Abstract: A high-intensity discharge (HID) lamp comprising a discharge vessel including a first and a second end region and defining an arc chamber containing an arc generating medium, a cathode and an anode in the first and the second end regions of the discharge vessel, respectively, the cathode and the anode each comprising a terminal end disposed within the arc chamber and separated by an arc gap, and an electrically conductive starting aid configured to initiate a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) with the anode at or after a voltage across the first and second electrodes reaches an open circuit value. A ballast may control power provided to the HID lamp.

Abstract: An LED light source (10) comprises a ceramic substrate (20) with first and second opposed surfaces (30, 40). Pockets (50) are formed in the first surface (30) and each of the pockets includes a bottom (60) and a sidewall or sidewalls (70). A final electrical contact (105) comprised of a first electrically conductive material (57) with a coating of a second electrically conductive material (100) thereover is positioned in each of the pockets (50). An LED (110) is positioned in each of the pockets (50) and affixed to the electrical contact (105) and electrical connections (120), preferably in form of wire bonds, join the LEDs, the electrical connections (120) extending from a first LED (110) to an adjacent electrical contact (105). The ceramic substrate (20) is formed by injection molding a ceramic material and binder to form a green substrate (12) and subsequently sintering the green substrate to form the substrate (20).

Abstract: A method of applying a phosphor coating is described. The method comprises forming a suspension of a phosphor and a polymer binder dissolved in a solvent, the phosphor comprising at least one of a nitridosilicate or an oxonitridosilicate phosphor, the polymer binder being capable of decomposing thermally; applying the suspension to a substrate to form a coating; drying the coating; and baking the coating in an inert atmosphere to thermally decompose the polymer binder to form the phosphor coating, preferably at a temperature less than about 400° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere.

Abstract: An LED reflector lamp is provided wherein the lamp has a concave reflector substantially symmetrically arrayed about an axis, the reflector further having a focus and a bottom. A subassembly is coaxially aligned with said axis and comprises a light guide having a proximal end positioned outside of said reflector and a distal end positioned within said reflector at said focus. A first light source comprising at least one light emitting diode (LED) is positioned at said proximal end and operable to emit a first radiation when energized. A second light source comprising at least one phosphor is positioned at said distal end and operable to emit a second radiation having a different wavelength than said first radiation when energized by said first radiation from said first light source.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method for controlling a plurality of LED channels. The method includes receiving an LED brightness signal having a plurality of superimposed pulse width modulated (PWM) brightness signals each having a duty cycle and amplitude at a unique modulation frequency, each PWM brightness signal being proportional to the brightness of a respective LED channel. The method also includes determining a pulse area of each PWM brightness signal at each respective unique frequency. The pulse area is proportional to the product of the amplitude and the duty cycle. The method also includes generating pulse area signals proportional to the respective pulse area and comparing the respective pulse area signals to user defined and/or preset photometric values to generate respective error signals proportional to the difference between the respective pulse area signals and the user defined and/or preset photometric values.

Abstract: A ceramic discharge lamp and a method of making the lamp includes a ceramic discharge chamber with two concave parts that are attached to each other at a seam, and a ceramic reflector directly attached to an exterior surface of the discharge chamber at the seam, or directly attached to a ceramic capillary that is attached to one of the two concave parts. The lamp finds particular application where focused light is required, such as injection of light into a fiber optic device. The lamp can be very small and has an advantage that the discharge chamber is isolated from the reflective surfaces so that the optically active parts of the reflector are not covered with salt from the preferred metal halide lamp fill.

Abstract: A wavelength-converting plate for a wavelength-converted light emitting diode (LED) assembly. The wavelength-converting plate includes microlenses deposited thereon. The microlenses may have an index of refraction different from the index of refraction of the wavelength-converting plate. The microlenses on the top surface of the plate increase lumen output in a direction normal to the top surface of a wavelength-converting plate.

Abstract: An opaque zone in the polycrystalline (PCA) discharge vessel of a high intensity discharge lamp may be made by creating residual pores in predetermined regions of the final-sintered discharge vessel. The control over the placement of the opaque zone is achieved by forming a carbonaceous residue in a specific region of the discharge vessel prior to final sintering. During sintering, the carbonaceous material causes residual porosity in the sintered PCA. The higher emissivity of the opaque PCA provides localized cooling in order to provide more control over the condensate behavior in the discharge vessel.

Abstract: An optical disk for use in converting light emitted from a light-emitting diode chip to white light. The optical disk includes a tapered surface such that a center area of the disk has a width greater than a width of an outer area of the disk. The optical disk is formed of a silicone having at least one weight percent mix of phosphor. Various embodiments of this generally described optical disk are also presented.

Abstract: A mount (30) for a fluorescent lamp (32) has a glass flare (34) with a first portion (36) penetrating the fluorescent lamp (32) and a second portion (38) the fluorescent lamp (32). Two spaced-apart lead-in wires (40, 42) are sealed in the glass flare (34): and an electron emitter (12) is fixed between the spaced-apart lead-in wires (40, 42) and mated thereto by an electrical connection (46). The electron emitter (12) comprises a substrate (10) of a first material having an electron emitting material (11) thereon and two ends (20,22) and an element (23) mechanically and electrically fixed to each of the ends (20, 22), the element (23) comprising a second material different from the first material and is used to make the electrical connection (46) between the ends (20, 22) and the lead-in wires (40, 42).

Abstract: A lighting module comprising a base panel and a plurality of light-emitting diode (LED) chips attached directly to the base panel. The LED chips are in electrical communication with conductive traces on the base panel, which deliver a current to the LED chips. Various embodiments of this generally described lighting module are also presented. Additionally, methods of preparing such a lighting module, and system components of the lighting module are presented.

Abstract: Polycrystalline alumina (PCA) that has been doped with magnesium oxide is converted to sapphire by additionally doping the PCA with boron oxide and sintering to induce abnormal grain growth. The boron oxide may be added to an already formed green PCA ceramic shape by applying an aqueous boric acid solution to the green ceramic and heating the green ceramic in air to convert the boric acid to boron oxide.

Abstract: A phosphor blend for a compact fluorescent lamp is described wherein the phosphor blend comprises a green-emitting Tb3+ phosphor, a Y2O3:Eu3+ phosphor, a Sr6BP5O20:Eu2+ phosphor, a Mg4GeO5.5F:Mn4+ phosphor, and optionally a BaMgAl11O17:Eu2+ phosphor, wherein the blend contains from 1% to 20% by weight of the Sr6BP5O20:Eu2+ phosphor and from 5% to 30% by weight of the Mg4GeO5.5F:Mn4+ phosphor. A compact fluorescent lamp having a phosphor coating containing the phosphor blend produces a light that is perceived as more pleasing than the light produced by standard compact fluorescent lamps.

Abstract: A guideway illumination system (100) comprises a first member (16) and a second member (18) each having at least one light source (20) and at least one of the first member (16) and the second member (18) receiving a power source (22). The first member (16) has a closed end (16a) and a connecting end (16b) and the second member has two connecting ends (18a 18b). At least one intermediate member (24) has at least one light source (20) and a male connecting end (24a) and a female connecting end (24b). At least one flexible joining member (26) is also provided, the flexible joining member being capable of bending at least 90° and being joinable to any of the first and second end members and the intermediate members.

Abstract: There is provided herein a method for starting a high intensity discharge lamp and a ballast incorporating the same. In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises the steps of: (a) obtaining a cumulative probability function of breakdown times, P(t), for the lamp at a voltage, V; (b) determining a minimum pulse length, Tp, for a selected probability of ignition, Pign; (c) if the lamp is operable at the minimum pulse length, then operating the lamp with a DC pulse having a duration Tp and voltage V; (d) or alternatively, if the lamp is not operable at the minimum pulse length, then determining a relaxation time, Trel, for a burst mode, selecting a probability of ignition per burst, Pb, calculating a minimum number of pulses, np, in a burst, determining a number of bursts, Nb, for the selected probability of ignition, and operating the lamp in the burst mode with Nb bursts separated by relaxation time, Trel, with each burst having np pulses of voltage V.

Abstract: A single-ended ceramic discharge lamp is described which has an integral optical surface such as a parabolic or elliptical reflector. The single-ended configuration eliminates the need for the mounting structures found in double-ended lamps that can interfere with the light emitted from the lamp, particularly in focused beam applications.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention include an electronic ballast and method for controlling current through a lamp to produce various current waveforms through the lamp. In one embodiment, the ballast samples and adjusts the current through the lamp on a micro-second time scale within each half-cycle of the current waveform (i.e., at least twice within a period of a reference waveform). The ballast can accommodate different lamp types, provide arbitrary current waveforms, operate a lamp at multiple power levels, and provide power to the lamp as a function of an operational state of a lamp. For example, in one embodiment, the ballast increases power to the lamp and adjusts the current waveform provided to the lamp as the lamp ages to minimize luminous flux loss caused by darkening of lamp walls and changes in lamp chemistry.

Abstract: There is provided a method of making a SrB6O10:Pb phosphor that increases the manufactured quantity of the SrB6O10:Pb phosphor by approximately seven fold when using the same size reaction vessel, decreases the lead-containing waste stream, and eliminates the use of hazardous concentrated ammonium hydroxide. The UV emission brightness is equivalent to or better than the same phosphor when prepared using prior methods.

Abstract: An arc discharge light source (10) comprises a translucent body (12) having a hollow center 14 and oppositely disposed ends (16, 18). A cathode lead-in 20 is positioned in one of the ends (16) and terminates at a first end (22) in a cathode electrode (24) within the hollow center (14) and a second end (26) in a connector (28) for a power supply. An anode lead-in 30 is positioned in the other of the ends (18) and terminates at a first end (32) in an anode electrode (34) within the hollow center (14) and at a second end (36) in a connector (40) for a power supply. A space (42) between the cathode electrode (24) and the anode electrode (34) within the hollow center (14) defines an arc gap. An arc generating and sustaining medium (43) is provided within the hollow center (14) and a starting aid (41) comprising an auxiliary electrode (44) substantially surrounds the anode electrode (34) and is positioned solely on the external surface (46) of the body (12) and is electrically connected to the cathode lead-in (20).

Abstract: An opaque zone in the polycrystalline (PCA) discharge vessel of a high intensity discharge lamp may be made by creating residual pores in predetermined regions of the final-sintered discharge vessel. The control over the placement of the opaque zone is achieved by forming a carbonaceous residue in a specific region of the discharge vessel prior to final sintering. During sintering, the carbonaceous material causes residual porosity in the sintered PCA. The higher emissivity of the opaque PCA provides localized cooling in order to provide more control over the condensate behavior in the discharge vessel.