Electrodeless fluorescent lamp having a reduced run-up time
US5767617A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 17, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jun 16, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 17, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01J61/72
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An electrodeless fluorescent lamp comprises a discharge vessel (10) having a re-entrant portion (11) for housing a solenoid (12) for initiating a discharge in the vessel by means of an RF electromagnetic field. A primary amalgam (18) for releasing mercury vapor is placed at the tip of an exhaust tube (17) where the primary amalgam can be maintained at a suitable temperature for controlling the mercury vapor pressure. The primary amalgam does not provide rapid run-up of light output. To provide rapid run-up of light output a pied of indium (20,30) is placed on the re-entrant at a position where it is rapidly heated by the discharge. The indium may be coated with the layers of a coating including phosphor.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.