Arc Tube Making, E.g., Fluorescent Lamp Patents (Class 445/26)
  • Publication number: 20080214084
    Abstract: The present invention provides a flat fluorescent lamp. The flat fluorescent lamp comprises a single plate. Consequently, the flat fluorescent lamp is structurally safe, brightness of the flat fluorescent lamp is high, and efficiency of the flat fluorescent lamp is also high without the provision of other additional optical components. The present invention also provides a method of manufacturing such a flat fluorescent lamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: Young Jong Lee, Jun Young Choi, Jun Ho Jeong, Ji-Won Kim, Young-Keun Lee, Young-Kwan Park, Jun-Ho Lee
  • Publication number: 20080214085
    Abstract: The present invention provides a flat fluorescent lamp. The flat fluorescent lamp comprises a single plate. Consequently, the flat fluorescent lamp is structurally safe, brightness of the flat fluorescent lamp is high, and efficiency of the flat fluorescent lamp is also high without the provision of other additional optical components. The present invention also provides a method of manufacturing such a flat fluorescent lamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: YOUNG JONG LEE, Jun Young CHOI, Jun Ho JEONG, Ji-Won KIM, Young-Keun LEE, Young-Kwan PARK, Jun-Ho LEE
  • Publication number: 20080198591
    Abstract: A fluorescent lamp includes a fluorescent tube, a thermal electron, a first cover electrode and a second cover electrode. The fluorescent tube has a discharge space. The thermal electron emitting part is disposed in the discharge space. The first cover electrode is disposed at an end portion of the fluorescent tube, and is electrically connected to a first end portion of the thermal electron emitting part. The second cover electrode is spaced apart from the first cover electrode disposed at the end portion of the fluorescent tube, and is electrically connected to a second end portion of the thermal electron emitting part. The thermal electron emitting part is electrically connected to the first cover electrode and the second cover electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Inventors: Hyun-Jin Kim, Seok-Hyun Nam, Sang-Hyuck Yoon
  • Patent number: 7396270
    Abstract: A high-pressure discharge lamp, in particular a mercury-free high-pressure discharge lamp for a vehicle headlight, has a lamp base (1) and an axially symmetrical discharge vessel (30), in whose discharge space (300) an ionizable filling, containing metal halides, and electrodes (31, 32) are arranged for producing a gas discharge. The discharge vessel (30) is provided with transparent, partial frosting (37), which is limited to a section of the inside or outside of the discharge vessel (30) extending over part of the discharge vessel circumference, this section having a well-defined position with respect to the lamp base (1). Moreover, a simple production method is proposed for partial frosting (37) which is preferably arranged on the inside of the discharge vessel (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft für elektrische Glühlampen mbH
    Inventors: Vladimir Högele, Thomas Reiners
  • Patent number: 7394199
    Abstract: Cathode unit for installation in a fluorescent tube body (3) belonging to a fluorescent tube (1), which cathode unit (5) comprises a cathode screen (15a, 15, 15?-15??) which partially surrounds an electrode (9) which is electrically insulated from the said cathode screen (15), a power supply device (11) arranged to make an electrical connection between the said electrode (9) and a contact (13), the said cathode screen (15a, 15 , 15?-15??) comprising a first end (19) facing towards the discharge, which first end (19) comprises a central opening (21), and a second end (39) facing towards the said contact (13). The first end (19) of the cathode screen (15a, 15, 15?-15??) is designed with a rounded-off part (25) in order to facilitate the insertion of the cathode unit (5) in the said fluorescent tube body (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Auralight Intérnational AB
    Inventors: Folke Axelsson, Patrik Olsson, Mikael Severinsson
  • Publication number: 20080136330
    Abstract: A compact fluorescent lamp comprises a discharge tube arrangement with at least one discharge tube. The tube is formed of glass, encloses a discharge volume filled with a discharge gas and has a fluorescent phosphor coating disposed on the inner surface of the tube. The tube forms a continuous arc path and is provided with electrodes disposed at each end of the arc path. The lamp also comprises a ballast circuit connected to the electrodes by lead-in wires and to a supply voltage by lead-out wires for controlling the current in the tube. A bulb shaped outer envelope has a substantially spherical portion enclosing the tube arrangement and an elongated end portion enclosing the ballast circuit. The end portion of the outer envelope having an open end on a base side is closed and terminated by a closing means of the same material as the outer envelope. The closing means is provided with a tubular opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Istvan Wursching, Ferenc Papp, Jozsef Fulop, Laszlo Bankuti
  • Publication number: 20080132139
    Abstract: The present invention is a ceramic discharge vessel for use in high-intensity-discharge (HID) lamps. The discharge vessel has a ceramic body and at least one seal region comprised of an aluminum oxynitride material. The seal region further has a surface layer for contacting a frit material wherein the surface layer is less reactive than the aluminum oxynitride material with respect to the molten frit during sealing. Preferably, the surface layer has a lower nitrogen content than the aluminum oxynitride material. The less reactive surface acts to minimize the formation of bubbles in the sealing frit during the sealing operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: OSRAM SYLVANIA INC.
    Inventors: George C. Wei, Harry S. Mackel
  • Patent number: 7381111
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a surface emitting fluorescent lamp, designed to reduce a total thickness of the surface emitting fluorescent lamp, and to allow easy sealing of a gas injection port. The method comprises forming at least one injection port connected to one side of a discharge channel in a horizontal direction of the fluorescent lamp to communicate with the discharge channel simultaneous with forming a discharge space, providing a sealant within the gas injection port in order to seal the gas injection port, providing a mercury pellet containing mercury to one side of the sealant, vacuum exhausting the discharge space of the fluorescent lamp, diffusing inert gas into the discharge space, and diffusing mercury vapor evaporated from the mercury pellet into the discharge space. Then, the sealant is melted, and seals a connection between the gas injection port and the discharge channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Mirae Corporation
    Inventor: Jae-Doo Yun
  • Patent number: 7378799
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a lamp is provided with an arc envelope including a ceramic, an end member including a material different from the ceramic, and a compliant seal disposed between the end member and the arc envelope. The compliant seal includes a plurality of layers having different thermal expansion characteristics in an order of gradual change between the arc envelope and the end member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bernard Bewlay, Bruce Knudsen, Mohamed Rahmane, James Vartuli, James Brewer
  • Publication number: 20080083702
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an electron emitting device includes disposing a cathode substrate and an anode substrate to be faced to each other in a depressurized atmosphere containing an activation gas, the cathode substrate including a carbon layer formed by applying a paste having a fibrous carbon and carbon impurities on a cathode conductor and drying the coated paste. The method further includes applying a reverse bias voltage to the cathode conductor of the cathode substrate and an anode conductor of the anode substrate, thereby activating the carbon layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Applicant: Futaba Corporation
    Inventors: Fumiaki Kataoka, Youhei Fujimura, Takeshi Tonegawa, Yasumoto Kubo, Hiroaki Eguchi, Shigeo Itoh, Tatsuo Yamaura
  • Patent number: 7344427
    Abstract: The invention relates to a high-pressure discharge lamp of the ceramic metal halide type of the Philips MasterColor® series having power ranges of about 150 W to about 1000 W. Such lamps are provided with a discharge vessel which encloses a discharge space. The discharge vessel has a ceramic wall and is closed by a ceramic plug. An electrode which is located inside the discharge space is connected to an electric conductor by way of a leadthrough element. The leadthrough element projects through the ceramic plug with a close fit and is connected thereto in a gas-tight manner by way of a sealing ceramic. The leadthrough element has a first part which is formed by a cermet at the area of the gas-tight connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V.
    Inventors: Andrew D. Jackson, Ray G. Gibson, III, Sarah A. Carleton, Shiming Wu, Louis N. Kowalczyk, Thomas Steere, Jay J. Palmer, John C. Alderman, John E. Conrad, Sr., Kent L. Collins
  • Publication number: 20080057819
    Abstract: A lamp includes a reflector having a passageway opening to a heel of the reflector, a lamp capsule having a lead that extends rearward through the passageway, a conductive clip that spans a diameter of the heel and that has tabs that extend forward at opposite sides of the heel and an arm that extends rearward, the arm being attached to a portion of the lead that projects out of the passageway, and a base that is attached to the heel and that engages the tabs at the opposite sides of the heel. The arm holds the lamp capsule in place and electrically connects the lamp capsule to the base. The arm may be a semi-detached central portion of the clip that is bent to be substantially parallel to an axis of the lead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventors: Michael R. Kling, Jeffrey P. Buschmann, Michael J. Swantner
  • Publication number: 20080055883
    Abstract: A surface treatment layer containing alkali metal oxide is formed on at least one of substrates to form a body of a surface light source. The surface treatment layer may be formed of oxide by coating at least one of cesium, potassium, rubidium, and compound thereof on the surface of the substrate and by performing heat treatment to the substrate. The surface treatment layer containing alkali metal oxide easily emits secondary electrons and reduces firing voltage of the surface light source. Black start is improved, discharging efficiency is increased, and heat generated during the operation is decreased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: Samsung Corning Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ki Yeon Lee, Kyeong Taek Jung, Hyung Bin Youn, Keun Seok Lee, Dong Hee Lee, Seok Mo Ban, Sergey K. Evstropiev, Kang Min Kim, Tae Ho Park
  • Patent number: 7331837
    Abstract: The invention relates to a high-pressure discharge lamp of the ceramic metal halide type of the Philips MasterColor series having a molybdenum coil wrapped around the discharge vessel and at least a portion of the electrode feed through means, and having power ranges of about 150 W to about 1000 W. Such lamps are provided with a discharge vessel which encloses a discharge space. The discharge vessel has a ceramic wall and is closed by a ceramic plug. An electrode which is located inside the discharge space is connected to an electric conductor by way of a leadthrough element. The leadthrough element projects through the ceramic plug with a close fit and is connected thereto in a gastight manner by way of a sealing ceramic. The leadthrough element has a first part which is formed by a cermet at the area of the gastight connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V.
    Inventors: Andrew D. Jackson, Ray G. Gibson, III, Sarah A. Carleton, Shiming Wu, Louis N. Kowalczyk, Thomas Steere, Jay J. Palmer, John C. Alderman, John E. Conrad, Sr., Kent L. Collins
  • Publication number: 20080036396
    Abstract: The electrode mount includes a filament coil, paired lead wires supporting the filament coil therebetween in a manner that the filament coil hangs across the lead wires; and bead glass retaining the paired leadwires. The arc tube includes an arc tube main body formed by winding a glass tube, and an electrode fixed to the end portion of the arc tube main body. For this electrode, the electrode mount is used. The fixing of the electrode mount at the end portion of the arc tube main body is made at a region of the lead wires positioned between the filament coil and the bead glass, and the bead glass is disposed outside the arc tube main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Tamotsu Andou, Kenji Nakano, Noriyuki Uchida, Yusuke Iwase
  • Patent number: 7326098
    Abstract: A field emission backlight device may include a first substrate and a second substrate separate from and roughly parallel to each other, a first anode electrode and a second anode electrode that face each other on inner surfaces of the first substrate and the second substrate, and cathode electrodes separate from and roughly parallel to one another between the first substrate and the second substrate. It may also include electron emission sources disposed on the cathode electrodes to emit electrons by an electric field and a phosphorous layer disposed on the first anode electrode or the second anode electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun-Hee Choi, Byong-Gwon Song, Moon-Jin Shin, Andrei Zoulkarneev, Deuk-Seok Chung, Min-Jong Bae
  • Patent number: 7322870
    Abstract: Manufacturing equipment and manufacturing process steps that improve upon prior art processes for the manufacturing of filament tube and arc tube light sources, their components and subassemblies, and lamps employing said light sources. A double ended, tipless filament tube or arc tube light source incorporates a drawn-down tubular body, and one piece foliated leads with spurs for process handling and for spudding into a filament with stretched-out legs. Bugled ends on the body provide a novel cutoff means, facilitate a flush-fill finishing process, and enhance mounting and support of the light sources in lamps. The foliated leads are made from a continuous length of wire in a process including foil hammering and two-bath AC electrochemical etching. Cost-reduced light source and lamp production enables affordable household consumer lamps, even when containing two series-connected halogen filament tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Inventor: Elmer G. Fridrich
  • Patent number: 7312560
    Abstract: A light source including an LED that emits excitation light, a layer a phosphor material positioned to receive the excitation light, the phosphor material emitting visible light when illuminated with the excitation light, and a first non-planar flexible multilayer reflector that reflects the excitation light and transmits visible light. The non-planar flexible multilayer reflector is positioned to reflect LED light onto the phosphor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Michael F. Weber, John A. Wheatley
  • Patent number: 7307376
    Abstract: A reflector assembly for use in a digital projector includes a reflector having a reflector opening defined therein, and a startup element fixedly coupled to the reflector such that the reflector and the startup element are configured to allow the replaceable coupling of a lamp assembly to the reflector assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: John M. Koegler, Timothy F. Myers
  • Patent number: 7303455
    Abstract: A light emitting element has been fabricated by making a barrier having a curved surface having a radius of curvature at the upper portion or lower portion, washing a surface of an anode with a porous sponge in order to remove minute grains dotted on the surface of the anode, and performing the vacuum heating in order to remove absorbed water of a whole of a substrate on which a TFT and the barrier have been provided immediately before a layer containing an organic compound is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Murakami, Ritsuko Nagao, Masayuki Sakakura, Misako Nakazawa, Noriko Miyagi, Hisao Ikeda, Kaoru Tsuchiya, Ayumi Ishigaki, Masahiro Takahashi, Noriyuki Matsuda, Hiroki Ohara
  • Patent number: 7300327
    Abstract: A method for constructing a scotopic after-glow lamp for use in an electric lamp with the scotopic lamp having a lamp wall is provided. The method comprises combining scotopic enhanced phosphors with after-glow phosphors, and layering the combined phosphors on the lamp wall with at least a portion of the after-glow phosphors being against the lamp wall and at least a portion of the scotopic phosphors being exposed to the electric arc of the lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventors: Charles Bolta, Donald P. Northrop
  • Patent number: 7297037
    Abstract: A ceramic discharge chamber for a lamp, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, comprises a first member which includes a leg portion and a transition portion, wherein the leg portion and the transition portion are integrally formed as one piece from a ceramic material, and a second member which includes a body portion, wherein the body portion is bonded to the transition portion of the first member. The ceramic discharge chamber can be formed by injection molding a ceramic material to form the first member, the first member forming a first portion of the ceramic discharge chamber; and bonding the first member to a second member which forms a second portion of the ceramic discharge chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Venkat Subramaniam Venkataramani, Charles David Greskovich, Curtis Edward Scott, James Anthony Brewer
  • Patent number: 7294035
    Abstract: A method of secondarily welding one end of a shroud glass tube covering an arc tube body having a discharge emitting portion, having the other end welded primarily to one of the arc tube body ends, to the other end side of the arc tube body, while discharging air from, and introducing an inactive gas into, the tube through the opening end of the glass tube to hold a negative pressure. Heating and melting from a side is carried out. The opening end of the glass tube is connected to a piping passage component for discharging air and introducing an inactive gas through a rotatable magnetic fluid seal unit. Secondary welding is carried out with the rotation of the glass tube around an axis. The glass tube rotated with respect to secondary side heater is uniformly heated, molten and softened circumferentially, and welded along the arc tube body outer periphery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayasu Hirata, Hiromi Kubota, Shinya Misonou
  • Patent number: 7288015
    Abstract: A stem and lamp capsule are connected together as an assembly using a retainer such that the stem is clamped to one end of the retainer and the capsule is clamped to the other end of the retainer. An oxidizable fuse is connected between leads of the capsule and electrical conductors of the stem. The retainer maintains the rigidity of the assembly and keeps a constant distance between the stem and the lamp capsule so that the repeatability and failure parameters of the fuse length can be maintained within acceptable tolerance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Kingston, Brian G. Lariviere, Peter A. Marcaurelle
  • Patent number: 7275971
    Abstract: Disclosed is a compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp that includes a phosphor coating provided inside a glass tube bent to have a double-spiral configuration. The arc tube has two spiral parts that are wound around an axis “A”, and a turning part joining the two spiral parts. At any cross section of the glass tube, the applied phosphor coating is thicker in the inner surface of the glass tube near the ends of the glass tube in the axis “A” direction, than in the inner surface near the turning part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Fujiwara, Toyokazu Amano, Shiro Iida
  • Patent number: 7267597
    Abstract: A material including a carbon-based substance and resins are mixed, and the mixture is extruded and dried, and the extrusion is sintered in an inert atmosphere, thereby obtaining a heating element material. The heating element material is reheated in a vacuum so that its resistance-temperature characteristic is adjusted to a necessary value, thereby obtaining a heating element for an infrared lamp. The heating element is a wire-shaped or plate-shaped heating element including the carbon-based substance, and an internal lead wire is wound around each of both ends of the heating element directly or via a graphite block so that a tight fit can be obtained. A coil spring is formed in the middle of the internal lead wire. The heating element is accommodated in a quartz glass tube filled with an inert gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Konishi, Kenji Higashiyama, Hirofumi Tange
  • Publication number: 20070161318
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a fluorescent lamp is provided. One of a dispersed metal oxide precursor sol prepared by a sol-gel reaction and a fluorescent substance slurry is coated on a glass tube having at least one open side and then the other of the fluorescent substance slurry and the dispersed metal oxide precursor sol is coated on the glass tube. Next, passivation and fluorescent layers are simultaneously formed by baking the coated layers. Then, air is exhausted out of the glass tube and a discharge gas is injected into the glass tube. Finally, the glass tube is sealed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Publication date: July 12, 2007
    Inventor: Yong-Seok Park
  • Patent number: 7226334
    Abstract: An apparatus for making a ceramic arc tube for high intensity discharge (HID) lighting applications is provided wherein the arc tube contains a high buffer gas pressure and RF induction heating is used to melt a frit material to form a hermetic seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Kotter, Gregory Zaslavsky, Fred Whitney
  • Patent number: 7227303
    Abstract: A method for forming a cold spot region on a discharge tube of a discharge lamp is disclosed. In the method, a discharge tube is formed, and a tubular extension is formed on at least one end of the discharge tube. The tubular extension has a smaller diameter than the diameter of the discharge tube end. The tubular extension is formed so that a free end of the tubular extension extends away from the end of the discharge tube. A reduced thickness portion is formed on the tubular extension. The reduced thickness portion is formed as a membrane. A discharge lamp is also disclosed, which comprises a discharge tube with a tubular extension located at an end of the discharge tube. The tubular extension has a smaller diameter than the diameter of the discharge tube end, and the tubular extension comprises a reduced thickness portion. The reduced thickness portion is a membrane, preferably formed of the material of the tubular extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: János Bajnok, András Horváth, Sándor Lukács
  • Patent number: 7223145
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide, without increasing the costs or decreasing the quantity of light, a fluorescent lamp that is less likely to have the bridge and the constituent tubes damaged while being handled and has improved handleability, as well as to provide a manufacturing method therefor. It is arranged so that the distance between the first and second constituent tubes gradually becomes smaller from the base side of the lamp toward the turning portion side of the lamp where the discharge paths turn. It is arranged so that the value of D2/D1 is within a range of 0.05 to 0.70 inclusive, where D1 is the distance between the first and second constituent tubes being measured at the bridge connecting points on the base side, and D2 is the shortest distance between the first and second constituent tubes on the turning portion side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Okazaki, Nobutaka Ota, Toshiyuki Namura, Akio Kitada, Tadashi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7215081
    Abstract: A hermetically sealed lamp having at least one seal-material-free bond. The seal material-free bond may be a material diffusion bond, a mechanically deformed bond such as a cold weld or crimp, a focused heat bond such as a laser bond, or any other such bond. For example, the hermetically sealed lamp may have one or more endcaps diffusion bonded to an arc envelope, such as a ceramic tube or bulb. The hermetically sealed lamp also may have one or more tubular structures, such as dosing tubes, which are mechanically closed via cold welding or crimping. Localized heating, such as the heat provided by an intense laser, also may be used to enhance any of the foregoing bonds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bernard P. Bewlay, James A. Brewer, Sylvain S. Coulombe, Sylvia M. DeCarr, Luana E. Iorio, Anteneh Kebbede, Timothy J. Sommerer, James S. Vartuli
  • Patent number: 7204738
    Abstract: A method of forming a metal halide discharge tube comprises: arranging a tubular body (110) in an essentially vertical orientation; disposing a loose-fit T-plug (100) having a cylindrical portion (106) and an annular flange (104) in an upper open end of the tubular body (110) so that the cylindrical portion (106) of the T-plug (100) is disposed within the open end of the tubular body (110) in a contact-free, spaced relationship with an inner wall of the tubular body and with the annular flange (104) seating against an annular top end edge surface (108) of the tubular body (100); and firing the tubular body and the loose-fit T-plug to shrink fit the tubular body and the loose-fit T-plug to interfuse the loose-fit T-plug with the upper end of the tubular body in a manner which results in a unitary/monolithic body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V.
    Inventors: Kent Collins, Thomas Steere
  • Patent number: 7198534
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a high-pressure discharge lamp includes a process step in which a sealing portion is formed out of a side tube portion of a glass pipe that is designed for use in a discharge lamp. In the step of forming the sealing portion, a compound glass tube, which is composed of an outer tube made of a first glass and an inner tube made of a second glass whose softening point is lower than that of the first glass, is inserted into the side tube portion, which is also formed of the first glass. The side tube portion is then heated so that the side tube portion is brought in tight contact with the compound glass tube. Thereafter, at least the sealing portion is heated at a temperature higher than the strain point temperature of the second glass portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Takahashi, Makoto Horiuchi, Tsuyoshi Ichibakase, Shinichiro Hataoka, Tomoyuki Seki, Takashi Tsutatani
  • Patent number: 7189131
    Abstract: A ceramic arc tube for high intensity discharge (HID) lighting applications is provided wherein the arc tube contains a high buffer gas pressure. A method and apparatus for making the arc tube are also provided wherein RF induction heating is used to melt a frit material to form a hermetic seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Kotter, Gregory Zaslavsky, Fred Whitney
  • Patent number: 7169005
    Abstract: A display device includes a backlight having a discharge tube and a reflector. A heat conduction member is attached to the reflector in contact with the discharge tube, so that a part of the discharge tube is locally cooled by the heat conduction member. Liquid mercury is collected at a first position in the discharge tube, and the backlight is assembled so that the heat conduction member or other cooling device is located at the first position. Also, the display device includes an optical sheet having a diffusion portion having projections containing scattering material particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keiji Hayashi, Tetsuya Kobayashi, Tetsuya Hamada, Takeshi Gotoh, Toshihiro Suzuki, Mari Sugawara, Akio Sotokawa, Seiji Hachisuka
  • Patent number: 7166963
    Abstract: An electrodeless lamp and process for emitting ultraviolet and/or vacuum ultraviolet radiation comprises an envelope formed of an ultra-pure and/or low-defect quartz material and an ultraviolet and/or vacuum ultraviolet emissive material disposed in the interior region of the envelope. The electrodeless lamp formed of the ultra-pure and/or low-defect quartz material minimizes degradation during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Axcelis Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Janos, Malcolm Pack, Mohammad Kamarchi, Michael B. Colson
  • Patent number: 7144290
    Abstract: The invention relates to a new design of discharge vessel for a discharge lamp, in which dielectrically impeded discharges are to be generated. In this case, a discharge vessel plate 1, 9 is, as it were, of two-fold design, specifically as a first discharge vessel plate 1 with an external electrode set and, in addition, as a stabilizing plate 9 outside the first discharge vessel plate 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft fuer Elektrische Gluehlampen mbH
    Inventors: Lothar Hitzschke, Frank Vollkommer
  • Patent number: 7131885
    Abstract: In an UV-reflecting layer for discharge lamps, the layer comprises at least 0.1% by weight of Al2O3 and at least 0.1% by weight of a material having a higher refractive index than Al2O3, so that as large a proportion of UV light as possible can be reflected and as large a portion of visible light as possible can be emitted by the lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Volker Dirk Hildenbrand, Harald Glaeser, Cornelis Reinder Ronda, Claudia Mutter
  • Patent number: 7132799
    Abstract: A diffuser is formed on an inner surface of a globe included in a compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp, and a diffuse transmittance of the diffuser ? is set at 95%. When designing dimensions of the compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp, at the same time, a ratio Dg/Pg is set at 0.8 or greater. Here, Pg is a helical pitch of an arc tube having a helical configuration, and Dg is a half of a difference between a helix diameter of the arc tube and a maximum outside diameter of the globe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuhiro Yabuki, Noriyuki Uchida, Shiro Iida, Kenji Nakano
  • Patent number: 7115012
    Abstract: In a discharge tube manufacture line, electrode clamps are attached to both sides of an electrode lead except on a predetermined adhesion area to fix a glass bead. Then, a power section is driven to energize the area between the electrode clamps. The surface of the predetermined adhesion area is heated and oxidized. The glass bead is welded to the oxidized surface of the predetermined adhesion area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Aya, Yasuhiro Yamashina, Tsutomu Tobita
  • Patent number: 7112116
    Abstract: The process comprises the provision of a discharge vessel (2) which is closed off on one side, fitting a second tube over part of the discharge vessel and evacuating and filling the volume of the outer bulb via a pumping hole, which remains open in the second extension part within the second tube. This pumping hole is only closed at the end by means of an operation which closes it by rolling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft für elektrisch Glühlampen mbH
    Inventors: Jürgen Gräf, Andreas Hohlfeld, Michael Hülsemann, Anton Schlögl, Karen Twesten
  • Patent number: 7107676
    Abstract: Manufacturing equipment and manufacturing process steps that improve upon prior art processes for the manufacturing of filament tube and arc tube light sources, their components and subassemblies, and lamps employing said light sources. A double ended, tipless filament tube or arc tube light source incorporates a drawn-down tubular body, and one piece foliated leads with spurs for process handling and for spudding into a filament with stretched-out legs. Bugled ends on the body provide a novel cutoff means, facilitate a flush-fill finishing process, and enhance mounting and support of the light sources in lamps. The foliated leads are made from a continuous length of wire in a process including foil hammering and two-bath AC electrochemical etching. Cost-reduced light source and lamp production enables affordable household consumer lamps, even when containing two series-connected halogen filament tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Inventor: Elmer G. Fridrich
  • Patent number: 7097528
    Abstract: A high pressure discharge lamp 100 comprises a luminous bulb 1 enclosing a luminous substance 6 inside and a sealing portion 2 for retaining the airtightness of the luminous bulb 1. The sealing portion 2 has a first glass portion 8 extending from the luminous bulb 1 and a second glass portion 7 provided at least in a portion of the inside of the first glass portion 8, and further has a portion (20) to which a compressive stress is applied. In the luminous bulb 1, mercuric bromide (HgBr2) is enclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Horiuchi, Kiyoshi Takahashi, Tsuyoshi Ichibakase, Shinichiro Hataoka, Tomoyuki Seki, Takashi Tsutatani
  • Patent number: 7097529
    Abstract: A glass pipe 80 for a discharge lamp is prepared which includes a luminous bulb portion 1? that will be formed into a luminous bulb of a high pressure discharge lamp and a side tube portion 2?. Subsequently, a glass member 70 made of a second glass having a softening point lower than that of a first glass constituting the side tube portion 2? is inserted into the side tube portion 2?, after which a getter 75 is disposed in the side tube portion 2?. Then, with the pressure inside the glass pipe 80 reduced, the side tube portion 2? is heated to tightly attach the glass member 70 to the side tube portion 2?, thereby forming a sealing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Horiuchi, Kiyoshi Takahashi, Tsuyoshi Ichibakase, Shinichiro Hataoka, Tomoyuki Seki, Takashi Tsutatani
  • Patent number: 7083490
    Abstract: Light-emitting devices are disclosed that comprise a light source emitting first light, a first material substantially transparent to and located to receive at least a portion of the first light, and particles of a second material dispersed in the first material. The second material has an index of refraction greater than an index of refraction of the first material at a wavelength of the first light. The particles of the second material have diameters less than about this wavelength. Particles of a third material may also be dispersed in the first material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Philips Lumileds Lighting Company, LLC
    Inventors: Gerd O. Mueller, Regina B. Mueller-Mach, Dietrich Bertram, Thomas Juestel, Peter J. Schmidt, Joachim Opitz
  • Patent number: 7074104
    Abstract: A bulb-type fluorescent lamp has a case having an open end portion for housing a lighting circuit therein, an arc tube extending outside through the open end portion of the case, and a globe having an open end portion for housing the arc tube therein. An adhesive is supplied to the inner surface of the open end portion of the case at four circumferentially spaced areas, and the open end portion of the globe is inserted into the open end portion of the case. As a result, the globe is fixed to the case with the adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Itaya, Takeshi Matsumura, Yoshinori Kakuno
  • Patent number: 7063586
    Abstract: A discharge chamber for a lamp, the discharge chamber comprising a monolithic ceramic article having a main body defining an arc chamber and generally opposed leg members defining openings which may accommodate an electrode or electrode lead through. A method of making a ceramic discharge chamber comprising the steps of forming a mixture comprised of ceramic powder and a binder and injecting the mixture into a die and around a mold to form at least a main body of the discharge chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Curtis Edward Scott, Jack M. Strok, Douglas Seredich
  • Patent number: 7059929
    Abstract: A compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp includes an arc tube in which a phosphor layer is formed on an inner surface of a double spiral glass tube formed into a double spiral. The phosphor layer is formed by a process of injecting a suspension for forming the phosphor layer into the double spiral glass tube; a process of coating the inner surface of the double spiral glass tube with the suspension; a process of draining the suspension from the double spiral glass tube; a process of preliminarily drying the suspension until the suspension do longer flows according to self weight, while rotating the double spiral glass tube in a state in which a spiral axis of the double spiral glass tube is at an angle of 100 degrees with respect to a vertical axis and a turning part of the double spiral glass tube is downward; and process of completely drying the partially dried double spiral glass tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shiro Iida, Toyokazu Amano, Kenji Itaya
  • Patent number: 7033239
    Abstract: A fluorescent lamp includes a glass envelope having a sealed end portion, a base shell member of a cup-shape configuration adapted to engage the envelope end portion, and a collar of shrink wrap material disposed around the envelope end portion and sides of the base shell member, the shrink wrap material being shrunken and compressing against the envelope end portion and the base shell member, to fix the base shell member on the envelope end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc.
    Inventors: Gary T. Cunkelman, Richard C. Laird
  • Patent number: 7021985
    Abstract: An arc tube is formed by turning a glass tube at a substantially middle thereof and winding the glass tube from the middle to its both ends around an axis to form a double spiral, and sealing electrodes at both ends of the glass tube. The spiral pitch of a spiral part in a vicinity of one of the ends and an adjacent spiral part in the direction of the axis is set larger than the spiral pitch of other adjacent spiral parts, to widen a gap between the one end and the adjacent spiral part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Itaya, Shiro Iida, Tatsuhiro Yabuki