Electrodeless lamps with externally-grounded probes and improved bulb assemblies
AssigneeTopanga Technologies, Inc.
InventorsFrederick M. Espiau, Timothy J. Brockett, Mehran Matloubian
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrode-less plasma lamps comprises generally of a bulb containing a gas-fill that is excited to produce light using radio-frequency (RF) energy. In specific embodiments, the use of grounded coupling-elements with integrated bulb assemblies simplifies manufacturability, improves resonant frequency control, and enables the use of solid, partially filled, and hollow lamp bodies. In some embodiments, a method of operating an electrodeless plasma lamp device includes transferring RF energy from the RF source to an input coupling-element and illuminating electromagnetic energy substantially from the length of a gas-filled vessel from discharge of the gas-filled vessel.
Claims13
A method of operating an electrodeless plasma lamp device, the method comprising:
- providing a plasma lamp device comprising:
- a conductive housing having a spatial volume defined within the conductive housing, the spatial volume having an inner region and an outer region;
- a dielectric body having an outer surface region disposed within or partially within the inner region of the spatial volume of the conductive housing and a conductive material overlying the outer surface region of the dielectric body;
- a gas-filled vessel having a transparent body having an inner surface and an outer surface and a cavity formed within the inner surface, the gas-filled vessel comprising a first end region and a second end region and a length defined between the first end region and the second end region;
- a first coupling-element spatially disposed within the inner region of the conductive housing coupled to the first end region of the gas-filled vessel, the other end of the first coupling-element being electrically connected to the conductive material;
- an input coupling-element spatially disposed within the outer region of the conductive housing and within a predetermined distance from the first coupling-element;
- a gap provided between the input coupling-element and the first coupling-element;
- an RF source comprising an RF amplifier, an input, and an output, the output of the RF source being coupled to the first coupling-element through the gap and the input coupling-element and the input of the RF source being coupled to a feedback coupling-element;
- transferring RF energy from the RF source to the input coupling-element, the RF energy having a frequency ranging from about 100 MHz to about 20 GHz;
- illuminating electromagnetic energy substantially from the length of the gas-filled vessel from discharge of the gas-filled vessel.
A method of operating an electrodeless plasma lamp device, the method comprising:
- providing a plasma lamp device comprising:
- a conductive housing having a spatial volume defined within the conductive housing, the spatial volume having an inner region and an outer region;
- a dielectric body having an outer surface region disposed within or partially within the inner region of the spatial volume of the conductive housing and a conductive material overlying the outer surface region of the dielectric body;
- a gas-filled vessel having a transparent body having an inner surface and an outer surface and a cavity formed within the inner surface, the gas-filled vessel comprising a first end region and a second end region and a length defined between the first end region and the second end region;
- a first coupling-element mechanically coupled to the first end region of the gas-filled vessel, the first coupling-element being electrically connected to the conductive material;
- a second coupling-element mechanically coupled to the second end region of the gas-filled vessel;
- an input coupling-element spatially disposed within the outer region of the conductive housing and within a predetermined distance from the first coupling-element;
- a first gap provided between the input coupling-element and the first coupling-element, the gap provided by the predetermined distance;
- an RF source comprising an RF amplifier, an input, and an output, the output of the RF source being coupled to the first coupling-element through the gap and the input coupling-element and the input of the RF source being coupled to a feedback coupling-element;
- and
- adjusting the predetermined distance from a first distance to a second distance to change the first gap to a second gap, the first gap being different from the second gap.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.