Abstract: Methods for improving the efficiency of infrared (IR) halogen lamps and IR halogen lamps having improved efficiency are disclosed. In a method of aligning a filament in a lamp body, the lamp body having the filament therein is rotated, and tubular end portions are heated and necked down which may assist in positioning the filament within the lamp and reduce end losses. IR halogen lamps formed from glass tubes having an OD less than 5 mm are also disclosed. The reduced diameter of the glass tubing increases the surface area for IR energy reflection and reduces end losses. Spuds or beads may be used to position the filament within the lamp.

Abstract: Methods for improving the efficiency of infrared (IR) halogen lamps and IR halogen lamps having improved efficiency are disclosed. In a method of aligning a filament in a lamp body, the lamp body having the filament therein is rotated, and tubular end portions are heated and necked down which may assist in positioning the filament within the lamp and reduce end losses. IR halogen lamps formed from glass tubes having an OD less than 5 mm are also disclosed. The reduced diameter of the glass tubing increases the surface area for IR energy reflection and reduces end losses. Spuds or beads may be used to position the filament within the lamp.

Abstract: The present application discloses high intensity discharge (“HID”) lamps, arc tubes, and methods of manufacture. The application relates to HID lamps, arc tubes, and methods of manufacture wherein a precise amount of fill gas may be contained in the light-emitting chamber of the arc tube so that the pressure of the fill gas contained in the arc tube at substantially room temperature may be precisely controlled at pressures greater than about one-half atmosphere.

Abstract: The present application discloses high intensity discharge (“HID”) lamps, arc tubes, and methods of manufacture. The application relates to HID lamps, arc tubes, and methods of manufacture wherein a precise amount of fill gas may be contained in the light-emitting chamber of the arc tube so that the pressure of the fill gas contained in the arc tube at substantially room temperature may be precisely controlled at pressures greater than about one-half atmosphere.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for achieving desired spectral emission characteristics in plasma lamps is disclosed. The apparatus and method use multi-layer thin film optical interference coatings to selectively reflect a portion of the light such that it can be absorbed in the plasma. The multi-layer thin film coating is applied to any surface of the lamp, which substantially surrounds the plasma. The number and thickness of the layers in the coating are selected to ensure that significant portion of the selected light emitted from the plasma is reflected by the coating and absorbed by the plasma. The properties of the coating, reflectance, transmittance and absorption are determined as a function of plasma and lamp characteristics.

Abstract: A projection light source may include a housing and an arc tube supported by the housing. The arc tube may include an arc tube body having a bulbous chamber intermediate sealed end portions, a pair of electrodes, a fill gas contained within the chamber, a fill material contained within the chamber, and a generally ellipsoidal reflector supported by the housing. The arc tube and the reflector may be positioned so that a focus of the generally ellipsoidal reflector lies on an axis extending between the interior tips of the electrodes of the arc tube.

Abstract: An illumination system for a video-imaging device has a light source and a collector of light from the light source. The collector is formed according to the principles of non-imaging optics and receives a portion of the light from the light source. The collector is configured to reduce the angular distribution of the collected light from the light source to match the requirements of a digital pixelation device.

Abstract: The present application discloses an arc tube for a metal halide lamp having a fill gas pressure sufficient for providing sufficient impedance for rapid warm-up of the light source after ignition. The fill gas consists essentially of krypton or comprises a mixture of krypton with xenon or argon, or both.

Abstract: A plasma lamp and method having high efficacy, high color rendering index, and a desirable correlated color temperature with improved color consistency from lamp to lamp. The lamp may include a vaporizable fill material comprising halides of sodium and scandium and a filter formed from a vitreous material containing a dopant. In one aspect, the filter is formed by a glass shroud containing neodymium oxide that reduces the transmission of yellow light.

Abstract: The present application discloses high intensity discharge (“HID”) lamps, arc tubes, and methods of manufacture. The application relates to HID lamps, arc tubes, and methods of manufacture wherein a precise amount of fill gas may be contained in the light-emitting chamber of the arc tube so that the pressure of the fill gas contained in the arc tube at substantially room temperature may be precisely controlled at pressures greater than about one-half atmosphere.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for achieving desired spectral emission characteristics in plasma lamps is disclosed. The apparatus and method use multi-layer thin film optical interference coatings to selectively reflect a portion of the light such that it can be absorbed in the plasma. The multi-layer thin film coating is applied to any surface of the lamp, which substantially surrounds the plasma. The number and thickness of the layers in the coating are selected to ensure that significant portion of the selected light emitted from the plasma is reflected by the coating and absorbed by the plasma. The properties of the coating, reflectance, transmittance and absorption are determined as a function of plasma and lamp characteristics.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for achieving desired spectral emission characteristics in plasma lamps is disclosed. The apparatus and method use multi-layer thin film optical interference coatings to selectively reflect a portion of the light such that it can be absorbed in the plasma. The multi-layer thin film coating is applied to any surface of the lamp, which substantially surrounds the plasma. The number and thickness of the layers in the coating are selected to ensure that a significant portion of the selected light emitted from the plasma is reflected by the coating and absorbed by the plasma. The properties of the coating, reflectance, transmittance and absorption are determined as a function of plasma and lamp characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of making arc tubes for high intensity discharge lamps. The bottom portion of the light emitting chamber of the arc tubes is flattened in an area between the electrodes to reduce the distance between the bottom wall of the arc tube and the arc, and to increase the surface area of the pool of condensed halides during operation of a metal halide lamp. The flattened bottom of the arc tubes may be generally planar, slightly arcuate longitudinally and/or transversely, or slightly v-shaped longitudinally and/or transversely. The top portion of the arc tube conforms generally to the shape of the arc during operation of the lamp.

Abstract: A plasma lamp and method having high efficacy, high color rendering index, and a desirable correlated color temperature with improved color consistency from lamp to lamp. The lamp may include a vaporizable fill material comprising halides of sodium and scandium and a filter formed from a vitreous material containing a dopant. In one aspect, the filter is formed by a glass shroud containing neodymium oxide that reduces the transmission of yellow light.

Abstract: An illumination system for a video-imaging device has a light source and a collector of light from the light source. The collector is formed according to the principles of non-imaging optics and receives a portion of the light from the light source. The collector is configured to reduce the angular distribution of the collected light from the light source to match the requirements of a digital pixelation device. This system is highly efficient and compact compared to systems based on imaging optics, and can eliminate some of the components required for systems based on imaging optics. More extensive illumination systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to horizontally burning formed-body arc tubes and arc tube blanks for high intensity discharge lamps. The bottom portion of the light emitting chamber of the arc tubes is flattened in an area between the electrodes to reduce the distance between the bottom wall of the arc tube and the arc, and to increase the surface area of the pool of condensed halides during operation of a metal halide lamp. The flattened bottom of the arc tubes may be generally planar, slightly arcuate longitudinally and/or transversely, or slightly v-shaped longitudinally and/or transversely. The top portion of the arc tube conforms generally to the shape of the arc during operation of the lamp.

Abstract: A tipless arc tube for a high intensity discharge lamp and method of manufacture wherein the arc tube may remain open to an uncontrolled atmosphere during the step of hermetically sealing the arc tube. The novel arc tube and method obviate the need to perform any process steps within a controlled atmosphere. The pressure of the fill gas sealed within the arc tube may be controlled by controlling the temperature of the fill gas during the step of hermetically sealing the arc tube. The novel arc tube and method obviate the need to use a pump to control the fill gas pressure.

Abstract: A tipless arc tube for a high intensity discharge lamp and method of manufacture wherein the arc tube may remain open to an uncontrolled atmosphere during the step of hermetically scaling the arc tube. The novel arc tube and method obviate the need to perform any process steps within a controlled atmosphere. The pressure of the fill gas sealed within the arc tube may be controlled by controlling the temperature of the fill gas during the step of hermetically sealing the arc tube. The novel arc tube and method obviate the need to use a pump to control the fill gas pressure.

Abstract: An efficient system for directing light comprises a light source and a generally tubular, hollow coupling device. The coupling device has an interior light-reflective surface for receiving light from the source at an inlet and transmitting it as a generally diverging light beam through an outlet. The device is shaped in accordance with non-imaging optics and increases in cross sectional area from inlet to outlet so as to reduce the angle of light reflected from the surface as it passes through the device. The foregoing system provides a discharge-based directional light source that can be of the size of a directional halogen source (e.g., an MR16 or MR 11 lamp) while substantially preserving the discharge efficiency, light-output capacity and lifetime of discharge-based sources. This results from the coupling device that provides light with good spatial uniformity in light intensity and color. Embodiments of the invention can simply split the light to multiple (e.g.

Abstract: A method of making an optical device comprises the steps of providing a body of vitreous material that is generally tubular along an axis. A portion of the body is molded with external mold structure for forming a bulbous portion when the interior of the tube is pressurized. An axial portion is cut from the bulbous portion to form a first coupling device with first and second axially oriented openings. This method can produce optical coupling devices with excellent optical quality in an economical manner.