Gte Laboratories Incorporated

Gte Products Corporation

Walter P. Lapatovich

Joseph M. Proud

Joseph M Proud

Charles N Fallier, Jr

Wojciech W Byszewski

A Bowman Budinger

Walter Peter Lapatovich

Leslie A Riseberg

Stephen G Johnson

Robert K Smith

Donald H Baird

Richard A Bessett

Robert J Regan

William H McNeill

James J Auborn

George R Gibbs

Timothy Fohl

Paul O Haugsjaa

William J Roche

Scott J Butler

Jerry Martin Kramer

Joseph E Lester

Scott L Norman

James M Auborn

R A Bessett

An electrodeless lamp may be formed with a capsule having a radiant energy transmissive material defining an approximately cylindrical enclosed volume having an external length less than 20.0 millimeters, and an outer diameter less than 8.0 millimeters. The enclosed volume is filled with a lamp fill excitable by a high frequency electromagnetic field to produce radiant energy. The small size capsule produces a particularly efficient, orientation tolerant arc discharge. The arc is then highly stable as to position, yielding a good optical source to design for. The temperature gradient is small, thereby yielding little thermal stress on the capsule. An electrodeless HID headlamp system may be formed with the efficient capsule from a radio frequency source operating from the power supply of a typical automobile. The headlamp system includes a high frequency power source, a transmission line, a coupler, an excitable lamp fill captured in a lamp capsule, a reflector and a lens.

Electrodeless HID lamp with lamp capsule

A large scale video display has a plurality of colored electrodeless lamps which are excited by RF energy coupled from a RF cavity upon which the lamps are mounted. The lamps are easily replaced and do not degrade as fast as conventional lamps which have electrodes.

Radio frequency powered large scale display

Ignition of high intensity discharge (HID) lamps can be enhanced by the application of ultrahigh frequency (UHF) electric fields at modest power levels. The implementation of UHF power assisted starting offers considerable advantage over known prior art lower frequency power starting methods. Solid state circuits and coupled means can be utilized as described therein.

Method of and apparatus for ultrahigh frequency starting of high

A beam mode discharge lamp typically has a shortcoming in that emitted light is reduced due to the deposition of cathode material on the phosphor surface. Such deposition can be reduced through the addition of a conductive mesh about the filaments to entrap cathode material and inhibit same from attacking the phosphor material.

Beam mode fluorescent lamp

An improvement in dual beam mode fluorescent lamps in which a capacitive ballast is provided integral with the lamp structure in the form of a cylindrical laminate of metal and insulator coaxial to the lamp's major axis.

Dual cathode beam mode fluorescent lamp with capacitive ballast

An apparatus and method for increasing the reliability of an arc discharge occurring in metal halide gas discharge lamps by providing UV radiation in the gas discharge path.

Arc discharge lamp with ultraviolet enhanced starting circuit

A compact fluorescent lamp has an outer envelope in which there is supported a capsule containing a mercury-free fill comprised of aluminum tribromide. The fill is energized to produce a plasma discharge which emits ultraviolet and visible radiation. Phosphor, in the form of a particulate layer or a gas, converts the ultraviolet into visible light. The lamp may contain electrodes or be electrodeless. In the electrodeless embodiment RF energy may be capacitively or inductively coupled to the fill.

Compact mercury-free fluorescent lamp

A starter circuit for metal halide discharge lamps in which a diode resistor rectifier network is provided between a conventional ballast and a spiral line generator to superimpose a D.C. voltage on the A.C. ballast voltage thereby to increase the peak instantaneous voltage to the spiral line generators and thus provide a larger breakdown voltage to the discharge lamp.

Method and apparatus for starting low wattage high intensity discharge

A starter circuit for metal halide discharge lamps in which a pair of spiral line generators are coupled between the source of lamp operating power and the electrodes of the high intensity discharge lamp. The spiral line generators are connected across the electrodes, in accordance with the invention, in a manner such that the high voltage short duration pulses from the spiral line generators are substantially additive across the discharge lamp electrodes, thus, in effect, substantially doubling the breakdown voltage available across the discharge lamp electrodes.

Dual spiral line generator method and apparatus for starting low wattage

A laser device with a discharge tube forming a closed envelope with cylindrical end portions connected by an elongated constricted center portion and having external electrodes at the end portions, fed from a source of short pulses with a width measured in nanoseconds, capacity coupled to the discharge plasma. The discharge plasma may include metal vapor, a metal halide, including mercury halide, and internal electrodes may be included in the closed envelope but coupled to the external electrodes by capacity coupling so as to avoid any connections from electrodes passing through the glass or fused silica envelope.

Electrodeless short pulse laser

A beam mode lamp has two discharge electrodes which alternately function as anode and cathode. One or more modifying electrodes are located between the discharge electrodes. Each modifying electrode is kept equal to or negative with respect to the cathode, raising the operating voltage of the lamp from a normal 20 volts to line voltage.

Beam mode lamp with voltage modifying electrode

The lamp shown herein is a beam mode fluorescent lamp for general lighting applications. The lamp comprises a light transmitting envelope, having a phosphor coating on its inner surface, enclosing a thermionic cathode for emitting electrons, a pair of anodes for accelerating the electrons and forming electron beams, and a fill material, such as mercury, which emits ultraviolet radiation upon excitation. The two anode configuration provides an extended region of electron beam excitation. In addition, a separate cathode heater filament is not required due to the anode configuration. As a result this lamp is operated with a single power source and only two conductors connecting the power source to the electrodes. This invention further provides a high degree of self-stabilization of discharge current by means of the twin parallel anode configuration.

Twin anode beam mode fluorescent lamp

The lamp shown herein is a beam mode fluorescent lamp for general lighting applications. The lamp comprises a light transmitting envelope, having a phosphor coating in its inner surface, the envelope encloses a thermionic cathode having a number of segments for emitting electrons, a plurality of anodes for accelerating the electrons and forming a corresponding number of electron beams simultaneously in two directions, and a fill material, such as mercury, which emits ultraviolet radiation upon excitation. The multi-electrode array configuration provides an extended region of electron beam excitation and thereby more visible light. A single power source and pair of connecting conductors provide both cathode heating current and electrode potential difference functions. In addition, this configuration provides for a greater and more complete discharge of the volume within the envelope than single electrode elements. The present invention permits a higher operating voltage, lower power density, and a lower operating temperature for the lamp.

Multi-electrode array for a beam mode fluorescent lamp

A plasma switch includes means to introduce a cloud of particulate AII.sub.3 or AlCl.sub.3 and SiO.sub.2 is to a conductive gas discharge. The chemicals undergo a plasma reaction and generate SiI.sub.4 or SiCl.sub.4 both of which are efficient electron absorbers which rapidly extinguish the gas discharge.

Plasma switch

The lamp shown herein is a beam mode fluorescent lamp for general lighting applications. The lamp comprises a light transmitting envelope, having a phosphor coating on its inner surface, enclosing a single electrode including a thermionic cathode for emitting electrons and an integral anode for accelerating the electrons and forming an electron beam, and a fill material, such as mercury, which emits ultraviolet radiation upon excitation. The electrode configuration provides for use of a single power source and minimal number of power leads. In addition, a separate cathode heater filament is not required.

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Wellesley Hills, MA, United States of America

Joseph M Proud