Abstract: An electrode-less plasma lamps, comprising generally of a bulb containing a gas-fill that is excited to produce light using radio-frequency (RF) energy. In specific embodiments, the use of grounded coupling-elements with integrated bulb assemblies simplifies manufacturability, improves resonant frequency control, and enables the use of solid, partially filled, and hollow lamp bodies.

Abstract: An electrode-less plasma lamp, comprising generally of a bulb containing a gas-fill and light emitter(s) that is excited to produce light using radio-frequency (RF) energy. The present lamp includes compact air resonators/waveguides that use grounded coupling-elements with integrated bulb assemblies to reduce the size of the resonator and improve the performance of the lamp as well as reduce cost and simplify manufacturability.

Abstract: An electrodeless plasma lamp includes a bulb containing a gas-fill and light emitter(s) excited to produce light using radio-frequency (RF) energy. Input and output coupling elements separated from each other by a gap couple RF energy from an RF source to the bulb. One end of the input coupling element is electrically connected to an RF source while the other end is connected to ground. One end of the output coupling element is connected to ground while the other end is connected to the bulb.

Abstract: A shock resistant outdoor lamp has a bulb assembly includes a shock resistant gas-filled vessel coupled to an RF source. The vessel has a transparent or translucent body having an inner surface and an outer surface and a cavity formed within the inner surface. The gas-filled vessel comprises a first end region and a second end region. The bulb assembly has a length provided between the first end region and the second end region and ranging from about 0.5 centimeter to about three centimeters characterizing the gas-filled vessel. The bulb assembly at least one or more coupling members operably coupled to the gas-filled vessel such that the outer surface of the gas-filled vessel is substantially free from mechanical damage caused with the one or more coupling members and substantially free from any openings in the thickness.

Abstract: A plasma lamp system is described with the capability to tune the resonant frequency of the resonator of the plasma lamp system after the manufacturing process has been completed. The tuning method developed allows a simple low-cost approach to continuously tune the resonant frequency and set the desired frequency to an ISM (Industrial Scientific Medical) band or set the resonant frequency to optimize the performance of the system. The tuning ability of the resonator relaxes the tolerance required for the dimensions of the resonator reducing the manufacturing cost and improving the manufacturing yield of the plasma lamp.

Abstract: A plasma lamp apparatus includes a post structure with a material overlying a surface region of the post structure, which has a first end and a second end. The apparatus also has a helical coil structure configured along the post structure. The apparatus includes a bulb with a fill material capable of emitting electromagnetic radiation. A resonator coupling element configured to feed radio frequency energy to at least the helical coil causes the bulb device to emit electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: An electrodeless plasma lamp includes a bulb containing a gas-fill and light emitter(s) excited to produce light using radio-frequency (RF) energy. Input and output coupling elements separated from each other by a gap couple RF energy from an RF source to the bulb. One end of the input coupling element is electrically connected to an RF source while the other end is connected to ground. One end of the output coupling element is connected to ground while the other end is connected to the bulb.

Abstract: An RF electrodeless plasma lamp with improved efficiency in higher lumens per watt includes a waveguide body, in which an RF signal drives the entire structure at the resonant frequency of the structure. The resonant frequency of the structure is lowered by increasing the overall capacitance of the waveguide body by adding at least two layers of dielectric material between the input feed and the bulb of the lamp. The layered structure can include an air cavity disposed between a dielectric layer and the input feed. In lowering the resonant frequency of the lamp, the device is capable of using RF amplifiers that have higher efficiency, and thus has a higher lumens per watt ratio.

Abstract: An RF electrode-less plasma lighting device has a base member, which includes an outer region capable of being coupled to first AC potential and an inner region capable of being coupled to a second AC potential. In a preferred embodiment, the device has an RF module mechanically and integrally coupled to the base member. The RF module has an RF source, which has an output. The RF module has a first DC input and a second DC input. The first DC input of the RF module is coupled to a first DC potential and the second DC input of the RF module is coupled to a second DC potential. In a specific embodiment, the present device has an RF electrodeless plasma lighting assembly integrally coupled to the base member. The RF plasma lighting assembly has an RF input, which is coupled to the output of the RF source.

Abstract: An electrodeless plasma lamp array structure uses multiple plasma lamps to produce large amounts of electromagnetic radiation (visible, IR, UV, or a combination of visible, IR, and UV). An M by N array configuration is powered by either a single RF power source or multiple RF power sources. The array incorporates controllers to adjust the power delivered from the RF power source to each lamp within the array. By adjusting the delivered RF power, the intensity of electromagnetic radiation that is emitted from each lamp is controlled independently allowing for the creation of an array of lamps that emit electromagnetic radiation of varying intensity levels at different places within the array. Using lamps with different color temperatures as part of the array allows the color temperature and the color rendering index of the illumination to achieve different lighting conditions.

Abstract: A plasma lamp for an electrodeless plasma lamp having a shaped dielectric waveguide body. The shaped body may have a relatively thin region containing a bulb, and a second region thicker than the first region. Microwave probes may be positioned in the second region to provide power to the waveguide body. The body may be shaped to intensify the electric field in the first region adjacent to the bulb to allow operation at a lower frequency than a solid cylindrical or rectangular waveguide body having the same volume and dielectric constant.

Abstract: An electrodeless plasma lamp apparatus includes a waveguide body having at least a first material and a second material. At least one of the materials has a dielectric constant of less than two. In a specific embodiment, the apparatus also includes an RF power source coupled to the waveguide body to provide RF power to the waveguide body at least one frequency that resonates within the waveguide body. A bulb containing a fill which forms a plasma to cause emission of light when the RF power is provided to the waveguide body.

Abstract: A plasma lamp apparatus that includes an improved bulb support assembly to increase the lumens per watt output of the apparatus. The bulb support assembly includes a support structure that forms a cavity for receiving the bulb. The bulb is supported within the cavity though a protrusion that extends out from the support structure in a curved manner. By created a curved protrusion, the electric field within the resonating structure of the lamp apparatus is lowered. Lowering the electric field leads to lower resonating frequencies of the resonating structure. In lowering the resonating frequency, the resonating structure is driven to resonate at lower power levels, thereby increasing the lumens per watt output of the lamp apparatus.

Abstract: A plasma lamp system is described with the capability to tune the resonant frequency of the resonator of the plasma lamp system after the manufacturing process has been completed. The tuning method developed allows a simple low-cost approach to continuously tune the resonant frequency and set the desired frequency to an ISM (Industrial Scientific Medical) band or set the resonant frequency to optimize the performance of the system. The tuning ability of the resonator relaxes the tolerance required for the dimensions of the resonator reducing the manufacturing cost and improving the manufacturing yield of the plasma lamp.

Abstract: An optical waveguide system with an electrodeless plasma lamp as the electromagnetic radiation source. The system includes an optic source coupling element that receives the electromagnetic radiation that is emitted from at least one electrodeless plasma lamp. The optic source coupling element is coupled to at least one optical waveguide element. The optical waveguide element includes at least one fiber optic cable that is capable of transmitting the emitted electromagnetic radiation. The fiber optic cable can be positioned such that the electromagnetic radiation is transmitted at a desired position away from the electrodeless plasma lamp source.

Abstract: An electrodeless plasma lamp includes a bulb containing a gas-fill and light emitter(s) excited to produce light using radio-frequency (RF) energy. Input and output coupling elements separated from each other by a gap couple RF energy from an RF source to the bulb. One end of the input coupling element is electrically connected to an RF source while the other end is connected to ground. One end of the output coupling element is connected to ground while the other end is connected to the bulb.

Abstract: A plasma lamp. The lamp includes a housing having a spatial volume defined within the housing. In a specific embodiment, the spatial volume has an inner region and an outer region. The lamp also has a support region coupled to the inner region of the spatial volume and a support body having an outer surface region slidably inserted and disposed within or partially disposed the support region. In a preferred embodiment, the support body has a support length, a support first end, and a support second end. The plasma lamp has a gas-filled vessel coupled to the support first end of the support body. In a preferred embodiment, the gas filled vessel has a transparent or translucent body, an inner surface and an outer surface, a cavity formed within the inner surface. In a preferred embodiment, the cavity is sealed and includes a fill material, which is capable of discharge. The lamp has an rf source operably coupled to at least the first end of the gas-filled vessel.

Abstract: An electrode-less plasma lamps comprises generally of a bulb containing a gas-fill that is excited to produce light using radio-frequency (RF) energy. In specific embodiments, the use of grounded coupling-elements with integrated bulb assemblies simplifies manufacturability, improves resonant frequency control, and enables the use of solid, partially filled, and hollow lamp bodies. In some embodiments, a method of operating an electrodeless plasma lamp device includes transferring RF energy from the RF source to an input coupling-element and illuminating electromagnetic energy substantially from the length of a gas-filled vessel from discharge of the gas-filled vessel.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to devices and methods for generating light with plasma lamps. More particularly, the present invention provides plasma lamps driven by a radio-frequency source without the use of electrodes inside the bulb and related methods. In a specific embodiment, a coaxial type coupling module is used to drive an electrodeless bulb. Merely by way of example, such plasma lamps can be applied to applications such as stadiums, security, parking lots, military and defense, street lighting, large and small buildings, vehicle headlamps, aircraft landing, bridges, warehouses, UV water treatment, agriculture, architectural lighting, stage lighting, medical illumination, microscopes, projectors and displays, any combination of these, and the like.