US4311942A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Compact fluorescent lamp and method and means for magnetic arc spreading
Assignee: Spellman High Voltage Electronics Corp
•
Filing: 1979-06-04
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Granted: 1982-01-19
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Expires: 1999-06-04
Abstract
Abstract A compact fluorescent lamp with a screw-in plug to fit conventional screw sockets which operates at 20-30 watts and provides the lumen output of a 75-100 watt lamp. The lamp is essentially a hollow cylinder with a glass envelope for the two outer walls. The space between the two outer walls is partitioned to constrain the arc discharge to follow a designated path around the inner surface of the lamp. Efficiency is promoted by novel ballast design. The screw-in fluorescent lamp contains a coil in the center of the lamp which creates a diverging magnetic field which causes the arc discharge to spread and may also serve the dual purpose of limiting arc current. Arc spreading coils of several designs are disclosed to provide oriented diverging magnetic fields, rotating diverging magnetic fields and magnetic fields shaped to the lamp envelope with which they are employed.
Inventors
- 👤 S. Merrill Skeist
- 👤 Leo Gross
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 08:59
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J5/00; H01J5/48; H01J61/00; H01J61/02; H01J61/30; H01J61/56; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B20/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
62 words
A method of producing spreading of the arc discharge in a fluorescent lamp wherein said arc discharge is spread throughout the volume of the lamp envelope by an arc spreading coil comprising the step wherein said arc spreading coil creates a diverging magnetic field within the path of said arc discharge spreading the arc discharge throughout the volume of the lamp envelope.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
62 words
A method of producing spreading of the arc discharge in a fluorescent lamp wherein said arc discharge is spread throughout the volume of the lamp envelope by an arc spreading coil comprising the step wherein said arc spreading coil creates a diverging magnetic field within the path of said arc discharge spreading the arc discharge throughout the volume of the lamp envelope.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
83 words
A fluorescent lamp comprising an outer envelope defining a chamber containing electrodes to form an arc discharge, a luminescent phosphor coating all the interior walls of said chamber, ballast and circuitry means in said chamber and operatively connected to said electrodes, and arc spreading coil means for creating a diverging magnetic field at right angles to the direction of said arc discharge and within the path of said arc discharge so that said arc discharge is spread throughout the volume of said chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
83 words
A fluorescent lamp comprising an outer envelope defining a chamber containing electrodes to form an arc discharge, a luminescent phosphor coating all the interior walls of said chamber, ballast and circuitry means in said chamber and operatively connected to said electrodes, and arc spreading coil means for creating a diverging magnetic field at right angles to the direction of said arc discharge and within the path of said arc discharge so that said arc discharge is spread throughout the volume of said chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A fluorescent lamp as in claim 2, wherein said arc spreading coil means includes means for producing a rotating magnetic field and includes two pairs of poles at right angles to each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A fluorescent lamp according to claim 3, wherein said pairs of poles comprise at least a part of the ballast for said fluorescent lamp.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A fluorescent lamp according to claim 2, wherein said arc spreading coil means includes multiple pole pieces having a pole piece pair shaded by shorted turns to produce a rotating magnetic field.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A fluorescent lamp according to claim 5, wherein said arc spreading coil means comprises at least a part of said ballast for said fluorescent lamp.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A fluorescent lamp according to claim 2, wherein said arc spreading coil means includes windings energized in phases to produce a uniformly rotating diverging magnetic field.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A fluorescent lamp according to claim 7, wherein said arc spreading coil means comprises at least part of the ballast for said fluorescent lamp.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A fluorescent lamp as in claim 7, wherein said rotating magnetic field operates at any power line frequency to cause arc spreading in said fluorescent lamp.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A fluorescent lamp according to claim 2, wherein said arc spreading coil means includes a pair of poles at right angles to each other for producing a rotating magnetic field.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A fluorescent lamp according to claim 10, wherein said arc spreading means is at least a part of the ballast for said fluorescent lamp.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A fluorescent lamp according to claim 2, wherein the arc spreading coil comprises at least a part of the ballast for said fluorescent lamp.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
A fluorescent lamp according to claim 2, wherein said arc spreading coil has a core cooperating at any power line frequency so as to create a diverging magnetic field to cause arc spreading in said fluorescent lamp.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
A fluorescent lamp as in claim 2, wherein said lamp operates at any power line frequency wherein the arc is spread throughout the volume of said lamp by said arc spreading coil which creates an alternating magnetic field at the same frequency as the power line frequency and at right angles to the arc path.
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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) | 1985-01-18 | 1985-07-20 | 1986-01-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-01-18 | 1989-07-20 | 1990-01-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-01-18 | 1993-07-20 | 1994-01-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |