Discharge lamp having light-transmissive conductive coating for RF containment and heating

A discharge lamp comprising:

• an elongated tubular lamp envelope containing a fill material for supporting a light-emitting discharge and electrodes mounted at opposite ends of said lamp envelope;
• a substantially continuous, light-transmissive conductive coating on said lamp envelope for substantially attenuating emission of radio frequency energy during operation;
• and
• a low impedance conductive strip on said lamp envelope along a substantial portion of its length, said conductive strip being in electrical contact with said light-transmissive conductive coating for coupling said conductive coating to a reference potential.

A lamp assembly comprising:

• a discharge lamp including an elongated tubular lamp envelope containing a fill material for supporting a light-emitting discharge and electrodes mounted at opposite ends of said lamp envelope;
• a substantially continuous, light-transmissive conductive coating on said lamp envelope for substantially attenuating emission of radio frequency energy from said discharge lamp during operation;
• a conductor for coupling said conductive coating to a reference potential;
• a power source for supplying electrical energy to said discharge lamp;
• and
• means for coupling said electrical energy from said power source to said electrodes.

A lamp assembly comprising:

• a discharge lamp including an elongated, tubular lamp envelope containing a fill material for supporting a light-emitting discharge and electrodes mounted at opposite ends of said lamp envelope;
• a conductive strip on said lamp envelope along a substantial portion of its length;
• an electrical circuit coupled to said conductive strip for supplying sufficient current through said conductive strip to heat said discharge lamp when said discharge lamp is below a predetermined temperature;
• and
• a substantially continuous, light-transmissive conductive coating on said lamp envelope for substantially attenuating emission of radio frequency energy from said discharge lamp, said conductive coating being coupled by said conductive strip to a reference potential.

A lamp assembly comprising:

• a discharge lamp including an elongated tubular lamp envelope containing a fill material for supporting a light-emitting discharge and electrodes mounted at opposite ends of said lamp envelope.
• a substantially continuous, light-transmissive conductive coating on said lamp envelope for substantially attenuating emission of radio frequency energy from said discharge lamp during operation;
• a conductive strip on said lamp envelope along a substantial portion of its length, said conductive strip being in electrical contact with said light-transmissive conductive coating for coupling said conductive coating to a reference potential;
• a power source for supplying electrical energy to said discharge lamp;
• means for coupling said electrical energy from said power source to said electrodes;
• and
• an electrical circuit coupled to said conductive strip for supplying sufficient current through said conductive strip to heat said discharge lamp when said discharge lamp is below a predetermined temperature.