Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Raymond A Smith

Paul G Kennedy

Robin E Hamilton

Edward H Hooper

Roy G Anderson

An RF source is periodically pulsed for exciting an electrodeless light bulb in an on-off mode so as to intermittently drive the bulb to a high peak power operating point where light generation efficiency is relatively high, while maintaining a relatively low average power input. Pulse rate and duration are optimized to minimize light flicker while maximizing light emission efficiency.

Excitation circuit for an electrodeless lamp including a pulsed power

A coil extension of the RF coupling coil, surrounding an electrodeless light bulb containing an inert gas and selected chemical elements, generates a voltage at the distal end thereof which is higher than that which appears across the RF coupling coil proper, and wherein the high voltage from the distal end of the coil extension is returned to the light bulb through a point contact electrode located in relatively close proximity to the low voltage end of the RF coupling coil.

Integral igniter for electrodeless lamps

An electrodeless light bulb assembly having a standard light bulb base located at one end of an extruded cylindrical heat sink including a set of elongated fins extending radially outward from an annular inner body portion. An electrodeless light bulb, excitation coil, and transparent cover for the bulb are located at the other end of the heat sink. A solid state electrodeless lamp driver circuit is thermally coupled to the heat sink and is located in a hollow inner space region formed by the inner body portion. The annular inner body portion also includes at least one but preferably a plurality of boiler/condenser heat pipes located around its periphery for thermally coupling the heat from excitation coil and the driver to the fins where heat is transferred to the air via natural convection. The excitation coil can be formed from a length of conventional electrical conductor or it can be formed from a length of heat pipe connected at one end to the driver and at the other end to the heat sink.

Affordable electrodeless lighting

An electrodeless light bulb assembly including a case or housing supporting an electrodeless light bulb as well as a convection type heat exchanger. A solid state RF driver circuit is located inside the housing and connects to an excitation coil wrapped around the light bulb. The excitation coil comprises a metal heat pipe so as to provide an efficient thermal transport mechanism for the heat generated by the coil and the heat radiated thereto from the electrodeless bulb to the heat exchanger in addition to generating an RF excitation field for the electrodeless light bulb.

Growing community of inventors

Severna Park, MD, United States of America

Raymond A Smith