Abstract: An arc discharge lamp (10) having an arc tube (12) containing an arc generating and sustaining medium (13) and first and second spaced apart electrodes (14, 16), respectively. An envelope (18) surrounds the arc tube (12) and contains an atmosphere (19) within it. The atmosphere is of a composition and pressure that will provide a burst of UV radiation in response to a spark generated within the envelope (18) and, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, is selected from argon or nitrogen (with nitrogen being preferred) at a pressure of from 150 to 400 torr. First and second electrical lead-ins (20, 22) are sealed within the envelope (18), with the first lead-in (20) being electrically connected to the first electrode (14) and the second lead-in (22) being connected to the second electrode (16), for example, by connector wire (22a). Means (30) is contained within the envelope (18) and exposed to the atmosphere (19) for generating a UV-producing spark within the atmosphere (19).

Abstract: An arc discharge lamp (10) having an arc tube (12) containing an arc generating and sustaining medium (13) and first and second spaced apart electrodes (14, 16), respectively. An envelope (18) surrounds the arc tube (12) and contains an atmosphere (19) within it. The atmosphere is of a composition and pressure that will provide a burst of UV radiation in response to a spark generated within the envelope (18) and, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, is selected from argon or nitrogen (with nitrogen being preferred) at a pressure of from 150 to 400 torr. First and second electrical lead-ins (20, 22) are sealed within the envelope (18), with the first lead-in (20) being electrically connected to the first electrode (14) and the second lead-in (22) being connected to the second electrode (16), for example, by connector wire (22a). Means (30) is contained within the envelope (18) and exposed to the atmosphere (19) for generating a UV-producing spark within the atmosphere (19).

Abstract: A mercury-free metal halide arc lamp having an arc vessel of fused silica, an aspect ratio greater than 5, and containing a noble gas such as xenon, argon or krypton and a metal halide. In a preferred embodiment, the arc vessel has a diameter of 8 mm and a length of 80 mm, a fill of sodium/scandium iodides and a buffer gas of xenon.

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: A starting aid for a metal halide discharge lamp. An arc discharge tube is positioned in a hermetically sealed jacket. The jacket contains a partial pressure (e.g., 400 torr nitrogen) of a gas that will aid in starting the discharge and one of the arc tube lead-ins has an electrical conductor affixed thereto and exposed to the partial pressure of the gas. An outer conductor extends on the outside of the jacket and is electrically connected to the other lead-in. When voltage is applied to the electrodes a capacitive coupling takes place between the inner conductor and the outer conductor which generates a discharge that causes a breakdown in the arc generating and sustaining medium within the arc tube and causes the lamp to start.

Abstract: An arc tube for a high pressure metal vapor discharge lamp is provided. The arc tube of the present invention comprises a tubular ceramic envelope; a chemical fill within said envelope; a seal button at each end of said envelope; said seal button having an aperture therethrough for receiving a feedthrough member; a feedthrough member having an electrode projecting therefrom passing through said seal button aperture and being oriented such that the electrode projects into said tubular ceramic envelope, said feedthrough member being sealed into said seal button by means of a fritless seal between said seal button and said feedthrough; and sealing frit material sealing said seal buttons into the ends of said tubular ceramic envelope. A method for fabricating the above-described arc tube and high pressure metal vapor discharge lamp including the above-described arc tube is also provided.

Abstract: An arc tube for a high pressure metal vapor discharge lamp is provided. The arc tube of the present invention comprises a tubular ceramic envelope; a chemical fill within said envelope; a seal button at each end of said envelope; said seal button having an aperture therethrough for receiving a feedthrough member; a feedthrough member having an electrode projecting therefrom passing through said seal button aperture and being oriented such that the electrode projects into said tubular ceramic envelope, said feedthrough member being sealed into said seal button by means of a fritless seal between said seal button and said feedthrough; and sealing frit material sealing said seal buttons into the ends of said tubular ceramic envelope. A method for fabricating the above-described arc tube and high pressure metal vapor discharge lamp including the above-described arc tube is also provided.

Abstract: A high pressure sodium lamp having a fill within an elongated arc tube comprising an inert starting gas, mercury and sodium wherein said mercury and sodium being are in an amount less than two milligrams per cubic centimeter of said volume of the interior of the arc tube wherein the weight ratio of sodium to mercury is less than 1 to 20 whereby the lamp is saturated with sodium and unsaturated with mercury at said predetermined nominal output voltage and does not extinguish at an input voltage exceeding about 90 percent of said rated voltage.

Abstract: An arc tube including a tubular ceramic envelope; a chemical fill within the envelope; a seal button at each end of the envelope, the seal button having an aperture therethrough for receiving a feedthrough member; a feedthrough member having an electrode projecting therefrom passing through the seal button aperture and being oriented such that the electrode projects into the tubular ceramic envelope; frit material sealing the seal buttons into the ends of the envelope and the feedthrough members into the seal buttons; and means for interrupting the seal interface between the feedthrough member and the frit material around the total circumference of at least a portion of the feedthrough member. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the means for interrupting the seal interface includes a coating disposed around the periphery, or circumference, of the feedthrough member.

Abstract: An electric lamp includes a lamp assembly mounted in a lamp envelope including a reflector, a lens and a base for connection to an electrical source. The lamp assembly includes an arc tube having a longitudinal axis aligned with the optical axis of the reflector, an arc tube support strap attached to one end of the arc tube and including legs extending laterally in opposite directions from the axis of the arc tube, bulb spacers coupled to the legs of the support strap for positioning the arc tube relative to the lamp envelope, a light-transmissive shroud around the arc tube, and electrode supports coupled to the upper and lower electrode leads of the arc tube. The shroud includes an open end which abuts against the legs of the support strap and a domed end which substantially encloses one end of the arc tube. The electrode supports are electrically isolated from the support strap, the bulb spacers and the reflector. The shroud is secured between the support strap and one of the electrode supports.

Abstract: A starting and operating circuit for high pressure discharge lamps including a pair of input terminals for connection to an alternating current supply and a pair of output terminals for connection across the lamp. A ballast inductor is connected at its ends in series between one of the input terminals and one of the output terminals and a pulse generator is connected between the output terminals. The pulse generator comprises a non-linear capacitor (NLC) and a semiconductor bipolar thyristor (commonly known as a SIDAC) connected in series, the non-linear capacitor and bipolar thyristor being connected in parallel with the discharge lamp.

Abstract: A high-intensity discharge (HID) metal vapor lamp and starting apparatus includes a metal vapor lamp having an outer envelope containing a gas filled arc tube, the fill gas including xenon, the arc tube having a pair of spaced electrodes with a starting aid surrounding the arc tube intermediate the electrodes, a non-linear dielectric element shunting the spaced electrodes and a ballast means and an electrical conductor coupling the spaced electrodes to a base member connected to a low voltage source whereby starting of the metal vapor lamp from a low voltage source is effected.

Abstract: A low wattage metal vapor discharge lamp starting and operating apparatus includes an inductive ballast connected to one of a pair of terminals connectable to a low voltage source, a metal vapor discharge lamp coupled to the ballast and to the other one of the pair of lamp terminals and a non-linear dielectric element shunting the discharge lamp with the ballast and non-linear dielectric element providing a potential within about 600 usec of current reversal of the source voltage in an amount sufficient to initiate operation of the discharge lamp.

Abstract: A high pressure sodium discharge lamp employs a starting aid allowing the use of increased xenon pressure for higher efficacy. The starting aid is positioned far enough from the ends of the electrodes so that end blackening does not attenuate the starting pulse and render the lamps impossible to start after they have been aged over 100 hours.

Abstract: A high pressure sodium lamp comprises an elongated arc tube within an evacuated outer jacket, the arc tube containing a fill including sodium and mercury. A barium getter film is disposed on the inner jacket wall at one end thereof. The film is longitudinally spaced more than 1 cm away from the end of the arc tube in order to reduce photoelectron emission from the barium which can cause sodium migration from the arc tube.

Abstract: A high pressure electric discharge lamp exhibits lowered starting voltages and improved lumen performance by utilizing within the arc discharge tube a starting probe that is electrically isolated at all times.

Abstract: A high pressure arc discharge lamp has a blended phosphor coating of about 35-40% cerium activated yttrium aluminate and 60-65% europium activated yttrium vanadate on the inner wall of the outer jacket.