General Electric Company

Richard C Nagle

John M Davenport

Richard L Hansler

William J Cassarly

James T Dakin

Mark E Duffy

Harald L Witting

George E Sakoske

Raymond A Heindl

William W Finch

Kenneth S King

Lawrence T Mazza

John W Munk, Jr

Ronald S White

Johnson M Kachidza

A compact optical assembly includes a tight bend region that effectively propagates light from a source to an end use while maximizing beam lumens, improving color mixing, and minimizing complexity. A first nonimaging optical component increases the angular distribution of light from the source to an input end of the bend region having a light fiber with a first cross-sectional dimension. A second nonimaging optical component receives light from the bend region and decreases the angular distribution. A light conductor that interconnects the light source to the first nonimaging optical component has a cross-sectional dimension in the plane of the bend region greater than that of the light fiber and, likewise, a second conductor receiving light from the second nonimaging optical component has a cross-sectional dimension in the plane of the bend region greater than the light fiber.

Compact optical system with turn and color mixing

A low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp (10) includes a tubularly-shaped envelope (12) sealed at each end with a stem assembly (14). A fluorescent coating (26) is disposed on the interior surface of the envelope (12) and an electric discharge sustaining fill gas is provided within a hollow interior (24) of the envelope (12). Each stem assembly (14) includes a glass base portion (30) which seals the end of the envelope (12), an electrode (16), and a tubularly-shaped, light-transmissive, glass shield (22). The electrode (16) is disposed within the envelope (12) such that an electric discharge occurs between the electrodes (16) upon operation of the lamp (10). The glass shield (22) extends past the electrode (16) to partially surround the electrode (16) and shield the interior surface of the envelope (12) from material ejected from the electrode (16). The glass shield (22) allows the electric discharge to unaffectedly pass through an open end (42). Structural variations for supporting the glass shield (22) are also disclosed.

Fluorescent lamp with protected cathode to reduce end darkening

A light source and optical delivery arrangement for use with a projection lighting system as may be used in the stage and studio fields, includes a high brightness light source which achieves a light output in excess of 4000 lumens at a power rating of approximately 60 watts and wherein such efficiency is achieved in conjunction with a rated life of greater than about 4000 hours for such light source. The light source is disposed at the first optical focal point of an ellipsoidally shaped reflector with an input end of an optical coupler disposed at the second optical focal point of the reflector in order to receive the light output from the light source. The optical coupler member has a cross-sectional surface area which is polygonal in shaped and is effective so as to provide a light output therefrom which is essentially uniform in terms of color and intensity. A prismatic member is disposed on the optical coupler member for re-directing the light output into a lens member. The lens member is effective for shaping the light output into the desired beam pattern.

High brightness projection lighting system

An optical coupling assembly is useful for coupling a source of light, having high brightness and being non-coherent and focussed at a focal plane, to a plurality of optical light conductors. The coupling assembly includes an elongated light transmissive coupling member which has a central longitudinal axis and is disposed between the focal plane of the light source and leading ends of the optical light conductors. The coupling member includes oppositely flared front and rear end portions and a middle portion disposed along the longitudinal axis, with the middle portion extending between and connected to the front and rear end portions. The coupling member can have either a solid or tubular configuration. The middle portion of the coupling member has cylindrical shape and cross-sectional size of uniform dimensions and being less than the respective cross-sectional sizes of an inlet end of the front end portion and an outlet end of the rear end portion. The front end portion of the coupling member can have either a frusto-conical or parabolic shape, whereas the rear end portion can have a frusto-conical or parabolic shape being oriented in the reverse of the frusto-conical or parabolic shape of the front end portion. The rear end portion has a greater axial length than the front end portion and the outlet end of the rear end portion is larger in size than the inlet end of the front end portion.

Reverse flared optical coupling member for use with a high brightness

An electrodeless high intensity discharge (HID) lamp having an arc tube, a starting aid, and an outer jacket all integrally formed of fused quartz, includes an excitation circuit for providing RF energy effective for initiating and maintaining a gas discharge within the arc tube. The arc tube is positioned within the outer jacket such that a minimum space exists between the outer jacket and the arc tube thereby allowing the efficient coupling of such RF energy to the arc tube by means of an excitation coil wound in close proximate location to the arc tube. The starting aid is of a substantially smaller dimension than the arc tube thereby allowing for a second spacing to occur above the arc tube. This second spacing is effective for optimum thermal management of heat generated within the outer jacket. The upper end of the outer jacket has an integrally formed annular groove for receiving an annular support member effective for securing the HID lamp to a lighting fixture.

Electrodeless high intensity discharge lamp having an intergral quartz

A centralized lighting system particularly suited for aerodynamically styled vehicles is disclosed. The centralized lighting system employes a pressurized lamp preferably of a metal halide having quartz light guides merged into portions of its outer surface. The portions of the metal halide lamp that are not merged with the light guides may be coated with a diffusive reflective coating that substantially prevents light from being transmitted through the coating so that all of the light generated by the metal halide lamp is directed into and transmittd by the light guides. The transmitted light of the light guide is distributed throughout vehicle to supply the forward, rearward, and interior illumination needs of the vehicle.

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Euclid, OH, United States of America

Richard C Nagle