Abstract: A lamp assembly includes a tubular incandescent lamp located between the four tube sections of a double twin tube compact fluorescent lamp such that heat is transferred from the incandescent lamp to the fluorescent lamp when the incandescent lamp is energized. A power source provides power to the incandescent lamp and to the fluorescent lamp through a thermal switch. The thermal switch is in thermal contact with the incandescent lamp and the fluorescent lamp. When the lamp assembly is turned on, the switch applies power to the incandescent lamp initially. When the switch is heated by the incandescent lamp to a predetermined temperature, the switch deenergizes the incandescent lamp and applies power to the fluorescent lamp.

Abstract: The mercury vapor pressure in a low pressure mercury discharge lamp is thermostatically controlled. A low pressure mercury discharge lamp includes electrodes and a source of mercury vapor sealed in a lamp envelope. A heater and a thermal switching device are in thermal contact with the source of mercury vapor. The heater is energized when the source of mercury vapor is below a predetermined temperature during operation of the lamp. The heater is preferably a resistance heater electrically connected in series with one of the lamp electrodes. The thermal switching device can be a bimetal thermostatic switch. The source of mercury vapor is typically an amalgam selected to have an optimum mercury vapor pressure at the maximum operating temperature of the lamp. The heater and the thermal switching device can be located external to the lamp envelope or can be located within the lamp envelope.

Abstract: A glow discharge lamp that includes a light transmitting envelope containing a noble gas fill material and a pair of electrodes disposed in the envelope. Lead-in wires couple to the electrodes and extend to and are hermetically sealed in the envelope. The electrodes include an anode electrode and a cathode electrode. A getter material is disposed on an auxiliary electrode. The getter material is maintained at an elevated temperature by virtue of a continuous lamp discharge to thus maintain chemical pumping in the envelope for the absorption of residual envelope gases.

Abstract: A mercury vapor discharge lamp such as a negative glow discharge lamp includes a light-transmitting envelope containing a noble gas fill material. An anode electrode and a cathode electrode are spacedly located within the envelope. An amalgam-forming material for regulating the mercury vapor pressure of the lamp is disposed within the envelope. In order to increase the mercury vapor pressure and consequently the light output of the lamp at low ambient temperatures, a heating element is disposed within the envelope and in close thermal proximity to the amalgam-forming material. A thermostatic switch coupled to the heating element is activated when the temperature adjacent the amalgam-forming material is below a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A glow discharge lamp includes a light-transmitting envelope containing a noble gas fill material. An anode electrode and a cathode electrode are spacedly located within the envelope. The anode electrode includes a single wire having a convoluted portion adjacent the cathode electrode and lying in a plane parallel to a plane intersecting the cathode electrode and a pair of lead-in wires supporting the cathode electrode. The improved anode construction results in an increase in both light output and lamp efficacy.

Abstract: A tri-model thermal switch for use in a preheat-type discharge lamp. The thermal switch includes a glass bulb, first and second electrical leads sealed into and passing through the glass bulb, and a bimetallic element disposed within the bulb and having first and second end portions. The first end portion of the bimetallic element is affixed to the first electrical lead while the second end portion of the bimetallic element is formed to be in contact with the second electrical lead at a first elevated temperature higher than ambient temperature. The bimetallic element is spaced from the second electrical lead at ambient temperature and at a second elevated temperature higher than the first elevated temperature. During lamp operation, the thermal switch produces a double hot spot on the cathode by electrically shorting the cathode lead-in wires. As a result, the electrode temperature is lowered sufficiently to cause an improvement in the lumen maintenance and life of the lamp.

Abstract: A glow discharge lamp includes a sealed lamp envelope containing a noble gas and mercury, a cathode and an anode disposed in the lamp envelope and an incandescent filament for emitting visible light for illumination immediately upon application of power and for emitting little or no visible light after a glow discharge is formed between the cathode and the anode. The filament, the cathode and the anode are electrically connected in series. The lamp envelope typically includes a phosphor coating for emission of visible light upon absorption of ultraviolet radiation from the glow discharge. An optional switch can be used for disconnecting the filament during steady state operation of the glow discharge lamp.

Abstract: A negative glow discharge lamp, which includes a light transmitting envelope containing a noble gas film material and a pair of electrodes disposed in the envelope. Ballast capacitors are placed within the base of the lamp and preferably within a cavity formed within the wall of the base surrounding a necked-down portion of the envelope.

Abstract: A tri-model thermal switch for use in a preheat-type discharge lamp. The thermal switch includes a glass bulb, first and second electrical leads sealed into and passing through the glass bulb, and a bimetallic element disposed within the bulb and having first and second end portions. The first end portion of the bimetallic element is affixed to the first electrical lead while the second end portion of the bimetallic element is formed to be in contact with the second electrical lead at a first elevated temperature higher than ambient temperature. The bimetallic element is spaced from the second electrical lead at ambient temperature and at a second elevated temperature higher than the first elevated temperature. During lamp operation, the thermal switch produces a double hot spot on the cathode by electrically shorting the cathode lead-in wires. As a result, the electrode temperature is lowered sufficiently to cause an improvement in the lumen maintenance and life of the lamp.

Abstract: A glow discharge lamp includes a light-transmitting envelope containing a rare gas fill material. The envelope contains a spherical-shaped region having a predetermined internal radius R. A phosphor coating is disposed on the inner surface of the envelope. Anode and cathode electrodes are disposed within the envelope and spaced a predetermined distance d thereapart. The voltage drop of the cathode electrode is less than the excitation potential of the rare gas fill material. The anode electrode has a predetermined effective surface area S.sub.a such that the relationship Rd/S.sub.a is within the range of from about 5.0 to 11.0.

Abstract: A glow discharge lamp that includes a light transmitting envelope containing a noble gas fill material and a pair of electrodes disposed in the envelope. Lead-in wires coupled to the electrodes and extend to and are hermetically sealed in the envelope The electrodes are disposed in oppositely spaced positions in the envelope preferably upper and lower positions with the electrodes positioned outside of the bulbous region of the envelope to thereby retard the formation of deposits at the main bulbous region of the envelope.

Abstract: A glow discharge lamp that includes a light transmitting envelope containing a noble gas fill material and a pair of electrodes disposed in the envelope. Lead-in wires couple to the electrodes and extend to and are hermetically sealed in the envelope. The electrodes include an anode electrode and a cathode electrode. A getter material is disposed on the anode electrode. The getter material is maintained at an elevated temperature by virtue of a continuous lamp discharge to thus maintain chemical pumping in the envelope for the absorption of residual envelope gases.

Abstract: A preheat-type fluorescent lamp, such as a negative glow discharge lamp, includes a cathode contained within an evelope and supported by a pair of lead-in wires. A thermal switch is located within the evelope shunting the cathode and electrically coupled to the supporting lead-in wires. Closure of the thermal switch during lamp operation produces a double hot spot on the shunted cathode. As a result, the cathode temperature is lowered sufficiently causing an improvement in the lumen maintenance and life of the lamp.

Abstract: A tri-model circuit breaker for use in a rapid-start fluorescent lamp. The circuit breaker includes a glass bulb, first and second electrical leads sealed into and passing through the glass bulb, and a bimetallic element disposed within the bulb and having first and second end portions. The first end portion of the bimetallic element is affixed to the first electrical lead while the second end portion of the bimetallic element is formed to be spaced from the second electrical lead at a first elevated temperature and in contact with the second electrical lead at ambient temperature and at a second elevated temperature higher than the first elevated temperature. The contact points of the circuit breaker at ambient and at the second elevated temperature are at the same location within the breaker.

Abstract: A glow discharge lamp having increased efficiency and including a light-transmitting envelope which contains a gas fill material. A pair of electrodes is disposed in the envelope. Lead-in wires couple to the electrodes and are hermetically sealed in the envelope. The gas fill material includes at least one noble gas and a quantity of nitrogen. The nitrogen is in an amount from 1.5 percent to less than 10 percent of the total fill material.

Abstract: A glow discharge lamp that includes a light transmitting envelope containing a noble gas fill material and a pair of electrodes disposed in the envelope. Lead-in wires couple to the electrodes and extend to and are hermetically sealed in the envelope. The anode electrodes is comprised of a refractory metal piece, preferably a molybdenum foil strip, supported from an end of a single lead-in wire that is preferably swagged to the metal strip.

Abstract: A method of treating a tungsten cathode that is comprised of coating the surface of the tungsten cathode with a triple carbonate suspension. The coated tungsten cathode is placed in a heated oxidizing environment (e.g., air, oxygen, or carbon dioxide) and heated for a sufficient amount of time in order to form a diffuse coating of triple carbonates and tungsten oxide. Thereafter, the triple carbonates are reduced to their respective oxides by passing heater current through the tungsten cathode. When used in conjunction with the manufacture of a fluorescent lamp, the formation of this diffuse coating of carbonates enhances the chances of forming barium tungstate during the cathode activation process. As a result, the life of the fluorescent lamp is increased and the amount of phosphor darkening is reduced.

Abstract: A method of making a compact fluorescent lamp by providing a sealed, exhausted and prefilled light emitting capsule which is mounted within a jacket formed from a glass transparent to a given range of radiation. The jacket is then exhausted, filled and sealed with the same pressure and type buffer gas as is contained in the light emitting capsule. A laser then pierces the capsule allowing communication of gases in the outer jacket with those in the light emitting capsule. This permits a much faster exhaust sequence for the light emitting portion of the lamp and outer jacket.

Abstract: A compact fluorescent lamp employs an inner exhaust tubulation formed from glass which is opaque to a given range of electromagnetic radiation. The exhaust tubulation is non-invasively sealed after an outer lamp envelope is sealed by directing upon the exhaust tubulation an amount of such radiation sufficient to heat the tubulation to its softening point. The outer envelope is transparent to the given radiation which, in a preferred embodiment, is in the range of 400 nm to 2500 nm.

Abstract: Electrical shorting between dense arrangements of electrical lead-ins having a normal operating potential difference therebetween in an arc sustaining atmosphere is substantially avoided by providing the lead-ins with an adherent, flexible, oxide coating. The lead-ins are preferably formed from a nickel-iron alloy.