Abstract: A cation-treated silicate phosphor and fluorescent lamp made therefrom are provided wherein the 100 hour radiance maintenance is significantly improved. The cation treatment method involves adding an amount of a silicate phosphor to a salt solution containing a cation wherein the ratio of cation to phosphor in the solution is from about 1:2 to about 4:1 moles of cation to moles of phosphor. The solution is then stirred for a time sufficient to cause the cation to attach to the phosphor surface to form a cation-treated phosphor. The cation-treated phosphor is separated from the solution and annealed at a temperature and for a time sufficient to increase radiance maintenance of the cation-treated phosphor.

Abstract: An electric filament incandescent in lamp, in particular a halogen incandent lamp (9) with a rotationally symmetrical lamp bulb (10) and I.R. radiation reflecting coating (14), has an ellipsoidal partial contour. The ellipsoidal partial contour of the lamp bulb is produced by an elliptical section, the large semiaxis, and, consequently focal axis of which is oriented vertically to the longitudinal axis, i.e. vertically to the rotational axis of the lamp bulb (10). The length of the large semiaxis (a) lies preferably in the range R<a<R+5.multidot.w.sub.r, wherein R and w.sub.r respectively stand for the greatest radius of the lamp bulb (10) and the radius of the cylindrical luminous element (15). The lamp (9) is characterized by uniform back reflection of the I.R. radiation onto the cylindrical luminous element (15) arranged centrically on-axis inside the lamp bulb (10), and thus by a regular temperature distribution, as well as by increased lamp efficiency.

Abstract: An illuminating apparatus which comprises a light source, an optical system for condensing light emitted from the light source and illuminating an object with the condensed light, and an optical member which absorbs light having a wavelength from 260 to 340 nm among the light emitted from the light source, wherein the optical member is made of glass or crystalline material to which metal is doped.

Abstract: A neon discharge lamp provided with a powder coating with an appropriate particle size of used powder, is applied on an inner surface of a tubular bulb to the extent nearly equal to or more the length of an electrode portion, along the longitudinal axis of said tubular bulb. The phenomenon of neon gas being encompassed by way of cathode sputtering is prevented and the shortened operating life of the neon discharge lamp of this kind by way of cathode sputtering is also prevented.

Abstract: An electrodeless discharge lamp comprises a sealed discharge vessel containing a fill capable of sustaining a discharge when suitably energized, and circuitry for energizing a solenoid to produce an RF electromagnetic field in the vessel to energize the fill. A light transmissive, inherently conductive, polymer layer is provided on the exterior of the discharge vessel for confining the RF field within the lamp. An outer, insulating layer may also be provided over the conductive layer.

Abstract: A lamp capsule includes a lamp envelope having a tubular portion and a dome closing one end of the tubular portion, a light source mounted in the lamp envelope on or near its central axis for emitting light when energized by electrical energy and a light attenuating coating over the dome. The dome has a shape that traps light emitted by the light source in the direction of the dome. The dome may be shaped such that a dome angle between a tangent to the interior surface of the dome and the central axis of the lamp envelope is 45.degree. or less. The dome may be shaped as a hyperbolic surface of revolution. The lamp capsule is typically used in a vehicle headlamp and provides low glare.

Abstract: A lamp assembly comprises a incandescent lamp capable of generating light. The incandescent lamp comprises a incandescent lamp tube and at least one filament. The assembly also comprises a shroud separate from the incandescent lamp and mounted in communication with the lamp tube on an exterior of the incandescent lamp tube. The shroud also comprises a coating disposed on the reflecting section of the shroud for reflecting energy having predetermined wavelengths emitted by the incandescent lamp. The shroud comprises a reflecting section disposed about the incandescent lamp tube, where the geometry of the shroud generally conforms to the geometry of the at least one filament of the lamp, to reflect energy having predetermined wavelengths back substantially toward the incandescent lamp and focusing the reflected energy generally at the at least one filament of the incandescent lamp so as to increase the output from the assembly.

Abstract: A lamp for a halogen lamp a single-tube, high-intensity discharge lamp, a double-tube high-intensity discharge lamp having an outer housing formed of quartz, and the like, being characterized in that a film having desirable heat conductivity and emissivity is formed on the surface of each sealing portion thereof, whereby the temperature at the distal end of the molybdenum foil in the sealing portion away from the center of the bulb can be kept at about 350.degree. C. or less while the lamp is burning.

Abstract: A discharge lamp is provided with a tubular discharge vessel having an internal diameter of at most 5 mm, with a luminescent screen, and with a filling which comprises mercury and a rare gas. The rare gas comprises more than 98 mole % neon, and the luminescent screen comprises a first group and a second group of luminescent substances, which first group comprises luminescent substances for converting UV radiation generated by mercury into visible light, and which second group comprises luminescent substances for converting the UV radiation generated by neon into visible light. The discharge lamp has a comparatively high luminous flux immediately after ignition even in cold surroundings.

Abstract: Thin film interference filter consists of alternating first and second layers, the first layers being silica, the second layers being a mixture of tantala and niobia. The filter may be used on a high temperature lamp in an inert atmosphere if the niobia in the mixture is less than 40% by weight. For higher percentages a partial pressure of oxygen has been found to prevent blackening of the layers.

Abstract: A barium magnesium aluminate phosphor having improved maintenance and efficiency is provided. The novel phosphor is suitable for use in conventional fluorescent lamp applications and applications utilizing VUV excitation, including Xe excimer lamps and plasma display panels.

Abstract: Upon generating arc discharge by inputting electric power which changes at a predetermined frequency to the discharge lamp horizontally disposed so as to operate the discharge lamp, the predetermined frequency is a frequency such that the arc discharge is excited substantially in a linear shape by acoustic resonance; and a value of the electric power to be input to the discharge lamp is set so that an input power value per unit inner volume of an arc tube of the discharge lamp falls within a predetermined range which is determined depending on a shape of the arc tube, thereby suppressing a strip-shaped adhesion of a sealed material of the arc tube to a tube wall in the vicinity of a center portion of the arc tube.

Abstract: A high intensity lamp is provided based on an open discharge between a cathode grid anode and a collector. A phosphor layer on the collector is excited by an electron beam to produce light or ultraviolet radiation to produce light.

Abstract: The envelope (6) of a light source is at least partly coated with electrochromic material (20), sandwiched between two conductive layers (21,22). A voltage applied to the electrochromic material by way of the conductive layers varies the intensity and/or color of the light from the source.

Abstract: A light bulb type fluorescent lamp which is able to suppress generation of electromagnetic waves and to emit beneficial far infrared rays. The light bulb type fluorescent lamp includes a bioceramic material applied to the inner surfaces of an injection housing which contains a stabilizer and other parts. The bioceramic effectively weakens the strength of the electromagnetic waves generated by the stabilizer to minimize damage to electronic equipment. At the same time, the bioceramic emits far infrared rays which benefit the human body, provide a comfortable living environment and raise the efficiency of the body.

Abstract: A yellow bug lamp whose coating is cadmium-free. The coating comprises sulfate precipitated silica, aluminum silicate pigment, zirconium praseodymiun yellow zircon and nickel titanium yellow rutile and has color coordinates of x=0.5341 to 0.5406 and y=0.4400 to 0.4378.

Abstract: The electric lamp has an information-displaying external coating (3) which is provided on the lamp envelope. The coating (3) comprises a metal oxide as the pigment, which is dispersed in a polysiloxane matrix which may contain lithium. The coating (3) is obtained by using a marking ink, which may be applied by means of an ink jet printing process.

Abstract: An electrodeless fluorescent lamp having an envelope with an improved shape. The invented shape is shorter and the light-trapping area near the neck is substantially reduced or eliminated. The ratio of the operational width to the operational height of the envelope is preferably at least 1.5 and the reflector face angle is preferably less than 40.degree..

Abstract: An electrodeless high intensity discharge lamp includes a light-transmissive arc tube for containing a plasma arc discharge, the arc tube having a top and a bottom and a side wall with a fill disposed therein. The fill includes at least one metal halide and a buffer gas. The arc tube has a wall with an interior surface having an annular region around the central extent of the side wall. The interior surface of the arc tube wall is smooth over the majority of its extent but has a liquid-stabilizing roughened surface in the annular region.

Abstract: There is provided a fluorescent lamp comprising a tubular glass bulb, a fluorescent layer formed on an inner surface of the tubular glass, an external electrode provided on an outer surface of the tubular glass bulb, and an internal electrode provided on the inner surface of the tubular glass bulb, wherein the internal electrode formed from a conductive member is fixed on the inner surface of the tubular glass bulb by a glass having a low melting point to be in close contact with the inner surface of the tubular glass bulb. This makes it possible to arrange the tubular glass bulb and the internal electrode which have different thermal expansion coefficients without any problem due to resonance with vibration.

Abstract: A lamp apparatus includes an electrodeless bulb that includes a chamber, a gas contained within the chamber in the bulb, and at least one reflector electrode adjacent the bulb for transmitting radio-frequency electromagnetic energy to the gas in the bulb to excite the gas and cause it to radiate light and for reflecting the light radiated from the bulb. Preferably, there are two reflectors electrodes. The bulb can advantageously be made of a tube, in which case the reflectors electrodes can be made shorter than the bulb and centered thereon so that the intense heat caused by the plasma when the gas is excited does not reach the ends of the bulb.

Abstract: There is provided an aperture type fluorescent lamp comprising a tubular bulb, an electrode, and a fluorescent layer formed on an inner surface of said tubular bulb in an axial direction of the tubular bulb, an aperture portion provided in said fluorescent layer along the axial direction of the tubular bulb so as to be made the aperture portion as a radiation portion, wherein said aperture portion comprises an aperture portion fluorescent layer having a thickness smaller than the fluorescent layer of other portions. The fluorescent lamp according to the present invention makes it possible to eliminate nonuniformitiy in illuminance.

Abstract: A low-pressure mercury discharge lamp having emission maxima in three spectral regions, provided with a gastight, radiation-transmitting discharge vessel with a gas filling comprising mercury and rare gas. A luminescent layer comprises at least a first luminescent material with an emission maximum in the 590-630 nm region and a second luminescent material with an emission maximum in the 520-565 nm region. The first luminescent material contains a compound defined by the formulaM1.sub.x M2.sub.(1-x-y)BO.sub.3 : Eu.sup.+3.sub.y,in which M1 is selected from the group consisting of Sc, In and Lu, and M2 is selected from the group consisting of Sc, Y, La, Gd, Ga, In and Lu, in which M1 differs from M2, in which x.gtoreq.0 and 0.01.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.2, and in which the compound has the calcite lattice structure.

Abstract: A luminous gas discharge display including two opposing hermetically sealed plates and a pair of low profile electrode assemblies. At least one of the plates is formed of a transparent material and at least one of the plates includes at least one channel terminating in at least one opening through the plate containing an ionizable gas to define a gas discharge path. The electrode assemblies are positioned externally of the glass plates and in communication with channel. Each electrode assembly includes an outer substrate, an intermediate conductive layer deposited on the outer substrate and an inner emissive layer deposited on the intermediate conductive layer opposite the opening. The intermediate conductive layer provides electrical contact between a voltage source and the inner emissive layer to ionize the ionizable gas and produce a gas discharge display.

Abstract: A highly safe fluorescent lamp is disclosed, in a mixed layer having couplings of phosphors and a metal oxide such as yttrium oxide is formed on the inner surface of a glass bulb. The couplings of the mixed layer strongly couples the grains arranged in crosslinked state between the phosphor grains of the phosphor material. A first thin film of the metal oxide is formed between the glass bulb and the mixed layer. A second thin film of the same metal oxide is formed on the inner surface of the mixed layer nearer to the bulb center. The amount of mercury sealed in the glass bulb thus is reduced, thereby minimizing the mercury consumption which has so far been the problem against environmental protection.

Abstract: There is provided an improved fluorescent lamp comprising a tubular glass bulb, an internal electrode provided inside of said tubular glass bulb, a fluorescent layer provided on an inner surface of said tubular glass bulb, an external electrode having an opening portion and provided on an outer surface of said tubular glass bulb, and a heat radiation sheet fitly provided on said tubular glass bulb, in which a temperature rise in the glass bulb caused by heat generated by discharge at the time of lighting is inhibited by the heat radiation function of the heat radiation sheet and a reduction in the illuminance caused thereby can also be inhibited.

Abstract: Sodium loss, free halide build-up, devitrification and wall etching of the arc chamber are substantially reduced in an electrodeless HID metal halide arc discharge lamp by a protective metal silicate coating present only on the interior, equatorial portion of the arc chamber wall which is closest to the arc plasma. Suitable coatings include a metal silicate of a metal selected from the group consisting essentially of scandium, yttrium, beryllium, rare earth metal and mixture thereof.

Abstract: A discharge lamp in which ultraviolet radiation of short wavelengths can be advantageously cut and in which the amount of emitted light (i-line) of 365 nm wavelength can be increased is achieved according to the invention by providing a quartz glass arc tube that is coated with a plurality of coating layers which include a layer which has Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 as the main component, and at least one additional coating layer which has a refraction coefficient which differs from the refraction coefficient of the coating layer having the Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 main component. These layers act to prevent the reflection of light with a wavelength of 365 nm which is incident on the coatings on the arc tube and to cut at least 50% of the ultraviolet radiation having wavelengths of 230 nm or less. According to the invention, the coating layers can be provided on the outer side of the arc tube, on the inner side of the arc tube, or on both on the inner and outer sides of the arc tube.

Abstract: An afterglow lamp has a light emitting section for converting electric energy to optical energy. A fluorescent layer is excited to emit-light by the light emitting section and is represented by the general formula (M.sub.1-p-q, Eu.sub.p Q.sub.q)O.multidot.n(Al.sub.1-m B.sub.m).sub.2 O.sub.3 .multidot.kP .sub.2 O.sub.5 .multidot..alpha.X. The values of p, q, n, m, k, .alpha. and .alpha./n are in the ranges 0.0001.ltoreq.p.ltoreq.0.5, 0.0001.ltoreq.q.ltoreq.0.5, 0.5.ltoreq.n.ltoreq.3.0, O.ltoreq.m.ltoreq.0.5, O.ltoreq.k.ltoreq.0.2, O.ltoreq..alpha..ltoreq.0.5, and O.ltoreq..alpha./n.ltoreq.0.4. M is at least one selected from a group of divalent metals including Mg; Q is a coactivator and at least one selected from a group including Mn, Zr, Nb, Pr, Nd, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu; and X is at least one selected from halogen elements.

Abstract: High pressure sodium arc vapor discharge lamps employing an alumina arc tube exhibit less voltage rise and better lumen maintenance over the life of the lamp when the arc tube is coated with an oxide of a metal selected from the group consisting essentially of yttrium, zirconium, hafnium, lanthanum, dysprosium, scandium and mixture thereof.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp having no more than one layer inside the glass envelope, the one layer being a phosphor-containing layer which is at least 20 weight percent alumina. The phosphor-containing layer preferably comprises a rare earth triphosphor blend.

Abstract: An electrodeless fluorescent lamp having an emission suppression arrangement utilizing a capacitive filtering element formed by a first conductive layer disposed on a portion of the interior surface of the lamp envelope, a second conductive layer on a corresponding external portion of the lamp envelope and the glass material of the lamp envelope disposed therebetween, achieves significant emission reduction yet at the same time reduces eddy current losses otherwise occurring at the second conductive coating portion of the capacitive filtering element. A plurality of slots formed in the second conductive coating are effective so as to reduce the circular flow of eddy currents around the second conductive layer, such eddy currents as would otherwise adversely affect the Q of the circuit.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for enhancing the performance of visual display units which utilize plasma display panels. More specifically, the present invention provides methods and apparatus for providing an optically enhancing/noise suppressing device for positioning in front of the viewing surface of a plasma display panel. The device also increases the impact resistance of the PDP. The device of the present invention is manufactured separately from the PDP. The device may be provided with attachment means for securing the device to the surface of the visual display unit in a position in front of the viewing surface of the PDP or may be designed to be free-hanging, i.e., suspended, or otherwise positioned in front of the viewing surface of the PDP.

Abstract: An electrodeless fluorescent lamp having a lamp envelope with an inner phosphor coating and containing a fill capable of sustaining a discharge when suitably excited by an electric field includes an electrically conductive coating on the exterior of the lamp envelope. The electrically conductive coating is also light transmissive and is effective for confining the electric field to within the lamp envelope.

Abstract: Disclosed is a phosphor suitable for use in a cathode-ray tube, a fluorescent lamp, a radiation intensifying screen, which comprises transparent spherical particles having an average particle size of 0.5 to 20 .mu.m and a ratio of the major diameter to the minor diameter of individual particles in the range of 1.0 to 1.5, and ultrafine particles having a diameter of 0.2 .mu.m or less in an amount of 5 wt % or less.

Abstract: An electrodeless fluorescent reflector lamp has a discharge vessel containing a fill, a solenoid in a reentrant and indium on the inner wall of the vessel acting as a primary amalgam. A secondary amalgam of indium may be provided on the reentrant.The primary amalgam is preferably under an insulative skirt. The vessel has a light reflective coating on the inner wall under the skirt.The exhaust tube is tipped off at the proximal end of the reentrant or is omitted, the vessel being tipped off at the distal end of the reentrant.

Abstract: A substantially flat, gas filled, arc discharge fluorescent lamp having an internal path in which the arc travels, where the path is formed by vertical sections between a substantially flat top and bottom surface. The path length can be controlled along with the height of the lamp to provide a wide range of lumens per unit volume while improving lamp life at low cost. A reflective coating, formed adjacent to the phosphor coating within the path, directs light to where wanted, while obviating the need for a separate reflector in the lamp fixture. One application of the present inventive lamp is to replace incandescent lamps by virtue of being mechanically interchangeable by virtue of having the flexibility for accommodating a small ballast within the lamp assembly.

Abstract: A coaxial flashlamp for optical pumping of a tunable dye laser. The flashlamp includes electrodes preferably made from a tungsten-based alloy for reduced metallic vapor deposition within the flashlamp. Positioned around the outer tube is a packed powder material having a diffuse reflectivity of the order of at least about 98%. The outer surface of the outer tube is placed under an inwardly-directed pressure provided by a pressurized cooling liquid that serves both to cool the flashlamp and simultaneously to offset internally generated pressure within the flashlamp caused by the pressure wave resulting from the movement of the ionization front through the gas within the annular gas chamber defined between the inner and outer tubes.

Abstract: In a quartz glass tube body for high-pressure discharge lamp, the devitrification occurs during lighting, a light flux decreases and finally the useful life ends, where the main cause of this devitrification phenomenon is reaction between a sealed substance and the quartz glass tube body. It is one object of the present invention to attain the longer useful life, for example, of a high-pressure discharge lamp by preventing such a phenomenon. According to the present invention, a coating is made up by forming one or more oxynitride layers of an element chosen from among aluminum, tantalum, niobium, vanadium, chromium, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, yttrium, scandium, magnesium, silicon and lanthanum rare earth elements.

Abstract: A discharge vessel for an electrodeless lamp having a pair of substantially parallel front and back walls. In one implementation, the front wall of the discharge vessel has a collimating structure, e.g a fresnel lens, for directing the light in a preferential direction such as in a flood light. In another implementation, the flat discharge vessel is quadrilateral and together with one or more quadrilateral excitation coils can be used as a backlight for a flat panel display. In yet another implementation, a cup-shaped discharge vessel with a collimating structure on the front wall is used in an electrodeless lamp for a task lighting such as a spot light.

Abstract: A phosphor binding material and process is shown and described for LCD backlight systems. The improved process provides a residual phosphor binding material transparent to UV light. No UV light energy is lost to absorption in the binding material and more UV light energy is used to produce visible light. Because the UV light is better utilized in the production of visible light, overall lamp efficiency is improved.

Abstract: An incandescent lamp has an envelope including a cylindrical portion and two hemispherical portions. Each hemispherical portion includes a second order curve which has a focus and is connected at one end of the cylindrical portion, respectively. A filament is provided along the central axis of the envelope and is located within and extends beyond a space surrounded by the cylindrical portion. An optical interference layer is arranged on a surface of the envelope to reflect infrared rays and transmit visible rays.

Abstract: Manufacture of a substantially flat compact fluorescent lamp using a molded cup-like continuous concentric (spiralled) channel and a circular plate, resembling a lid for the cup. The cup with the channel is coated with a light reflective layer followed by a phosphor layer (whereas the lid, on one side, is coated with the phosphor layer only) and has two holes through which two electrodes are sealed such that one of the said holes has, in addition to the electrode, an integral exhaust tubulation. The space between the cup and the lid is filled with a material capable of emitting ultraviolet under electrical excitation. Electrical discharge created between the electrodes, strictly follows the path of the channel physically imposed by the sealed structure, in spite of a nonsealed contact of the top surface of the channel walls and the plane surface of the lid. On absorption of the ultra-violet from the discharge, the phosphor emits visible radiation.

Abstract: A flat compact fluorescent lamp is disclosed. The lamp contains a fill of mercury and inert gas. The lamp includes a glass front panel (1) having an inner surface and a glass bottom panel (2) also having an inner surface. A convoluted glass partition (3) having an eccentric spiral shape and smooth bends is disposed between the inner surfaces of the front and bottom panels and with the bottom panel (2) defines a channel (4) in the lamp. The channel (4) has a fairly uniform width. A phosphor coating (6) of a predetermined density between about 3 and 5 mg./cm.sup.2 is disposed on the inner surface of the channel (4) and a phosphor coating (8) of a predetermined density of between about 0.5 and 1.5 mg./cm.sup.2 is disposed on the inner surface of the front panel (1). Two electrodes (14a & 14b) are disposed at opposite ends of the spiral in the lamp to form an arc which emits UV light to excite the phosphor (6 & 8) to emit light.

Abstract: A metal halide arc discharge lamp rated for not more than 150 watts and 100 volts and which can be operated in either a horizontal or vertical position without a significant change in color temperature or lumen output has an ellipsoidal arc chamber mounted within a nitrogen-containing outer envelope. The arc chamber contains a pair of electrodes, mercury and sodium and scandium iodides and is coated at each end with a heat reflective coating. The chamber aspect ratio, electrode insertion length, metal halide density, coating length and wall loading are defined within narrow ranges.

Abstract: An optical interference coating for reflecting infrared radiation and transmitting visible radiation. The coating includes three spectrally adjacent, multiperiod dielectric stacks. Two of the dielectric stacks are shortwave pass stacks. The third dielectric stack contains seven alternating layers of high and low refractive index materials.

Abstract: A metal halide gas discharge lamp for projection purposes includes a discge vessel closed at both ends preferably has between the electrodes a central frosted partial area applied on the outer surface of the discharge vessel. The relationship 0.1<B.ltoreq.1, preferably 0.4<B/d<0.8, applies to the quotients of the width B of the frosted partial area by the inter-electrode gap d. The lamp is optionally provided on one or both sides with heat build-up coatings. The lamp advantageously forms a unit with an optical reflector.

Abstract: A compact fluorescent lamp is provided in a coiled or helical configuration in order to maximize the length of discharge tubing for a given height. A non-uniform coating of phosphor is provided on the interior surface of the discharge envelope to inhibit light otherwise directed inwardly into the lamp toward a longitudinal axis of the helical configuration and redirect the light outwardly through an outer circumferential portion having a thinner phosphor coating. This results in increased light output for an given lamp geometry and lamp power.

Abstract: An electrodeless fluorescent lamp comprises a sealed lamp vessel containing a fill capable of sustaining a discharge when suitably excited. The fill is excited by an RF electromagnetic field produced by a winding energized by an RF oscillator powered via a rectifier from the mains. To confine the RF field within the vessel a conductive coating FTO is provided inside the vessel. To at least reduce conducted interference a conductive coating A1 is provided on the outside of the vessel G. The coating A1 is electrically coupled (e.g., via 7) to RF ground which may be one side of the mains. An electrically insulative housing covers the coating A1. The housing which extends to a zone of maximum diameter of the vessel may grip the vessel.

Abstract: In a discharge lamp having a discharge medium sealed in a discharge tube assembly including electrodes for producing a discharge, a nitride layer is formed on a surface of an envelope tube of the discharge tube assembly. The nitride layer is formed by substituting an oxygen component of an oxide constituting the tube wall of the envelope tube with nitrogen, and exhibits a continuous and smooth reduction in nitride content in the direction of depth. This chemically stable nitride layer prevents a reaction between the discharge medium and the tube wall material, and removal or injection of the discharge medium. In addition, since the nitride layer also exhibits a continuous change in thermal expansion coefficient in the direction of depth, the thermal stress is reduced, and cracking, peeling, removal, and the like do not occur.