General Electric Company

László Bánkuti

Ferenc Papp

József Fülöp

István Würsching

Peter Lucz

Peter Mora

Istvan Wursching

József Tökés

Lajos Reich

Karoly Talosi

Jozsef Fulop

Jozsef Tokes

István Maros

Qi Long

Sandor Lukacs

János Orbán

Lajos Csibi

Zoltan Vamos

Devin Sun

Peter Ivan Poczik

Janos Kallay

Csaba Koronya

Zsolt Németh

Csenge Csoma

Zsolt Micsinai

Peter Ormai

Fluorescent lamps, along with their methods of manufacture and use, are provided. The fluorescent lamp can include a discharge tube extending from a first end to a second end; a resistive transparent coating (e.g., a tin oxide thin film layer, such as a fluor-doped tin oxide thin film layer) on the outer surface of the discharge tube; and a pair of electric terminals positioned on the discharge tube such that a first terminal is on the first end and a second terminal is on the second end.

Resistive thin layer heating of fluorescent lamp

A compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) including an insulating barrier between heat sources and heat sensitive components. The heat sensitive barrier is in the form of an insulative layer of cement applied between the heat generating components of the CFL and one or more heat sensitive components of the CFL. The cement can also fix or secure various components within the lamp thereby eliminating the need for some or all of the support structure of a conventional CFL.

Thermal barrier and parts fixing in compact fluorescent lamps

A lamp assembly provides both instant light through use of an incandescent/halogen light/lamp source and an energy saving type light provided by a compact fluorescent light/lamp source. Both light sources are enclosed within a common envelope or outer bulb. First and second thermal sensors are provided in the lamp envelope at spaced locations to monitor the temperature of the lamp. When the sum of these two temperatures reaches a preselected value, power to the incandescent lamp source is terminated. Alternatively, when the difference these two temperatures reaches a preselected value, power to the incandescent lamp source is terminated.

Using two thermal switches to control a hybrid lamp

This compact fluorescent lamp includes a discharge tube arrangement with at least one discharge tube formed of glass and enclosing a discharge volume filled with a discharge gas. A ballast circuit is connected to the electrodes disposed at each end of a continuous arc path for controlling the current in the tube. A substantially spherical portion of an outer envelope encloses the tube arrangement and an elongated end portion encloses the ballast circuit. The end portion of the outer envelope is closed and sealed by a seal formed of the same material as the material of the outer envelope. In the associated method of manufacture, the envelope is separated by cutting along a circumferential line into an upper part and a lower part, the ballast circuit introduced into the lower part and respective lead-in wires and the lead-out wires are short and need not be insulated. The ballast circuit and the discharge tube arrangement are held and supported in the outer envelope by the connecting wires and fixing means.

Compact fluorescent lamp and method for manufacturing

A fluorescent lamp includes a discharge tube and an auxiliary amalgam assembly held in the discharge tube by a holder. The holder has first and second regions with attaching portions adapted to receive an associated attachment member. The holder has a first dimension prior to disposition in the discharge tube.

Positioning of auxiliary amalgam

The compact fluorescent lamp comprises a bulb shaped outer envelope enclosing a discharge tube having a coiled configuration and a ballast unit for controlling the current in the tube. The lamp further comprises at least one joint mechanical support and starting aid means for positioning the discharge tube and the ballast unit and reducing a breakdown voltage path of the discharge tube. The at least one mechanical support and starting aid means is made of an electrically conducting material and connected electrically to at least one of the electrodes. The neck portion has a retaining member, and the mechanical support and starting aid means is supported by the retaining member and clamped on the discharge tube at least at a location in a vicinity of a middle section of the arc path. The mechanical support means further comprises at least one support section to provide support against an apex of the outer envelope, and at least one fixing section for fixing of the discharge tube.

Compact fluorescent lamp with mechanical support means and starting aid

A compact fluorescent lamp includes a discharge tube such as a spiral discharge tube having a wall forming a discharge chamber between cathodes at first and second ends thereof. At least one auxiliary amalgam assembly is disposed in the discharge chamber at an intermediate region disposed between the first and second ends. The auxiliary amalgam assembly is secured at a location spaced from the inner wall of the discharge chamber.

A compact fluorescent lamp includes an inverted compact fluorescent light source housed within an outer envelope. Locating the first and second ends of the coiled CFL source positions the electrodes within a substantially spherical outer envelope at a location remotely spaced from the ballast compartment. In this manner, only small diameter first and second lead wires that mechanically and electrically engage the electrodes pass through small dimensioned passages in a separation member in the outer envelope cavity. This substantially reduces the thermal stress on the components.

Compact fluorescent lamp with improved thermal management

A bulb-shaped outer envelope for accommodating at least one lamp including a light-emitting body and a control gear is disclosed. The envelope has a substantially spherical section for receiving the light-emitting body, and an elongated end section for receiving at least a part of the control gear components. The elongated end section is provided with a neck section. A substantially tubular neck-extension portion connects to an inner surface portion of and protruding from the neck section. The neck-extension portion is suitable for accommodating a remaining part of the control gear components. In a method for the manufacture of a glass outer envelope, a flare that is normally used in the manufacture of incandescent lamps is turned around by 180&#xb0;, put into a skirted bulbous envelope, melted into the envelope while the skirt is detached and the flare is formed into a neck-extension portion. A self-ballasted compact fluorescent lamp with the bulb-shaped outer envelope is also disclosed. A part of the ballast components are disposed in the neck-extension portion of the outer envelope.

Bulb-shaped outer envelope for lamps, method for manufacture thereof, and compact fluorescent lamp therewith

An electric lamp comprises an inner assembly including a light source and a control gear circuit. An outer envelope encloses the light source and at least a part of the control gear and has a predetermined wall thickness and an end portion. The outer envelope is comprised of two parts separated along a circumferential line. The two parts of the envelope are connectable and sealable to form a uniform outer envelope with a seal region. The seal region has a wall thickness and is merged in a surface portion of the two parts of the envelope so that the surface unevenness of the seal region is not greater than 0.5 millimeters, and the maximum difference of the wall thickness of the seal region with respect to the wall thickness of the outer envelope is not greater than 0.3 millimeters. A method for manufacturing an electric lamp as described above is also disclosed. During connecting, and sealing the two parts of the envelope by a welding process,

Electric lamp with inner assembly and outer bulb and method for manufacturing

A compact fluorescent lamp comprises a discharge tube arrangement with at least one discharge tube. The tube is formed of glass, encloses a discharge volume filled with a discharge gas and has a fluorescent phosphor coating disposed on the inner surface of the tube. The tube forms a continuous arc path and has electrodes disposed at each end of the arc path. The lamp also comprises a ballast circuit connected to the electrodes by lead-in wires and to a supply voltage by lead-out wires for controlling the current in the tube. A bulb shaped outer envelope comprises a substantially spherical portion, which encloses the tube arrangement and an elongated end portion, which encloses the ballast circuit. The end portion of the outer envelope has a neck portion with an open end on a base side for receiving a base shell. The open end of the neck portion is closed and terminated by a closing and neck reinforcing means of a material compatible with the material of the outer envelope, which has a substantially circular opening. The lead-out wires are led through the substantially circular opening to a base shell for connecting said lamp to said supply voltage through a socket. A method for manufacturing a compact fluorescent lamp as described above is also disclosed. In the proposed method the open end of the elongated portion of the outer envelope is closed and terminated with a closing and neck reinforcing means comprising a substantially circular opening for leading through the lead-out wires.

Self-ballasted compact fluorescent lamp and method for manufacturing

A compact fluorescent lamp comprises a discharge tube arrangement with at least one discharge tube. The tube is formed of glass, encloses a discharge volume filled with a discharge gas and has a fluorescent phosphor coating disposed on the inner surface of the tube. The tube forms a continuous arc path and is provided with electrodes disposed at each end of the arc path. The lamp also comprises a ballast circuit connected to the electrodes by lead-in wires and to a supply voltage by lead-out wires for controlling the current in the tube. A bulb shaped outer envelope has a substantially spherical portion enclosing the tube arrangement and an elongated end portion enclosing the ballast circuit. The end portion of the outer envelope having an open end on a base side is closed and terminated by a closing means of the same material as the outer envelope. The closing means is provided with a tubular opening. The lead-out wires are isolated from each other and led through the tubular opening to a base for connecting said lamp to said supply voltage through a socket. A method for manufacturing a compact fluorescent lamp as described above is also disclosed. In the proposed method, the open end of the elongated portion of the outer envelope is closed and terminated with a closing means comprising a tubular opening for leading through the lead-out wires.

A dielectric barrier discharge lamp is disclosed, which comprises a discharge vessel having a principal axis. The discharge vessel encloses a discharge volume filled with a discharge gas. The discharge vessel further comprises end portions intersected by the principal axis. At least one electrode of a first type and at least one electrode of a second type are used in the lamp. The electrodes of one type are energized to act as a cathode and the electrodes of other type are energized to act as an anode. The electrodes are substantially straight, elongated electrodes with a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the principal axis of the discharge vessel. At least one of the electrodes is positioned within the discharge volume, and the electrodes of at least one type are isolated from the discharge volume by a dielectric layer. At least one of the electrodes inside the discharge volume is provided with an outer luminescent layer. Additionally, at least one of the electrodes inside the discharge volume provided with a luminescent layer may have a reflective layer under the luminescent layer.

Dielectric barrier discharge lamp

A compact fluorescent lamp comprises a discharge tube arrangement with at least one discharge tube. The tube is formed of glass, encloses a discharge volume filled with a discharge gas and has a fluorescent phosphor coating disposed on the inner surface of the tube. The tube forms a continuous arc path and is provided with electrodes disposed at each end of the arc path. The lamp also comprises a ballast circuit mounted on a printed circuit board, which is oriented in a plane substantially parallel to the principal axis of the lamp. The ballast circuit is connected to the electrodes by lead-in wires and to a supply voltage by lead-out wires and controls the current in the tube. A bulb shaped outer envelope has a substantially spherical portion enclosing at least a part of the tube arrangement and an elongated end portion enclosing at least the ballast circuit. The end portion of the outer envelope having an open end on a base side is closed and terminated by a closing means of a material compatible with the material of the outer envelope. The ballast circuit and the discharge tube arrangement are held within the outer envelope and relative to each other in a predetermined position by a holding and protecting shield being oriented in a plane substantially perpendicular to the principal axis of the lamp and comprising a receiving and fixing portion for the discharge tube and the printed circuit board of the ballast circuit. A method for manufacturing a compact fluorescent lamp as described above is also disclosed. In the proposed method, the ballast circuit and the discharge tube arrangement are inserted into and attached to a holding and protecting shield.

Compact fluorescent lamp with outer envelope and method for manufacturing

A dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) lamp is disclosed. The DBD lamp comprises a discharge vessel, which encloses a discharge volume filled with discharge gas. The discharge vessel further comprises a phosphor layer within the discharge volume. The discharge vessel comprises an outer tubular portion having an internal surface, and an inner tubular portion having an outward surface. The outer tubular portion surrounds the inner tubular portion. In this manner, a substantially annular discharge volume is enclosed between the outer tubular portion and the inner tubular portion. The inner tubular portion comprises a multitude of protrusions around its circumference. The protrusions extend into the substantially annular discharge volume. A first set of interconnected electrodes and a second set of interconnected electrodes are also provided. The electrodes are isolated from the discharge volume by at least one dielectric layer, and at least one of the dielectric layers is constituted by the wall of the inner tubular portion.

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Budapest, Hungary

László Bánkuti