US 5,850,122 AGranted

Fluorescent lamp with external electrode housing and method for making

AssigneeWinsor Corporation

InventorMark D. Winsor

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A planar fluorescent lamp employing both hot cathode and cold cathode operation is described. The lamp includes a first transparent cover bonded atop a metal body with a serpentine channel therein. The lamp body is coated with an insulative coating and the glass solder bead bonds the cover to the lamp at its perimeter and along the ridges defining the serpentine channel. An alternative embodiment of the lamp includes a second transparent cover bonded above the first transparent cover enabling the fluorescent material to be contained in a second enclosure, isolated from the source of light energy. A second alternative embodiment conceals the electrodes of the lamp beneath the lamp body and provides plasma slots to allow the concealed electrodes to energize the lamp. Another alternative embodiment utilizes a conductive transparent coating on the lamp cover to allow the lamp cover to supplement the lamp body as a cold cathode.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A planar photoluminescent lamp, comprising:

a lamp body having first and second opposing endwalls, first and second sidewalls and a base;
a first plurality of internal channel walls extending from the first endwall and terminating a predetermined distance from the second endwall;
a second plurality of internal channel walls extending from the second endwall and terminating a predetermined distance from the first endwall, the first and second plurality of internal channel walls defining a serpentine channel having a channel length extending from a first end to a second end;
a lamp cover mounted to the lamp body such that the lamp body and the lamp cover seal the serpentine channel and thereby define a chamber;
first and second apertures in the lamp base proximate the first and second channel ends, respectively;
a first housing externally mounted outside of the chamber and mechanically coupled to the lamp base, the first housing having an interior portion in fluid communication with the chamber via the first aperture;
a first electrode mounted within the interior portion of the first housing;
a second housing externally mounted outside of the chamber and mechanically coupled to the lamp base, the second housing having an interior portion in fluid communication with the chamber via the second aperture;
a second electrode mounted within the interior portion of the second housing, the first and second electrodes producing a plasma discharge therebetween through the first and second apertures and along the channel length when supplied with electrical power;
a gas within the chamber to emit ultraviolet energy in response to the plasma discharge along the channel length;
and
a photoluminescent material within the chamber to produce visible light in response to the ultraviolet energy.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/883,015Filed 26 Jun 1997 · continuation
Priority: 18 Feb 1994
Granted: 15 Dec 1998
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

H01J 9/247
Specially adapted for gas discharge tubes or lamps: specially adapted for gas-discharge lamps
H01J 61/307
Flat vessels or containers: with folded elongated discharge path
H01J 61/04
Details: electrodes ; Screens; Shields
H01J 61/70
Gas-discharge or vapour-discharge lamps: lamps with low-pressure unconstricted discharge having a cold pressure < 400 Torr

Family

Serial198,495Parent of this division · filed 18 Feb 1994
Serial416,042Parent of this continuation · filed 4 Apr 1995
Serial592,764Parent of this continuation · filed 26 Jan 1996
US 5,509,841 AParent of this continuation
US 5,479,069 AParent of this division
US 5,850,122 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.