Abstract: A screen (49) including mesh portions (47 and 48) for a discharge lamp (46) bears a protective coating which inhibits degradation of the screen under lamp operating conditions. The coating does not absorb microwave energy, is transparent or reflective to visible light, and is capable of protecting the screen for at least several thousand hours of operation without substantial oxidation or tarnishing of the screen. The coating remains on the screen at screen temperatures above about 300 degrees C, and the coating does not significantly crack as the screen heats and cools. The coating may include, for example, a solgel deposited single phase or two phase glass.

Abstract: An electrodeless discharge lamp apparatus includes an electrodeless discharge lamp, a microwave resonator, and a microwave coupler. The microwave resonator includes a conductive reflecting mirror having an opening, a conductive shield, and two opposing external electrodes provided substantially on a central axis of the reflecting mirror. The electrodeless discharge lamp is disposed between the opposing external electrodes. The focal point of the reflecting mirror is positioned between the opposing external electrodes. When microwave energy is supplied to the microwave resonator via the microwave coupler, a microwave resonant electric field occurs between the opposing external electrodes, whereby discharge of the electrodeless discharge lamp occurs.

Abstract: The invention is a microwave powered lamp (100) and an assembly (300) of a microwave powered lamp.

Abstract: A fluorescent illuminating apparatus includes an inductive-resistive structure that induces fluorescence in a fluorescent lamp when an electric current is passed through the inductive-resistive structure while an electric potential is applied across the fluorescent lamp A source of rippled/pulsed direct current is responsive to a control sub-circuit, which outputs a lamp voltage signal representative of the electric potential to be applied to the fluorescent lamp. A power supply sub-circuit is responsive to the control sub-circuit and imposes the electric potential at the value indicated by the lamp voltage signal. A method of inducing fluorescence includes passing a current through an inductive structure adjacent to a fluorescent lamp.

Abstract: A air provided microwave powered lamp (100) and an assembly (300) of a microwave powered lamp.

Abstract: An electrodeless compact fluorescent lamp operated at a frequency from 50 KHz to 1000 KHz and RF power from 10 W to 40 W is described. The lamp includes a bulbous glass envelope (1) filled with rare gas and metal vapor, reentrant glass cavity (2), an induction coil (6) made from Litz wire, a ferrite assembly comprising a ferrite core (7) and MnZn ferrite disk (11), a cooling structure comprising a metal (or ceramic) tube (8) positioned inside the ferrite core (7) and a metal (or ceramic) unit (9) that transmits the heat from the cavity and ferrite assembly to the Edison socket (10), a thermal shield (12), and a driver and matching network located inside the lamp base (13). A protective coating (15) and phosphor coating (16) are coated on the inner surface of the envelope (1) and reentrant cavity (2). The reflective coating (17) made from alumina is coated on the inner surface of the cavity (2) and on the outer surface of the envelope bottom (4).

Abstract: Visible light emission is obtained from a plasma containing elemental barium including neutral barium atoms and barium ion species. Neutral barium provides a strong green light emission in the center of the visible spectrum with a highly efficient conversion of electrical energy into visible light. By the selective excitation of barium ionic species, emission of visible light at longer and shorter wavelengths can be obtained simultaneously with the green emission from neutral barium, effectively providing light that is visually perceived as white. A discharge vessel contains the elemental barium and a buffer gas fill therein, and a discharge inducer is utilized to induce a desired discharge temperature and barium vapor pressure therein to produce from the barium vapor a visible light emission. The discharge can be induced utilizing a glow discharge between electrodes in the discharge vessel as well as by inductively or capacitively coupling RF energy into the plasma within the discharge vessel.

Abstract: A dimmable electrodeless light source includes an electrodeless lamp, an electronic ballast and a dimming module. The light source further includes coupling transformers coupled to the electrodeless lamp for inductively coupling power to the lamp to generate light. An auxiliary winding electromagnetically coupled to the primary winding of at least one of the coupling transformers is driven by switching circuitry in the dimming module. The switching circuitry is pulse width modulated to control the average brightness of the light generated by the electrodeless lamp. An exemplary application for the dimmable electrodeless light source is as a backlight for a video display device, such as a liquid crystal display unit. The dimmable electrodeless light source further includes a magnetic shield device that is operably positioned with respect to the electrodeless lamp.

Abstract: An electrodeless microwave discharge lamp includes a substantially sealed microwave cavity, an envelope disposed within the sealed cavity, the envelope containing a fill which emits light when excited by microwave energy, and means for circulating air inside the sealed microwave cavity. For example, the means for circulating air includes a ceramic reflector inside the cavity with defined air flow channels. The lamp may further include a fan for moving air through the defined air flow channels. For example, the envelope is adapted to rotate during operation and blades are mounted on the stem of the bulb inside the sealed cavity. A sealed light distribution system includes a hollow light pipe having an opening at one end and an annular ring of elastomeric material secured to the open end of the light pipe. When used with a lamp with a reflector, the reflector is received in the opening of the ring and the ring forms a seal around the outside of the reflector.

Abstract: An ultra bright, low wattage inductively coupled electrodeless aperture lamp is powered by a solid state RF source in the range of several tens to several hundreds of watts at various frequencies in the range of 400 to 900 MHz. Numerous novel lamp circuits and components are disclosed including a wedding ring shaped coil having one axial and one radial lead, a high accuracy capacitor stack, a high thermal conductivity aperture cup and various other aperture bulb configurations, a coaxial capacitor arrangement, and an integrated coil and capacitor assembly. Numerous novel RF circuits are also disclosed including a high power oscillator circuit with reduced complexity resonant pole configuration, parallel RF power FET transistors with soft gate switching, a continuously variable frequency tuning circuit, a six port directional coupler, an impedance switching RF source, and an RF source with controlled frequency-load characteristics.

Abstract: In a lighting apparatus using microwave, a lighting apparatus using microwave including a resonator excluding microwave and transmitting a light, a waveguide placed at an internal domain of the resonator and transmitting the microwave, a microwave generating means installed at the side of the resonator and oscillating microwave into the waveguide, and a bulb placed at the center of the resonator and emitting light by generating a plasma by the microwave transmitted through the waveguide is capable of miniaturizing a lighting system and at the same time improving a lighting efficiency.

Abstract: An ultra bright, low wattage inductively coupled electrodeless aperture lamp is powered by a solid state RF source in the range of several tens to several hundreds of watts at various frequencies in the range of 400 to 900 MHz. Numerous novel lamp circuits and components are disclosed including a wedding ring shaped coil having one axial and one radial lead, a high accuracy capacitor stack, a high thermal conductivity aperture cup and various other aperture bulb configurations, a coaxial capacitor arrangement, and an integrated coil and capacitor assembly. Numerous novel RF circuits are also disclosed including a high power oscillator circuit with reduced complexity resonant pole configuration, parallel RF power FET transistors with soft gate switching, a continuously variable frequency tuning circuit, a six port directional coupler, an impedance switching RF source, and an RF source with controlled frequency-load characteristics.

Abstract: A fluorescent illuminating apparatus includes an inductive-resistive structure that induces fluorescence in a fluorescent lamp when an electric current is passed through the inductive-resistive structure while an electric potential is applied across the fluorescent lamp A source of rippled/pulsed direct current is responsive to a control sub-circuit, which outputs a lamp voltage signal representative of the electric potential to be applied to the fluorescent lamp. A power supply sub-circuit is responsive to the control sub-circuit and imposes the electric potential at the value indicated by the lamp voltage signal. A method of inducing fluorescence includes passing a current through an inductive structure adjacent to a fluorescent lamp.

Abstract: A neon cruising lighting system for use with a motor vehicle battery includes a motor vehicle headlight having a reflector, a cutout in the reflector, an inert gas discharge lamp capable of irradiating various light colors, disposed in the cutout, a plug assembly adapted to cooperate with a motor vehicle cigarette lighter power receptacle, a transformer electrically coupled to both the plug assembly and the inert gas discharge lamp, so that the plug assembly conducts electrical power from the battery to the transformer to the inert gas discharge lamp, in order to illuminate the inert gas discharge lamp.

Abstract: In a conventional electrodeless discharge lamp, a large amount of magnetic field leaks from at light-transparent envelope, and the efficiency of conversion from electric power to light energy is low. In a electrodeless discharge lamp in which light-emitting gases in a light-transparent envelope are excited with a magnetic field generated from a coil, end portions of a magnetic material included in the coil are substantially axially disposed in the light-transparent envelope. As a result, the magnetic flux which leaks outside the light-transparent envelope is decreased so the density of the magnetic flux in the envelope is increased and the efficiency of the lamp is improved.

Abstract: A ballast circuit for an electrodeless lamp designed to use a phase dimmer signal to control output of the electrodeless lamp. Dimming ballast circuit includes a rectifier circuit for rectifying an input voltage from a phase dimmer source to generate a pulsed d.c. voltage on a d.c. bus. Ballast circuit further includes a converter control circuit coupled to the rectifier circuit for inducing an r.f. a.c. load current at approximately 2.5 MHz. The converter circuit includes first and second complementary converter switches serially connected between the bus and a reference node. The switches are connected together at a common node through which the a.c. load current flows. A driving inductor is connected at one end to the common node and operatively connected at the remaining end to the control node. A load circuit includes a resonant inductor connected at one end to the common node, with the resonant inductor mutually coupled to the driving inductor. An r.f.

Abstract: An electrodeless discharge lamp system includes an excitation coil placed in proximity of the electrodeless discharge lamp, a resonance circuit for supplying appropriate power to the excitation coil, and a high frequency power source driver and wherein, the combined output is achieved by operating the parallel connected power sources in synchronization or approximately in synchronization with each other.

Abstract: An electronic ballast for a gas discharge lamp has a power source section for receiving a commercial AC to provide a DC voltage, and an inverter section, in response to a pair of switching driving signals, for switching and transforming an output voltage of the power source section at a high speed as an AC power source that is supplied to the gas discharge lamp. For controlling the switching of the inverter section, an inverter controlling section generates a pair of switching driving signals respectively having a predetermined dead time in a switching-ON time interval with a phase difference of 180 degrees from each other to supply them to the inverter section.

Abstract: Induction lamp system comprising a power supply unit, which can supply a high-frequency altenating voltage, a power supply cable connected to the power supply unit and an induction lamp connected to the power supply cable. The lamp is provided with an induction coil, and at least one electronic component is arranged between the induction coil and the power supply cable. The electronic component together with the induction coil and the power supply cable have a combined impedance Z. According to the invention, and due to the properties of the electronic component, it holds that the absolute value of the imaginary component Im(Z) of the impedance Z is smaller than the real component Re(Z) for any arbitrary length of the power supply cable.

Abstract: Disclosed is a plasma chemical vapor deposition apparatus for forming an amorphous thin film, a microcrystalline thin film or a polycrystalline thin film on a surface of a target substrate by utilizing a glow discharge generated by an electric power supplied from a power source, comprising a reaction vessel, means for supplying a reactant gas into the reaction vessel, discharge means for discharge a waste gas of the reactant gas out of the reaction vessel, a ladder-shaped electrode for discharge generation arranged within the reaction vessel, a power source for supplying a high frequency power of 30 MHz to 200 MHz to the ladder-shaped electrode for a glow discharge generation, a heater for heating and supporting a target substrate, the heater being arranged within the reaction vessel in parallel to the ladder-shaped electrode for discharge generation, and a power distributor for uniformly distributing a high frequency power to the ladder-shaped electrode for discharge generation through a power supply wire.

Abstract: The induction coil core used for an induction coil of a discharge lamp, the discharge lamp including: a bulb containing discharge gas inside; and the induction coil for generating an electromagnetic field with a frequency in a range of 50 kHz to 1 MHz inclusive in the bulb. The core is made of a Mn—Zn polycrystalline ferrite and has a Curie temperature of 270° C. or more.

Abstract: An electrodeless fluorescent lamp employs a glass envelope made from a single linear tube filled with inert gas and mercury vapor. Phosphor and protective coatings are disposed on the inner surface of the envelope walls. An induction coil of few turns made from silver coated copper or Litz wire is wrapped around the linear tube in its axial direction. The inductively-coupled axially uniform plasma is generated inside the linear tube. The discharge electric field and current form a closed-loop path inside a tube in its axial direction. The lamp is operated at frequencies from 100 KHz to 100 MHz and RF power from 10 W to 2000 W (dependent on lamp size and number of turns). The lamp power efficiency and efficacy are comparable to those in electrodeless lamps of closed-loop shape operated with and without ferrite core.

Abstract: An electrodeless microwave discharge lamp includes a source of microwave energy, a microwave cavity, a structure configured to transmit the microwave energy from the source to the microwave cavity, a bulb disposed within the microwave cavity, the bulb including a discharge forming fill which emits light when excited by the microwave energy, and a reflector disposed within the microwave cavity, wherein the reflector defines a reflective cavity which encompasses the bulb within its volume and has an inside surface area which is sufficiently less than an inside surface area of the microwave cavity. A portion of the reflector may define a light emitting aperture which extends from a position closely spaced to the bulb to a light transmissive end of the microwave cavity. Preferably, at least a portion of the reflector is spaced from a wall of the microwave cavity. The lamp may be substantially sealed from environmental contamination.

Abstract: A dielectric-barrier discharge lamp light source with a dielectric-barrier discharge lamp, the light source including a discharge plasma space filled with a discharge gas in which excimer molecules are formed by dielectric-barrier discharge, two electrodes adapted to induce a discharge phenomenon in the discharge gas, at least one of the two electrodes being separated from the discharge gas by a dielectric, and a power supply for impressing a substantially cyclical, high-voltage alternating current on the two electrodes of the dielectric-barrier discharge lamp in a manner that when the power supply completes a discharge in the dielectric-barrier discharge lamp and the voltage impressed on the dielectric-barrier discharge lamp changes for a subsequent discharge, there is a period of gradual change in a lamp voltage waveform (Vs(t)) before reaching a voltage required for beginning of the subsequent discharge, wherein subsequent to the period of gradual change, the voltage impressed on the dielectric-barrier dis

Abstract: A lamp electronic ballast with a piezoelectric cooling fan. Use of ballast-driven lamps is limited in some lighting applications by thermal considerations. For example, the problem of heat removal from compact fluorescent lamps with integrated ballasts has limited their use. Similarly, the use of ballast-driven fluorescent lighting in high hat and other closed luminaire applications has been limited by thermal considerations. Thermal management of ballasts for such thermally sensitive applications is provided by a piezoelectric fan integrated with the ballast. The power to drive the fan may be obtained from the same AC line input that supplies the ballast, or from an AC ripple voltage present at the output of a rectifier in the ballast, or from the output of the ballast to the lamp, or from any suitable circuit location in the ballast. The fan maybe a membrane-type spot-cooler comprising a thin membrane carried by a frame mounted adjacent a hot spot.

Abstract: A microwave-powered lamp comprises a microwave source; a non-resonant microwave cavity operably coupled to the microwave source, the microwave cavity being substantially cylindrical about a centerline; an elongated bulb disposed along the centerline of the microwave cavity; and a reflector operably associated with the bulb to direct radiation generated by the bulb to a product being cured. The bulb may be enclosed by a solid barrier such that cooling gas used for the bulb is isolated from the curing environment. The microwave cavity is separate from the function of focusing the radiation output from the bulb so that changes to the optical system can be made without also modifying the microwave cavity.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment of the discharge lamp an additional transparent body (21) is disposed along the optical axis (10) in a second end (16) of the bulb (2).

Abstract: A dielectric waveguide integrated plasma lamp is disclosed for powering a small and bright bulb with a diameter of a few millimeters. The lamp is contained within a high dielectric constant material which guides the microwaves to the bulb, provides heat isolation to the drive circuit, contains the microwaves, provides structural stability and ease of manufacturing and allows efficient energy coupling to the bulb when used as a dielectric resonant oscillator.

Abstract: A high frequency inductively coupled electrodeless lamp includes an excitation coil with an effective electrical length which is less than one half wavelength of a driving frequency applied thereto, preferably much less. The driving frequency may be greater than 100 MHz and is preferably as high as 915 MHz. Preferably, the excitation coil is configured as a non-helical, semi-cylindrical conductive surface having less than one turn, in the general shape of a wedding ring. At high frequencies, the current in the coil forms two loops which are spaced apart and parallel to each other. Configured appropriately, the coil approximates a Helmholtz configuration. The lamp preferably utilizes an bulb encased in a reflective ceramic cup with a pre-formed aperture defined therethrough. The ceramic cup may include structural features to aid in alignment and/or a flanged face to aid in thermal management.

Abstract: A reflector for use in an ultraviolet or other type of lamp system having a plasma bulb. The reflector includes one or more longitudinally extending reflector panels having a characteristic shape that advantageously reflects ultraviolet radiation emanating from the bulb to provide a uniform irradiance over a relatively large surface area of a substrate. A substantial portion of each reflector panel has a characteristic shape described by the equation (x/a)(2+n)+(y/b)(2+m)=1, where a and b are constants and n and m are exponents that range between 0 and 2.

Abstract: Apparatus for coupling power into a body of gas by induction to provide a gas discharge, comprises a source of a/c power (3) coupled to a circuit arrangement having an inductor comprising two coils (1, 2), each constituted by a respective elongate conductor, the conductors each having one end coupled to the circuit arrangement at opposite respective sides of the inductor, and having the other end at a floating potential. The mutual capacitance between the coils, together with the inductance of the inductor as a whole, constitute a balanced self-resonant circuit having a resonant frequency which is greater than 1 MHz and less than 100 MHz. This arrangement can reduce temperature variations in the resonant frequency and can reduce unwanted r.f. emissions.

Abstract: A high frequency inductively coupled electrodeless lamp includes an excitation coil with an effective electrical length which is less than one half wavelength of a driving frequency applied thereto, preferably much less. The driving frequency may be greater than 100 MHz and is preferably as high as 915 MHz. Preferably, the excitation coil is configured as a non-helical, semi-cylindrical conductive surface having less than one turn, in the general shape of a wedding ring. At high frequencies, the current in the coil forms two loops which are spaced apart and parallel to each other. Configured appropriately, the coil approximates a Helmholtz configuration. The lamp preferably utilizes an bulb encased in a reflective ceramic cup with a pre-formed aperture defined therethrough. The ceramic cup may include structural features to aid in alignment and I or a flanged face to aid in thermal management.

Abstract: In one aspect the plasma lamp according to the present invention comprises a gas envelope that is constructed from ceramic material and a sapphire window rather than quartz. According to another aspect of the present invention, a plasma lamp comprises an RF structure for the radio wave radiation and an envelope for housing the excitation gas that are formed so as to constitute a single, integrated ceramic structure. According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the plasma lamp comprises a waveguide structure having solid material such as ceramic rather than air for the dielectric and a gas housing made of a combination of solid ceramic and a sapphire window. In this way, the separate quartz gas envelope and air-filled waveguide structure employed in the prior art are replaced by a single, integrated structure.

Abstract: A jacketed lamp bulb envelope includes a ceramic cup having an open end and a partially closed end, the partially closed end defining an aperture, a lamp bulb positioned inside the ceramic cup abutting the aperture, and a reflective ceramic material at least partially covering a portion of the bulb not abutting the aperture. The reflective ceramic material may substantially fill an interior volume of the ceramic cup not occupied by the bulb. The ceramic cup may include a structural feature for aiding in alignment of the jacketed lamp bulb envelope in a lamp. The ceramic cup may include an external flange about a periphery thereof. One example of a jacketed lamp bulb envelope includes a ceramic cup having an open end and a closed end, a ceramic washer covering the open end of the ceramic cup, the washer defining an aperture therethrough, a lamp bulb positioned inside the ceramic cup abutting the aperture, and a reflective ceramic material filling an interior volume of the ceramic cup not occupied by the bulb.

Abstract: The objectives of the present invention is to provide smaller, lighter and less expensive structure in a starting device for discharge lamp for car use so as to prevent breakage due to vibrations etc. The device having the following arrangement realizes the above-mentioned objective. A starting device for a discharge lamp comprises a socket for mounting the discharge lamp and starting members such as a starting transformer etc. where the starting transformer comprises a bobbin having a core-less structure and a primary coil and a secondary coil wound around the bobbin.

Abstract: An inductively driven gas discharge lamp assembly (40) includes an electrodeless lamp (42), an inductive drive coil (44) disposed about the lamp, and a shield (10) disposed over an end portion (50) of the lamp. The shield (10) has a number of turns (12) of electrically conductive material, such as wire, with each of the turns being disposed generally coaxially about the central, longitudinal axis (20) of the drive coil (44). The turns (12) together form a continuous spiral helix and are shorted together via a number of electrical conductors (14) that are angularly disposed about the axis (20). These electrical conductors (14) extend generally perpendicularly to the turns (12) and are connected to the ground node (26) of a d.c. to a.c. inverter circuit 46 that is used to drive coil 44. This arrangement provides good r.f.

Abstract: A discharge lamp includes an envelope, a fill which emits light when excited disposed in the envelope, a source of excitation power coupled to the fill to excite the fill and cause the fill to emit light, and a reflector disposed around the envelope and defining an opening, the reflector being configured to reflect some of the light emitted by the fill back into the fill while allowing some light to exit through the opening. The reflector may be made from a material having a similar thermal index of expansion as compared to the envelope and which is closely spaced to the envelope. The envelope material may be quartz and the reflector material may be either silica or alumina. The reflector may be formed as a jacket having a rigid structure which does not adhere to the envelope. The lamp may further include an optical clement spaced from the envelope and configured to reflect an unwanted component of light which exited the envelope back into the envelope through the opening in the reflector.

Abstract: The objectives of the present invention are to provide a smaller, lighter and less expensive structure in a starting device for discharge lamp for car use so as to prevent breakage due to vibrations etc.. The starting device for discharge lamp comprising; a socket for mounting the discharge lamp, a bobbin and a starting transformer having a core-less structure equipped with a primary and a secondary coils wound around the bobbin; wherein the starting transformer is formed as in a ring or a horseshoe. A bobbin with a straight bar shape which enables the starting transformer to be arranged laterally is other alternative.

Abstract: One of the objectives of the present invention are to provide smaller, lighter and less expensive structure in a starting device for discharge lamp for car use so as to prevent breakage due to vibrations etc. And another objective is to attain simultaneous electrical and structural connections between a high voltage electrode and a coil of a starting transformer. The device having the following constitution realizes the above-mentioned objectives. A starting device for a discharge lamp comprises a socket equipped with a high voltage electrode and a grounding electrode, a bobbin with a core-less structure, a starting transformer comprising a primary coil and a secondary coil wound around the bobbin. A screw electrode is arranged at the center of the end face of the bobbin. One end of the screw electrode is connected to an output terminal of the high voltage side of the secondary coil on the starting transformer.

Abstract: A high-frequency energy supply device has a group of side resonators which are electrically connected in a practically annular form, and supply high-frequency energy using resonant high-frequency electromagnetic fields generated in the center portion; and a plurality of high-frequency coupling part for coupling a plurality of high frequency energies propagated from a plurality of high-frequency propagation paths to said group of side resonators; wherein a plurality of high frequencies coupled to said group of side resonators from said plurality of high-frequency coupling means have phases and/or frequencies different from each other.

Abstract: An electrodeless gas discharge lamp includes a light-transmissive envelope having opposite ends and a midsection about which an induction coil is disposed. The envelope and coil are mounted transversely on a base with the ends of the envelope exposed such that light emitted from the envelope is transmitted through both ends of the envelope substantially unobstructed by either the base or coil to generate a high total light output of the assembly.

Abstract: An electrodeless lamp (10) for producing an intense beam of light includes a concave lamp body (11) that surrounds the lamp interior. A gas, such as sulfur or selenium or compounds thereof, is contained within the lamp body (11) for forming a plasma light source. The concave lamp body (11) has a reflecting surface (12). Electrodes (27, 28) are disposed external to the lamp body for producing radio frequency energy exciting the gas. A heat resistant glass plate (20) seals the concave lamp body (11). A frit seal (23) can be used for forming a pressure and temperature resistant seal between the concave lamp body (11) and the glass plate (20). The light beam generated by the plasma exists through the glass plate (20).

Abstract: To provide a spot light-source device whose discharge envelope has high pressure resistance and that emits high brightness as a spot light source, a spot light-source device excited by electromagnetic energy has a lamp that with a discharge envelope made of translucent non-conducting material, an expansion part forming a discharge space, and a tube connected thereto, and a discharge concentrator having a front tip part which is supported by the tube without protruding from the discharge envelope and faces the interior of the discharge space of the expansion part, that intensifies concentration of the electric field in the discharge space and that concentrates discharge, an electromagnetic energy provision source that excites discharge in the discharge concentrator from outside of the lamp, a concave reflection mirror that reflects light from the lamp, and a container with a resonance window that creates electromagnetic energy resonance.

Abstract: An integrated lamp head for an electrodeless lamp includes a metal-matrix composite enclosure, an insulating ceramic encased by the metal-matrix enclosure, the insulating ceramic having an interior surface, and an excitation structure integrally formed on the interior surface of the insulating ceramic. The excitation structure may include an excitation coil such as a wedding ring shaped excitation coil or a coil having a cross sectional shape similar to an upper-case Greek letter omega. The integrated lamp head optionally includes a pre-formed connection from an exterior portion of the integrated lamp head to the excitation structure and/or a conductive insert in an area of a solder connection point.

Abstract: An electrodeless inductively-coupled fluorescent lamp which operates at radio frequencies and contains an induction coil (1) which is inserted in a reentrant cavity (2) of the envelope (7) and is spread along the length of the reentrant cavity (2). The coil (1) is disposed within a cylinder (14) of thermally conductive metal. The use of the spread coil provides for reduction of starting and operation voltages of the lamp and results in lowering of the energy of ions bombarding the inner surface of the envelope (7) and the cavity (2) and therefore improves lamp maintenance and increases lamp life.

Abstract: A dimmable electrodeless light source includes an electrodeless lamp, an electronic ballast and a dimming module. The light source further includes coupling transformers coupled to the electrodeless lamp for inductively coupling power to the lamp to generate light. An auxiliary winding electromagnetically coupled to the primary winding of at least one of the coupling transformers is driven by switching circuitry in the dimming module. The switching circuitry is pulse width modulated to control the average brightness of the light generated by the electrodeless lamp. An exemplary application for the dimmable electrodeless light source is as a backlight for a video display device, such as an liquid crystal display unit.

Abstract: Glow discharge apparatus comprises a light-transmissive body (101) defining a cavity (102) containing neon or xenon gas. The glow discharge is powered by one or more electrodes (103) external to the cavity. The apparatus also comprises a secondary light source (104) for illuminating the neon gas to provide electrons in the cavity, thereby assisting discharge initiation in intermittent use, for example when controlled by a pulse time modulation drive circuit (107).

Abstract: An oscillator includes an amplifier having an input and an output, and an impedance transformation network connected between the input of the amplifier and the output of the amplifier, wherein the impedance transformation network is configured to provide suitable positive feedback from the output of the amplifier to the input of the amplifier to initiate and sustain an oscillating condition, and wherein the impedance transformation network is configured to protect the input of the amplifier from a destructive feedback signal. One example of the oscillator is a single active element device capable of providing over 70 watts of power at over 70% efficiency. Various control circuits may be employed to match the driving frequency of the oscillator to a plurality of tuning states of the lamp.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a reflector system for a lighting fixture having a illumination source surrounded by an envelope. The reflector system includes a first reflector surrounding the illumination source. The reflector system also includes a second reflector which is non-contiguous with the first reflector and which surrounds the illumination source. The illumination source creates light rays which are reflected by the first and second reflectors. The first reflector directs light rays toward the center line of the fixture. However, the reflected rays despite being so reflected do not substantially intersect the envelope. The reflected light rays from the second reflector being directed so that they diverge from the center line of the fixture avoiding intersection with the semi-transparent envelope.

Abstract: The apparatus is a gas filled ultraviolet generating lamp for use as a liquid purifier. The lamp is powred by high voltage AC, but has no metallic electrodes within or in contact with the gas enclosure which is constructed as two concentric quartz cylinders sealed together at their ends with the gas fill between the cylinders. Cooling liquid is pumped through the volume inside the inner quartz cylinder where an electrically conductive pipe spaced from the inner cylinder is used to supply the cooling liquid and act as the high voltage electrode. The gas enclosure is enclosed within but spaced from a metal housing which is connected to operate as the ground electrode of the circuit and through which the treated fluid flows. Thus, the electrical circuit is from the central pipe, and through the cooling liquid, the gas enclosure, the treated liquid on the outside of the outer quartz cylinder, and to the housing.