Lamp-to-light guide coupling arrangement for an electrodeless high intensity discharge lamp

A lamp-to-light guide coupling arrangement for an electrodeless discharge lamp having an arc tube containing an ionizable fill which is excitable so as to produce a light generating arc discharge and has associated therewith, certain thermal and electrical operating properties, said coupling arrangement comprising:

• (a) a coupling device disposed in close proximity to said discharge lamp and being of a generally tubular, hollow construction having an inlet end for receiving light from said arc discharge and a larger, output end, said inlet end having an area which is substantially the same as a cross sectional area of said discharge lamp and said larger output end having a diameter which is approximately 2 to 3 times the diameter of said discharge lamp;
• (b) reflector means disposed on at least a portion of a surface of said hollow coupling device and being effective for reflecting light interiorly of said coupling device;
• (c) wherein said coupling device is shaped so as to receive light at one solid angle over an area of said inlet end and to transmit light through said outlet end at a smaller angle but over a larger area of said outlet end;
• (d) at least one light guide coupled to said outlet end of said coupling device;
• and,
• (e) wherein said coupling device with said reflector means being disposed thereon, is effective so that, when in such close proximity to said discharge lamp, the thermal and operating properties of said discharge lamp remain substantially unaffected by said coupling device.