US4504955A — Low voltage operation of arc discharge devices

Claim 1

Independent Claim 115 words

An arc discharge light source comprising: excitation means for producing radiation; said excitation means comprising at least two strips having at least one gap, which at least one gap provides at least one intervening discharge path; and means for applying an electrical signal to said at least two strips; at least a portion of said at least two strips being fabricated from a material which is converted into a plasma of ions as a result of the application of said electrical signal, which plasma generates said radiation; characterized in that at least one thin film bridges each of said at least one gap, thereby reducing the voltage of said signal required to initiate said plasma.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 115 words

An arc discharge light source comprising: excitation means for producing radiation; said excitation means comprising at least two strips having at least one gap, which at least one gap provides at least one intervening discharge path; and means for applying an electrical signal to said at least two strips; at least a portion of said at least two strips being fabricated from a material which is converted into a plasma of ions as a result of the application of said electrical signal, which plasma generates said radiation; characterized in that at least one thin film bridges each of said at least one gap, thereby reducing the voltage of said signal required to initiate said plasma.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 43 words

The light source of claim 1 further including an electrically insulating substrate on which said strips are mounted and wherein said at least one thin film is formed on said substrate and underlies at least a portion of said at least two strips.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 45 words

The light source of claim 1 further including an electrically insulating substrate on which said strips are mounted and wherein said at least one thin film is formed in said at least one gap and in contact with each of said at least two strips.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 17 words

The light source of claims 1, 2, or 3 wherein said thin film comprises a metal layer.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 16 words

The light source of claim 4 wherein said thin film has a thickness of ≲10 μm.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 31 words

The light source of claims 1, 2, or 3 wherein the thickness and composition of said thin film allow said plasma to be initiated with a D.C. voltage of ≲75 V.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 54 words

The light source of claims 1, 2, or 3 for use as a laser furter including a resonant laser cavity which permits egress of laser radiation therefrom, said excitation means producing said radiation in said cavity, and a cell for containing a background gas and in which said at least two strips are located.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 53 words

The source of claim 3 wherein one of said at least two strips has a recess therein, a liquid metal being contained in said recess, said thin film being in contact with said liquid metal and another of said at least two strips so that said plasma comprises ions of said liquid metal.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 87 words

The source of claim 8 wherein said substrate has therein a channel with an interior end wall, said one strip is inserted in said channel and has a step at one end thereof which, together with said end wall, forms said recess, said other strip is mounted on said substrate adjacent said recess, said thin film connects said strips and is formed on at least said end wall, and said liquid metal is contained within said recess so that electrically it is part of said one strip.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 11 words

The source of claim 8 wherein said liquid metal comprises Hg.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 14 words

The source of claim 10 wherein said strips and said thin film comprise Cd.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 30 words

The source of claims 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, or 11 further including a cell for containing background gas and in which said at least two strips are located.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 17 words

The source of claim 12 wherein said gas comprises He at a pressure of about 1-40 Torr.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 37 words

The source of claims 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, or 11 wherein the resistance of the series combination of adjacent strips and said thin film formed in the gap therebetween is between approximately 5Ω and 1000Ω.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 103 words

An arc discharge device comprising: excitation means including at least two strips having at least one gap, which at least one gap provides at least one intervening discharge path; and means for applying an electrical signal to said at least two strips; at least a portion of said at least two strips being fabricated from a material which is converted into a plasma of ions as a result of the application of said electrical signal; characterized in that at least one thin film bridges each of said at least one gap, thereby reducing the voltage of said signal required to initiate said plasma.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 103 words

An arc discharge device comprising: excitation means including at least two strips having at least one gap, which at least one gap provides at least one intervening discharge path; and means for applying an electrical signal to said at least two strips; at least a portion of said at least two strips being fabricated from a material which is converted into a plasma of ions as a result of the application of said electrical signal; characterized in that at least one thin film bridges each of said at least one gap, thereby reducing the voltage of said signal required to initiate said plasma.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 82 words

An arc discharge light source comprising a metal strip, a pool of liquid metal spaced in close proximity to one end of said strip so as to form a gap therebetween, said liquid metal being convertible into a plasma of ions as the result of the application of an electrical signal between said strip and said pool, which plasma generates radiation, and at least one thin film bridging said gap, thereby reducing the voltage of said signal required to initiate said plasma.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 82 words

An arc discharge light source comprising a metal strip, a pool of liquid metal spaced in close proximity to one end of said strip so as to form a gap therebetween, said liquid metal being convertible into a plasma of ions as the result of the application of an electrical signal between said strip and said pool, which plasma generates radiation, and at least one thin film bridging said gap, thereby reducing the voltage of said signal required to initiate said plasma.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 11 words

The source of claim 16 wherein said liquid metal comprises Hg.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 11 words

The source of claim 17 wherein said thin film comprises Hg.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 34 words

The source of claim 18 wherein said thin film is formed by applying a high voltage between said strip and said pool, with said pool being at a more negative voltage than said strip.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1988-03-11	1988-09-10	1989-03-12	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1992-03-11	1992-09-10	1993-03-12	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1996-03-11	1996-09-10	1997-03-12	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Low voltage operation of arc discharge devices

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