Liquid filament for incandescent lights
AssigneeElwha LLC
InventorsRoderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, David B. Tuckerman, Thomas A. Weaver, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Richard N. Zare
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Abstract
A filament for a light bulb includes a tube and a filament material within the tube, wherein the filament material is configured to be in a liquid state while the light bulb is in use.
Claims34
A method of generating light, comprising:
- providing energy to a filament material via a supply wire;
- and
- causing, from the energy, the filament material to achieve a liquid state, the filament material being contained in a tube.
The method of claim 10, wherein the gas includes at least one of nitrogen gas, a nitrogen donating gas, or a carbon donating gas.
The method of claim 12, wherein the liquid at least one of affects one or more properties of the light emitted, cools the tube, and cools the filament material.
A method for generating incandescent light using a filament material that melts when in use, comprising:
- providing energy to the filament material via a supply wire;
- controlling the amount of energy provided to the filament material using a control circuit;
- and
- causing, from the energy, the filament material to achieve a liquid state, the filament material being contained in a tube.
The method of claim 16, wherein the filament material is electrically conductive while in the liquid state.
The method of claim 21, wherein the control circuit is configured to control the emissivity of the filament material by controlling the amount of energy provided to the filament material.
A method, comprising:
- generating light using a filament material contained in a container, wherein the filament material is a solid material that changes into a liquid state when provided with energy from a supply wire.
The method of claim 25, wherein the container is in a bulb containing a liquid.
The method of claim 27, wherein the inert gas includes at least one of argon, nitrogen, and helium.
The method of claim 32, wherein the container radiates visible light in response to absorbing the energy radiated by the filament material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.