| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 20090167201 | LIGHT SOURCE AND METHODS FOR MICROSCOPY AND ENDOSCOPY - 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. | 07-02-2009 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 20100148669 | ELECTRODELESS LAMPS AND METHODS - An electrodeless plasma lamp and a method of generating light are described. The lamp may comprise a lamp body including a dielectric material. The bulb is positioned proximate the lamp body and contains a fill that forms a plasma when radio frequency (RF) power is coupled to the fill. The conductive element is located within the lamp body and configured to enhance coupling of the RF power to the fill. The lamp may include a feed coupled to the RF power source and configured to radiate power into the lamp body. The at least one conductive element is configured to enhance the coupling of radiated power from the feed to the fill. In an example, two spaced apart conductive elements may be located within the lamp body. The bulb may be an elongated bulb having opposed ends, each opposed end of the bulb being proximate a corresponding conductive element. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20110043123 | ELECTRODELESS PLASMA LAMP AND FILL - Electrodeless plasma lamp and fill is described. Power may be over coupled to the lamp during startup and a significant percentage of the power is reflected. In some examples, 40-80% of the power may be initially reflected and less than 100 watts of forward power may be provided to the lamp. A high pressure fill is used to increase resistance and coupling of power during startup. In one example, a fill of noble gas, Mercury and metal halide is used and the high pressure decreases the warm up time required to vaporize the Mercury and metal halide. In some embodiments, the pressure may be between 200 Torr to 3000 Torr. A combination of metal halides may be used to provide desired characteristics. For example, Aluminum Halide, Indium Halide and/or Thallium Halide may be combined with one or more metal halides having a metal from the Lanthanide series. | 02-24-2011 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
