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).

  • Patent number: 7362056
    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: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Luxim Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick M. Espiau, Chandrashekhar J. Joshi, Yian Chang
  • Patent number: 7358678
    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 15, 2008
    Assignee: Luxim Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick M. Espiau, Chandrashekhar J. Joshi, Yian Chang
  • Patent number: 7348732
    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: February 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Luxim Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick M. Espiau, Chandrashekhar J. Joshi, Yian Chang
  • Patent number: 7291985
    Abstract: Described is a plasma electrode-less lamp. The device comprises an electromagnetic resonator and an electromagnetic radiation source conductively connected with the electromagnetic resonator. The device further comprises a pair of field probes, the field probes conductively connected with the electromagnetic resonator. A gas-fill vessel is formed from a closed, transparent body, forming a cavity. The gas-fill vessel is not contiguous with (detached from) the electromagnetic resonator and is capacitively coupled with the field probes. The gas-fill vessel further contains a gas within the cavity, whereby the gas is induced to emit light when electromagnetic radiation from the electromagnetic radiation source resonates inside the electromagnetic resonator, the electromagnetic resonator capacitively coupling the electromagnetic radiation to the gas, which becomes a plasma and emits light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Topanga Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick M. Espiau, Mehran Matloubian
  • Publication number: 20070236119
    Abstract: Physical configurations of a bulb (gas fill) for the purpose of thermal management and light recycling in order to increase lamp lifetime and efficiency are described. Example embodiments are applied to an electrode-less radio frequency (RF)/microwave discharge lamp comprising a bulb, electrical resonant or matching circuit, and electrical energy source. The example embodiments described herein are extendable to inductively, capacitively, and cavity coupled lamps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventor: Frederick M. Espiau
  • Patent number: 6922021
    Abstract: A plasma lamp including a waveguide body consisting essentially of at least one dielectric material having a dielectric constant greater than approximately 2. The body is coupled to a microwave power 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Luxim Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick M. Espiau, Yian Chang
  • Publication number: 20040155589
    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: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventors: Frederick M. Espiau, Chandrashekhar J. Joshi, Yian Chang
  • Patent number: 6737809
    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 a cavity within the body contains a gas-fill which when receiving energy from the resonating body forms a light-emitting plasma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Luxim Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick M. Espiau, Chandrashekhar J. Joshi, Yian Chang
  • Publication number: 20030178943
    Abstract: A plasma lamp including a waveguide body consisting essentially of at least one solid 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 into the body contains a fill which forms a light-emitting plasma when the chamber receives microwave power from the resonating waveguide body. The lamp has an aperture sealed to the external environment, thereby sealing the chamber but allowing light to be transmitted. 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 the plasma is formed and after it reaches steady state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: Frederick M. Espiau, Yian Chang
  • Publication number: 20020011802
    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: March 15, 2001
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Inventors: Frederick M. Espiau, Chandrashekhar J. Joshi, Yian Chang