The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 29, 1991
Filed:
Dec. 22, 1989
Oscar Biblarz, Carmel, CA (US);
GTE Products Corporation, Danvers, MA (US);
Abstract
An arc discharge lamp which can be operated in any orientation without significant variation in performance includes an even number of electrodes at least equal to four, a discharge vessel including a spherical central portion and electrode mounting portions. The electrodes are mounted in the electrode mounting portions and have a substantially uniform three-dimensional distribution with respect to the central portion. The discharge lamp can be used in a lamp assembly including a switch apparatus for coupling electrical energy to a pair of the electrodes that is closest to a horizontal plane. An automatic switch apparatus includes orientation-sensitive switches, one having the same direction as each of the electrodes. The switches are interconnected such that electrical energy is coupled to a pair of electrodes in response to the orientation of the switch apparatus relative to a gravity field. The switch apparatus can be mounted in the base or within the lamp envelope of the lamp assembly.