Welch Allyn, Inc.

Brian J Thomas

Daniel C Briggs

Timothy W Graham

Michael Avdenko

A low watt metal halide discharge lamp for use in photo-curing photo-curable compositions. The lamp comprises an envelope made of light transmissive material having walls that define an arc chamber volume. Contained within the arc chamber volume is a fill of mercury, inert gas and a metal halide additive that includes indium iodide or indium triiodide. The mercury and metal halide are adapted to substantially vaporize during operation of the lamp and produce radiant energy substantially within the wavelength range between about 400 and 500 nm. Extending into the arc chamber volume is a pair of electrodes having electrode tips spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance. The lamp also includes a pair of inlead assemblies electrically coupled to a pair of electrodes respectively. The inlead assemblies pass from the electrodes through a sealed section to the exterior of the lamp.

Dental curing lamp

Apparatus and a method for combining radiant energy of substantially distinct spectral bands to produce a light source having predetermined color temperature or chromaticity characteristics. The apparatus includes a generating source that generates emissions of radiant energy from at least two spatial emission regions. Each of the spatial emission regions emits radiant energy in a substantially distinct spectral band. The apparatus further includes an optical directing system that directs a substantial portion of the radiant energy emitted from the emission regions. The optical directing system includes a positioning region that contains a near focus and a combining region that contains a far focus. The generating source is supported substantially within the positioning region of the optical directing system such that the radiant energy, emitted from the spatial emission regions, is substantially directed to the far focus and combined within the combining region to produce an effective light source having predetermined color temperature or chromaticity characteristics.

Light source having desired color temperature and chromaticity

A low-wattage metal-halide discharge lamp has a tube of the double ended type that forms a bulb or envelope, a pair of electrodes, e.g., an anode and a cathode, which penetrate into an arc chamber inside the envelope, and a suitable amount of mercury plus one or more metal halide salts. The electrodes are each formed of a refractory metal, i.e., tungsten wire, extending through the respective necks into the arc chamber. Heat transfer along the tube wall and through the necks is controlled by designing the bulb wall so that the cross sectional areas at the necks and at quarter-chamber planes halfway between the necks and a midplane have a respective quarter chamber loading factor and a neck loading factor each within a desired range. Lamps of this design achieve high efficacy at relatively low power, i.e., below 40 watts.

Bulb geometry for low power metal halide lamp

A low-wattage metal-halide discharge lamp has a quartz tube of the double-ended type that forms a bulb or envelope, a pair of electrodes, e.g., an anode and a cathode, which penetrate into an arc chamber inside the envelope, and a suitable amount of mercury plus one or more metal halide salts. The electrodes are each formed of a refractory metal, i.e., tungsten wire, extending through the respective necks into the arc chamber. Heat dissipation through the neck is controlled by constructing the quartz shanks to that they have shank segments of a desired surface area that extend from the necks a distance equal to the length of the arc chamber. A shank segment loading factor defined as the rated power divided by the shank segment surface areas, and should be in a target range of 12 to 36 w cm.sup.-2. Lamps of this design achieve high efficacy at relatively low power, i.e., below 30 watts.

Metal halide discharge lamp with improved shank loading factor

Apparatus and a method for combining radiant energy of substantially distinct spectral bands to produce a light source having predetermined color temperature or chromaticity characteristics. The apparatus comprises a generating source that generates emissions of radiant energy from at least two spatial emission regions. Each of the spatial emission regions emits radiant energy in a substantially distinct spectral band. The apparatus further comprises an optical directing system that directs a substantial portion of the radiant energy emitted from the emission regions. The optical directing system includes a positioning region that contains a near focus and a combining region that contains a far focus. The generating source is supported substantially within the positioning region of the optical directing system such that the radiant energy, emitted from the spatial emission regions, is substantially directed to the far focus and combined within the combining region to produce an effective light source having predetermined color temperature or chromaticity characteristics.

Method of adjusting a light source for color temperature and chromaticity

A combination socket assembly and D.C. lamp apparatus. The lamp apparatus has first and second electric pin conductors protruding therefrom. The first pin conductor has a transverse configuration distinct from a transverse configuration of the second pin conductor. The socket assembly comprises a frame, a socket member, and a pair of metal contact clips. The socket element is mounted to the frame and receives the first and the second pin conductors of the lamp apparatus. The socket element contains first and second receptacles. The first receptacle is configured and dimensioned to mate with the first pin conductor and to prevent mating with the second pin conductor. The second receptacle is configured and dimensioned to mate with the second conductor. The metal contact clips are contained within the first and the second receptacles of the socket element. The metal contact clips are used to make electrical contact with the first and the second pin conductors of the lamp apparatus, whereby electrical current from an external power supply can be transmitted through the socket element to the lamp apparatus. The lamp apparatus includes a reflector assembly having a convex exterior surface. The convex exterior surface contains an indicia, covering a portion thereof for guiding a person in correctly orienting the lamp apparatus relative to the socket assembly.

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Phoenix, NY, United States of America

Brian J Thomas