Abstract: An integrated compound reflector ceramic arc lamp comprises three internal mirrors. Top and bottom concave mirrors encircle the inter-electrode gap. The third mirror is convex and is mounted coaxially on the stem of the cathode and faces a sapphire window. Its appearance is like that of a 360 ° apron. Light rays emitted from the inter-electrode gap below a critical elevation angle will be reflected off the bottom concave mirror. Such rays bounce only once before exiting through the window to an external focus. Light rays emitted from the inter-electrode gap above the critical elevation angle, will be reflected off the top concave mirror. Such rays will bounce twice before exiting through the window to the focus. The rays that do reflect from the top concave mirror are directed to the convex cathode apron reflector, and from there will be reflected out the window to the focus.

Abstract: A low-cost ceramic arc lamp comprises an optical coating on a sapphire window, a window shell flange, and a body sleeve. A gas-fill tubulation attaches to the side of the body sleeve and permits a charge of xenon gas to be injected during manufacture. This contrasts with the prior art where the xenon gas is introduced through the anode base. A single-piece strut assembly is used that is compatible with mass-production techniques. The single-piece strut assembly supports and suspends a cathode inside an elliptical reflector. An anode flange replaces a more conventional shell, copper anode base, and base support ring. A tungsten anode completes the lamp. All of these parts are brazed together in an assembly process that is far less complex than the prior art.

Abstract: An arc lamp comprising a hollowed-anode electrode with an arc-face having a central hole extending to an internal chimney. An opposing cathode electrode faces the hollowed anode electrode for providing a short electric arc around the central hole in the arc-face of the hollowed anode electrode. The anode and cathode electrodes are disposed in an inert gas, such as xenon. The internal gas is subject to an “arc wind” for transporting metal deposits downstream of the short electric arc and flowing from the short electric arc down the chimney. Such operation provides for an improvement in arc lamp life because the reflector blackens far less rapidly. A magnetic z-pinch pumping mode can be used to move the arc wind away from the reflector.

Abstract: A xenon arc lamp is provided with an improved cathode support. The improvements reduce the number of assembly procedures and parts needed to produce an arc lamp. Such reduces the overall cost of manufacturing. The cathode suspension system is made by starting with a single piece of sheet Kovar material that is formed into a cup. Pieces are cut from the bottom of the cup such that three webs connect the outside ring to the center. The three webs each have a flap that is then folded back 90° to form a rigid strut arm. A tungsten cathode electrode is brazed at the center and apex of the three struts with a sleeve that helps bridge the fillet area.

Abstract: A xenon ceramic lamp comprising a short-arc lamp with two integral reflectors disposed around the cathode arc ball to collect a wide range of elevation angles of light relative to the center longitudinal axis. The two integral reflectors and the cathode arc ball are within the same sealed volume of the lamp. A first reflector, generally below a common first focus, is a concave elliptical type for projecting light out through a sapphire window to a second focus. A second reflector, generally above the first focus, is a concave spherical type having its focus just offset from the first focus. Therefore, light rays may be emitted at nearly all angles from the cathode arc ball that will be reflected or back reflected by the elliptical and spherical reflectors.

Abstract: An arc lamp lightsource module comprises a removable lamp unit including an arc lamp attached to two radial electrode heatsinks that are in turn disposed in an insulating sleeve housing. A chassis has a catch and a clip to lock down the removable lamp unit. An igniter is included to power the arc lamp. A single fan and an air plenum are disposed in the chassis and provide for a cooling airflow that is split between the igniter and the two radial electrode heatsinks. A pair of machine screws provide electrical contact to each of the two radial electrode heatsinks and that have crowned heads for a smooth contact surface. A printed circuit board (PCB) has springboard cutouts and electrical pads providing for a spring-pressure electrical contact between the igniter and the arc lamp through the pair of machine screws.

Abstract: A power supply for a xenon arc lamp that will automatically shut down if the lamp current is too high, the lamp voltage is too high, or the lamp requires too many trigger pulses to ignite it. Such conditions indicate faults in the lamp itself and should not be operated this way for safety. Lamp-on and end-of-lamp-life indications are provided to the operator for maintenance. The cooling fan power supply must be normal or the lamp will be shut off or not started. In combination, such provide a lamp system that can safely operate at very high powers.

Abstract: An improved arc lamp with a ceramic body, an anode supported by a base, and a cathode suspended by a strut system opposite to the anode, and having an inside volume filled with xenon gas. The improvements include a groove in the ceramic body such that an angled area is presented to a head area of the anode that reduces heat coupling by radiation. A neck in the anode provides for a thermal choking such that a head portion of the anode will elevate in temperature during operation. A cavity is relieved in the base and all around the anode to provide a fixed means for managing the temperature of a head portion of the anode during operation. A stem portion of the cathode has a reduced diameter for attachment to the strut system and this provides reduced optical blockage. A base for the anode has a longer length than its diameter for improved heat transfer to an anode heatsink.

Abstract: A blue-light polymerizing system comprises a xenon arc lamp in which its sapphire window includes a blue-bandpass filter coating. This eliminates any external color filters that would otherwise be necessary for the polymerization of dental composite materials in a patient's mouth. The blue-bandpass filter coating causes the xenon arc lamp to heat an extra 10° C. higher than would otherwise be the case. So a special anode heatsink is fitted in which the front and back halves of each radial fin have been separated, and one of these groups of separated fins has been tilted off normal. Such changes the otherwise laminar airflow through the anode heatsink fins to a turbulent flow that is better able to collect heat and carry it off.

Abstract: A heat sink for an arc lamp comprises a thin-wall copper strip that is brazed in pleated folds between inner and outer cylindrical rings to create cooling fins. The thickness of the material used for the cooling fins can therefore be exceedingly thin, e.g., 0.012 inches. The cylindrical rings act as fin supports and provide mechanical sturdiness. The thinness of the fin material allows a large number of fins to be included and the efficiency is increased thereby.

Abstract: A primary color lamp comprises a glass envelope with a krypton arc doped with metal halides. A cesium bromide or cesium iodide solution is included with lithium iodide (LiI) to produce red light, thallium iodide (TlI) to produce green light and indium iodide (InI) to produce blue light. The solution controls the vapor pressures of the lithium iodide (LiI), thallium iodide (TlI) and indium iodide (InI) and allows them to be balanced for light amplitude output. No mercury is used in order to eliminate a corresponding yellow light output and the filter complications that result in a system that operates on the primary colors.

Abstract: A light source comprises a high intensity lamp that is clamped between four half-shell finned heatsinks. The upper heatsink half-shells for the anode and cathode ends of the lamp are mounted to an upper printed circuit board and the lower heatsink half-shells are mounted to a lower main printed circuit board. A direct current powered fan is positioned on one side to blow horizontally through the matrix of heatsinks and out the opposite side. Only the lamp igniter and fan power supply circuits are included in the upper printed circuit board which receives lamp power from the lower printed circuit boards through the anode and cathode heatsinks and one additional connection comprising a flexible wire. The main power supply is included on the lower printed circuit board and it converts and preregulates 110 VAC or 220 VAC to 160 VDC to a transistor chopping switch that in turn provides the required low voltage lamp power.

Abstract: A pulsed high energy arc-tube flashlamp comprises a quartz flashlamp envelope that is about 2000 mm long and has an outside diameter of approximately forty-eight mm. Each end necks down to an outside diameter of about thirty-eight mm to accommodate an anode re-entrant seal assembly at one end and a cathode re-entrant seal assembly at the other end. Each anode and cathode comprises a beaded electrode rod of tungsten with an unusually large 0.25 inch diameter. A reflective metal paint or white oxide paint is added to the end necks to improve the lamp starting characteristics and to protect the cassette mounting o-ring and lamp cable junction box from radiation. A TEFLON shrink sleeve is shrunk over each outside end of the flashlamp envelope and such provides a small amount of cushion for the lamp mounts in the laser cassette. The monocoque body structure does not need separate lamp mounting bases, and thus overall provides a mechanically simpler and superior structure that is far more reliable.

Abstract: A xenon arc lamp comprises a cylindrical ceramic body in which an elliptical reflector is molded to have a diameter of about 1.4 inches. The ends each have metal electrical contact rings, one for the anode and one for the cathode. The body has two different diameters with a step in between at the middle that is formed into the ceramic. A standardized anode heat sink for lesser-powered conventional one inch modular lamp bases is fitted to the base and makes thermal contact to the ledge underside of the step in the ceramic. Thus two dissimilar orthogonal heat transfer interfaces are formed, one radial which is metal to metal, and one axial which is ceramic to metal. A standardized cathode heat sink for the same lesser-powered conventional one inch modular lamp bases is relieved for about half of its inside length to accommodate the 1.4 inch reflector diameter and is fitted to the front.

Abstract: A spectral filter and mounting assembly comprising a flat quartz disk with coatings to control the light spectrum, a heat transfer adapter, a split-ring retainer for use in a drop-in arc lamp assembly that includes an arc lamp with fitted cathode and anode heat sinks each including a thin-wall copper strip that is brazed in pleated folds between inner and outer cylindrical rings to create cooling fins. The drop-in lamp assembly also includes an insulative sleeve in which the arc lamp and heat sinks are disposed and a pair of connection bushings piercing the wall of the sleeve and providing an electrical connection to the arc lamp outside the sleeve. The arc lamp includes a copper heat conduction flange that surrounds a front window reduced in diameter from the diameter of the arc lamp. The flange conducts heat generated in the window and the spectral filter during operation directly to the cathode heat sink. Both heat sinks are forced-air cooled by the fan, thus cooling the window and the spectral filter.

Abstract: A metal halide lamp includes a cast ceramic reflector almost completely comprised of alumina. A conventional metal halide bulb is positioned within the reflector. A glaze and then a dielectric coating are applied to the inside surface of the reflector, such that appreciable amounts of infrared radiation from the bulb are absorbed into the glaze and ceramic and not reflected into the beam.