US4137484A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Color improvement of high pressure sodium vapor lamps by pulsed operation
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1977-06-13
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Granted: 1979-01-30
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Expires: 1997-06-13
Abstract
Abstract High pressure sodium vapor lamps containing sodium or both sodium and mercury are raised in color temperature and improved in color rendition by pulse operation. During the pulse there is considerable enhancement and broadening of the sodium lines at 449, 467, 498 and 568 nm and the development of a continuum from 400 to 450 nms, and also the appearance of visible mercury lines in lamps containing mercury. Optimum results with lamps in size ratings from 50 to 1000 watts are obtained with pulse repetition rates from 500 to 2000 Hz and duty cycles from 10 to 35%. The color temperature may be increased from the common value of 2050° K to 2500° K with reduction in lamp efficacy of only about 20% from conventional 60 Hz operation. Even higher color temperatures may be obtained if further reduction of efficacy is acceptable.
Inventors
- 👤 Mitchell M. Osteen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 18:37
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B41/00; H05B41/14; H05B41/36; H05B41/38; H05B41/39; H05B41/392
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of operating a high pressure metal vapor lamp of a kind having a filling of sodium within an envelope provided with spaced electrodes and proportioned to produce, at a rated power input, a sodium vapor pressure causing self-reversal and broadening of the sodium resonance D lines which method comprises: energizing said lamp by electrical pulses producing approximately said rated power input, said pulses having a rise rapid enough and a time-duration short enough to produce, in addition to the light resulting from the self-reversal and broadening of the sodium D lines, substantial light in the blue-green side of the spectrum whereby the color temperature is increased.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of operating a high pressure metal vapor lamp of a kind having a filling of sodium within an envelope provided with spaced electrodes and proportioned to produce, at a rated power input, a sodium vapor pressure causing self-reversal and broadening of the sodium resonance D lines which method comprises: energizing said lamp by electrical pulses producing approximately said rated power input, said pulses having a rise rapid enough and a time-duration short enough to produce, in addition to the light resulting from the self-reversal and broadening of the sodium D lines, substantial light in the blue-green side of the spectrum whereby the color temperature is increased.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the time-duration of the pulses is short enough that the light on the blue-green side of the spectrum which is emitted immediately following the start of a pulse is a substantial portion of the light produced by the lamp.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the pulses are so proportioned in time-duration and current-amplitude that the light emitted on the blue-green side of the spectrum immediately following the start of a pulse is a substantial portion of the light produced by the lamp and no appreciable rise in the red wing of the sodium D lines is produced.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the current-amplitude of the pulses is large enough to cause substantial production of light in the blue-green side of the spectrum whereby the color temperature is increased.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the current-amplitude of the pulses is large enough to cause substantial production of light in the blue-green side of the spectrum accompanied by suppression of light in the yellow red side of the spectrum whereby the color temperature is increased.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the current-amplitude of the pulses is large enough to cause substantial emission of lines by highly excited sodium atoms and a continuum in the blue-green.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 in operating a lamp of the given kind containing mercury in addition to sodium wherein the current-amplitude of the pulses is large enough to cause substantial emission of lines by highly excited sodium atoms and by mercury atoms and a continuum in the blue-green.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the pulses are short enough in time-duration to produce sufficient light in the blue-green side of the spectrum to raise the color temperature to at least 2300° K.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the pulses have a time-duration and a current amplitude achieving a rise in color temperature of at least 400° K. over the color temperature of the lamp under conventional operation at said rated power, and an efficacy not substantially lower than 20% below said conventional operation.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of operating a high pressure metal vapor lamp of a kind having a filling of sodium within an envelope provided with spaced electrodes and proportioned to produce, at a rated power input, a sodium vapor pressure causing self-reversal and broadening of the sodium resonance D lines which method comprises: energizing said lamp by electrical pulses producing approximately said rated power input, said pulses having repetition rates of more than 500 Hz and a time-duration short enough to produce, in addition to the light resulting from the self-reversal and broadening of the sodium D lines, substantial light in the blue-green side of the spectrum whereby the color temperature is increased.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of operating a high pressure metal vapor lamp of a kind having a filling of sodium within an envelope provided with spaced electrodes and proportioned to produce, at a rated power input, a sodium vapor pressure causing self-reversal and broadening of the sodium resonance D lines which method comprises: energizing said lamp by electrical pulses producing approximately said rated power input, said pulses having repetition rates of more than 500 Hz and a time-duration short enough to produce, in addition to the light resulting from the self-reversal and broadening of the sodium D lines, substantial light in the blue-green side of the spectrum whereby the color temperature is increased.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the repetition rate is not over about 2000 Hz.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the repetition rate is not over about 2000 Hz and the duty cycle is from 10 to 35%.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
115 words
In combination, a high pressure metal vapor lamp of a kind having a filling of sodium within an envelope provided with spaced electrodes and proportioned to produce, at a rated power input, a sodium vapor pressure causing self-reversal and broadening of the sodium resonance D lines, and means for energizing said lamp comprising a generator of electrical pulses connected across said electrodes, said generator producing approximately said rated power input, said pulses having a rise rapid enough and a time-duration short enough to produce, in addition to the light resulting from the self-reversal and broadening of the sodium D lines, substantial light in the blue-green side of the spectrum whereby the color temperature is increased.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
115 words
In combination, a high pressure metal vapor lamp of a kind having a filling of sodium within an envelope provided with spaced electrodes and proportioned to produce, at a rated power input, a sodium vapor pressure causing self-reversal and broadening of the sodium resonance D lines, and means for energizing said lamp comprising a generator of electrical pulses connected across said electrodes, said generator producing approximately said rated power input, said pulses having a rise rapid enough and a time-duration short enough to produce, in addition to the light resulting from the self-reversal and broadening of the sodium D lines, substantial light in the blue-green side of the spectrum whereby the color temperature is increased.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
The combination of claim 13 wherein the time-duration of the pulses is short enough that the light on the blue-green side of the spectrum which is emitted immediately following the start of a pulse is a substantial portion of the light produced by the lamp.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
60 words
The combination of claim 13 wherein the pulses are so proportioned in time-duration and current amplitude that the light emitted on the blue-green side of the spectrum immediately following the start of a pulse is a substantial portion of the light produced by the lamp and no appreciable rise in the red wing of the sodium D lines is produced.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination of claim 13 wherein the current-amplitude of the pulses is large enough to cause substantial production of light in the blue-green side of the spectrum whereby the color temperature is increased.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
The combination of claim 13 wherein the current-amplitude of the pulses is large enough to cause substantial production of light in the blue-green side of the spectrum accompanied by suppression of light in the yellow-red side of the spectrum whereby the color temperature is increased.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination of claim 13 wherein the current-amplitude of the pulses is large enough to cause substantial emission of lines by highly excited sodium atoms and a continuum in the blue-green.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
45 words
The combination of claim 13 wherein the lamp contains mercury in addition to sodium and wherein the current-amplitude of the pulses is large enough to cause substantial emission of lines by highly excited sodium atoms and by mercury atoms and a continuum in the blue-green.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination of claim 13 wherein the pulses are short enough in time-duration to produce sufficient light in the blue-green side of the spectrum to raise the color temperature to at least 2300° K.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
51 words
The combination of claim 13 wherein the pulses have a time-duration and a current-amplitude achieving a rise in color temperature of at least 400° K. over the color temperature of the lamp under conventional operation at said rated power, and an efficacy not substantially lower than 20% below said conventional operation.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
118 words
In combination, a high pressure metal vapor lamp of a kind having a filling of sodium within an envelope provided with spaced electrodes and proportioned to produce, at a rated power input, a sodium vapor pressure causing self-reversal and broadening of the sodium resonance D lines, and means for energizing said lamp comprising a generator of electrical pulses connected across said electrodes, said generator producing approximately said rated power input, said pulses having repetition rates of more than 500 Hz and a time-duration short enough to produce, in addition to the light resulting from the self-reversal and broadening of the sodium D lines, substantial light in the blue-green side of the spectrum whereby the color temperature is increased.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
118 words
In combination, a high pressure metal vapor lamp of a kind having a filling of sodium within an envelope provided with spaced electrodes and proportioned to produce, at a rated power input, a sodium vapor pressure causing self-reversal and broadening of the sodium resonance D lines, and means for energizing said lamp comprising a generator of electrical pulses connected across said electrodes, said generator producing approximately said rated power input, said pulses having repetition rates of more than 500 Hz and a time-duration short enough to produce, in addition to the light resulting from the self-reversal and broadening of the sodium D lines, substantial light in the blue-green side of the spectrum whereby the color temperature is increased.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination of claim 22 wherein the repetition rate is not over about 2000 Hz.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination of claim 22 wherein the repetition rate is not over about 2000 Hz and the duty cycle is from 10 to 35%.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
133 words
A circuit for operating a high pressure metal vapor lamp of a kind having a filling of sodium within an envelope provided with spaced electrodes and proportioned to produce, at a rated power input, a sodium vapor pressure causing self-reversal and broadening of the sodium resonance D lines, comprising connector means for making connections to the electrodes of said lamp, and means for energizing said lamp comprising a generator of electrical pulses connected across said connector means, said generator providing approximately said rated power input, said pulses having a rise rapid enough and a time-duration short enough to produce, in addition to the light resulting from the self-reversal and broadening of the sodium D lines, substantial light in the blue-green side of the spectrum whereby the color temperature of said lamp is increased.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
133 words
A circuit for operating a high pressure metal vapor lamp of a kind having a filling of sodium within an envelope provided with spaced electrodes and proportioned to produce, at a rated power input, a sodium vapor pressure causing self-reversal and broadening of the sodium resonance D lines, comprising connector means for making connections to the electrodes of said lamp, and means for energizing said lamp comprising a generator of electrical pulses connected across said connector means, said generator providing approximately said rated power input, said pulses having a rise rapid enough and a time-duration short enough to produce, in addition to the light resulting from the self-reversal and broadening of the sodium D lines, substantial light in the blue-green side of the spectrum whereby the color temperature of said lamp is increased.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
45 words
The circuit of claim 25 wherein the time-duration of the pulses is short enough that the light on the blue-green side of the spectrum which is emitted immediately following the start of a pulse is a substantial portion of the light produced by the lamp.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
60 words
The circuit of claim 25 wherein the pulses are so proportioned in time-duration and current amplitude that the light emitted on the blue-green side of the spectrum immediately following the start of a pulse is a substantial portion of the light produced by the lamp and no appreciable rise in the red wing of the sodium D lines is produced.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
33 words
The circuit of claim 25 wherein the current-amplitude of the pulses is large enough to cause substantial production of light in the blue-green side of the spectrum whereby the color temperature is increased.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
45 words
The circuit of claim 25 wherein the current-amplitude of the pulses is large enough to cause substantial production of light in the blue-green side of the spectrum accompanied by suppression of light in the yellow-red side of the spectrum whereby the color temperature is increased.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
31 words
The circuit of claim 25 wherein the current-amplitude of the pulses is large enough to cause substantial emission of lines by highly excited sodium atoms and a continuum in the blue-green.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
45 words
The circuit of claim 25 wherein the lamp contains mercury in addition to sodium and wherein the current-amplitude of the pulses is large enough to cause substantial emission of lines by highly excited sodium atoms and by mercury atoms and a continuum in the blue-green.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
34 words
The circuit of claim 25 wherein the pulses are short enough in time-duration to produce sufficient light in the blue-green side of the spectrum to raise the color temperature to at least 2300° K.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
51 words
The circuit of claim 25 wherein the pulses have a time-duration and a current-amplitude achieving a rise in color temperature of at least 400° K. over the color temperature of the lamp under conventional operation at said rated power, and an efficacy not substantially lower than 20% under said conventional operation.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
136 words
A circuit for operating a high pressure metal vapor lamp of a kind having a filling of sodium within an envelope provided with spaced electrodes and proportioned to produce, at a rated power input, a sodium vapor pressure causing self-reversal and broadening of the sodium resonance D lines, comprising connector means for making connections to the electrodes of said lamp, and means for energizing said lamp comprising a generator of electrical pulses connected across said connector means, said generator providing approximately said rated power input, said pulses having repetition rates of more than 500 Hz and a time-duration short enough to produce, in addition to the light resulting from the self-reversal and broadening of the sodium D lines, substantial light in the blue-green side of the spectrum whereby the color temperature of said lamp is increased.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
136 words
A circuit for operating a high pressure metal vapor lamp of a kind having a filling of sodium within an envelope provided with spaced electrodes and proportioned to produce, at a rated power input, a sodium vapor pressure causing self-reversal and broadening of the sodium resonance D lines, comprising connector means for making connections to the electrodes of said lamp, and means for energizing said lamp comprising a generator of electrical pulses connected across said connector means, said generator providing approximately said rated power input, said pulses having repetition rates of more than 500 Hz and a time-duration short enough to produce, in addition to the light resulting from the self-reversal and broadening of the sodium D lines, substantial light in the blue-green side of the spectrum whereby the color temperature of said lamp is increased.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
15 words
The circuit of claim 34 wherein the repetition rate is not over about 2000 Hz.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
24 words
The circuit of claim 34 wherein the repetition rate is not over about 2000 Hz and the duty cycle is from 10 to 35%.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 10 wherein substantially no keep-alive current is supplied to the lamp between pulses.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination of claim 22 wherein said generator provides substantially no keep-alive current to the lamp between pulses.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
18 words
The circuit of claim 34 wherein said generator provides substantially no keep-alive current to the lamp between pulses.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-01-29 | 1982-07-31 | 1983-01-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-01-29 | 1986-07-31 | 1987-01-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-01-29 | 1990-07-31 | 1991-01-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |