US4868450A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Radiation device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1989-02-22
•
Granted: 1989-09-19
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Expires: 2009-02-22
Abstract
Abstract This invention provides a source of optical radiation of high brightness obtained from an output window that is located on the axis of an extended length arc discharge device. The arc discharge device is confined by an electrically insulating tubular element, and caused by the tubular element to have an extended length to diameter ratio. The tubular element is provided with a reflecting surface that improves efficiency and increases output. Means are provided to transfer heat from the tubular element and to support high internal gas pressure, and to thereby facilitate use of a very high brightness arc discharge.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter L. Colterjohn, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 21:06
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J61/00; H01J61/02; H01J61/30; H01J61/84
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
An optical radiation source including an electric arc discharge between electrodes in a pressurized gas, an elongated electrically insulating tabular element in which said arc is radially confined which radial confinement causes the arc to have a larger length to diameter ratio, thereby producing a higher electrical impedance in said arc and a higher brightness in an axial direction of said arc, a window co-axially positioned at one end of said tabular element which serves to transmit radiation from said arc that is emitted in said axial direction and a reflective surface that essentially conforms to a surface of said electrically insulating tubular element that redirects radiation incident to said reflective surface back to said arc and also to said window, an enclosing structure means having an interface with the outer surface of said insulating tube, said structure adapted to constrain the force of said internal gas pressure, and said enclosing structure means also adapted to conduct heat from said insulating tube, and external cooling means having access to said enclosing structure means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
An optical radiation source including an electric arc discharge between electrodes in a pressurized gas, an elongated electrically insulating tabular element in which said arc is radially confined which radial confinement causes the arc to have a larger length to diameter ratio, thereby producing a higher electrical impedance in said arc and a higher brightness in an axial direction of said arc, a window co-axially positioned at one end of said tabular element which serves to transmit radiation from said arc that is emitted in said axial direction and a reflective surface that essentially conforms to a surface of said electrically insulating tubular element that redirects radiation incident to said reflective surface back to said arc and also to said window, an enclosing structure means having an interface with the outer surface of said insulating tube, said structure adapted to constrain the force of said internal gas pressure, and said enclosing structure means also adapted to conduct heat from said insulating tube, and external cooling means having access to said enclosing structure means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
An optical radiation source as claimed in claim 1 wherein said enclosing structure includes an intimate interface with the outer surface of said insulating tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
An optical radiation source as claimed in claim 2 wherein said interface between said enclosing structure and said insulating tube is of significant thickness, a layer of thermally conductive material filling said interface, with said material being porous to said internal gas to facilitate balancing said gas pressure on opposite sides of said insulating tube and acceptance of the gas pressure by the enclosing structure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
An optical radiation source as claimed in claim 1 wherein said insulating tube is made of an opaque ceramic which serves to reflect radiation back to both said arc and said window by diffuse scattering.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
An optical radiation source as claimed in claim 1 wherein said insulating tube is transparent and has a reflecting surface adjacent its outside surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
An optical radiation source as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tubular element has a reflective surface said element and said reflective surface being concavely tapered to a larger open end diameter toward said window, whereby reflected radiation is preferentially reflected toward the window.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
An optical radiation source as claimed in claim 2 wherein one of said electrodes is positioned adjacent said window said one electrode being disposed annularly and located about one circular edge of the window.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
An optical radiation source as claimed in claim 7 wherein said one electrode by said window is the anode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
An optical radiation source as claimed in claim 7 wherein said window has limited thermal contact with cooling means so that its input surface is at an adequately high temperature to prevent the deposition of material from said annular electrode, and wherein the material of said annular electrode has an adequate vapor pressure at the temperature of said window to facilitate the prevention of such deposition.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
An optical radiation source as claimed in claim 9 wherein said annularly disposed electrode is chosen from the class of materials consisting of silver, copper and cadmium.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
An optical radiation source as claimed in claim 1 wherein said window is a light conduit with reflecting sidewalls.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
An optical radiation source as claimed in claim 11 wherein said window is made from a material chosen from the class consisting of synthetic sapphire and fused silica.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
An optical radiation source as claimed in claim 1 wherein a third electrode is positioned closer to one of said electrodes than the other electrode to facilitate striking the arc at a reduced voltage.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
An optical radiation source as claimed in claim 1 wherein said insulating tube is made from a material chosen from the class consisting of synthetic sapphire and fused silica.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
102 words
An optical radiation source as claimed in claim 12 wherein an external light conduit is closely coupled to receive radiation from an output surface of said window, said conduit being tapered to a larger diameter toward its opposite end and output face surface to cause increased collimation of the optical radiation, and in which said output face of the external light conduit is partially covered with reflective means to form a mask defining a predetermined shape exit aperture for permitting delivery of radiation having said predetermined shape and to reflectively return radiation to said arc that is outside the predetermined shape required.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
An optical radiation source as claimed in claim 15 wherein said output face is provided with means to reflect radiation that is outside the spectral region required.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
146 words
An optical radiation source including an electric and discharge between electrodes in a pressurized gas, an elongated electrically insulating tubular element in which said arc is established, a window co-axially positioned at one end of said tubular element which serves to transmit radiation from said arc that is emitted in an axial direction, a reflective surface that essentially Conforms to a surface of said electrically insulating tubular element that redirects radiation incident to said reflective surface back to said arc and also to said window and an enclosing structure means having an interface with the outer surface of said insulating tube, said structure adapted to constrain the force of said internal gas pressure, and said enclosing structure means also adapted to conduct heat from said insulating tube and external cooling means having access to said enclosing structure means to assist in the dissipation of heat therefrom.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
146 words
An optical radiation source including an electric and discharge between electrodes in a pressurized gas, an elongated electrically insulating tubular element in which said arc is established, a window co-axially positioned at one end of said tubular element which serves to transmit radiation from said arc that is emitted in an axial direction, a reflective surface that essentially Conforms to a surface of said electrically insulating tubular element that redirects radiation incident to said reflective surface back to said arc and also to said window and an enclosing structure means having an interface with the outer surface of said insulating tube, said structure adapted to constrain the force of said internal gas pressure, and said enclosing structure means also adapted to conduct heat from said insulating tube and external cooling means having access to said enclosing structure means to assist in the dissipation of heat therefrom.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
An optical radiation source as claimed in claims 1 and 17 wherein said enclosing structure is adapted to apply a compressive force through its interface to said insulating tube to counteract tensile forces created in said insulating tube by internal gas pressure and thermal gradients.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
58 words
An optical radiation source as claimed in claim 17 wherein said interface is of significant thickness, a layer of thermally conductive material filling said interface, said thermally conductive material being porous to said internal gal to facilitate balancing said gas pressure on opposite sides of said insulating tube and acceptance of said gas pressure by said enclosing structure.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
94 words
An optical radiation source as claimed in claim 1 wherein said enclosing structure is fabricated from material having the arithmetic product of its tensile strength and thermal conductivity substantially greater than the similar arithmetic product of the material from which said tube is fabricated, whereby, for the retention of a predetermined pressure of said pressurized gas, the thermal impedance between the inside wall of said tube and the said cooling means is reduced, which reduced thermal impedance permits operation of said tube at a higher than normal power input and higher than normal brightness.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
94 words
An optical radiation source as claimed in claim 17 wherein said enclosing structure is fabricated from material having the arithmetic product of its tensile strength and thermal conductivity substantially greater than the similar arithmetic product of the material from which said tube is fabricated, whereby, for the retention of a predetermined pressure of said pressurized gas, the thermal impedance between the inside wall of said tube and the said cooling means is reduced, which reduced thermal impedance permits operation of said tube at a higher then normal power input and higher than normal brightness.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
An optical radiation source as claimed in claim 7 wherein said one electrode adjacent said window is the anode and is substantially annular in configuration.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
An optical radiation source as claimed in claim 7 includes a plurality of active anodes disposed in circumferentially annularly arranged spaced relation about said window.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
39 words
An optical radiation source as claimed in claim 23 wherein the plurality of active anodes are each connected to means for providing separate independent sources of current limited electrical power and said anodes are electrically isolated from each other.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
49 words
An optical radiation source as claimed in claim 24 wherein said source includes a plurality of passive anodes which separate said plurality of active anodes, such separation providing uniform spacing between said active anodes, said passive anodes also contributing to the maintenance of good distribution of the arc current.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
An optical radiation source as claimed in claim 23 wherein said source includes compartmentalized insulation means whereby said active anodes are electrically insulated from one another.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
38 words
An optical radiation source as claimed in claim 26 wherein said insulation means includes means for accepting said passive anodes for disposition between said active anodes to assist in maintenance of the requisite spacing in said annular format.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
An optical radiation source as claimed in claim 24 wherein said means for providing current limiting control are all connected in parallel with a common cathode.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
85 words
An optical radiation source as claimed in claim 7 wherein said tube includes a plurality of relatively small apertures disposed circumferentially around said tube adjacent the open end aligned with said window, said apertures communicating between the chamber within said tube, which houses said cathode at the opposite end, and said enclosing structure means which serves as the common anode, said small apertures creating an increased electrical impedence which provides a tendency for said arc to reduce the overall impedence by distributing itself more uniformly.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
88 words
An optical radiation source as claimed in claim 7 wherein said tube includes a relatively small annular slit disposed circumferentially around said tube adjacent the open end aligned with said window, said slit communicating between the chamber within said tube, which houses said cathode at the opposite end, and said enclosing structure means which serves as the common anode, said small slit creating an increased electrical impedence which provides a tendency for said arc to reduce the overall impedence by distributing itself more uniformly throughout said annular slit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2045288A
Cited
US3775609A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-09-18 | 1993-03-20 | 1993-09-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-09-18 | 1997-03-20 | 1997-09-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-09-18 | 2001-03-20 | 2001-09-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |