US4777399A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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High pressure metal vapor discharge lamp
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1982-02-10
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Granted: 1988-10-11
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Expires: 2002-02-10
Abstract
Abstract A high pressure metal vapor discharge lamp comprising a discharge tube with a pair of spaced main electrodes; a filling sealed in the discharge tube comprising a light emitting metal and a starting gas; a radioactive source comprising a radioactive substance entirely covered with an envelope of non-radioactive, heat- and corrosion-resistant material sealed inside the discharge tube, an outer tube enclosing the discharge tube, and circuit means for starting the discharge tube.
Inventors
- 👤 Kouichi Miyazaki
- 👤 Akihiro Kamiya
- 👤 Akihiro Inoue
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 08:49
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J7/00; H01J7/30; H01J7/40; H01J61/00; H01J61/02; H01J61/54; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S313/00; Y10S313/07
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
A high pressure metal vapor discharge lamp, comprising: a discharge tube having a pair of spaced main electrodes; a filling comprising a light emitting metal and a starting gas sealed in said discharge tube; a radioactive source sealed inside said discharge tube, said source comprising a ceramic body impregnated with a radioactive substance and entirely covered with an envelope of non-radioactive, heat- and corrosion-resistant material sealed in said discharge tube; an outer tube enclosing said discharge tube; and electrical circuit means for starting said discharge tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
86 words
A high pressure metal vapor discharge lamp, comprising: a discharge tube having a pair of spaced main electrodes; a filling comprising a light emitting metal and a starting gas sealed in said discharge tube; a radioactive source sealed inside said discharge tube, said source comprising a ceramic body impregnated with a radioactive substance and entirely covered with an envelope of non-radioactive, heat- and corrosion-resistant material sealed in said discharge tube; an outer tube enclosing said discharge tube; and electrical circuit means for starting said discharge tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A high pressure metal vapor discharge lamp according to claim 1, wherein said radioactive substance has a half-life lying in the range from 0.5 year to 1×10 4 years.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A high pressure metal vapor discharge lamp according to claim 2, wherein said radioactive substance has a half-life lying in the range from 0.5 year to 10 years.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A high pressure metal vapor discharge lamp according to claim 1, wherein said ceramic material is formed from at least one material selected from the group consisting of non-metal oxides, metal oxides, metal carbides and metal nitrides.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A high pressure metal vapor discharge lamp according to claim 4, wherein said ceramic material is formed from silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
A high pressure metal vapor discharge lamp according to claim 4, wherein said ceramic material is formed from a metal oxide selected from the group consisting of aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ), sodium oxide (Na 2 O), magnesium oxide (MgO), beryllium oxide (BeO), titanium monoxide (TiO), titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ), and calcium oxide (CaO).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
A high pressure metal vapor discharge lamp according to claim 4, wherein said ceramic material is formed from a metal carbide selected from the group consisting of aluminim carbide (Al 4 C 3 ), sodium carbide (Na 2 C 2 ), and calcium carbide (CaC 2 ).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
A high pressure metal vapor discharge lamp according to claim 4, wherein said ceramic material is formed from a metal nitride selected from the group consisting of aluminum nitride (AlN), sodium nitride (Na 3 N), and magnesium nitride (Mg 3 N 2 ).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
135 words
A high pressure metal vapor discharge lamp according to claim 1, wherein said radioactive substance is selected from the group consisting of carbon ( 14 C), sodium ( 22 Na), calcium ( 45 Ca), manganese ( 54 Mn), iron ( 55 Fe), cobalt ( 60 Co), nickel ( 63 Ni), zinc ( 65 Zn), stronium ( 90 Sr), ruthenium ( 106 Ru), silver ( 110 Ag), antimony ( 125 Sb), barium ( 133 Ba), cesium ( 134 Cs, 137 Cs), cerium ( 144 Ce), promethium ( 147 Pm), europium ( 154 Eu, 155 Eu), gold ( 195 Au), thallium ( 204 Tl), lead ( 210 Pb), radium ( 226 Ra, 228 Ra), actinium ( 227 Ac), thorium ( 228 Th), americium ( 241 Am), curium ( 242 Cm, 244 Cm), and californium ( 252 Cf).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A high pressure metal vapor discharge lamp according to claim 1, wherein said envelope is formed of a glass.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A high pressure metal vapor discharge lamp according to claim 1, wherein said envelope is formed of a ceramic.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A high pressure metal vapor discharge lamp according to claim 1, wherein said envelope is formed of a metal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A high pressure metal vapor discharge lamp according to claim 1, wherein said envelope is formed of metallic aluminum.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A high pressure metal vapor discharge lamp according to claim 1, wherein said envelope is formed of metallic tungsten.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A high pressure metal vapor discharge lamp according to claim 1, wherein said envelope comprises a vapor deposited layer of alumina.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
A high pressure metal vapor discharge lamp according to claim 1, wherein said envelope comprises a vapor deposited layer of silicon dioxide.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
A high pressure metal vapor discharge lamp according to claim 1, wherein said envelope comprises a vapor deposited metal layer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
A high pressure metal vapor discharge lamp according to claim 17, wherein said envelope comprises a vapor deposited tungsten layer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
53 words
A high pressure metal vapor discharge lamp according to claim 1, wherein a temporary exhaust tube is formed on said discharge tube and the diameter of said exhaust tube is larger than the diameter of said radioactive source, whereby said radioactive source may be introduced into said discharge tube through said exhuast tube.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
A high pressure metal vapor discharge lamp according to claim 1, wherein said circuit comprises a glow starter tube for generating a high voltage pulse for initiating an electrical discharge in said discharge tube.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3275873A
Cited
US3928781A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-10-11 | 1992-04-11 | 1992-10-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-10-11 | 1996-04-11 | 1996-10-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-10-11 | 2000-04-11 | 2000-10-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |