Abstract: A fluorescent lamp having a protective polymeric sleeve to provide impact resistance and contain fragments if the lamp shatters. A UV-blocking layer is coated on the outside of the glass envelope of the lamp or on the inside of the sleeve to help protect the polymeric sleeve from UV degradation. The UV-blocking layer includes a UV-blocking component of Al2O3 or ZnO or SiO2 or TiO2 or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A T8 fluorescent lamp can comprise a light-transmissive glass envelope, means for providing an electrical discharge to the glass envelope, a phosphor layer within the glass envelope and a discharge-sustaining fill gas inside the glass envelope. The phosphor layer can comprise phosphors of a type for producing a daylight lighting spectrum or of a type for producing a tungsten/halogen lighting spectrum. The fill gas can comprise a mixture of argon and neon. In a particular mode of operation, the T8 lamp can operate at a power of at least 45 watts. In another mode of operation, the T8 fluorescent lamp can operate at a power of approximately 70 watts. A lighting fixture can comprise an array of such T8 fluorescent lamps arranged substantially side-to-side on longitudinal centerlines that are less than one and one-half inches apart. In a particular instance, the fixture can have been retrofitted from having been outfitted to accommodate T12 lamps.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp having a protective polymeric sleeve to provide impact resistance and contain fragments if the lamp shatters. A UV-blocking layer is coated on the outside of the glass envelope of the lamp or on the inside of the sleeve to help protect the polymeric sleeve from UV degradation. The UV-blocking layer includes a UV-blocking component of Al2O3 or ZnO or SiO2 or TiO2 or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp includes a light-transmissive glass envelope having an inner surface, means for providing an electric discharge to the interior of the glass envelope, a phosphor layer within the interior of the glass envelope and a discharge-sustaining fill gas and a mercury dose sealed inside the light-transmissive glass envelope. The light-transmissive glass envelope can comprise a light-transmissive mixed alkali glass envelope and the phosphor layer can comprise a phosphor layer of approximately three mg/cm2. A barrier layer of approximately 0.3 mg/cm2 or less of alumina can be applied to the inner surface of the light-transmissive glass envelope. The mercury dose can be present in an amount to provide a saturated mercury vapor pressure within the light-transmissive glass envelope throughout substantially the entire life of the lamp. The lamp can have an end-of-life mercury consumption value of approximately 0.63 mg or less, including 0.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp includes a light-transmissive glass envelope having an inner surface, means for providing an electric discharge to the interior of the glass envelope, a phosphor layer within the interior of the glass envelope and a discharge-sustaining fill gas and a mercury dose sealed inside the light-transmissive glass envelope. The light-transmissive glass envelope can comprise a light-transmissive mixed alkali glass envelope and the phosphor layer can comprise a phosphor layer of approximately three mg/cm2. A barrier layer of approximately 0.3 mg/cm2 or less of alumina can be applied to the inner surface of the light-transmissive glass envelope. The mercury dose can be present in an amount to provide a saturated mercury vapor pressure within the light-transmissive glass envelope throughout substantially the entire life of the lamp. The lamp can have an end-of-life mercury consumption value of approximately 0.63 mg or less, including 0.

Abstract: A T8 fluorescent lamp can comprise a light-transmissive glass envelope, means for providing an electrical discharge to the glass envelope, a phosphor layer within the glass envelope and a discharge-sustaining fill gas inside the glass envelope. The phosphor layer can comprise phosphors of a type for producing a daylight lighting spectrum or of a type for producing a tungsten/halogen lighting spectrum. The fill gas can comprise a mixture of argon and neon. In a particular mode of operation, the T8 lamp can operate at a power of at least 45 watts. In another mode of operation, the T8 fluorescent lamp can operate at a power of approximately 70 watts. A lighting fixture can comprise an array of such T8 fluorescent lamps arranged substantially side-to-side on longitudinal centerlines that are less than one and one-half inches apart. In a particular instance, the fixture can have been retrofitted from having been outfitted to accommodate T12 lamps.

Abstract: A mercury vapor discharge fluorescent lamp having a barrier layer which is 0.01 to 50 weight percent pigment particles, the presence of the pigment particles in the barrier layer increasing the CRI value of the lamp by at least 1 or 2 or 3 to preferably at least 90. The pigment particles are preferably inorganic and yellow. The color temperature of the lamp is preferably 2300-3800 K. The pigment particles help filter out mercury emissions at 405 and 436 nm.

Abstract: A lamp comprising a light-transmissive envelope, the inner surface of which is only partially coated by a reflective barrier coating layer such that an aperture is created in the coating for light emission, the lamp exhibiting asymmetric light output through the aperture and lumens substantially equivalent to a lamp wherein the envelope inner surface is completely coated with a reflective barrier coating layer having no aperture, and a laser ablation process for creating the reflective barrier coating layer aperture.

Abstract: A mercury vapor discharge fluorescent lamp is provided having a phosphor layer that has a yttria-based red emitting rare earth phosphor. The phosphor layer is prepared from an aqueous phosphor slurry that is coated onto the inner surface of the glass envelope of the lamp, then baked in a lehring oven to vaporize or decompose non-phosphor components of the slurry to leave behind the finished phosphor layer. The phosphor slurry contains a non-ionizing thickener, preferably polyethylene oxide, but does not contain any calcium carbonate or carbonate salts. The phosphor layer includes a yttria-based red emitting rare earth phosphor.

Abstract: A T8 fluorescent lamp having a diameter of about 1 inch, the inert gas in the fill being 5-80 mole % neon, balance argon, the fill gas pressure being 1.5-5 torr, the lamp being operated at higher power such as a current of 250-1000 ma, to provide high light output such as for stage and studio applications.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp having phosphor blends to provide daylight (5500K) and tungsten (3200K) color when operated at higher current such as 250-1000 ma, to provide high light output such as for stage and studio applications.

Abstract: A mercury vapor discharge lamp having a barrier layer and a single phosphor layer. The phosphor layer comprises 10–50 weight percent halophosphors and 50–90 weight percent rare earth phosphors. The lamp has an Ra value of 70–81, more preferably 70–79, more preferably 75–79.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp with an ultraviolet reflecting barrier layer between the glass envelope and the phosphor layer(s). The barrier layer is a blend of gamma alumina, alpha alumina and theta alumina, such as 5–80 weight percent gamma alumina, 5–80 weight percent alpha alumina, and 5–80 weight percent theta alumina.

Abstract: A mercury vapor discharge fluorescent lamp is provided that has a mercury barrier. The mercury barrier is effective to inhibit mercury atoms from absorbing into the glass envelope and amalgamating with sodium atoms in the envelope. The mercury barrier is substantially non-mercury absorptive, both when the lamp is on and when it is off.

Abstract: A mercury vapor discharge fluorescent lamp is provided having a phosphor layer that has a yttria-based red emitting rare earth phosphor. The phosphor layer is prepared from an aqueous phosphor slurry that is coated onto the inner surface of the glass envelope of the lamp, then baked in a lehring oven to vaporize or decompose non-phosphor components of the slurry to leave behind the finished phosphor layer. The phosphor slurry contains a non-ionizing thickener, preferably polyethylene oxide, but does not contain any calcium carbonate or carbonate salts. The phosphor layer includes a yttria-based red emitting rare earth phosphor.

Abstract: A mercury vapor discharge lamp is provided having either a yttria-dispersed alumina barrier layer, or a yttria-dispersed phosphor layer with no barrier layer. The yttria-dispersed layer is preferably coated directly on the inner surface of the glass envelope of a fluorescent lamp, and substantially reduces mercury depletion via reaction with the glass envelope. Preferably, the yttria-dispersed layer also has a fine coating of yttria deposited over the surfaces of the coating particles, and over the inner surface of the glass envelope. A method of preparing a coating layer having such a yttria coating, and yttria particles uniformly dispersed therethrough, is also provided.

Abstract: A mercury vapor discharge lamp is provided having either a yttria-dispersed alumina barrier layer, or a yttria-dispersed phosphor layer with no barrier layer. The yttria-dispersed layer is preferably coated directly on the inner surface of the glass envelope of a fluorescent lamp, and substantially reduces mercury depletion via reaction with the glass envelope. Preferably, the yttria-dispersed layer also has a fine coating of yttria deposited over the surfaces of the coating particles, and over the inner surface of the glass envelope. A method of preparing a coating layer having such a yttria coating, and yttria particles uniformly dispersed therethrough, is also provided.

Abstract: A mercury vapor discharge fluorescent lamp is provided that has a mercury barrier. The mercury barrier is effective to inhibit mercury atoms from absorbing into the glass envelope and amalgamating with sodium atoms in the envelope. The mercury barrier is substantially non-mercury absorptive, both when the lamp is on and when it is off.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp (10) includes a coating (16) comprising a blue-green emitting halophosphate in combination with rare-earth phosphors, such as a red-emitting rare earth phosphor and a green-emitting rare earth phosphor. The blue-green emitting halophosphate replaces some or all of the blue-emitting rare earth phosphor conventionally used in lamps designed to have a high color rendition index (CRI). This combination of phosphors is preferably blended with a white-emitting halophosphate in a ratio of about 1:3, providing a blend which is suitable for providing a single coating layer for the lamp. The single layer coated lamp has a CRI which is comparable to that of a lamp formed with a conventional two phosphor layer coating process, without appreciably increasing the content of rare earth phosphors used.

Abstract: A process for recovering rare-earth phosphors from an interior of a lamp envelope (12). The interior of the envelope defines a wall and a base layer (14) is adhered to the wall. A coating layer (16) having the rare-earth phosphors is adhered to the base layer. The process includes flowing a gas through the envelope at a rate sufficient to remove particles of the coating layer but not the base layer. The process also includes collecting the particles of the coating layer, the particles containing the rare-earth phosphors. Lamp envelopes (12) having a base layer (14) and a phosphor coating layer (16) suitable for use with the recycling method are also discussed.