Abstract: Systems and methods for treating unwashed fruit with fruit bloom that provide a first ultraviolet (UV) energy with one or more flashes using a first set of one or more flash lamps to a first surface of each of a plurality of blueberries and provide a second UV energy with one or more flashes using a second set of one or more flash lamps to a second surface of each of the plurality of blueberries. The system determines a fruit bloom level associated with the plurality of blueberries after provision of the first and second UV energies and determines an adjustment to a parameter of at least one of the first and second UV energies based on the fruit bloom level. The system provides UV energy with the adjusted parameter to a subsequent set of blueberries to remove microorganisms from the blueberries while retaining fruit bloom.

Abstract: Systems are disclosed for providing ultraviolet (UV) energy to items on a processing surface. The system includes a lamp positioned over the processing surface to provide UV energy to the processing surface and a reflector cell positioned to cause UV energy emitted from the lamp in a direction away from the processing surface to be reflected toward the processing surface. The system includes the reflector cell having a reflector cap positioned above the lamp and a shroud extending downwardly from the reflector cap toward the conveyor wherein the shroud has a vertical dimension, a longitudinal dimension, and a horizontal dimension along the direction of the conveyor such that the horizontal dimension and the longitudinal dimension define a treatment area on the conveyor. The lamp is configured to deliver energy to the treatment area such that the delivered energy to the processing surface is substantially uniform over the treatment area.

Abstract: A flash lamp system provides flashes to a bottom side of a conveyor to disinfect the conveyor while the conveyor is transporting products on a top side of the conveyor. The flashes are provided to discontinuous segments of the conveyor such that a portion of the conveyor is treated with each revolution, but a controller causes the entire length of the conveyor to be disinfected over multiple revolutions. The controller can respond to changes in speed and detected levels of disinfection. The disinfection system can be used in many applications, such as the transporting of fresh or frozen food products.

Abstract: Systems and methods for treating unwashed fruit with fruit bloom that provide a first ultraviolet (UV) energy with one or more flashes using a first set of one or more flash lamps to a first surface of each of a plurality of blueberries and provide a second UV energy with one or more flashes using a second set of one or more flash lamps to a second surface of each of the plurality of blueberries. The system determines a fruit bloom level associated with the plurality of blueberries after provision of the first and second UV energies and determines an adjustment to a parameter of at least one of the first and second UV energies based on the fruit bloom level. The system provides UV energy with the adjusted parameter to a subsequent set of blueberries to remove microorganisms from the blueberries while retaining fruit bloom.

Abstract: Systems are disclosed for providing ultraviolet (UV) energy to items on a processing surface. The system includes a lamp positioned over the processing surface to provide UV energy to the processing surface and a reflector cell positioned to cause UV energy emitted from the lamp in a direction away from the processing surface to be reflected toward the processing surface. The system includes the reflector cell having a reflector cap positioned above the lamp and a shroud extending downwardly from the reflector cap toward the conveyor wherein the shroud has a vertical dimension, a longitudinal dimension, and a horizontal dimension along the direction of the conveyor such that the horizontal dimension and the longitudinal dimension define a treatment area on the conveyor. The lamp is configured to deliver energy to the treatment area such that the delivered energy to the processing surface is substantially uniform over the treatment area.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for protecting a UV-transmissive window. The system includes a first light source for emitting UV energy. The system also includes a UV transmissive window having a planar dimension and a thickness direction perpendicular to the planar dimension, the window positioned so that UV energy from the UV light source passes through the thickness dimension of the window. The system further includes a second light source for introducing a beam of light transverse to the thickness dimension of the window, a detector for detecting light received from the second light source after the light passes through the thickness dimension, and a control system responsive to changes in the detected light received from the second light source and configured to transmit an alert when a change in the detected light exceeds a threshold.

Abstract: A circuit for a gas discharge system includes a pulse forming circuit, a discharge lamp, a circuit for recovering energy from the discharge lamp when a trigger to the lamp is turned off, a high voltage switch between the lamp and ground, and a two-part dissipating circuit across the switch. The system can provide a flat response with highly controllable pulse width.

Abstract: A system controls a group of flash lamps to provide energy to a work product in a continuous motion processes. The system can identify optimal relationships among various parameters, including the speed of the target material, the physical spacing of the flash lamps, the pulse frequency, and the flash sequence of the lamps. The systems can respond to changes in conditions to automatically adjust parameters. These systems can be applied to design practical sintering, annealing, and/or curing systems.

Abstract: A circuit for a gas discharge system includes a pulse forming circuit, a discharge lamp, a circuit for recovering energy from the discharge lamp when a trigger to the lamp is turned off, a high voltage switch between the lamp and ground, and a two-part dissipating circuit across the switch. The system can provide a flat response with highly controllable pulse width.

Abstract: A two-step pulse lamp sintering process using a series of low energy light pulses to pre-treat the target before applying one or more higher energy pulses to sinter the metallic nanoparticles. The pulses can be provided so that nanoparticles are not sintered by the low energy pulse(s), but are sintered by the high energy pulse(s).

Abstract: A conductive particle sintering system has light blocking coating, aperture, or shutter to allow energy from a radiant source, such as a flash lamp, to reach a desired portion of a workpiece to be sintered, while blocking stray light from reaching other workpieces and/or other portions of a workpiece being processed to prevent stray light from partially sintering the other workpieces and/or other portions of a workpiece.

Abstract: The vitamin D content of a mushroom can be increased by exposing the mushroom to a lamp that emits UVA and UVB, but not UVC radiation. The need for ozone ventilation is eliminated by utilizing a lamp that does not emit the shorter UVC wavelengths.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for apparatus and methods for increasing the reliability of the flash discharge response in pulsed gas discharge lamps. One embodiment includes a system comprising two gas discharge lamps having cathodes and anodes connected in parallel to a common power source. The lamps are alternatingly triggered such that the discharge from a first lamp reduces residual partial ionization of the gas in a second lamp and vice-versa.

Abstract: A lamp system that has two opposed electrodes for forming an arc with end cap connection has an electrode and a connector made from a unitary conductor as opposed to two parts that need to be connected and positioned after connection. The lamp assembly is particularly useful in cases in which accurate positioning of the arc is useful or even critical such as an application's used to provide light for an optical fiber or other small target.

Abstract: A gas discharge lamp has a gas and has a cathode, an anode, and an ignition electrode. Individual discharges of a series of lamp discharges are spaced at least one millisecond from each other, and the individual discharges are generated by providing an electrical charge between the cathode and the anode and providing two or more electrical pulses to the ignition electrode. The second and following electrical pulses occur within a predetermined time of the first pulse. The electrical charge between the cathode and anode is of sufficient voltage and current to create an electrical arc between the cathode and the anode with the gas is ionized.

Abstract: A pulse lamp system has two or more lamps for providing pulses with common electronics to perform processing such as curing coatings, curing adhesives, tilt management, and optical disk initialization.

Abstract: A spiral-shaped lamp (10) is used for disk manufacturing processes, such as curing of coating or bonding, to provide uniform intensity of UV energy to the circular disk without requiring relative motion between the disk and the lamp during the curing process.

Abstract: A spiral-shaped lamp (10) is used for disk manufacturing processes, such as curing of coating or bonding, to provide uniform intensity of UV energy to the circular disk without requiring relative motion between the disk and the lamp during the curing process.

Abstract: A liquid treatment system includes a housing and a lamp system formed from at least one wall, the lamp system in the housing together defining a flow path for liquid that passes between a housing wall and the wall with the lamp, and then between another side wall of the lamp housing and another wall of the housing.

Abstract: A liquid treatment system includes a housing and a lamp system formed from at least one wall, the lamp system in the housing together defining a flow path for liquid that passes between a housing wall and the wall with the lamp, and then between another side wall of the lamp housing and another wall of the housing.