one frequency such that the body resonates in a relatively higher mode before a plasma is formed, and at another frequency such that the body resonates in a relatively lower order mode after the plasma reaches steady state. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20090026975 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPROVED STARTUP AND CONTROL OF ELECTRODELESS PLASMA LAMP USING CURRENT FEEDBACK - In one example embodiment, a drive probe is coupled to the lamp body to provide the primary power for ignition and steady state operation of the lamp. Feedback may be used to adjust frequency in response to changing conditions of the lamp during startup. A phase shifter may be used to adjust the phase of the power between ignition and steady state operation. A sensor may detect a lamp operating condition that automatically triggers a shift in phase after the fill in the bulb is vaporized. In another example embodiment, a method for sequentially optimizing the drive power and phase shift applied to the lamp is disclosed that may reliably regulate the lamp current consumption to desired startup and operational levels despite variations in lamp environmental conditions. | 01-29-2009 |
| 20090026911 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO REDUCE ARCING IN ELECTRODELESS LAMPS - A lamp and methods of forming are shown. In one example, a dielectric layer is formed over a gap between conductors in a plasma lamp. Electric arcing is reduced or eliminated, thus allowing tighter gaps and/or higher voltages. In one example a glass frit method is used to apply the dielectric layer. A lamp is shown with a barrier layer that prevents tarnish such as tarnish from sulfur exposure. The barrier layer reduces or prevents degradation of the lamp due to conversion of a conductor material to non-conductive tarnish material. | 01-29-2009 |
| 20080211971 | COLOR BALANCING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A display system is described comprising a light source, color wheel and a light modulator. The light source is configured to emit a beam of white light along a first light path. The color wheel may be provided on a first light path and be configured to filter the beam of white light, the color wheel having a plurality of color segments, including a red color segment, a blue color segment, a green color segment and a magenta color segment. The magenta color segment is the only subtractive primary color segment and has a duty cycle of greater than 0.1. The light modulator may be configured to receive filtered light from the color wheel and modulate the received light to produce an image. The light source may be an electrodeless plasma lamp and the lamp may have a bulb containing a fill that includes Indium Bromide. | 09-04-2008 |
