Abstract: Systems and methods for lamp assembly and connection of radio frequency feeds to lamp body are described. In an example embodiment, a circuit board is positioned transverse to a lamp body and one or more radio frequency probes extend from the edge of the circuit board into the lamp body. In another embodiment, portions of a circuit board may form traces that extend into a lamp body. In other embodiments, radio frequency probes may extend from the front surface or back surface of a circuit board into a lamp body. A lamp housing may provide a support, ground and heat sink for lamp components.

Abstract: An electrodeless plasma lamp and a method of generating light are described. The lamp may comprise a lamp body including a dielectric material having a relative permittivity greater than 2. A lamp drive circuit is coupled to the lamp body and configured to provide radio frequency (RF) power to the lamp body. A bulb containing a fill is positioned proximate the lamp body. The fill forms a plasma when the RF power is coupled to the fill from the lamp body. A lamp drive circuit including modulation control circuit is provided to control modulation of a frequency of the RF power across a frequency band. The circuit may be configured to provide RF power across a frequency band around a resonant frequency for the lamp body to reduce peak amplitude and electro-magnetic interference while maintaining average power to the plasma.

Abstract: An electrodeless plasma lamp having a bulb containing a fill that forms a light-emitting plasma is described. The lamp includes a power amplifier to provide radio frequency power to the fill at a frequency in the range of about 50 MHz to 10 GHz and the power amplifier is configured to operate in at least two classes of operation. Control electronics of the lamp is configured to change the class of operation of the power amplifier during operation of the plasma lamp. For example, the power amplifier may be configured to operate as a class A/B amplifier during at least a first mode of operation and a class C amplifier during at least a second mode of operation.

Abstract: Systems and methods for an electrodeless plasma lamp as described. A drive probe is coupled to the lamp body to provide the primary power for ignition and steady state operation of the lamp. Feedback is used to adjust frequency in response to changing conditions of the lamp during startup. A phase shifter is used to adjust the phase of the power between ignition and steady state operation. A sensor may detect a lamp operating condition that automatically triggers a shift in phase after the fill in the bulb is vaporized. The phase shift may then continue to be adjusted as the plasma heats up and the impedance continues to change. The bias conditions of an amplifier may be changed to change the operating class of the amplifier for different modes of the lamp.

Abstract: An electrodeless plasma lamp and a method of controlling operation of a plasma lamp are provided. The plasma lamp may a power source to provide radio frequency (RF) power and a lamp body to receive the RF power from a feed. The lamp body may comprise a dielectric material having a dielectric constant greater than 2 and bulb is provided that contains a fill that forms a plasma that emits light when at least a portion of the RF power is coupled to the fill. A light guide directs light from the bulb to a photosensor that is shielded from light output from a front side of the lamp body. The lamp includes a drive circuit to control operation of the lamp based on a level of light detected by the photosensor.

Abstract: An electrodeless plasma lamp and a method of generating light are provided. The plasma lamp may comprise a power source to provide radio frequency (RF) power, and a bulb containing a fill that forms a plasma when the RF power is coupled to the fill. The plasma lamp further comprises a resonant structure having a quarter wave resonant mode. The resonant structure includes a lamp body comprising a dielectric material having a relative permittivity greater than 2, an inner conductor, and an outer conductor. The power source is configured to provide the RF power to the lamp body at about a resonant frequency for the resonant structure.

Abstract: An electrodeless plasma lamp comprising a lamp housing and a lamp body releasably received with the lamp housing. The lamp housing includes a first electrical connector operatively coupled a power source to provide radio frequency (RF) power. The lamp body includes a second electrical connector to releasably engage with the first electrical connector of the lamp housing. The lamp body includes a dielectric material having a relative permittivity greater than 2. RF power is coupled by the lamp body to a bulb containing a fill that forms a light emitting plasma. In an example embodiment, the plasma lamp includes a retaining arrangement releasably to retain the lamp body at least partially within the lamp housing.

Abstract: An electrodeless plasma lamp and method of generating light are described. The lamp may comprise a lamp body, a source of radio frequency (RF) power and a bulb. The lamp body may comprise a solid dielectric material and at least one conductive element within the solid dielectric material. The source of RF power is configured to provide RF power and an RF feed configured to radiate the RF power from the RF source into the lamp body. The bulb is positioned proximate the lamp body and contains a fill that forms a plasma when the RF power is coupled to the fill from the lamp body. The at least one conductive element is configured to concentrate an electric field proximate the bulb.

Abstract: In one example embodiment, a drive probe is coupled to the lamp body to provide the primary power for ignition and steady state operation of the lamp. Feedback may be used to adjust frequency in response to changing conditions of the lamp during startup. A phase shifter may be used to adjust the phase of the power between ignition and steady state operation. A sensor may detect a lamp operating condition that automatically triggers a shift in phase after the fill in the bulb is vaporized. In another example embodiment, a method for sequentially optimizing the drive power and phase shift applied to the lamp is disclosed that may reliably regulate the lamp current consumption to desired startup and operational levels despite variations in lamp environmental conditions.

Abstract: The apparatus for assembly of high power hybrid modules including high power semiconductor chips and conventional surface mount technology (SMT) components are disclosed. The vacuum oven is used for creating the permanent electrical connection between each high power semiconductor chip and the high power hybrid module. The soldering reflow process is used to attach each SMT component to the high power hybrid module. The automated high power hybrid modules assembling process yields the high power hybrid modules with excellent thermal properties.