Abstract: An inductively driven gas discharge lamp assembly (40) includes an electrodeless lamp (42), an inductive drive coil (44) disposed about the lamp, and a shield (10) disposed over an end portion (50) of the lamp. The shield (10) has a number of turns (12) of electrically conductive material, such as wire, with each of the turns being disposed generally coaxially about the central, longitudinal axis (20) of the drive coil (44). The turns (12) together form a continuous spiral helix and are shorted together via a number of electrical conductors (14) that are angularly disposed about the axis (20). These electrical conductors (14) extend generally perpendicularly to the turns (12) and are connected to the ground node (26) of a d.c. to a.c. inverter circuit 46 that is used to drive coil 44. This arrangement provides good r.f.

Abstract: An electrodeless gas discharge light assembly includes a lamp base (12) having a pair of light-transmitting lenses (14, 16) supported in axially opposed relation to one another. An electrodeless gas discharge light source (28) is mounted between the lenses (14, 16) and comprises a generally flat spiral induction coil (30) sandwiched between a pair of generally flat, planar envelopes (32, 34) in which an ionizable gas (46) is contained. Energizing the coil (30) inductively induces discharge illumination of the gas (46) causing light to be emitted in axially opposite directions through the lenses (14, 16) without obstruction by the coil (30).

Abstract: A light assembly (10) for a vehicle includes a housing (12) having a light-transmissive cover (18) and an RF emission gas discharge light source (22) provided as a self-contained module mountable in the housing (12). The module (22) includes an envelope (24) filled with an RF excitable gas (27) and an RF induction coil (28). The envelope (24) and coil (28) are fixed in working relation to one another in a common base (40). The base (40) also supports an electrical connector (32) that leads to the coil (28) and that mates with a corresponding connector (34) leading from the vehicle power supply (38). The module (22) and housing (12) have mutually connectable mounting portions (48, 50) for mounting the module (22) on the housing (12).

Abstract: An electrodeless gas discharge lamp assembly (10) includes a light-transmitting envelope (12) having an illumination gas (14) sealed therein. An induction coil (24) is disposed about the envelope (12) and is operative when driven to excite the gas (14) to inductive discharge illumination. The coil (24) and envelope (12) are prepared as separate components. The coil (24) has an inner circumference which is initially smaller in dimension than a fixed outer circumference of the envelope (12). The two are assembled by extending the envelope (12) into the coil (24). The envelope (12) expands the inner circumference of the coil (24) to the size of the envelope (12), achieving a constricted, intimate contact of the coil (24) about the envelope (12) and assuring that the flux lines generated by the coil (24) will pass through the envelope (12) and act on the gas (14).

Abstract: A vehicle signal lamp assembly includes lamp filaments extending in a direction generally parallel to the line of action of the principal vibratory force imposed on the lamp assembly. The assembly includes a lamp having a base that mounts two or more pairs of relatively stiff filament support wires. The lamp assembly further includes a socket having a cavity mated to the cross sectional configuration of the lamp base, and resilient electrical contact leaf members in the cavity engageable with the filament support wires when the lamp base is plugged into the socket cavity. The socket is carried in a resilient mounting that provides partial shock isolation for the socket and lamp.

Abstract: A vehicular marker lamp includes three light-emitting diodes located within a cup-shaped housing having a flat, transparent front wall or lens. Parallel V-shaped ribs in the rear surface of the lens form prisms that serve to horizontally spread the light beams emitted by the diodes. The ribs are angled differently so that the beam from each diode is spread to a different extent. A composite output beam is generated having a desired beam width and intensity. In a preferred arrangement, the width of the output beam is about 30.degree. in the vertical plane and 90.degree. in the horizontal plane.