Abstract: In the case of a sodium high-pressure lamp having a ceramic, tubular discharge vessel (1), an electrically conducting starting aid is fitted outside on the discharge vessel. Said aid comprises an axially parallel longitudinal strip (4) of prescribed width B to which a partial circle (6) surrounding the discharge vessel is attached approximately at the level of each electrode (2).

Abstract: A metal halide lamp for general illumination purposes contains as the essential component of the metal halide fill manganese in an amount of from 0.01 to 50 &mgr;mol per cm3. It serves as a replacement for sodium at warm white or neutral white luminous colors.

Abstract: An electroluminescent phosphor with an extended half-life is created by means of the present invention by taking an amount of a phosphor and treating it with antimony comprising the steps of placing an amount of antimony in an inert reaction vessel, placing a vapor permeable filter on top of the antimony, placing a phosphor with a given half-life on top of the vapor permeable filter, evacuating the reaction vessel below one atmosphere and heating it for a period of time to allow the antimony to react with the phosphor to produce a new phosphor with an extended half-life.

Abstract: Rare-earth halides are shown to be a replacement for scandium halides in mercury-free discharge arc lamps if modifications are made to the prior art lamp design and operating temperatures. The inventive chemical compositions of the discharge medium provide enhanced color rendition index values. In addition, it has been unexpectedly determined that during the operation of the discharge lamps, the rare earth iodides do not react significantly with the fused silica arc tube. Equally as significant, any free iodine, which is so formed, has minimal impact on the efficacy of the lamp compared to the conventional scandium iodide lamps. Therefore, the rare earth iodide-containing lamps provide longer lifetime with superior illumination characteristics than conventional discharge lamps.

Abstract: An electroluminescent phosphor with an increased efficiency is created by blending a chloride flux, a copper source and a zinc sulfide to form a mixture and then heating the mixture for a period of time, cooling the mixture, and washing it with de-ionized water. The mixture is dried and milled to form cubic ZnS from hexagonal ZnS, forming a beginning uncoated ZnS:Cu,Cl electroluminescent phosphor. This beginning phosphor is added to other materials, including Ga2O3, forming a second step material (SSM). The SSM is placed into a first vessel, such as a plastic bottle, blended, sifted and then placed in a second inert reaction vessel that is then heated for a period of time. After cooling, the fired SSM is washed with de-ionized water, washed with acetic acid, again washed with de-ionized water to remove residual acid, washed with KCN and again with de-ionized water to remove residual KCN. The fired and washed SSM is then dried, filtered and sifted, producing a new phosphor with an increased efficiency.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensable materials comprises a compressible supply of the dispensable materials and a rigid holding unit having a given cross-section for containing the compressible supply of the dispensable materials. An actuator plate having a given cross-section is positioned in the rigid holding unit. An outlet for the dispensable materials is connected to the compressible supply and has a fitting connected to and extending through the actuator plate. An apparatus is supplied for engaging the actuator plate and applying pressure solely thereto to cause the dispensable materials to be expelled from the compressible supply.

Abstract: A modular connector is provided that includes a plurality of modular components that are connectable together. Such components or modules include a conductive bracket that may be grounded, a cover attachable to the bracket, a conductive insert that is extendable through the bracket and into the cover, an insulator that is extendable into the insert, and a contact that is insertable into the insulator to insulate the contact from the insert. The insert engages the bracket and is therefore grounded when the bracket is grounded.

Abstract: Metal halide lamp for color applications for high wall loading with a long service life of at least 1500 hours and with a color temperature of over 5000 K: fill comprising at least the following constituents: firing gas, mercury, halogen, as well as indium, thallium, tin, no rare earth element or Na; the fill furthermore contains, as lithium replacement, hafnium, zirconium and tantalum, individually or in combination, the wall loading of the discharge vessel being at least 50 W/cm2; specific output based on die arc length is 50 to 90 W/mm; in particular, the concentration of the metals is as follows: lithium replacements: 0.20-4.0 &mgr;mol/ml; indium 0.3-3.0 &mgr;mol/ml.

Abstract: A long life, halogen cycle, incandescent lamp (30) for operation in excess of 85 volts. The lamp comprises a transparent glass envelope (34) having sealed therewithin a tungsten filament (45); a pair of electrical lead-ins (42, 44) connecting the filament and extending exteriorly of the envelope for connection to a supply voltage greater than 100 V; and a fill gas within the envelope, including a halogen, at a pressure of at least three atmospheres. The envelope is constructed of a five component alkaline earth aluminosilicate glass having a composition consisting essentially of, in weight percent from >58 to about 64% SiO2, from about 14 to about 17% Al2O3; from 0 to about 1% B2O3, from 1 to about 6% MgO, from about 6 to about 12% CaO, from about 7 to about 17% BaO and from 0 to about 1.5% ZrO2.

Abstract: The invention proposes arranging a getter (7) made from niobium on the electrode rod (4) of a mercury short-arc lamp, the two following conditions being fulfilled: D>1.8·d and &agr;≧20°. In this case, D and d denote a diameter of the relevant electrode head (2) or the associated electrode rod (4), and &agr; denotes an angle which is defined by the longitudinal axis of the electrode and an imaginary connecting line between the end of the getter (7) averted from the electrode head, and a point on the perpendicular, running through the end of the electrode rod on the electrode head side, to the electrode longitudinal axis. The point mentioned corresponds to the projection of the maximum radius of the lateral surface of the electrode head onto this perpendicular. An improved maintenance of the lamp is thereby achieved.

Abstract: A phosphor particle has thereon a moisture resistant treatment of a metallic nitride. By moisture resistant is meant a condition allowing the phosphor particle to function in a humid atmosphere for a significantly longer period of time than an untreated particle. The method of making such phosphors comprises the steps of introducing an inert gas into a reaction vessel; charging phosphor particles into the reaction vessel; heating the reaction vessel to a reaction temperature; introducing a nitride coating precursor into the reaction vessel in a manner to avoid restrictive reactions; introducing a co-reactant into the reaction vessel; and maintaining the inert gas flow, co-reactant flow and precursor supply for a time sufficient to moisture-proof the phosphor particles.

Abstract: A method of coating phosphor particles by chemical vapor deposition. The phosphors are coated by introducing an inert gas into a reaction vessel; charging phosphor particles into the reaction vessel; heating the reaction vessel to a reaction temperature; introducing a coating precursor which includes carbon into the reaction vessel for a time sufficient to saturate the phosphor particles with the precursor; continuing precursor flow into the reaction vessel; introducing an oxygen/ozone mixture into the reaction vessel, the oxygen/ozone mixture comprising less than 4.4 wt. % ozone; and maintaining the inert gas flow, oxygen/ozone mixture flow and further precursor supply for a time sufficient to coat the phosphor particles. The process produces phosphors having from 2200 to 6300 ppm of carbon on the coating and provides lamp efficacy's of greater than 6.1 lm/watt.

Abstract: A connector is provided that includes a first housing having a see-saw first latch element attached thereto. The first housing and first latch element are adapted for engagement with a mating second housing that includes a mating second latch element, respectively. A slider is provided that includes a hood, having a window, and a beam the distal end of that is engagable with the first latch element to prevent movement of the slider further towards the first latch element until the distal end is engaged by the second latch element. When the second latch element engages the distal end of the beam, the distal end is pivoted into the window of the hood. The slider may be moved so that the distal end resides into engagement with the second latch element only after the first and second latch elements have been fully engaged. When the distal end has been so positioned, the beam will prevent disengagement of the first and second latch elements.

Abstract: A lamp has an electrically insulating, light-transmitting, preferably lead-free envelope with a base end and contains a light source. At least two electrical lead-ins are connected to the light source and exit the envelope. A base is affixed to the base end, the base having first and second electrically conductive portions separated by an electrically insulating portion. One of the electrical lead-ins is electrically connected to the first electrically conductive portion and another of the electrically conductive lead-ins is electrically connected to the second electrically conductive portion. The base is non-rotationally mounted to the base end of the lamp by a locking clip affixed to the first electrically conductive portion by mechanical means and affixed to the base by chemical means.

Abstract: A locking clip 10 for fixing a base to an end of a glass bulb. The locking clip 10 has a body 12 with a first portion 14, a middle portion 16 and an end portion 18. The middle portion 16 is scyphate, i.e., cup-shaped, and defines a plane, 20 (FIG. 2). The first portion 14 extends away from plane 20 in a given direction by an angle &agr;, which, in a preferred embodiment, is about 5 degrees. The end portion 18 is connected to the middle portion 16 by a reentrant section 22 and extends away from the plane 20 by an angle &bgr; in a direction opposite to the given direction. In a preferred embodiment angle &bgr; is preferably about 20 degrees. In a still more preferred embodiment the included angle between first portion 14 and end portion 18 is between 25 and 35 degrees. A centrally located aperture 24 is provided in the reentrant section 22 to aid in the subsequent bending of the end portion 18 at the final welding.

Abstract: A method of coating phosphor particles that comprises the steps of introducing an inert gas into a reaction vessel; charging phosphor particles into the reaction vessel; heating the reaction vessel to a reaction temperature; introducing a coating precursor into the reaction vessel; introducing an oxygen/ozone mixture into the reaction vessel; and maintaining the agitation, inert gas flow, oxygen/ozone mixture flow and precursor supply for a time sufficient to coat the phosphor particles. This process yields phosphors having a half-life of upwards of 3,100 hours with efficacys of greater than 6 lumens per watt (lm/w).

Abstract: An hermetically sealed arc tube which comprises a hollow body having oppositely disposed ends aligned along a longitudinal axis and containing an arc generating and sustaining medium therein. An electrode is positioned in each end of the hollow body and an ionization zone is positioned adjacent to one of the ends and is a part thereof. The ionization zone is exposed to an atmosphere different than the arc generating and sustaining medium.

Abstract: A long-life, environmentally disposable high pressure sodium lamp comprising: an arc tube capable of withstanding internal wall temperatures of 1250 to 1300° C. and having electrodes sealed therein and being designed for operation at a given wattage; a discharge space within the arc tube and an arc generating and sustaining medium within the discharge space, the medium being mercury-free and containing sodium in an amount of about 0.02 mg to 0.06 mg/watt of designed operation, and xenon at a pressure of 100 to 200 Torr; mounting means supporting the arc tube within a glass outer envelope, the glass outer envelope being lead-free and arsenic-free; and an electrically conductive base closing the outer envelope and containing lead-in wires affixed to the electrodes, the lead-in wires being attached to the base by welding.

Abstract: An insulating member for a base for a light emitting bulb has an electrically insulating body formed from a thermoplastic plastic material and having a first surface, a second surface spaced therefrom, and a sidewall connecting the first and second surfaces. The sidewall is formed to flexibly receive and hold an electrically conductive element, such as the threaded portion of a screw base.