Patents by Inventor Bruce Shanks

Bruce Shanks has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6469444
    Abstract: A discharge lamp for providing visible radiation includes a lamp envelope which is made of light transmissive material a fill in the envelope including either calcium halide or strontium halide together with either elemental sulfur or elemental selenium in gaseous form which is obtainable when the fill is excited by sufficient power in operation, in an amount such that the excited fill emits a discharge of visible radiation from the fill with substantially all of the radiation being molecular radiation which is emitted in the visible region of the spectrum. The calcium halide or strontium halide operates at a vapor pressure which provides a significant amount of radiation in the red region of the spectrum therefrom and the overall spectrum has a color rendering index of about 87 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Fusion Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Yongzhang Leng, James T. Dolan, Bruce Shanks
  • Publication number: 20020149852
    Abstract: Various projection systems are described with improved performance. A projection system utilizes negative distortion together with a pre-compensated light source to reduce spill. A projection system utilizes a single angle transforming optical element positioned between an imager and a light source to increase throughput. A two panel projection system utilizes both polarities to increase light output. A projection system utilizes a three segment color wheel with a small white bias in each segment to reduce color breakup. A projection system utilizes a digital micro-mirror device and recycles OFF state light. A projection system utilizes two color wheels to improve recycling of light. A two panel projection system utilizes a color wheel which transmits a deficient color band and time sequences the other bands while reflecting the unused light back to the light source for recycling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventors: Michael Dubinovsky, Douglas A. Kirkpatrick, Bruce Shanks, Paul E. Steiner, Brian P. Turner
  • Patent number: 6316875
    Abstract: An arc discharge lamp includes a light transmissive envelope (3), two electrodes (1, 2) disposed at least partially inside the light transmissive envelope, and a plasma forming fill which includes selenium when excited disposed inside the light transmissive envelope (3). The exterior surfaces of the part of the electrodes (1, 2) disposed inside the light transmissive envelope (3) comprise an electrode material selected from the group of molybdenum and molybdenum compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Fusion Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Kirkpatrick, Bruce Shanks, Donald A. MacLennan
  • Patent number: 6310443
    Abstract: A jacketed lamp bulb envelope includes a ceramic cup having an open end and a partially closed end, the partially closed end defining an aperture, a lamp bulb positioned inside the ceramic cup abutting the aperture, and a reflective ceramic material at least partially covering a portion of the bulb not abutting the aperture. The reflective ceramic material may substantially fill an interior volume of the ceramic cup not occupied by the bulb. The ceramic cup may include a structural feature for aiding in alignment of the jacketed lamp bulb envelope in a lamp. The ceramic cup may include an external flange about a periphery thereof. One example of a jacketed lamp bulb envelope includes a ceramic cup having an open end and a closed end, a ceramic washer covering the open end of the ceramic cup, the washer defining an aperture therethrough, a lamp bulb positioned inside the ceramic cup abutting the aperture, and a reflective ceramic material filling an interior volume of the ceramic cup not occupied by the bulb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Fusion Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald A. MacLennan, Brian P. Turner, Aleksandr Gitsevich, Gary K. Bass, James T. Dolan, Kent Kipling, Douglas A. Kirkpatrick, Yongzhang Leng, Izrail Levin, Robert J. Roy, Bruce Shanks, Malcolm Smith, William C. Trimble, Peter Tsai
  • Patent number: 6252346
    Abstract: An integrated lamp head for an electrodeless lamp includes a metal-matrix composite enclosure, an insulating ceramic encased by the metal-matrix enclosure, the insulating ceramic having an interior surface, and an excitation structure integrally formed on the interior surface of the insulating ceramic. The excitation structure may include an excitation coil such as a wedding ring shaped excitation coil or a coil having a cross sectional shape similar to an upper-case Greek letter omega. The integrated lamp head optionally includes a pre-formed connection from an exterior portion of the integrated lamp head to the excitation structure and/or a conductive insert in an area of a solder connection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Fusion Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian P. Turner, Kent Kipling, Bruce Shanks, Malcolm Smith
  • Patent number: 6181054
    Abstract: An improved electrodeless discharge lamp bulb includes an integral ceramic reflector as a portion of the bulb envelope. The bulb envelope further includes two pieces, a reflector portion or segment is cast quartz ceramic and a light transmissive portion is a clear fused silica. In one embodiment, the cast quartz ceramic segment includes heat sink fins or stubs providing an increased outside surface area to dissipate internal heat. In another embodiment, the quartz ceramic segment includes an outside surface fused to eliminate gas permeation by polishing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Fusion Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Izrail Levin, Bruce Shanks, Thomas L. Sumner
  • Patent number: 5688064
    Abstract: An inexpensive and reliable method and apparatus for selectively coupling the bulb stem of an electrodeless lamp to a rotatable drive shaft does not require side access to a set screw or an RF sealing arrangement. The coupler accommodates angular and eccentric misalignment of threadedly engageable members at relatively low manufacturing costs. A cylindrical coupler connected to the bulb stem is provided with a cylindrical cross-hole extending diametrically through and exposing the proximal end of the bulb stem in the longitudinal bore. A seating lock nut of generally rectangular configuration, and having a pair of opposite compressible turned out comers or "wings", is insertable through the cross-hole and is loosely retained at the intersection of the bore and cross-hole. The seating lock nut is sized, relative to the cross-hole and longitudinal bore, such that, upon being released within the cross-hole, the lock nut is loosely retained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Fusion Lighting, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce Shanks