Induction RF fluorescent lamp with helix mount

Abstract

An induction RF fluorescent lamp, comprising: a lamp envelope with a re-entrant cavity and evacuation tube; a power coupler, wherein the power coupler is located inside the re-entrant cavity; an electronic ballast, wherein the electronic ballast provides appropriate voltage and current to the power coupler; and an amalgam held within a capsule located above the power coupler within the lamp envelope, wherein the capsule is positioned with a mount comprising at least one wire attached to the capsule and having at least two wire ends extending from the capsule into the evacuation tube with contact made between the wire ends and the interior surface of the evacuation tube of the re-entrant cavity.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of the following U.S. patent application, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 042,598, filed Sep. 30, 2013.[0002]The application Ser. No. 14 / 042,598 is a continuation-in-part of the following U.S. patent application, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 042,580, filed Sep. 30, 2013.[0003]The application Ser. No. 14 / 042,580 is a continuation-in-part of the following U.S. patent application, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 039,066, filed Sep. 27, 2013.[0004]The application Ser. No. 14 / 039,066 is a continuation-in-part of the following U.S. patent application, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 016,363, filed Sep. 3, 2013.[0005]This application is a continuation-i...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0028]In accordance with exemplary and non-limiting embodiments, systems and methods for the configuration and operation of an electrodeless lamp, also referred to as an induction lamp, are provided. In embodiments, a processor may be embedded within the ballast of the induction lamp to provide control of a dimming function. The processor may provide a dimmable induction lamp with flexibility of design operation while reducing the size of the ballast, such as to enable the more flexible dimmable design into the lamp envelope similar to that of a standard incandescent lamp.

Problems solved by technology

Use of electrodes can create certain problems.

In the case of fluorescent lamps, this may lead to long, thin lamp structures, which function well for lighting office ceilings, but are not always a good fit for replacing conventional incandescent lamps.

A plastic cover shaped like a conventional incandescent lamp is sometimes placed over the bent tubes to provide a more attractive shape, but these covers absorb light, making the lamp less efficient.

Bent and spiral tube lamps also have wasted space between the tubes, making them larger than necessary.

The use of electrodes can create problems other than shape and size.

Electrodes can wear out if the lamp is turned on and off many times, as is typical in a residential bathroom and many other applications.

In addition, the long thin shape selected, because it is adapted to allow use of electrodes, tends to require time for mercury vapor to diffuse from one part of the tube to another, leading to the long warm-up times typically associated with many compact fluorescent lamps.

While this is not usually a concern with typical fluorescent lamps, it can be a problem with other types of discharge lamps.

The lower operating frequency of closed core induction lamps makes them attractive; however, the bulb design required to accommodate the closed core makes them generally unsuitable for replacing standard in incandescent lamps.

In spite of their obvious advantages, there are very few open core induction lamps on the market today.

One reason for the lack of commercially successful products is the cost of the high frequency ballast.

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