A planar fluorescent and electroluminescent lamp having two pairs of electrodes. Planar electrodes on an outer surface of the lamp create a plasma arc by capacitive coupling. The planar electrodes also cause embedded phosphor to emit light on the electroluminescent phenomena. In one embodiment, a second chamber is on top of the first chamber and light passes from a primary chamber through the second chamber, and is emitted by the lamp.

Planar Fluorescent and electroluminescent lamp having one or more chambers

A planar fluorescent lamp having a sealed chamber and divider walls to create a serpentine discharge path is provided with sidewall electrodes. A plurality of sidewall electrodes are spaced from each other and positioned adjacent each sidewall of the sealed chamber. In a preferred embodiment, the sidewall electrodes are planar, cold electrode plates. The electrodes extend generally from one divider wall to the other divider wall along a single sidewall. In alternative embodiments, the sidewall electrodes are positioned within the chamber directly exposed to the mercury vapor, or, alternatively, are separated from the chamber by a dielectric layer. The sidewall electrodes are powered in pairs, each pair being driven at a different frequency than any other pair. Providing sidewall electrodes increases the uniformity of light emission from the lamp as well as increasing the overall range over which the light can be dimmed, aids in starting the lamp and increasing the overall brightness of the light output from the lamp.

Planar fluorescent lamp having a serpentine chamber and sidewall electrodes

A flat photoluminescent lamp has external walls and a plurality of internal walls designed to form a serpentine channel having first and second ends. First and second electrodes, positioned in proximity with the first and second ends of the serpentine channel generate a plasma discharge therebetween in response to the application of power to the electrodes. A heater element, comprising a thick film cermet material is disposed on the bottom external surface of the lamp. The heater element is serpentine in shape and substantially follows the path of the serpentine channel. Disposed on opposite sides of the heater element are serpentine conductors, also comprising a thick film cermet material. A DC voltage is applied to the heater element to maintain the internal temperature of the lamp at a desired temperature value. A temperature sensing element may also be used to control the power applied to the heater element. For operation in a low intensity mode, an AC signal is applied to the serpentine conductors causing the generation of an electric field within the interior portion of the lamp throughout the serpentine channel. A low level electric discharge field within a serpentine channel results in the generation of visible light at low intensity levels.

Wide illumination range photoluminescent lamp

An apparatus and method are disclosed for an open chamber photoluminescent lamp. The photoluminescent planar lamp is gas-filled and contains photoluminescent materials that emit visible light when the gas emits ultraviolet energy in response to a plasma discharge. The lamp comprises first and second opposing plates manufactured from a glass material having a loss tangent ≦0.05%. In another embodiment the first and second plates have a dielectric constant greater than 5. In yet another embodiment, the first and second plates have a volume resistivity greater than 1×10 12 Ωcm. A plurality of sidewalls are coupled to peripheral edges of the first and second plates so that the sidewalls and opposing surfaces of the first and second plates define an interior portion that contains the gas and photoluminescent material, and first and second spaced-apart electrodes disposed along an exterior surface of at least one of the first and second plates to create an electric field when electrical power is applied thereto whereby the electric field interacts with the gas contained by the interior chamber.

Open chamber photoluminescent lamp

A flat planar fluorescent lamp having barrier structures overlaying the electrodes is described The barrier structures include barrier walls and platforms between the electrodes and the lamp cover with passageways between the platforms and the lamp cover The barrier structures cause the electric discharge between the lamp electrodes to pass between the platforms and the lamp cover The interior of the lamp and the top of the platform are coated with a fluorescent material such that the lamp produces light throughout its interior, including the region directly above the electrode, thereby providing a source of light in an area which would otherwise be a dark region surrounding the electrode In one embodiment, a cold electrode, a hot electrode, an ion barrier, and a tubulation are formed in a glass seal as a single unit, placing the terminals of the electrodes and the tipped-off tubulation in a small region of the lamp to permit easier access and alignment Two tubulations are used to permit the lamp to be pumped at locations adjacent the two electrodes to reduce problems associated with free ions in the region around the electrode In one embodiment, a metal lamp body having an insulative coating and including an integral barrier structure is formed using conventional metal stamping techniques In another embodiment, the lamp body is formed from glass which is shaped according to known techniques to form an integral barrier wall The platform is then attached to the integral barrier wall and supported at its sides by ledges formed in the sidewall and channel wall of the lamp

Fox Robert S

Papers

Discharge lamp with cathode shields

Instant start discharge lamp