Abstract: An electrodeless high intensity discharge lamp including a sealed light-transmissive envelope, a volatilizable chemical fill and an inert gas or nitrogen within the envelope. The chemical fill includes as a primary active component phosphorus or a volatilizable compound of phosphorus. The inert gas or nitrogen is at a pressure of less than 760 torr at ambient temperature, and assists in starting the lamp. Sufficient mercury may be added to the lamp fill to improve resistive heating, but addition of mercury is not required for emission. Sulfur, a sulfur compound, or a metal halide may be added to the fill as a secondary active component. The lamp envelope is coupled to a high frequency power source to produce a light emitting plasma discharge within the envelope.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for using electrodeless high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps for automotive headlamp and similar applications requiring high/low beam operation (first and second beam orientation) of signaling. The HID lamp is excited with a high-frequency radio frequency (rf) signal. Modulation of the radio frequency signal is used to cause the arc of the HID lamp to selectively operate at an acoustic resonance point. At such a point, the arc undergoes a perturbation and is physically displaced from its quiescent position. When the lamp is placed at a focal or light-gathering point of an optical system having forward gain, displacement of the arc away from the focal point causes discernible changes in the far-field output of the optical system.

Abstract: An electrodeless high intensity discharge lamp includes a lamp capsule containing a fill material for emitting radiation upon excitation by high frequency electromagnetic energy, a plurality of applicators spaced around a lamp capsule for nonresonant coupling of high frequency energy to the lamp capsule, a high frequency source for supplying high frequency power, and a power splitter and phase shifter for coupling high frequency power from the source to the applicators such that an electric field applied to the lamp capsule rotates at the frequency of the source. The applied high frequency energy is distributed over the lamp capsule so that the tendency for lamp envelope hot spots is reduced. Preferably, four helical couplers are spaced at 90.degree. intervals around the lamp capsule. The high frequency power applied to adjacent applicators is shifted in phase by 90.degree..

Abstract: An assembly includes an electrodeless discharge lamp disposed between a pair of field applicators, and an integral impedance matching structure for matching the impedance of the lamp and field applicators to the impedance of a power source. The structure includes a Tee junction, a transmission line including a first branch connecting a first output of the Tee junction to one of the field applicators. A second branch of the transmission line connects a second output of the Tee junction to the other field applicator. The difference between electrical lengths of the first and second branches are substantially shorter than a half-wavelength. The assembly is less complex and more compact than prior art which utilizes odd mode excitation via a half-wavelength balun transformer.

Abstract: An electrodeless HID lamp formed with a power balanced coupling structure is disclosed. Microwave transmission to the discharge capsule is divided into two channels having an electrical length differential of about a half wave length. A balancing strap line is coupled between the two transmission lines where they deliver power to the field applicators for the discharge capsule. The strap line balances the power delivery between the two ends of the discharge tube.

Abstract: A high frequency applicator for energizing electrodeless lamps is described. The applicators are end cups electrically attached to the ends of phased feed points of a planar transmission line, and facing each other so as to form a gap between the end cups. The end cups each have a concave surface facing the gap which forces an electric field concentration in the vicinity of the end cups and in the gap between the opposing end cups. Such a field configuration is useful for energizing a lamp capsule placed within the gaps formed by the end cups. The end cups can be made of metal or metallized ceramic.

Abstract: A high frequency applicator for energizing electrodeless lamps is described. The applicators are made of two loops of wire electrically attached to the ends of phased feed points of a planar transmission line. The loops are face each other and are positioned so as to form a gap in which a lamp capsule is placed. Each loop is made of three partial turns, the first and second turns being parallel to each other, each partial turn having a first and second end and the third partial turn is attached to the second end of each partial turn and positioned orthogonal the first and second turns. The plane formed by the third turn makes a dihedral angle between 9.degree. and 135.degree. with the planar transmission line.