Plasma lamp and methods using a waveguide body and protruding bulb
AssigneeLuxim Corporation
InventorsFrederick M. Espiau, Anthony D. McGettigan, Yian Chang, Marc DeVincentis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A plasma lamp for an electrodeless plasma lamp having a dielectric waveguide body and a bulb positioned, at least in part, in the waveguide body and having at least one end protruding from the waveguide body. A probe is used to couple power into the waveguide body. The power resonates in the waveguide body and ignites a plasma in the bulb. By having one or both ends of the bulb extend beyond the surface of the waveguide body, the ends of the bulb are exposed to reduced electric field intensity, resulting in longer bulb lifetime due to reduced plasma impingement on the interior surfaces of the bulb.
Claims15
A plasma lamp comprising:
- a bulb having at least an outer first end and an outer second end;
- a waveguide body having a first surface and a second surface and forming an opening extending from the first surface through the waveguide body to the second surface;
- a portion of the bulb disposed in the opening with the first end of the bulb protruding from the first surface of the waveguide body, and the second end of the bulb protruding from the second surface of the waveguide body;
- and
- a power source coupled to the waveguide body to provide power to the waveguide body.
A method of providing power to a plasma for a plasma lamp, comprising:
- providing a waveguide body configured to have a resonant mode when power is coupled to the waveguide body at a first frequency in the range of about 50 MHz to 30 GHz, wherein the waveguide body forms an opening;
- providing a bulb to contain the plasma;
- positioning the bulb in the opening with at least a first end of the bulb and a second end of the bulb protruding from the opening;
- providing power to the waveguide body at the first frequency such that the waveguide body resonates in the resonant mode;
- and
- coupling power from the waveguide body into the plasma in the bulb.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.