Patents by Inventor Frederick M. Espiau

Frederick M. Espiau 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).

  • Publication number: 20100134013
    Abstract: A plasma electrodeless lamp comprises a substantially hollow metallic body, closely receiving two coupling elements, the first coupling element connected to the output of an RF amplifier, and the second coupling element connected to the input of an RF amplifier. The first coupling element is conductively connected (grounded) to metallic lamp body at its top surface, while the second coupling element is not. The lamp further comprises a vertical metallic post, the post being grounded to the metallic lamp body at the post's bottom surface. The lamp further comprises a dielectric sleeve which closely receives the metallic post, and which is in turn closely supported by the lamp body or alternatively or in combination a tuning stub. The lamp further comprises a bulb that is closely received by the metallic post, and that encloses a gas-fill which forms a radiant plasma when excited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: TOPANGA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: FREDERICK M. ESPIAU, Mehran Matloubian, Timothy J. Brockett
  • Publication number: 20100134008
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: Topanga Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: FREDERICK M. ESPIAU, Timothy J. Brockett, Mehran Matloubian, Douglas A. Doughty
  • Publication number: 20090322240
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: Topanga Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick M. Espiau, Timothy J. Brockett, Mehran Matloubian
  • Patent number: 7638951
    Abstract: A plasma lamp with a positive-loop feedback topology, having a resonating waveguide body and at least one amplifier critically coupled to the body which is stable under all operating conditions both before a plasma is formed and after the plasma reaches steady state. An iterative method for configuring the lamp circuit includes determining the load trajectory of each amplifier under all operating conditions, and overlaying it on a polar-plot showing regions of stability, conditional stability, and instability. If the load trajectory passes through an unstable region, circuit alterations are made to avoid that region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Luxim Corporation
    Inventors: Marc DeVincentis, Frederick M. Espiau, Yian Chang
  • Publication number: 20090295509
    Abstract: An electromagnetic resonator may be used for efficient heating and/or reaction of materials. More particularly, resonator-based systems may be used for efficient pyrolysis, gasification, incineration (or other similar processes) of feedstock including but not limited to biomass, petroleum, industrial chemicals and waste materials using RF resonators and adaptively tunable RF resonators. A processing architecture based on the use of resonators is presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: Universal Phase, Inc.
    Inventors: Neel S. Master, Reza Arghavani, Frederick M. Espiau, Mehran Matloubian
  • Publication number: 20090243488
    Abstract: A plasma lamp including a waveguide body comprising at least one dielectric material. The body is coupled to a microwave power source which causes the body to resonate in at least one resonant mode. A lamp chamber integrated with the body contains a bulb with a fill forming a light-emitting plasma when the chamber receives power from the resonating body. A bulb either is self-enclosed or an envelope sealed by a window or lens covering the chamber aperture. Embodiments disclosed include lamps having a drive probe and a feedback probe, and lamps having a drive probe, feedback probe and start probe, which minimize power reflected from the body back to the source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Frederick M. Espiau, Yian Chang
  • Publication number: 20090167183
    Abstract: A dielectric waveguide integrated plasma lamp is disclosed for powering a small and bright bulb with a diameter of a few millimeters. The lamp is contained within a high dielectric constant material which guides the microwaves to the bulb, provides heat isolation to the drive circuit, contains the microwaves, provides structural stability and ease of manufacturing and allows efficient energy coupling to the bulb when used as a dielectric resonant oscillator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Frederick M. Espiau, Chandrashekhar J. Joshi, Yian Chang
  • Publication number: 20090146543
    Abstract: A dielectric waveguide integrated plasma lamp (DWIPL) with a body comprising at least one dielectric material having a dielectric constant greater than approximately 2, and having a shape and dimensions such that the body resonates in at least one resonant mode when microwave energy of an appropriate frequency is coupled into the body. A dielectric bulb within a lamp chamber in the body contains a fill which when receiving energy from the resonating body forms a light-emitting plasma. The bulb is transparent to visible light and infrared radiation emitted by the plasma. Radiative energy lost from the plasma is recycled by reflecting the radiation from thin-film, multi-layer coatings on bulb exterior surfaces and/or lamp chamber surfaces back into the bulb.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: Luxim Corporation
    Inventors: Yian Chang, Frederick M. Espiau
  • Patent number: 7525253
    Abstract: A plasma lamp including a waveguide body comprising at least one dielectric material. The body is coupled to a microwave power source which causes the body to resonate in at least one resonant mode. A lamp chamber integrated with the body contains a bulb with a fill forming a light-emitting plasma when the chamber receives power from the resonating body. A bulb either is self-enclosed or an envelope sealed by a window or lens covering the chamber aperture. Embodiments disclosed include lamps having a drive probe and a feedback probe, and lamps having a drive probe, feedback probe and start probe, which minimize power reflected from the body back to the source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Luxim Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick M. Espiau, Yian Chang
  • Patent number: 7518315
    Abstract: A plasma lamp including a waveguide body including at least one dielectric material with a dielectric constant greater than approximately 2. The body is coupled to a microwave source which causes the body to resonate in at least one resonant mode. At least one lamp chamber integrated with the body contains a bulb with a fill forming a light-emitting plasma when the chamber receives power from the resonating body. A bulb either is self-enclosed or an envelope sealed by a window or lens covering the chamber aperture. Embodiments disclosed include lamps having a drive probe and a feedback probe, and lamps having a drive probe, feedback probe and start probe, which minimize power reflected from the body back to the source both before each plasma is formed and after it reaches steady state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Luxim Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick M. Espiau, Yian Chang
  • Patent number: 7498747
    Abstract: A dielectric waveguide integrated plasma lamp is disclosed for powering a small and bright bulb with a diameter of a few millimeters. The lamp is contained within a high dielectric constant material which guides the microwaves to the bulb, provides heat isolation to the drive circuit, contains the microwaves, provides structural stability and ease of manufacturing and allows efficient energy coupling to the bulb when used as a dielectric resonant oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Luxim Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick M. Espiau, Chandrashekhar J. Joshi, Yian Chang
  • Publication number: 20090009087
    Abstract: A plasma lamp for an electrodeless plasma lamp having a waveguide body. The non-radiative thermal losses from the bulb are controlled to prevent the bulb from melting while providing a high level of radiation from the bulb. The thermal conductivity of the waveguide, configuration of the heat sink and size and placement of the bulb may be selected to provide a brightness of more than 80 lumens per watt and a total brightness of more than 12,000 lumens at a power level of 150 watts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventors: Frederick M. Espiau, Marc DeVincentis, Yian Chang, Frederick M. Espiau, Anthony D. McGettigan
  • Patent number: 7429818
    Abstract: A dielectric waveguide integrated plasma lamp (DWIPL) with a body comprising at least one dielectric material having a dielectric constant greater than approximately 2, and having a shape and dimensions such that the body resonates in at least one resonant mode when microwave energy of an appropriate frequency is coupled into the body. A dielectric bulb within a lamp chamber in the body contains a fill which when receiving energy from the resonating body forms a light-emitting plasma. The bulb is transparent to visible light and infrared radiation emitted by the plasma. Radiative energy lost from the plasma is recycled by reflecting the radiation from thin-film, multi-layer coatings on bulb exterior surfaces and/or lamp chamber surfaces back into the bulb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Luxim Corporation
    Inventors: Yian Chang, Frederick M. Espiau
  • Patent number: 7391158
    Abstract: A dielectric waveguide integrated plasma lamp (DWIPL) with a body consisting essentially of at least one dielectric material having a dielectric constant greater than approximately 2, and having a shape and dimensions such that the body resonates in at least one resonant mode when microwave energy of an appropriate frequency is coupled into the body. A bulb positioned in at least one lamp chamber in the body contains a gas-fill which when receiving energy from the resonating body forms a light-emitting plasma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Luxim Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick M. Espiau, Chandrashekhar J. Joshi, Yian Chang
  • Patent number: 7372209
    Abstract: A plasma lamp including a waveguide body including at least one dielectric material with a dielectric constant greater than approximately 2. The body is coupled to a microwave source which causes the body to resonate in at least one resonant mode. At least one lamp chamber integrated with the body contains a bulb with a fill forming a light-emitting plasma when the chamber receives power from the resonating body. A bulb either is self-enclosed or an envelope sealed by a window or lens covering the chamber aperture. Embodiments disclosed include lamps having a drive probe and a feedback probe, and lamps having a drive probe, feedback probe and start probe, which minimize power reflected from the body back to the source both before each plasma is formed and after it reaches steady state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Luxim Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick M. Espiau, Yian Chang
  • Patent number: 7362054
    Abstract: A dielectric waveguide integrated plasma lamp is disclosed for powering a small and bright bulb with a diameter of a few millimeters. The lamp is contained within a high dielectric constant material which guides the microwaves to the bulb, provides heat isolation to the drive circuit, contains the microwaves, provides structural stability and ease of manufacturing and allows efficient energy coupling to the bulb when used as a dielectric resonant oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Luxim Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick M. Espiau, Chandrashekhar J. Joshi, Yian Chang
  • Patent number: 7362055
    Abstract: A dielectric waveguide integrated plasma lamp is disclosed for powering a small and bright bulb with a diameter of a few millimeters. The lamp is contained within a high dielectric constant material which guides the microwaves to the bulb, provides heat isolation to the drive circuit, contains the microwaves, provides structural stability and ease of manufacturing and allows efficient energy coupling to the bulb when used as a dielectric resonant oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Luxim Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick M. Espiau, Chandrashekhar J. Joshi, Yian Chang
  • Patent number: D612093
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Topanga Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick M. Espiau, Mehran Matloubian
  • Patent number: D612527
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Topanga Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick M. Espiau, Mehran Matloubian
  • Patent number: D621994
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Topanga Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick M. Espiau, Mehran Matloubian