Abstract: An arc discharge lamp including a two-piece base member having a main housing and a cap disposed at opposite ends of the lamp envelope. The main housing of the base member includes elongated slots to enable the housing to expand outwardly in response to positioning of the press seal. At least one internally-protruding segment formed in the housing is positioned within a detent formed in the press seal region of the lamp. Following positioning of the press seal, the cap is secured to the main housing. The base member is thus secured to the ends of the lamp envelope without the need for basing cements or the like.

Abstract: A lamp assembly includes a sealed lamp envelope enclosing a filament, a screw shell connected to the lower portion of the envelope, and electrical leads extending from the filament into the screw shell. The screw shell has a bottom opening, in which is mounted an electronic control module. The electronic module is retained in the screw shell by an insulator. A spring is compressed between the electronic module and an exhaust tube on the lower portion of the envelope. One electrical lead is electrically coupled from the module through the spring to the filament, allowing the module to control the filament. The insulator defines a cavity for retention of the electronic module in a fixed position.

Abstract: An arc discharge lamp including an electrically insulative base member securely positioned at opposite ends of the lamp without the need for basing cements or the like. The base member includes at least one internally-protruding segment for positioning within a detent formed in the press seal region of the lamp. The base member functions to securedly retain the external portions of the lamp's electrical leads in a predetermined alignment.

Abstract: A reflector lamp includes a temperature resistant, plastic, tubular neck extender. The neck extender is disposed between a reflector and a base and is attached to the reflector and the base. The extender can be attached to the reflector by clamping eyelets or, alternatively, by an adhesive. The resulting lamp can be used in recessed lighting fixtures.

Abstract: An arc discharge lamp having an end-of-life structure and including a light-transmissive envelope having a tubular-shaped main body and a press seal disposed at each end of the main body. An electrode filament having a pair of ends is located in each end of the envelope. Each electrode filament end is in a contiguous relationship with an inside surface of the lamp envelope. When one of the electrode filaments is depleted of electron-emissive material, increased heating of the electrode filament caused by an increase in cathode fall voltage, produces a localized hot spot on the internal surface of the envelope. This localized heating causes a puncture in the lamp envelope and evacuation of the lamp. The introduction of external atmosphere into the lamp extinguishes the arc discharge and renders the lamp inoperable.

Abstract: A thermal switch assembly for use in electric lamps includes a bimetal element and a resilient conductor such as a tungsten wire. The conductor is mounted at an angle in the range of about 30.degree. to 45.degree. with respect to the plane of movement of the bimetal element and at an angle of about 90.degree. with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bimetal element. The edge of the bimetal element contacts the conductor at a closure temperature and moves with a sliding action along the conductor as the temperature increases above the closure temperature. As a result, the switch contacts are self cleaning. Since the switch components are subjected to very little stress at elevated temperatures, the switch assembly has a long operating life. The bimetal element and the conductor can be affixed to a mounting frame which facilitates installation of the thermal switch assembly.

Abstract: By controlling the temperature of a glass reservoir tube attached to a closed vapor cell, the vapor pressure inside the cell can be accurately controlled. The apparatus for controlling the reservoir temperature includes an electric heater, a temperature sensor, heat straps to distribute and remove heat from the reservoir, and a clamp to hold the apparatus in close thermal contact with the exterior of the reservoir. An external control circuit energizes the reservoir heater as required. In the preferred embodiment the vapor cell functions as an optical filter when filled with a heated metallic vapor such as cesium. The reservoir tube functions as the cold spot of the cell and contains a small pool of the metal in liquid form.This invention was made with Government support under N66001-86-R-0050 awarded by the Department of the Navy. The Government has certain rights in this invention.

Abstract: An electric lamp is provided having an outer envelope or jacket with a lamp base attached thereto, the lamp base having an aperture extending therethrough. A sealed inner capsule is supported within the outer envelope and electrically connected to the lamp base and to an electrically conductive elongated member one end of which engages an inner wall of the outer envelope and an opposite end of which extends through the aperture in the lamp base. A spring is provided which urges the one end of the elongated member against the inner wall and which will urge the opposite end of the elongated member out of the aperture if the envelope is broken thereby disconnecting voltage to a lead of the inner capsule.

Abstract: A plug-in lamp assembly for use as a picture element in an information display screen includes a plurality of low-pressure arc discharge lamps for selectively generating multiple colors, a lamp plug for interconnection and mounting of the discharge lamps, and a lamp socket for plug-in attachment of the lamp plug. Each discharge lamp has electrical leads extending from a first end thereof and a light output region at a second end thereof. The lamp plug comprises a base having spaced-apart electrical connector pins and a cap attached to the base. The first ends of the discharge lamps extend through openings in the top wall of the cap into the lamp plug, and selected electrical leads are coupled to the electrical connector pins. The lamp plug and the lamp socket include openings for directing cooling air over the first ends of the discharge lamps.

Abstract: A motor vehicle headlight module includes a lens and reflector assembly and a capsule-connector assembly. The reflector comprises an elongated neck portion forming a substantially rectangular chamber opening into the lens and reflector assembly and extending rearwardly therefrom, the rear of the chamber terminating in a groove of defined width extending around the periphery of the chamber. The capsule-connector assembly is provided with a forwardly projecting lighting capsule and a flange having a forwardly facing tongue of less thickness than the groove width and aligned for mating engagement in the groove. A plurality of spaced ribs are disposed on the outer surface of the rectangular chamber to contact the capsule-connector flange at their rearward ends. At least two of the rib ends are tacked to the capsule-connector flange to maintain the lighting capsule in proper location during the setting of an adhesive material disposed in the reflector groove.

Abstract: This invention provides an improved electric lamp with a self-mounting frame member for mounting a light source capsule within an outer envelope. The improvement lies in the lamp's inclusion of means for substantially preventing rotational movement of the frame member when the frame member is mounted and secured by a base member. Rotational movement preventing means is located about the outer envelope's neck portion and forms part of the frame member. Rotational movement preventing means includes a grooveless brim on the neck portion, a pair of grooves on the outer surface of the neck portion and a frame member with mounting means positioned about the brim and mated with the grooves of the neck portion.

Abstract: A motor vehicle headlight module wherein the reflector includes a dual chambered protruding rear portion, a pair of conductive terminals securedly positioned within this rear portion, a contact member including an insulative body portion and a pair of electrical contacts positioned thereon and a lighting capsule (e.g., low wattage tungsten halogen) designed for being initially secured to the contact member such that this assembly (capsule-contact member) can then be precisely oriented within a first of the two chambers of the reflector. During such positioning, the contacts of the contact member are electrically connected (e.g., laser welded) to the pair of conductive terminals, respectively. An external connector (e.g., forming part of the vehicle's electrical circuitry) may then be positioned within the second chamber and thus electrically coupled to the precisely oriented capsule, said connection being established through the positioned conductive terminals.

Abstract: A lamp holder assembly for use with an incandescent fixture includes a first housing having a central body portion and a protruding portion surrounded by a base shell consisting of an insulative second housing and an electrically conductive shell. A first electrical contact means is coaxially disposed at one end of the protruding portion and a second electrical contact means is secured to the protruding portion for contacting the electrically conductive shell. A means for permitting a predetermined amount of rotational movement of the base shell relative to the protruding portion is provided.

Abstract: A lamp holder assembly for use with an incandescent fixture includes a base that provides a predetermined amount of rotational movement relative to the housing to allow proper orientation of the assembly with respect to the incandescent fixture. In one embodiment, a rib located on the internal surface of the base engages an arcuate-shaped projecting member at two spaced apart positions of movement. The spaced apart positions of movement define the amount of rotational movement which preferably is 180.degree..

Abstract: A lamp holder assembly includes a first housing having a central body portion and a protruding portion surrounded by a base shell and a retainer member secured to the protruding portion of the first housing. A means for permitting a predetermined amount of rotational movement of the base shell relative to the protruding portion and the retainer member is provided.

Abstract: A lamp holder and ballast containing assembly has a body provided with cooling louvers. Internally positioned baffle plates are associated with the louvers and serve to position a transformer while at the same time protecting the winding thereof.

Abstract: A holder for circular fluorescent lamps has a central body with a pair of arms terminating in lamp holding means. The lamp holding means include lamp receiving openings which are arrayed orthogonal to one another.