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US 2010/0134008 A1Published application
Electrodeless lamps with grounded coupling elements and improved bulb assemblies
AssigneeTopanga Technologies, Inc.
InventorsFREDERICK M. ESPIAU, Timothy J. Brockett, Mehran Matloubian, Douglas A. Doughty
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrode-less plasma lamp, comprising generally of a bulb containing a gas-fill and light emitter(s) that is excited to produce light using radio-frequency (RF) energy. The present lamp includes compact air resonators/waveguides that use grounded coupling-elements with integrated bulb assemblies to reduce the size of the resonator and improve the performance of the lamp as well as reduce cost and simplify manufacturability.
Claims35
A plasma lamp apparatus comprising:
- a gas filled vessel having a transparent or translucent body configured by an inner region and an outer surface region, a cavity being defined within the inner region;
- an air resonator region configured within a vicinity of the gas filled vessel, the air resonator region having a maximum dimension of less than ½ of a free space wavelength of a fundamental resonant frequency of the air resonator region;
- and
- an rf source configured to generate a resonant frequency of 2.5 GHz and less and coupled to the air resonator region.
1 more element
A plasma lamp apparatus comprising:
- a resonating wavelength portion spatially configured along at least a first direction and a second direction of an air resonator region.
A plasma lamp apparatus comprising:
- a waveguide body having a maximum dimension of less than ½ of a free space wavelength of a resonant frequency, the maximum dimension being selected from any one dimension in a three coordinate system.
A plasma lamp apparatus comprising:
- a gas filled vessel having a transparent or translucent body configured by an inner region and an outer surface region, a cavity being defined within the inner region, the gas filled vessel having a first end portion and a second end portion;
- and
- a maximum temperature profile spatially disposed within a center region of the gas filled vessel, the center region between the first end portion and the second end portion;
- whereupon the maximum temperature profile is within a vicinity of the outer surface region substantially free from interference with a solid resonator body region.
1 more element
A plasma lamp apparatus comprising:
- a gas filled vessel having a transparent or translucent body configured by an inner region and an outer surface region, a cavity being defined within the inner region;
- and
- an rf source coupled to the gas filled vessel to cause electromagnetic radiation to pass through at least 50% of the outer surface region without reflection back into the inner region of the gas filled vessel.
A method for emitting electromagnetic radiation from a plasma lamp apparatus, the method comprising:
- generating electromagnetic radiation from within an inner region of a gas filled vessel using at least one or more rf sources configured to provide rf energy to the gas filled vessel;
- and
- transmitting a portion of the electromagnetic radiation from the inner region of the gas filled vessel through at least 50% of an outer surface region of the gas filled vessel without substantial refection back into the inner region of the gas filled vessel.
An electrode-less plasma lamp apparatus comprising:
- a gas filled vessel having transparent or translucent body configured by an inner region and an outer surface region, a cavity being defined within the inner region, the inner region being free from one or more electrode structures;
- a support body configured to mate with the gas filled vessel;
- an arc feature caused by electromagnetic radiation and having a first end and a second end provided spatially within the inner region;
- and
- at least 50% of the arc feature exposed when viewed from any spatial position within 360 Degrees and greater of an imaginary line normal to a center portion between the first end and the second end of the arc feature.
2 more elements
An electrode-less plasma lamp apparatus comprising:
- a gas filled vessel having transparent or translucent body configured by an inner region and an outer surface region, a cavity being defined within the inner region, the inner region being free from one or more electrode structures;
- and
- a maximum electric field region configured within a portion of the inner region of the gas filled vessel, the maximum electric field region being exposed from an exterior region of the gas filled vessel when viewed from any spatial position within 360 Degrees and greater of an imaginary line normal to a center portion of the gas filled vessel.
Plasma lamp apparatus comprising:
- a single point source configured to be electrode-less and having a maximum dimension of 3 centimeters and less;
- and
- an emission of electromagnetic radiation having at least 20,000 lumens emitted from the single point source.
Plasma lamp apparatus comprising:
- a spatial gap disposed between an rf coupling element and an output coupling element, the output coupling element being coupled to a gas filled vessel.
A device comprising:
- an rf source;
- an electromagnetic resonator structure coupled to at least one rf coupling element configured to introduce rf energy into the electromagnetic resonator structure;
- a bulb comprising a fill material, the bulb coupled to the electromagnetic resonator structure to emit electro-magnetic energy from a spectrum of at least ultra-violet, visible, or infrared;
- and an exposed region of the bulb protruding outside of the electromagnetic resonator structure to cause a substantial portion of the electromagnetic radiation to be emitted from exterior surfaces of the bulb without reflection from the electromagnetic resonator structure.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.