US4636692A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mercury-free discharge lamp
Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc
•
Filing: 1984-09-04
•
Granted: 1987-01-13
•
Expires: 2004-09-04
Abstract
Abstract An ultraviolet light source includes a volume filled with a dose of AlBr 3 and an inert gas. No mercury is used. During electrical discharge excited states of AlBr 2 , and AlBr emit light, with AlBr having a broad ultraviolet emission peaking at about 278 nm. The source may be energized with or without internal electrodes. Phosphors may be employed to convert the ultraviolet to visible light. The lamp's envelope may be aluminosilicate coated quartz.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter P. Lapatovich
- 👤 George R. Gibbs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 09:07
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J61/00; H01J61/02; H01J61/12; H01J61/125
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
60 words
A mercury free molecular vapor discharge lamp comprising: a vessel having walls defining a discharge chamber; a mercury free filling of aluminum tribromide vapor at a pressure of about 0.2 to 20 torr and one or more inert gases in said chamber; and means for causing an electrical discharge through said filling whereupon said filling emits ultraviolet and visible light.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
60 words
A mercury free molecular vapor discharge lamp comprising: a vessel having walls defining a discharge chamber; a mercury free filling of aluminum tribromide vapor at a pressure of about 0.2 to 20 torr and one or more inert gases in said chamber; and means for causing an electrical discharge through said filling whereupon said filling emits ultraviolet and visible light.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A lamp in accordance with claim 1 wherein said inert gas is neon at an ambient pressure of approximately 2 torr and said aluminum tribromide has a vapor pressure of approximately 1 torr.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A lamp in accordance with claim 1 wherein said vessel is fused silicon dioxide, the interior of which is coated with a layer of aluminosilicate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A lamp in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a phosphor coating on the wall of said discharge chamber for converting the ultraviolet light to visible light.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A lamp in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for initiating and sustaining an electrical discharge through said filling is a radio frequency oscillator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
92 words
A mercury free molecular vapor discharge lamp comprising: a vessel having walls defining a discharge chamber; said chamber being free of mercury and filled with an inert gas and containing an amount of aluminum tribromide; means for heating said aluminum tribromide for generating aluminum bromide vapor at a pressure from about 0.2 to 20 torr causing a mixture of said inert gas and said aluminum bromide vapor to fill said discharge chamber; and means for initiating and sustaining an electrical discharge through said mixture which in response emits ultraviolet and visible light.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
92 words
A mercury free molecular vapor discharge lamp comprising: a vessel having walls defining a discharge chamber; said chamber being free of mercury and filled with an inert gas and containing an amount of aluminum tribromide; means for heating said aluminum tribromide for generating aluminum bromide vapor at a pressure from about 0.2 to 20 torr causing a mixture of said inert gas and said aluminum bromide vapor to fill said discharge chamber; and means for initiating and sustaining an electrical discharge through said mixture which in response emits ultraviolet and visible light.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A lamp in accordance with claim 6 wherein said inert gas is neon at an ambient pressure of approximately 2 torr and said aluminum tribromide has a vapor pressure of approximately 1 torr.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A lamp in accordance with claim 6 wherein said vessel is fused silicon dioxide, the interior of which is coated with a layer of aluminosilicate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A lamp in accordance with claim 6 further comprising a phosphor coating on the wall of said discharge chamber for converting the ultraviolet light to visible light.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A lamp in accordance with claim 6 wherein said means for initiating and sustaining an electrical discharge through said filling is a radio frequency oscillator.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2765416A
Cited
US3586898A
Cited
US4002922A
Cited
US4206387A
Cited
US4532455A
Cited
US4549109A
Cited
US4436762A
Cited
US4480213A
Cited
US4492898A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-01-12 | 1990-07-14 | 1991-01-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-01-12 | 1994-07-14 | 1995-01-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-01-12 | 1998-07-14 | 1999-01-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |