Abstract: An electrode-less plasma lamp, comprising generally of a bulb containing a gas-fill and light emitter(s) that is excited to produce light using radio-frequency (RF) energy. The present lamp includes compact air resonators/waveguides that use grounded coupling-elements with integrated bulb assemblies to reduce the size of the resonator and improve the performance of the lamp as well as reduce cost and simplify manufacturability.

Abstract: An electrodeless plasma lamp includes a bulb containing a gas-fill and light emitter(s) excited to produce light using radio-frequency (RF) energy. Input and output coupling elements separated from each other by a gap couple RF energy from an RF source to the bulb. One end of the input coupling element is electrically connected to an RF source while the other end is connected to ground. One end of the output coupling element is connected to ground while the other end is connected to the bulb.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to devices and methods for generating light with electrode-less plasma lamps. More particularly, the present invention provides plasma lamps driven by a radio-frequency source without the use of electrodes inside the bulb, and a pulse-width modulation device that provides RF power regulation, and related methods. The bulb comprises gaseous material with metal halides and/or light emitters that, when powered, substantially stays in an arc shape state. The switching pulse-width modulation device is operable at specific modulation frequencies, duty cycles, and durations to stabilize or control the arc state/mode, which enables consistent and high efficiencies.

Abstract: A plasma lamp apparatus includes a post structure with a material overlying a surface region of the post structure, which has a first end and a second end. The apparatus also has a helical coil structure configured along the post structure. The apparatus includes a bulb with a fill material capable of emitting electromagnetic radiation. A resonator coupling element configured to feed radio frequency energy to at least the helical coil causes the bulb device to emit electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: An electrodeless plasma lamp includes a bulb containing a gas-fill and light emitter(s) excited to produce light using radio-frequency (RF) energy. Input and output coupling elements separated from each other by a gap couple RF energy from an RF source to the bulb. One end of the input coupling element is electrically connected to an RF source while the other end is connected to ground. One end of the output coupling element is connected to ground while the other end is connected to the bulb.

Abstract: Described is an electrode-less plasma lamp comprising a gas-fill vessel, a gas-fill contained within the gas-fill vessel, an RF electromagnetic radiation source, an RF electromagnetic resonator, an output probe that couples RF energy from the RF electromagnetic resonator to the gas-fill vessel, an input probe that couples RF energy from the RF electromagnetic radiation source to the resonator, and a grounding strap that holds a metal veneer surrounding the resonator and a portion of the gas-fill vessel at RF ground. Also described are many variations of the electrode-less plasma lamp; non-limiting examples of which include embodiments that employ other probes in a Dielectric Resonant Oscillator to drive the lamp, and many methods of improving light-harvesting, including raising the gas-fill vessel away from the resonator via a coaxial type transmission line, and collecting light with an optical reflector.

Abstract: An RF electrodeless plasma lamp with improved efficiency in higher lumens per watt includes a waveguide body, in which an RF signal drives the entire structure at the resonant frequency of the structure. The resonant frequency of the structure is lowered by increasing the overall capacitance of the waveguide body by adding at least two layers of dielectric material between the input feed and the bulb of the lamp. The layered structure can include an air cavity disposed between a dielectric layer and the input feed. In lowering the resonant frequency of the lamp, the device is capable of using RF amplifiers that have higher efficiency, and thus has a higher lumens per watt ratio.

Abstract: An RF electrode-less plasma lighting device has a base member, which includes an outer region capable of being coupled to first AC potential and an inner region capable of being coupled to a second AC potential. In a preferred embodiment, the device has an RF module mechanically and integrally coupled to the base member. The RF module has an RF source, which has an output. The RF module has a first DC input and a second DC input. The first DC input of the RF module is coupled to a first DC potential and the second DC input of the RF module is coupled to a second DC potential. In a specific embodiment, the present device has an RF electrodeless plasma lighting assembly integrally coupled to the base member. The RF plasma lighting assembly has an RF input, which is coupled to the output of the RF source.

Abstract: An electrodeless plasma lamp array structure uses multiple plasma lamps to produce large amounts of electromagnetic radiation (visible, IR, UV, or a combination of visible, IR, and UV). An M by N array configuration is powered by either a single RF power source or multiple RF power sources. The array incorporates controllers to adjust the power delivered from the RF power source to each lamp within the array. By adjusting the delivered RF power, the intensity of electromagnetic radiation that is emitted from each lamp is controlled independently allowing for the creation of an array of lamps that emit electromagnetic radiation of varying intensity levels at different places within the array. Using lamps with different color temperatures as part of the array allows the color temperature and the color rendering index of the illumination to achieve different lighting conditions.

Abstract: A plasma lamp apparatus that includes an improved bulb support assembly to increase the lumens per watt output of the apparatus. The bulb support assembly includes a support structure that forms a cavity for receiving the bulb. The bulb is supported within the cavity though a protrusion that extends out from the support structure in a curved manner. By created a curved protrusion, the electric field within the resonating structure of the lamp apparatus is lowered. Lowering the electric field leads to lower resonating frequencies of the resonating structure. In lowering the resonating frequency, the resonating structure is driven to resonate at lower power levels, thereby increasing the lumens per watt output of the lamp apparatus.

Abstract: An electrodeless plasma lamp apparatus includes a waveguide body having at least a first material and a second material. At least one of the materials has a dielectric constant of less than two. In a specific embodiment, the apparatus also includes an RF power source coupled to the waveguide body to provide RF power to the waveguide body at least one frequency that resonates within the waveguide body. A bulb containing a fill which forms a plasma to cause emission of light when the RF power is provided to the waveguide body.

Abstract: An optical waveguide system with an electrodeless plasma lamp as the electromagnetic radiation source. The system includes an optic source coupling element that receives the electromagnetic radiation that is emitted from at least one electrodeless plasma lamp. The optic source coupling element is coupled to at least one optical waveguide element. The optical waveguide element includes at least one fiber optic cable that is capable of transmitting the emitted electromagnetic radiation. The fiber optic cable can be positioned such that the electromagnetic radiation is transmitted at a desired position away from the electrodeless plasma lamp source.

Abstract: An electrodeless plasma lamp includes a bulb containing a gas-fill and light emitter(s) excited to produce light using radio-frequency (RF) energy. Input and output coupling elements separated from each other by a gap couple RF energy from an RF source to the bulb. One end of the input coupling element is electrically connected to an RF source while the other end is connected to ground. One end of the output coupling element is connected to ground while the other end is connected to the bulb.

Abstract: An electrode-less plasma lamps comprises generally of a bulb containing a gas-fill that is excited to produce light using radio-frequency (RF) energy. In specific embodiments, the use of grounded coupling-elements with integrated bulb assemblies simplifies manufacturability, improves resonant frequency control, and enables the use of solid, partially filled, and hollow lamp bodies. In some embodiments, a method of operating an electrodeless plasma lamp device includes transferring RF energy from the RF source to an input coupling-element and illuminating electromagnetic energy substantially from the length of a gas-filled vessel from discharge of the gas-filled vessel.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to devices and methods for generating light with plasma lamps. More particularly, the present invention provides plasma lamps driven by a radio-frequency source without the use of electrodes inside the bulb and related methods. In a specific embodiment, a coaxial type coupling module is used to drive an electrodeless bulb. Merely by way of example, such plasma lamps can be applied to applications such as stadiums, security, parking lots, military and defense, street lighting, large and small buildings, vehicle headlamps, aircraft landing, bridges, warehouses, UV water treatment, agriculture, architectural lighting, stage lighting, medical illumination, microscopes, projectors and displays, any combination of these, and the like.

Abstract: A street lamp apparatus. The apparatus has a housing having an inner region and an outer region. In a specific embodiment, the inner region forms a cavity structure. The apparatus also has a transparent cover coupled to the housing to enclose the inner region and a socket being provided within the cavity structure. The apparatus has an electrodeless plasma lamp coupled to the socket. In a specific embodiment, the apparatus has an RF power source provided between the socket and an AC power source. In a specific embodiment, the RF power source is configured to generate a frequency of about 1 GHz and less to cause a fill material in the plasma lamp to discharge. In a specific embodiment, the apparatus has a heat sink provided form one or more portions of the housing. In a specific embodiment, the one or more portions of the housing is thermally coupled to the RF power source.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a coaxial waveguide electrodeless lamp. The lamp is formed in analogy to coaxial waveguide cables, with an outer conductor, a central conductor, and a gas-fill vessel made of dielectric material between the outer conductor and the inner conductor. The gas-fill vessel is substantially hollow and filled with substances that form a plasma and emit light when RF radiation carried by the central conductor and ground conductor interacts with the substances in the gas-fill vessel. The present invention also relates to a leaky waveguide electrodeless lamp. The lamp is formed in analogy to leaky waveguides, with a conductor, a ground conductor, and a gas-fill vessel made of dielectric material butted against the conductor and encompassed by the ground conductor. The leaky waveguide electrodeless lamp emits light from a plasma similar to light-emission action of the coaxial waveguide electrodeless lamp described above.

Abstract: A plasma electrodeless lamp comprises a substantially hollow metallic body, closely receiving two coupling elements, the first coupling element connected to the output of an RF amplifier, and the second coupling element connected to the input of an RF amplifier. The first coupling element is conductively connected (grounded) to metallic lamp body at its top surface, while the second coupling element is not. The lamp further comprises a vertical metallic post, the post being grounded to the metallic lamp body at the post's bottom surface. The lamp further comprises a dielectric sleeve which closely receives the metallic post, and which is in turn closely supported by the lamp body or alternatively or in combination a tuning stub. The lamp further comprises a bulb that is closely received by the metallic post, and that encloses a gas-fill which forms a radiant plasma when excited.