Neon gas discharge lamp and method of pulsed operation
AssigneeOsram Sylvania Inc.
InventorsScott Jennato, Harold L. Rothwell, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pulse structure for operating a method neon lamp in a multi-colored light source is described along with its pertinence to automotive lighting. The particular neon lamps are mercury-free, low pressure, rare gas lamps that can be operated as efficient red, amber, and potentially white light sources in automotive and other lighting applications. The preferred pulse structure has a leading spike to ionize the neon and generate ultraviolet radiation, and has a trailing pulse to add energy to the lamp, which increases visible neon emission efficacy.
Claims30
A method of pulsing a positive column discharge lamp having a rare gas fill and a phosphor coating comprising the steps of:
- providing pulsed power to the enclosed gas fill, wherein the pulse has at least a first portion prior in time and a second portion later in time, the first portion having a pulse width selected to excite ultraviolet photon emission from the rare gas, and the second portion having a pulse width selected to enhance the additional light output from the rare gas, while applying sufficient voltage and current to cause ionization of the lamp fill.
A method of pulsing a positive column discharge lamp having a rare gas fill and a phosphor coating comprising the steps of:
- providing pulsed power to the enclosed gas fill, wherein the pulse has at least a first portion prior in time and a second portion later in time, the first portion having a pulse width selected to excite ultraviolet photon emission from the rare gas, and the second portion having a pulse width selected to enhance the additional light output from the rare gas, while applying sufficient voltage and current to cause ionization of the lamp fill, and following the pulse with a period of low stimulation, allowing at least fifty percent of the gas fill to return to ground state.
A method of operating a phosphor coated, gas discharge lamp having fill components comprising the steps of
- a) applying pulsed energy with at least a first portion stimulating enclosed fill components at ground state to emit ultraviolet light thereby causing the phosphor coating to emit visible light,
- b) applying the pulsed energy with at least a second portion stimulating the fill components to emit visible light,
- c) following the pulsed energy by a period of at least low stimulation, allowing the at least fifty percent of the stimulated fill components to return to ground state, and
- d) cycling the steps a, b and c at a rate sufficiently fast that a human eye integrates the total visible emission as a single, flickerfree output color.
A method of pulsing a discharge lamp having substantially pure neon fill and a phosphor coating comprising the steps of:
- providing pulsed power to the enclosed neon, wherein the pulse has at least a first portion prior in time and a second portion later in time, the first portion having a pulse width selected to excite ultraviolet photon emission with an energy sufficient to ionize at least one of the lamp fill components at a first emission frequency, and the second portion having an energy sufficient to ionize a portion of the lamp fill at a second emission frequency, while applying sufficient voltage and current to cause ionization of the lamp fill.
A method of operating a rare gas discharge lamp having substantially pure neon fill and a phosphor coating comprising the steps of:
- providing pulsed power to the enclosed neon, wherein the pulse has at least a first portion prior in time and a second portion later in time, the first portion having a pulse width selected to excite ultraviolet photon emission with an energy sufficient to ionize at least one of the lamp fill components at a first emission frequency, and the second portion having an energy sufficient to ionize a portion of the lamp fill at a second emission frequency comprising the step of shifting the relative time balance between the time duration of the first component and the time duration of the second component, while applying sufficient voltage and current to cause ionization of the lamp fill.
A discharge lamp system comprising
- a) a light transmissive envelope defining an exterior and an enclosed volume;
- b) at least two electrodes sealed in the envelope providing electrical connection from the lamp exterior to the enclosed volume;
- c) a substantially pure neon gas fill positioned in the enclosed volume;
- d) a phosphor contained in the enclosed volume;
- and
- e) a power source providing pulsed power wherein at least some of the pulses include a first portion sufficient to ionize the lamp and stimulate at least some of the enclosed neon fill to a first energy state, and an off portion sufficiently low in stimulation and long in duration to allow half of the neon to return to a neutral ground state.
A discharge lamp system comprising
- a) a light transmissive envelope defining an exterior and a wall with an inside surface defining an enclosed volume;
- b) at least two electrodes sealed in the envelope providing electrical connection from the lamp exterior to the enclosed volume;
- c) a rare gas fill providing ultraviolet and visible light emission positioned in the enclosed volume;
- d) a phosphor stimulated by the ultraviolet emission, the phosphor being coated on the inside surface, and having a thickness chosen to color balance the direct visible emission from phosphor and the transmitted visible emission from the rare gas;
- and
- e) a power source providing power to the lamp electrodes wherein at least a first power portion to stimulate at least some of the enclosed rare gas fill to emit ultraviolet light, and a second power portion to cause at least some of the enclosed rare gas fill to emit visible light.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.