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US3911318A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and apparatus for generating electromagnetic radiation

Assignee: Fusion Systems Corp
•
Filing: 1974-02-04
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Granted: 1975-10-07
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Expires: 1994-02-04
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Abstract

Abstract There is disclosed a novel method and apparatus for generating high power electromagnetic radiation in the ultraviolet and visible regions of the electromagnetic spectrum wherein high energy electrons, produced by directing a lower frequency (radio to microwave) electromagnetic energy wave into a plasma producing medium (gas, vapor and mixtures thereof), are caused to collide with heavy particles of the medium to thereby cause same to be collisionally excited and subsequently emit electromagnetic radiation. Particular means are disclosed for coupling the lower frequency electromagnetic wave energy to the medium. In a preferred embodiment the medium is confined in a closed vessel or chamber at a selected pressure to which a magnetic field is applied to guide the high energy electrons to collision with said heavy particles.

Inventors

  • 👤 Donald M Spero
  • 👤 Bernard J Eastlund
  • 👤 Michael G Urv

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 12:48
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05H; H05H1/00; H05H1/24; H05H1/46; B; B01; B01J; B01J19/00; B01J19/08; B01J19/12; B01J19/122; B01J19/123; B01J19/124; B01J19/126; B01J19/129; H01; H01J; H01J65/00; H01J65/04; H01J65/042; H01J65/044; H01J65/046; B01J2219/00; B01J2219/08; B01J2219/0894; B01J2219/12; B01J2219/1203; B01J2219/1206; B01J2219/1209; B01J2219/1221; B01J2219/1224; B01J2219/1227; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S422/00; Y10S422/906

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 159 words
A microwave generated light source for both producing and emitting light in the visible to ultraviolet region along a substantial length of a longitudinally extending plasma forming medium containing envelope, comprising; a sealed, longitudinally extending plasma forming medium containing envelope, means for exciting said plasma forming medium in said envelope to generate a plasma and produce said light, said means for exciting including: 1. means for generating microwave energy, and 2. microwave chamber means for coupling said generated microwave energy to said plasma forming medium, a part of said chamber means extending in the longitudinal direction of said envelope and surrounding said envelope at least along a substantial portion of the length of the envelope, and at least part of said chamber means being made of a metallic mesh whereby said microwave energy is retained in said chamber means while said light produced along a length of said envelope is emitted out of said chamber means through said mesh.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 159 words
A microwave generated light source for both producing and emitting light in the visible to ultraviolet region along a substantial length of a longitudinally extending plasma forming medium containing envelope, comprising; a sealed, longitudinally extending plasma forming medium containing envelope, means for exciting said plasma forming medium in said envelope to generate a plasma and produce said light, said means for exciting including: 1. means for generating microwave energy, and 2. microwave chamber means for coupling said generated microwave energy to said plasma forming medium, a part of said chamber means extending in the longitudinal direction of said envelope and surrounding said envelope at least along a substantial portion of the length of the envelope, and at least part of said chamber means being made of a metallic mesh whereby said microwave energy is retained in said chamber means while said light produced along a length of said envelope is emitted out of said chamber means through said mesh.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 88 words
microwave chamber means for coupling said generated microwave energy to said plasma forming medium, a part of said chamber means extending in the longitudinal direction of said envelope and surrounding said envelope at least along a substantial portion of the length of the envelope, and at least part of said chamber means being made of a metallic mesh whereby said microwave energy is retained in said chamber means while said light produced along a length of said envelope is emitted out of said chamber means through said mesh.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 88 words
microwave chamber means for coupling said generated microwave energy to said plasma forming medium, a part of said chamber means extending in the longitudinal direction of said envelope and surrounding said envelope at least along a substantial portion of the length of the envelope, and at least part of said chamber means being made of a metallic mesh whereby said microwave energy is retained in said chamber means while said light produced along a length of said envelope is emitted out of said chamber means through said mesh.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 13 words
The light source of claim 1 wherein said mesh is made of copper.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 40 words
The light source of claim 1 wherein said mesh is surrounded by a shield of solid, ultraviolet and visible transmissive material to prevent cooling gas which may be circulated around said envelope in the vicinity of said mesh from escaping.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 30 words
The light source of claim 1 wherein said medium is of the type which may be collisionlessly excited and said means for exciting comprises means for collisionlessly exciting said medium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 45 words
The light source of claim 4 wherein said envelope is tapered at each longitudinal end thereof, further including microwave energy dividing means for dividing said generated microwave energy into two parts, said chamber means coupling each part to a respective longitudinal end of said envelope.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1978-10-06 1979-04-07 1979-10-07 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1982-10-06 1983-04-07 1983-10-07 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1986-10-06 1987-04-07 1987-10-07 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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