Electric Switch Inside Evacuated Or Gas Filled Envelope Patents (Class 315/73)
  • Patent number: 10890301
    Abstract: A lamp assembly includes a base, a hermetically sealed outer jacket mounted on the base, and a driver circuit disposed within the hermetically sealed outer jacket and electrically coupled to the base. The lamp assembly may also include a safety circuit configured to interrupt electrical power to the lamp assembly if the hermetically sealed outer jacket is compromised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: SAVANT TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Alexander Knapp, Glenn Howard Kuenzler, Jon Bennett Jansma, Bruce Richard Roberts, Gary Robert Allen
  • Patent number: 10734595
    Abstract: An electroluminescence display apparatus includes a substrate including a display area and a non-display area. The non-display area includes a bending area and a link area. A first power supply electrode is in the link area. A second power supply electrode is in the non-display area. The second power supply electrode surrounds at least three sides of the display area, and both ends of the second power supply electrode in the link area. A protective layer covers the first power supply electrode and the second power supply electrode in the link area. A first planarizing layer covers one side of the first power supply electrode; and a second planarizing layer is on a contact hole of the protective layer that exposes the first power supply electrode and the second power supply electrode. The first planarizing layer is not on the contact hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyunchul Um, Jongchan Park, Taewon Lee
  • Patent number: 10700152
    Abstract: A display panel and a display device are provided. The display panel has a display region and a peripheral region surrounding the display region. The display panel includes: a scan driving circuit arranged in the peripheral region; a low-level voltage signal line arranged in the peripheral region and electrically connected to the scan driving circuit; an auxiliary metal line arranged in the peripheral region and electrically connected to the low-level voltage signal line. The peripheral region includes a first and second peripheral region located on opposite sides of the display region in a first direction, and a third and fourth peripheral region located on opposite sides of the display region in a second direction, the first direction being perpendicular to the second direction. The auxiliary metal line at least extends in the first, third and second peripheral region to form a structure partially surrounding the display region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: WUHAN TIANMA MICRO-ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xinzhao Liu, Kaihong Huang, Min Chen, Jiayao Yang, Lin Cheng, Yana Gao
  • Patent number: 10225895
    Abstract: Devices (1) for driving light sources (5) comprise drivers (2) operable in different modes and controllers (3) for, in response to detections of values of input voltages supplied to the devices (1), bringing the drivers (2) in one of the different modes. Such devices (1) can be used solely and in series and parallel combinations. In case the value of the input voltage is smaller/larger than a threshold value, a first/second mode is selected. The first mode is a preset-mode, the second mode is a feedback-mode. A combination of the light source (5) and the driver (2) may show a constant-resistor-load-behavior in the preset-mode. The device (2) may comprise a switch (25) that in the preset-mode is operated at a constant conducting time and that in the feedback-mode is operated in response to feedback-information derived from the light source (5). At start-up, the driver (2) may be kept deactivated during a time-interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventor: Haimin Tao
  • Publication number: 20140091708
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a fluorescent display tube with a touch switch allowing electrodes such as touch electrode, anode electrode, and wirings thereof to be formed on the same substrate at the same time, and having an easy structure, and to provide a method of forming the electrodes and wirings of the fluorescent display tube. The anode electrodes, the touch electrodes, the shield electrode, and the anode wirings are formed on the front substrate. The shield electrode is formed in between the touch electrodes and the anode electrodes, and in between the touch electrodes and the anode wirings. The shield electrode is made of a continuous single conductive film. The touch electrodes are so formed as to surround the corresponding one of the anode electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicants: Taiwan FUTABA Electronics Corporation, Futaba Corporation
    Inventors: Katsushi Tokura, Piing Ning Chiu, Ming Chun Wang, Pou Tsen Wang, Hung Bin Lin
  • Patent number: 8536807
    Abstract: The invention relates to the technical field of illumination lamps, in particular to an LED bulb. The invention comprises a lamp cap, a lampshade, LEDS and a circuit board, wherein the bottom end of the lampshade is mounted and fixed at the top end of the lamp cap; the circuit board is mounted and fixed in the lampshade and also electrically connected with the lamp cap; and the lampshade is filled with a mixed gas which transfers heat produced by the LEDS outside the bulb. The invention transfers heat produced by the LEDS by a mixed gas; the LED bulb has such advantages to as small weight, small volume and low production cost; besides, by using the mixed gas as heat transfer medium, the invention can radiate heat produced by the LEDS outside the bulb rapidly so as to effectively solve the heat radiation issue of the LEDS and prolong the service life of the LEDS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Dongguan Hexi Optical Electric Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shikai Lin, Haipeng Xiang
  • Patent number: 8432334
    Abstract: An organic light emitting display device, comprises a pixel unit including a plurality of pixels, each of the pixels including an organic light emitting diode having a first electrode, a second electrode, and an organic light emitting layer; a built-in-circuit comprising a driving circuit configured to drive the pixels; and a bus unit comprising bus lines configured to deliver pixel power to the pixels. The pixel unit, the built-in-circuit, and the bus unit are sequentially disposed from a central region of a display panel to an outer side of the display panel. The second electrode of the organic light emitting diode and one of the bus lines are electrically connected to each other through one of conductive patterns formed on at least a part of the built-in-circuit and at least a part of the bus unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun-Chol Bang, Won-Kyu Kwak
  • Patent number: 8401741
    Abstract: A headlamp in an automobile, which is rotatable about a yaw axis when negotiating a bend, has a controller for controlling the rotary movement. In order to improve the illumination of a roadway lying in front of an automobile, the controller may take into account a driving profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Justus Illium, Torsten Kanning
  • Patent number: 8169146
    Abstract: A metal halide lamp capable of delaying the rate of deformation in an electrostrictive phenomenon caused by the discharge of a ferroelectric ceramic capacitor when dielectric breakdown is initiated between the electrodes of an arc tube thereby preventing breakage accident, wherein a starting circuit, housed in parallel connection together with an arc tube in an outer tube of a metal halide lamp has in serial connection, a ferroelectric ceramic capacitor that is charged and discharged when a voltage at a predetermined coercive voltage or higher is applied thereby outputting a starting pulse at a high voltage from a ballast, a semiconductor switch that turns to a conduction state when a voltage of a predetermined breakover voltage or higher is applied, and a time constant control resistor that delays the discharge time of electric charges discharged from the capacitor when dielectric breakdown is initiated in the arc tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Iwasaki Electric Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Koichi Naitoh, Akiyoshi Maehara
  • Publication number: 20100308729
    Abstract: Embodiments of a lamp having an internal fuse system are provided herein. In some embodiments, a lamp may include a transparent housing; a filament disposed in the housing, the filament having a main body disposed between a first end and a second end of the filament; a first conductor coupled to the filament at the first end of the filament; a first interceptor bar disposed in the housing and beneath the main body of the filament, wherein the first interceptor bar is coupled to the second end of the filament; a second conductor disposed proximate the first end of the filament and conductively coupled to the second end of the filament via the first interceptor bar, wherein the first interceptor bar is positioned such that an electrical short forms between the first and second conductors when the main body of the filament contacts the first interceptor bar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: BALASUBRAMANIAN RAMACHANDRAN, NYI OO MYO, JOSEPH M. RANISH, AKIO TAKAHASHI
  • Patent number: 7804038
    Abstract: A control system for controlling and synchronizing a plurality of medium-voltage vacuum contactors comprises a two-level network structure. A dedicated network includes a plurality of servant control units operably coupled to the vacuum contactors and configured to ascertain a plurality of different data and conditions thereof. In addition, the dedicated network includes a master control unit in serial communication with the servant control units and configured to send and receive communications therewith. The master control unit is operably coupled to a control network including a plurality of various control devices. The master control unit is configured to send predetermined data received from the servant control units to the control network. The two-level network structure enables relatively jitter free communication on the dedicated network while not overwhelming the control network with unnecessary data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Angelo Bortolus, Reginald A. Drake, F. Michael Frayne, David S. MacLennan
  • Publication number: 20100045186
    Abstract: A circuit for high-low flashing in a series-wired light string circuit. The series-wired light string includes miniature incandescent bulbs disposed in respective light sockets. A resistive element connected in series with a bi-metallic thermal switching element is mounted—as a shunt—either inside the light socket or inside the bulb, so as to be connected in parallel with the bulb filament. The bi-metallic thermal switching element, in series with the resistive element, electrically switches the resistive element off and on across the bulb filament. The bi-metallic thermal switching electrical contacts are in the normally closed position. Because the resistive element is in parallel with the bulb filament when the bi-metallic switching element is in its normally closed position, the bulb filament brightness is at its low state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventor: John L. Janning
  • Patent number: 7492104
    Abstract: A high pressure discharge lamp includes an outer tubular bulb whose inner space is exhausted to a vacuum; an arc tube contained in the outer tubular bulb; and a voltage reducing switching element for reducing a voltage applied to the arc tube. The voltage reducing switching element includes a heat sensitive switching element and a starting-voltage reducing element which are connected in series. During a period in which the heat sensitive switching element has a predetermined temperature or higher, the heat sensitive switching element is closed to electrically connect the arc tube and the voltage reducing switching element in parallel, so that the starting-voltage reducing element is operated. During a period in which the heat sensitive switching element has a temperature lower than the predetermined temperature, the heat sensitive switching element is opened so that the starting-voltage reducing element is not operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Utsubo, Hiroshi Nohara, Yukiya Kanazawa
  • Publication number: 20080197778
    Abstract: A light emitting device includes a substrate, a light emitting elements that have a first electrode, a second electrode and a light emitting layer, an element layer, an auxiliary electrode that is electrically connected to the second electrode, and an insulating layer. The second electrode is commonly provided for the light emitting elements. The insulating layer has a portion arranged in a lower layer under the second electrode and the auxiliary electrode. The auxiliary electrode is formed partly in a peripheral region of the light emitting device. In the peripheral region, an end portion of the second electrode is located on an inner side along a plane of the substrate than an end portion of the auxiliary electrode and located on an outer side than an end portion of the insulating layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takehiko KUBOTA
  • Patent number: 7245083
    Abstract: An incandescent lamp has incorporated a circuit board within a recess in the bulb, wherein the circuit board contains connections and circuitry to control power to the lamp filament while maintaining the attachment of the bulb to the metal base, wherein the completed lamp assembly including the circuit board and the metal base maintains the external physical dimensions to fit into standard incandescent light fixtures. The circuitry on the circuit board contains performance-modifying or performance-monitoring electronic circuitry configured to reflect the restrictive size and thermal considerations while employing designs and manufacturing processes most typically found in such products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: LongLite, LLC
    Inventor: Edward T. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 6943498
    Abstract: To provide a high-efficiency and long-life high intensity discharge lamp that is obtained by a configuration in which a neon gas or a neon-based gaseous mixture is filled as a starting-assistance rare gas for an alumina ceramic arc tube, and a filling pressure is set to 13 kPa or more. The high intensity discharge lamp is provided with the alumina ceramic arc tube having a discharge arc tube, alumina ceramic narrow tubes formed at both end portions of the discharge arc tube, electrodes and power feeders, the electrodes and the power feeders being arranged to form spaces in the narrow tubes. The discharge arc tube is filled with the neon gas or the neon-based gaseous mixture as the starting-assistance rare gas at a filling pressure of 13 kPa or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Nishiura, Shigefumi Oda, Masanori Higashi, Shunsuke Kakisaka, Hiroshi Enami
  • Patent number: 6917163
    Abstract: A lamp assembly configured to inductively receive power from a primary coil. The inductively powered lamp assembly includes a lamp circuit including a secondary and a lamp connected in series. In a first aspect, the lamp circuit includes a capacitor connected in series with the lamp and the secondary to tune the circuit to resonance. The capacitor is preferably selected to have a reactance that is substantially equal to or slightly less than the reactance of the secondary and the impedance of the lamp. In a second aspect, the inductively powered lamp assembly includes a sealed transparent sleeve that entirely encloses the lamp circuit so that the transparent sleeve is fully closed and unpenetrated. The transparent sleeve is preferably the lamp sleeve itself, with the secondary, capacitor and any desired starter mechanism disposed within its interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC
    Inventor: David W. Baarman
  • Patent number: 6774563
    Abstract: A support device is provided for use with an electric lamp having a sealed outer envelope that encloses an environment, and a lamp capsule and end-of-life device positioned within such environment. The support device serves to support the lamp capsule and the end-of-life device within the outer envelope. The end-of-life device is electrically connected in series with the lamp circuit through the support device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc.
    Inventor: Michael R. Kling
  • Patent number: 6737803
    Abstract: An electric lamp (1) comprising a gastight lamp vessel (2) for the transformation of electrical energy into light, which lamp vessel has two current conductors (3,6; 4,7) which extend to the outside. The lamp further comprises an outer envelope (9) in which the lamp vessel (2) is arranged with a space between the lamp vessel and the outer envelope. The outer envelope (9) has a lamp cap (11) to which the current conductors (6,7) are electrically connected. The lamp (1) further has means (17) for switching off the lamp by short-circuiting the current conductors (6,7) in the case of fracture of the outer envelope (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Steven Thomas Slot, Cornelis Versluijs
  • Patent number: 6731071
    Abstract: A lamp assembly configured to inductively receive power from a primary coil. The lamp assembly includes a lamp circuit including a secondary and a lamp connected in series. In a first aspect, the lamp circuit includes a capacitor connected in series with the lamp and the secondary to tune the circuit to resonance. The capacitor is preferably selected to have a reactance that is substantially equal to or slightly less than the reactance of the secondary and the impedance of the lamp. In a second aspect, the lamp assembly includes a sealed transparent sleeve that entirely encloses the lamp circuit so that the transparent sleeve is fully closed and unpenetrated. The transparent sleeve is preferably the lamp sleeve itself, with the secondary, capacitor and any desired starter mechanism disposed within its interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC
    Inventor: David W. Baarman
  • Patent number: 6720718
    Abstract: An efficient and safe lamp with a tungsten halogen capsule may be formed by using a two stage pyrophoric fuse as part of the electrical path to the capsule. The thin walled lamp with tungsten halogen capsule and two stage pyrophoric fuse yields a more efficient, less expensive and yet still safe tungsten halogen lamp. The thin walled lamp with tungsten halogen capsule and pyrophoric fuse provides a safe, thin walled outer envelope tungsten halogen lamp, provide a lamp with an oxygen sensitive fuse operable in low wattage lamps, provides a method manufacturing a pyrophoric fuse sensitive to moderate temperatures, provides an inexpensive and practical, low wattage, thin walled tungsten halogen lamp with a pyrophoric fuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc.
    Inventors: Carl Douglas Trent, Jeffrey Paul Buschmann, Michael R. Kling
  • Patent number: 6570327
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electric lamp (100) whose light source reaches a very high temperature during operation. It mainly relates to a lamp provided with a double envelope such that a fracture or a crack of the outer envelope (2) does not prevent the lamp (100) from functioning. The lamp is therefore provided with a safety cut-out wire (5) which allows the opening of the conduction path of the lamp in case of a fracture. To this end a safety-switch portion (6) is inserted in the safety cut-out wire (5). This portion is made of a material which opens the conduction path as soon as the safety-switch portion (6) comes into contact with air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Gervais Pinot, Stéphane Coffigny
  • Patent number: 6563268
    Abstract: A high-intensity discharge lamp includes an arc tube having a pair of main electrodes, a starting circuit having a thermally-actuated switch for disconnecting the starting circuit, and an outer tube for containing the arc tube and the starting circuit, and the lamp is lighted by means of a reactance ballast. The thermally-actuated switch includes an envelope bulb that covers contacts of the thermally-actuated switch. Thereby, occurrence of sustained arc discharge in the outer tube is prevented in the case of a starting failure or a break-off of the arc tube at the end of the lamp's life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahito Yoshida, Kenji Akiyoshi
  • Patent number: 6504305
    Abstract: A fluorescent lamp is capable of easily achieving a reduction of power consumption only be being mounted on a conventional lighting apparatus, whether or not the lighting apparatus has a dimming function. The fluorescent lamp includes an arc tube; and a current suppressing section for suppressing a lamp current which flows in the arc tube, after the elapse of a predetermined time after the power is turned on, and during an operation of the fluorescent lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuaki Ohkubo, Yoshinori Tanabe, Masanori Shimizu, Takeshi Arakawa
  • Patent number: 6462478
    Abstract: A safety switch for a lamp having an outer envelope with a light source capsule mounted therein. The lamp has a base for connection to an electrical circuit via a mating socket and has in-leads appropriately connected to the base and to the light source capsule whereby electrical power can be supplied to the light source. A fuse is operatively mounted to one of the in-leads in the base. The safety switch is mounted in the outer envelope and tensioned thereagainst whereby breakage of the outer envelope causes the safety switch to release and electrically contact the in-leads causing a short circuit and opening the fuse, thereby removing power from the capsule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Oetken, Joseph P. Gallant, Gerald A. Puracchio
  • Patent number: 6462477
    Abstract: A high pressure discharge lamp is provided with an arc tube and a starter. The starter includes a ferroelectric ceramic capacitor element with non-linear characteristics an a semiconductor switching element, connected in parallel to the arc tube. A pulse stopping thermally-actuated switch is connected in series to the ferroelectric ceramic capacitor element and is operated to OFF by heating of a heating resistor in a non-lighted state of the lamp. Without accompanying reduction of a starting function due to a temperature rise of the ferroelectric ceramic capacitor element, a safety function against a non-lighted state of the lamp is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Wada, Akio Takubo, Akira Mii
  • Patent number: 6404128
    Abstract: In a glow discharge starter, a layer of lanthanum is present on one of the conductors and the gas filling is a Penning mixture. The glow discharge starter does not contain radioactive material. The delay time between the application of a voltage between the conductors and establishing a glow discharge remains short during the whole life of the glow discharge starter, even when the starter was kept in a room with a low light level for a prolonged time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Anthony Kroes
  • Patent number: 6400087
    Abstract: A short-arc discharge lamp (1) is provided with a light-transmitting, gastight lamp vessel (10), which is provided with an ionizable filling. A first electrode and a second electrode (11a, 11b), respectively, are arranged in the lamp vessel (10) and are each connected to a current conductor of their own (12a, 12b), respectively, which issues from the lamp vessel to the exterior. An ignition antenna (2) is arranged near the lamp vessel, which ignition antenna is connected to a further current conductor (24). The ignition antenna comprises an antenna vessel (20) and a further outer electrode (22), which antenna vessel (20) is closed in a gastight manner and provided with an ionizable filling, the further outer electrode (22) being connected to the further current conductor (24). The antenna encloses an electroconductive element. In this way, very small ignition delays are guaranteed, even if the lamp has been in a dark environment for some time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Hubertus Cornelis Maria van den Nieuwenhuizen, Johannes Martinus De Regt
  • Patent number: 6316878
    Abstract: The electric-light bulb is capable of limiting an inrush current and automatically periodically changing brightness. In the electric-light bulb, a filament is provided in a bulb body. A resistance is provided in the bulb body and connected to the filament in series. A thermoswitch is provided in the bulb body and connected to the resistance in parallel. The thermoswitch includes a bimetal element and contact points. The bimetal element is deformed by heat radiated from the filament and closes the contact points when temperature of the bimetal element reaches prescribed temperature so as to short the resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Inventor: Nagafumi Tsukada
  • Patent number: 6037854
    Abstract: A fluorescent lamp thermal fuse arrangement is disclosed. The arrangement in a preferred embodiment comprises a fluorescent glass tube lamp, a thermal fuse wrapped externally around an end of the lamp, electrically insulated mechanical means, lead portions of the thermal fuse and strain relief, and a thermally and electrically insulating protective cover placed over the thermal fuse to concentrate heat around the fuse and to electrically isolate the lamp end from the surrounding environment. The lamp has a maximum normal operating temperature, a coating of emissive material on a cathode of the lamp, a plurality of lamp cathode leads, and a termination electrically connected to a fluorescent lamp power source. The thermal fuse is electrically connected in series between at least one lamp cathode lead and the termination. The protective cover provides electrical insulation to the surrounding environment and a small space for melted fuse material to flow regardless of lamp orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Aerospace Lighting Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan T. Baker, Glenn T. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6034477
    Abstract: A high-pressure discharge lamp provided with an outer bulb enclosing a discharge tube accommodates a transformer having primary winding which forms part of a current conductor to one of the main electrodes of the discharge tube. The secondary winding is coupled to an ignition electrode of the discharge tube. Higher ignition voltages can be achieved without increasing the voltage pulse on the outside contacts of the lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Eric E. Peeters, Stefan A. Verlee
  • Patent number: 5757137
    Abstract: A starting aid for high pressure sodium vapor lamps eliminates the need to mechanically connect an ignition wire to the lamp frame. The starting aid employs an ignition wire which is slidably clipped directly to the arc tube at one end and which is connected to a bi-metallic switch at the other end. The bi-metallic switch is mechanically and electrically connected to one power lead of the arc tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc.
    Inventor: Huiling Zhu
  • Patent number: 5606222
    Abstract: A lighting system having a gas discharge lamp and a stabilization ballast further includes a low loss device to reduce the current through the ballast and lamp, thereby reducing system wattage for energy savings. For a lead-type ballast, the current reducing device is a capacitive device in parallel with the discharge lamp. For a lag-type ballast, the device is an inductive device in parallel with the lamp. The device may be in a housing connected between the lamp ballast and the lamp, or may be included within the outer envelope of the discharge lamp. This enables an existing system to be easily retrofit without disturbing the existing ballast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Philips Electronics North America Corporation
    Inventors: Eduardus J. Cottaar, Dirk Van Pijkeren
  • Patent number: 5565736
    Abstract: A high-pressure discharge lamp includes a discharge vessel which is enclosed with intervening space by an outer bulb. The lamp is provided with a starter circuit constructed as a starter unit comprising a bimetal switch and glow switch starter. The bimetal switch has a bimetal element which is fastened with a fastening point to a conductor, and rests in the cold state against a break contact point of a break contact. The fastening point and the break contact point form part of an insulating rigid body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Winand H. A. M. Friederichs
  • Patent number: 5545952
    Abstract: An incandescent bulb for use in a submerged swimming pool light fixture is disclosed, which includes a filament, at least one spring-biased filament support, and a grounding device. The filament support includes an exposed current-conducting portion and is moveable in response to the spring bias. The current-conducting portion of the filament support is arranged to allow it to come into electrical contact with the grounding device when the filament support moves in response to the bias of the spring. The filament is disposed to prevent movement of the filament support when the filament is intact and the lamp is in normal operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Essef Corporation
    Inventor: Dana Mortensen
  • Patent number: 5512799
    Abstract: A glowbottle starter switch for igniting gaseous discharge lamps in alternating current circuits. The glowbottle including a hermetically sealed glass envelope (7) containing a fill of an ionizable gas and having at least two lead wires (2,3) disposed therein and extending to the exterior of the envelope (7) and a bimetal switch (4) disposed on at least one of the lead wires (3). The switch (4) is arranged to move within a gap to contact the other of the lead wires (2). An electroluminescent light emitter including an electroluminescent phosphor (6 in FIG. 1) is disposed in optically-contiguous relationship with the glowbottle. The electroluminescent light emitter is arranged to be energized to emit light by electric fields produced by alternating voltage between the lead wires (2,3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: John F. Waymouth Intellectual Property and Educational Trust
    Inventor: John F. Waymouth
  • Patent number: 5504395
    Abstract: An incandescent lamp bulb which is driven by an electronic control module (ECM) and method of manufacture characterized in that an inductor comprising a magnetic element and a winding thereon is disposed within a screw shell base of the lamp bulb and surrounds the lamp exhaust tube therein. One end of the winding on the magnetic element is connected to a filament wire within the screw shell base and the other end of the inductive winding is connected to an output terminal of the ECM control module. In this manner, the inductor significantly reduces the di/dt rise time of voltage and current when a triac within the ECM module is driven to conduction on each one half cycle of the applied AC line voltage. This operation in turn produces a substantial reduction in radio frequency interference, both of radiation transmitted into space from the lamp bulb and by direct DC coupling back into the AC line voltage source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: Beacon Light Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel A. Johnson, Patrick Roblin, Chih-Ju Hung, Veng-Chong Lau
  • Patent number: 5449971
    Abstract: A material is provided on the lead wires that support a filament of a fluorescent lamp assembly to inhibit arcing associated with filament burnout. The material comprises a glass that is non-alkaline. Another preferred arrangement is to incorporate a material into the assembly that will release an arc inhibiting gas in response to arcing of the lead wires. For example, a calcium carbonate or strontium carbonate material releases carbon dioxide to terminate undesired lead wire arcing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Curtis E. Scott, Harihar D. Chevali
  • Patent number: 5420479
    Abstract: A built-in igniter type high pressure sodium lamp includes an igniter connected in parallel with an arc tube 1 for a high pressure sodium lamp and composed of a series circuit of a thermally-activated bimetal switch 2 and a nonlinear capacitor 3. The high pressure sodium lamp is so constructed that a heating resistor 11 which can heat the nonlinear capacitor 3 to the Curie point temperature when the igniter operates is connected in parallel with and located close to the nonlinear capacitor 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: Iwasaki Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takenobu Iida, Shunichi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 5400223
    Abstract: A sports lighting fixture having a broken glass detection arrangement includes a high intensity light source disposed near the closed end of a reflector member. A cover member made of a light transmissive material is disposed at the open end of the reflector and is effective for filtering UV radiation emitted by the light source. A ballast circuit has in input portion receptive of line power and an output portion effective for conditioning the line power to energize the light source. A conductor strip is disposed on the cover member and is effective such that, when the cover member is intact, an electrical signal can be passed therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lawrence W. Speaker, George E. Kiefer, Samuel L. Baldwin
  • Patent number: 5389856
    Abstract: The invention relates to a high-pressure discharge lamp (2) provided with a discharge vessel (3) and an outer envelope (30) which encloses a space (6). The lamp is provided with an igniter circuit (10) which comprises a voltage-dependent capacitor (8) and a fuse (7). According to the invention, the voltage-dependent capacitor and the fuse (7) are integrated so as to form a single component (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Gerardus M. J. F. Luijks, Hubertus A. M. Coenen
  • Patent number: 5355053
    Abstract: A starting aid for high pressure sodium vapor lamps eliminates the need to mechanically connect an ignition wire to the lamp frame. The starting aid employs an ignition wire which is slidably clipped directly to the arc tube at one end and which is connected to a bi-metallic switch at the other end. The bi-metallic switch is mechanically and electrically connected to one power lead of the arc tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: OSRAM Sylvania Inc.
    Inventor: Huiling Zhu
  • Patent number: 5336974
    Abstract: The invention relates to a high-pressure discharge lamp including a discharge vessel and an outer envelope which encloses a space. The lamp has an igniter circuit which has a voltage-dependent capacitor and a resistor which are integrated so as to form a single component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Gerardus M. J. F. Luijks, Hubertus A. M. Coenen
  • Patent number: 5331250
    Abstract: A high pressure discharge lamp having a thick film resistor comprising a plurality of resistive elements. A first resistive element is included in a starting circuit for the lamp and a second resistive element is in series with the arc tube during lamp operation for flicker elimination. The integral thick film resistor facilitates mounting and connection of the resistor elements within the lamp envelope. Favorably, the resistor substrate has a surface emissivity of greater than about 0.5, and preferably greater than about 0.9, to provide sufficient radiation cooling within an evacuated outer lamp envelope to prevent resistor failure while keeping the size of the resistor small enough for use as a component in an HID lamp. Additionally, a suitable coating of low vapor pressure thickness covers the solder connecting the metallic resistor terminals to the substrate to prevent evaporation of the solder and its deposition on the inner surface of the outer lamp envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignees: North American Philips Corporation, NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jagannathan Ravi, Gerard Van Bockstal, Go Suzuki, Kouji Shirasu
  • Patent number: 5327046
    Abstract: A high intensity discharge (HID) lamp includes a resistive fuse for overcurrent protection of its associated ballast, which fuse is connected electrically in series with the discharge vessel of the lamp and continuously dissipates power during lamp operation. The resistive fuse is heated by passage of the operating current through the discharge vessel during lamp operation to a temperature substantially controlled by the operating current. In response to an increase in the operating current to a predetermined overcurrent, the resistive fuse reaches a temperature such that it breaks and disconnects the discharge vessel from its source of electric potential within a predetermined time period. The fuse passes short-term high starting currents and does not disconnect the discharge vessel during each lamp start-up at least until the operating current reaches the predetermined over-current during lamp life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: North American Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Jagannathan Ravi, Gerard Luijks
  • Patent number: 5325017
    Abstract: The invention relates to a high-pressure discharge lamp (2) provided with a discharge vessel (3) with a ceramic wall (3a) and provided with a bimetal element (11) which rests against the discharge vessel wall in the cold state of the lamp, and which is removed from the discharge vessel wall during lamp operation. The discharge vessel is surrounded by an outer bulb (30) with intervening space (6), in which space a solid-state getter (15) is provided. According to the invention, the solid-state getter is provided on the bimetal element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Johannes A. T. Schellen, Gerardus M. J. F. Luijks
  • Patent number: 5317232
    Abstract: A glow discharge starter having an hermetically sealed envelope containing an ionizable medium, a bimetallic electrode including a first bimetallic element having a curved portion and a free end, and a counter electrode. A first discharge gap having a predetermined spacing is formed between the free end of the first bimetallic element and the counter electrode. The starter includes a second bimetallic element having an end secured to the counter electrode. A portion of the second bimetallic element is positioned adjacent the curved portion of the first bimetallic element such that a second discharge gap having a predetermined spacing is formed therebetween. In the event that the starter encounters a dc current of the wrong polarity, a portion of the second bimetallic element contacts the first bimetallic element so as to extinguish the arc discharge and prevent electrode damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Inventors: Nikolaos Barakitis, Marvin S. Corrales, Jovge C. Rodriquez
  • Patent number: 5276385
    Abstract: The invention provides a high-pressure discharge lamp incorporating an outer envelope storing a pair of electric terminals a plurality of arc tubes which are respectively stored in this outer envelope and electrically connected in parallel, and a plurality of ignition aids available for assisting operating of these arc tubes, where these ignition aids are provided for each of these arc tubes and contain potentials different from each other. In addition, the invention also provides a lighting system for operating the high-pressure discharge lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Itoh, Kazuyoshi Okamura, Kazuiki Uchida, Mitsuho Kotabe, Hirochika Shiohama, Kimihito Sato, Yasuki Mori, Katsusuke Uchino
  • Patent number: 5187416
    Abstract: An arc discharge lamp having an arc tube mounted within a lamp envelope includes a thermal switch for controlling application of electrical energy to a starting electrode. The thermal switch is mounted between the arc tube and the lamp base with its longitudinal axis generally parallel to the central axis of the lamp envelope. The thermal switch is spaced from the central axis of the lamp envelope by a support rod and extends into an annular space between the lamp stem and the wall of the lamp envelope. As a result, the maximum temperature of the thermal switch during lamp operation does not exceed about 400.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
    Inventor: Simone P. Bazin
  • Patent number: 5185557
    Abstract: A high-pressure discharge lamp has an outer bulb which surrounds a discharge vessel with intervening space. The lamp is provided with an ignition circuit which comprises a SIDAC. According to the invention, the SIDAC is mounted in a gas-filled, hermetically closed glass capsule in the outer bulb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1993
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Gerardus M. J. F. Luijks, Hubertus A. M. Coenen