Abstract: Stable illumination of uniform color and reduced sensitivity to lamp orientation are achieved by driving a high-intensity discharge (HID) lamp with a carrier signal alternated between two VHF frequencies at a modulation rate approximately equal the second longitudinal frequency of the lamp, and feeding the signal through a filter having an inverse amplitude relationship to carrier frequency, to produce an input signal to the lamp that is amplitude modulated in an inverse relationship to the change in carrier frequency at a modulation rate approximately equal to the second longitudinal resonance of the lamp.

Abstract: Stable illumination of uniform color and reduced sensitivity to lamp orientation are achieved by driving a high-intensity discharge (HID) lamp with a carrier signal alternated between two VHF frequencies at a modulation rate approximately equal the second longitudinal frequency of the lamp, and feeding the signal through a filter having an inverse amplitude relationship to carrier frequency, to produce an input signal to the lamp that is amplitude modulated in an inverse relationship to the change in carrier frequency at a modulation rate approximately equal to the second longitudinal resonance of the lamp.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining which power frequencies applied to a high-intensity discharge lamp cause arc instabilities therein. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of providing a current signal that periodically sweeps through a plurality of frequencies during a sweep time period, amplifying the current signal, inputting the amplified current signal into a high intensity discharge lamp so as to effect application of power frequencies to the lamp, determining the power frequencies of the current signal that cause arc instabilities in the high intensity discharge lamp, and determining the minimum power level of the arc instability-producing power frequencies required to cause arc instabilities.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing vertical segregation of a discharge lamp. A current/voltage input sweeps through a frequency range between the first azimuthal acoustic resonance mode and a first radial acoustic resonance mode of the discharge lamp. The current/voltage input is subsequently amplitude modulated. Alternatively, without amplitude modulation, the current/voltage input sweeps through the frequency range for a first portion of the period, and then for a second portion of the period drops to a relatively constant frequency.

Abstract: A gas discharge display and the method of making same utilizing integrated circuit fabrication techniques. The display is manufactured from heat and pressure resistant planar substrates in which cavities are etched, by integrated circuit manufacturing techniques, so as to provide individual pixels. Orthogonal electrodes are deposited on the substrates and extend into the cavities. The cavities are filled with gas discharge materials, such as plasma, upon energization of the electrodes the individual cavities forming the pixels may be individually activated.

Abstract: A laser device with a discharge tube forming a closed envelope with cylindrical end portions connected by an elongated constricted center portion and having external electrodes at the end portions, fed from a source of short pulses with a width measured in nanoseconds, capacity coupled to the discharge plasma. The discharge plasma may include metal vapor, a metal halide, including mercury halide, and internal electrodes may be included in the closed envelope but coupled to the external electrodes by capacity coupling so as to avoid any connections from electrodes passing through the glass or fused silica envelope.

Abstract: A metallic coating is disposed on the inner surface of a lamp having an envelope made of a light transmitting substance enclosing a fill material which emits light upon breakdown and excitation by a high frequency power source. The metallic coating protects the lamp envelope from degradation caused by the lamp fill material or by products of the discharge and acts as a catalyst for the recombination reaction of molecular lamp fill material. A nickel coating is used in a deuterium discharge lamp. Another suitable metal is gold. The metallic coating is sufficiently thin to permit high frequency power to pass through the coating.

Abstract: An electrodeless lamp apparatus includes an electrodeless, light-transmitting, envelope for housing a rare-earth compound fill, and a termination fixture, electrodelessly coupled to the envelope, adapted to create an electrical condition for exciting the fill.The fill can include mercury and a noble gas, such as argon.The rare-earth compound is preferably a rare-earth halide, such as dysprosium iodide and holmium iodide.The fill can include a halide of mercury, such as HgBr.sub.2.One example of a fill is Hg/DyI.sub.3 /HoI.sub.3 /CsI/HgBr.sub.2 /Ar.A second example of a fill is Hg/NdI.sub.3 /DyI.sub.3 /CsI/Ar.A third example of a fill is Hg/Pr/DyI.sub.3 /HgI.sub.2 /CsI/HgBr.sub.2 /Ar.A fourth example of a fill is Hg/Yb/CsCl/HgCl.sub.2 /Ar.