With Rare Gas Patents (Class 313/641)
  • Patent number: 5204578
    Abstract: Heat sink means are provided for a metal halide lamp to enable more light output during lamp start-up. A xenon-metal halide lamp employing the heat sink means is disclosed along an with automotive headlamp having this lamp for its light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Timothy P. Dever, Gary R. Allen, John M. Davenport, Gerald E. Duffy
  • Patent number: 5200669
    Abstract: To prevent stresses from occurring in lamps in which an electrode system luding, for example, tungsten or molybdenum electrode shafts (4, 12, 22) and current supply leads (15, 26) of, for example, molybdenum, extend into a neck portion (3, 11, 20) of a discharge bulb, a metal foil of high temperature resistant resistant material (6, 16, 17, 18, 29, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37) partially or completely surrounds the metallic portions of the electrode system where it might come into contact with quartz glass during melt sealing of the neck portion of the lamp. The high temperature resistant metal foil is embossed and, preferably of molybdenum with a base thickness of between 0.02 and 0.2 mm, which, when profiled, changes by a factor of between 1.2 to 12 in thickness. Up to two layers of this foil can be wrapped around or placed on the respective metallic portions of the seal, a covering of for example, 1.25 to 1.5 turns about a circular shaft being preferred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Assignee: Patent Treuhand Gesellschaft fur elektrische Gluhlampen m.b.H
    Inventors: Angus Dixon, Hans-Werner Goelling, Jorn Dierks, Jurgen Begemann
  • Patent number: 5136208
    Abstract: A prescribed amount of tin halide is sealed in the arc tube of a metal halide lamp wherein a given amount of metal halide including a target amount of halogen and at least a predetermined amount of rare earth metal is sealed in the arc tube thereof to maintain a high lumen maintenance factor for an extended operation period. The prescribed amount of tin halide is preferably within 4.6.about.234 mol % of the predetermined amount of rare earth metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1992
    Assignee: Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Hiromichi Kawashima, Kazuo Honda, Youichiro Mitsuyuki, Yasuki Mori, Masakazu Shibuya, Mamoru Furuya
  • Patent number: 5059865
    Abstract: A lamp containing a fill of xenon, mercury and metal halide is disclosed which serves as a light source for lighting applications and is particularly suitable for automotive forward lighting applications. The xenon ingredient operates to provide for instant light necessary for automotive applications, whereas, the mercury and metal halide ingredients operate to provide for a long life, high efficiency lamp relative to either a xenon or tungsten lamp. The dimensions of the xenon-metal halide lamp of the present invention are approximately three-fifths (3/5) of those of a typical tungsten lamp utilized for automotive forward lighting applications. The reduced dimensions of the xenon-metal halide lamp allows for correspondingly reduced dimensions of a related reflector for such a xenon-metal halide lamp which accommodates the needs of aerodynamically styled automobiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rolf S. Bergman, John M. Davenport, Richard L. Hansler
  • Patent number: 5057743
    Abstract: A low wattage metal halide lamp having improved CRI is disclosed. The low wattage metal halide discharge lamp of the present invention comprises an outer sealed glass envelope; a pair of electrical conductors sealed into and passing through the glass envelope; an arc tube disposed within the outer glass envelope, the arc tube including a pair of spaced electrodes therein with the electrodes being electrically connected to the electrical conductors such that one electrode is electrically connected to one electrical conductor; a chemical fill disposed within the arc tube, the chemical fill comprising mercury, scandium metal, sodium iodide, scandium iodide, lithium iodide, and a starting gas; and a support structure disposed within the outer glass envelope to support the arc tube therein, the support structure being electrically isolated from the electrical circuit of the lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
    Inventors: Zeya K. Krasko, William M. Keeffe
  • Patent number: 5034661
    Abstract: The invention provides a rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp device which is long in life and high in brightness and efficiency. The lamp device comprises a rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp including a bulb having rare gas such as xenon, argon or krypton gas enclosed therein, a fluorescent layer formed on an inner face of the bulb, a reflecting film formed on an inner face of the fluorescent layer, and a pair of electrodes located at the opposite ends of the bulb. The lamp device further comprises a power source for applying a voltage across the electrodes, and pulse voltage forming means connected between the electrodes and the power source for forming a dc pulse voltage from a voltage supplied from the power source. The dc pulse voltage thus formed is applied across the electrodes to cause the lamp to be lit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takehiko Sakurai, Takeo Saikatsu, Yoshinori Anazi, Hiroyoshi Yamazaki, Katsuo Murakami, Seishiro Mitsuhashi, Takashi Ohsawa
  • Patent number: 5028843
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a lighting lamp having a light-emitting tube in which lutetium (Lu), lithium (Li) and a halogen are sealed together with mercury and a rare gas. The lighting lamp satisfies the following conditions (1) and (2):(1) the proportion Li/Lu (the ratio in terms of the number of atoms of lithium to lutetium) is 0.5 to 1.5; and(2) the sealed amount of the halogen is the total of a stoichiometric amount of halogen in which the halogen form halides with lutetium and lithium to be sealed and an excess amount of 0.5.times.10.sup.-6 to 4.times.10.sup.-6 molecular mole/cc based on the internal volume of the light-emitting tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Assignee: Ushio Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mitsuo Narita
  • Patent number: 5013968
    Abstract: Metal halide vapor arc lamps for reprographic and projection processes emitting in the blue, green and red bands with excellent primary color separation and having long life and lumen maintenance contain mercury, zinc, indium, lithium, thallium, a halogen and a rare earth metal such as lanthanum, scandium or dysporsium in the arc tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Timothy D. Russell, Carl H. Hess, Paul G. Hlahol, Charles N. Stewart
  • Patent number: 5001395
    Abstract: To protect tungsten electrode shafts (2, 3; 15, 16) extending into the a rtz glass discharge chamber (13, 27) of a high-pressure discharge lamp from attack by metal halides included in the fill to improve the color rendition of the discharge, the electrode shafts (2, 3; 15, 16) are tightly surronded by small tubes (11, 12; 25, 26) of electrically insulating material, which is highly temperature resistant, located in part within the press seal (10; 23, 24) and fitted against the ends of sealing foils (6, 7; 19, 20) which face the discharge chamber. The tube elements extend at least about 0.5 mm beyond the inner ends of the press seal (10; 23, 24) into the discharge chamber (13, 27) and are formed of a material which has a thermal coefficient of expansion which is not lower than that of quartz glass and not higher than that of tungsten.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft fur elektrische Gluhlampen m.b.H.
    Inventors: Clemens Barthelmes, Axel Bunk
  • Patent number: 4988918
    Abstract: Arc discharged by a short arc discharge lamp can be made so small in diameter as to appear like a spot. Therefore, the illuminance efficiency of the short arc discharge lamp can be made high and its brightness can also be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Assignee: Toshiba Lighting and Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuki Mori, Yasuhiro Iwafuji, Yoichiro Mitsuyuki, Tadatoshi Higashi
  • Patent number: 4983889
    Abstract: In an electroded metal halide high intensity discharge lamp, the arc is ignited and acoustic resonant oscillations are excited in the fill by a high frequency electrical power supply in order to thoroughly mix the ingredients comprising the fill. Either an amplitude modulated or a non-amplitude-modulated power supply can be used to drive the arc. The result is highly efficient straight arc operation of the lamp even in the horizontal burning position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Victor D. Roberts
  • Patent number: 4978884
    Abstract: The high-pressure discharge lamp has an ionizable filling containing mercury, rare gas, dysprosium halide and a second halide chosen from the halides of Tl, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm and Gd. The lamp has a comparatively low color temperature and a good color rendition, especially also of the color of the skin. The lamp may be used, for example, as a studio lamp for the illumination of indoor scenes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Assignee: U.S. Phillips Corporation
    Inventors: Johannes A. J. M. Van Vliet, Hendrik A. Van Esveld
  • Patent number: 4879493
    Abstract: Disclosed is a low-pressure discharge lamp comprising a discharge vessel defining an airtight space therein, at least one pair of electrodes disposed in the discharge vessel, and discharge gases enclosed in the discharge vessel, one of the electrodes which acts as an anode being located in a zone of negative glow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1989
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromistu Mastuno, Seiichi Murayama, Tetsuo Ono, Yoshio Watanabe
  • Patent number: 4808876
    Abstract: A metal halide discharge lamp includes an arc tube design having a particular end shape which allows control of the temperature distribution within the arc tube, so that sensitivity of the arc tube performance to orientation is reduced and concentration of the metallic halide components in the arc region is maintained relatively constant. The shaping of the arc tube ends and the use of a low thermal emissivity coating on the arc tube allows maintenance of the metallic halide in the vapor state at a constant level to promote better lumen maintenance and color rendering in a metal halide discharge lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Park French, Mary B. Gotti, John J. Karikas, Gilbert H. Reiling
  • Patent number: 4801846
    Abstract: This invention teaches a novel high pressure electric discharge lamp which has the desired properties of high efficacy, good color rendering, and a warm color temperature. These desired properties are attained by utilizing as fills the rare earth iodides in conjunction with calcium halides and, or sodium halides. Efficient visible emission from the rare earth atomic and molecular fragments in the discharge is combined with the red emission from calcium monohalide to provide an efficient, warm source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1989
    Assignee: GTE Laboratories Incorporated
    Inventors: Jerry Kramer, Walter P. Lapatovich
  • Patent number: 4766348
    Abstract: A single-ended metal halide discharge lamp includes an elliptical-shaped envelope having a pair of electrodes sealed therein and a fill gas which includes metal halogen selected in accordance with the ionization potentials thereof to provide "white" light with minimal color separation. In another aspect, the above-described lamp is fabricated by a process wherein an elliptical-shaped envelope is formed, a pair of electrodes sealed therein and a gas fill is selected including argon, mercury and additive halogen gases selected in accordance with the ionization potentials thereof to provide "white" light with minimal color separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1988
    Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
    Inventors: George J. English, Harold L. Rothwell, Jr., Mark Beschle
  • Patent number: 4710679
    Abstract: A fluorescent lamp is described in which spontaneous excimer UV emission in an inner tube results from reacting an inert gas molecule with a halide molecule in the excited state. The UV emission travels through the inner tube envelope to an outer tube and is absorbed by a fluorescent material, i.e., phosphor, to produce visible light which passes through the outer tube envelope. The halide may be supplied by metal halide pellets or liquid droplets, which when heated by an initial discharge through an inert gas, produces metal halide vapors which dissociate and combine with the inert gas (Xe, Ar, Ne, Kr) in the excited state and result in UV excimer emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1987
    Assignee: GTE Laboratories Incorporated
    Inventors: A. Bowman Budinger, Walter P. Lapatovich
  • Patent number: 4686419
    Abstract: A metal halide high-pressure discharge lamp has a discharge vessel of comt construction, with a fill of mercury, at least one noble gas, typically argon, and a metal halide, with an excess of halogen. The halogen component of the metal halide is formed by iodine and/or bromine. An average light density in excess of 30 ksb, with a specific arc power of between 400 to 5000 W/cm is obtained over an average lifetime of 250 hours with a color rendering index Ra of at least 85 by utilizing cadmium and lithium as the metal component in the metal halide of the fill. Preferably, holmium also is used as a metal for the metal halide, the fill including between 0.1 and 5 mg cadmium, up to 0.05 mg lithium, and 0.05 to 1 mg holmium in a preferred form, halogen and bromine being present in a mol relation of between 0.5 to 2 within the discharge vessel. The excess halogen may be up to about 35 micromol per cubic centimeter of volume of the discharge vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1987
    Assignee: Patent Treuhand Gesellschaft fur elektrische Gluhlampen mbH
    Inventors: Werner Block, Wolfgang Pabst, Manfred Pilsak
  • Patent number: 4647814
    Abstract: To increase the power output of a high-pressure metal halide discharge lamp aving a fill of mercury and at least one noble gas, and rare-earth halides which include at least one of: holmium; dysprosium, preferably present, each, of from 0.01 to 2.4 mg/cm.sup.3 of the discharge vessel, a gadolinium halide, present of from 0.01 to 2.3 mg/cm.sup.3 of the discharge vessel is additionally included in the fill. The discharge vessel is made of quartz, the electrodes of tungsten, and, in an example, a lamp operating at 12 kW, with 380 V power supply at 65 A is obtainable, the light output being comparable to that of daylight based on CIE standard D 60, with a color temperature of 6000.degree. K. so that an overall color temperature of about 5600.degree. K. is obtainable when the lamp is installed in a customary fixture, for example used in theatrical, film or television illumination application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Assignee: Patent-Treuhand Gesellschaft fur elektrische Gluhlampen mbH
    Inventors: Alexander Dobrusskin, Bernd Lewandowski, Walter Kiele
  • Patent number: 4528478
    Abstract: A single-ended metal halide discharge lamp includes a plurality of fill gases selected to provide essentially white light at a plurality of distances from a pair of spaced electrodes and to combine the radiation from the multiple distances to provide white light with minimal color separation from the discharge lamp. Also, a method for providing spectral uniformity from a discharge lamp is provided wherein the emitted color and distance from a longitudinal axis provided by a plurality of fill gases is observed, fill gases are selected to provide white light emission at a plurality of distances from the longitudinal axis and the selected fill gases are combined to provide white light with minimal color separation from the discharge lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1985
    Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
    Inventors: Harold L. Rothwell, Jr., George J. English