US5479072A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Low mercury arc discharge lamp containing neodymium
Assignee: General Electric Co
•
Filing: 1991-11-12
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Granted: 1995-12-26
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Expires: 2011-11-12
Abstract
Abstract A high intensity metal halide arc discharge lamp, such as an electrodeless lamp wherein RF energy is inductively coupled to the arc discharge, contains a halide of neodymium alone or in combination with other metals such as one or more rare earth metals, Na, Cs and is essentially mercury free (i.e., <1 mg per cc of arc chamber volume).
Inventors
- 👤 James T. Dakin
- 👤 Tommie Berry, Jr.
- 👤 Mark E. Duffy
- 👤 Timothy D. Russell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 01:02
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J61/00; H01J61/70; H01J61/72; H01J61/02; H01J61/12; H01J61/125
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
38 words
A light-transmissive arc chamber for an arc discharge lamp containing a fill for initiating and sustaining a torus-shaped arc discharge wherein said fill is essentially free of mercury and comprises a buffer gas and a halide of Nd.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
38 words
A light-transmissive arc chamber for an arc discharge lamp containing a fill for initiating and sustaining a torus-shaped arc discharge wherein said fill is essentially free of mercury and comprises a buffer gas and a halide of Nd.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The arc chamber of claim 1 wherein said buffer gas comprises at least one noble gas.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The arc chamber of claim 2 wherein said buffer gas is selected from the group consisting essentially of Kr, Xe, Ar and mixture thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The arc chamber of claim 3 wherein mercury, if present, is present in an amount less than 1 mg/cc of arc chamber volume.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The arc chamber of claim 4 wherein said halide is selected from the group consisting essentially of iodide, bromide, chloride and mixture thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The arc chamber of claim 5 additionally containing halide of a metal selected from the group consisting essentially of Na, Cs and mixture thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The arc chamber of claim 5 containing a halide of at least one additional rare earth metal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The arc chamber of claim 5 wherein mercury, if present, is present in an amount less than 0.3 mg/cc of arc chamber volume.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The arc chamber of claim 8 wherein mercury, if present, is present in an amount less than 0.2 mg/cc of arc chamber volume.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The arc chamber of claim 9 containing a halide of at least one additional rare earth metal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
A metal halide arc discharge lamp comprising (i) a light-transmissive arc chamber in which is disposed an arc-sustaining fill essentially free of mercury and which comprises a buffer gas and a halide Nd, and (ii) means for applying electrical energy to said fill to produce a light-emitting, torus-shaped arc.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
A metal halide arc discharge lamp comprising (i) a light-transmissive arc chamber in which is disposed an arc-sustaining fill essentially free of mercury and which comprises a buffer gas and a halide Nd, and (ii) means for applying electrical energy to said fill to produce a light-emitting, torus-shaped arc.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The lamp of claim 11 wherein said buffer gas comprises at least one noble gas.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The lamp of claim 12 wherein said halide is selected from the group consisting essentially of iodide, bromide, chloride and mixture thereof and said buffer gas is selected from the group consisting essentially of Kr, Xe, Ar and mixture thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The lamp of claim 13 wherein said arc chamber also contains a halide of a metal selected from the group consisting essentially of Na, Cs, at least one additional rare earth metal and mixture thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The lamp of claim 14 wherein said mercury, if present in said arc chamber, is present in an amount less than 1 mg per cc of arc chamber volume.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
The lamp of claim 15 wherein said mercury, if present in said arc chamber, is present in an amount of less than 0.3 mg per cc of arc chamber volume and wherein the coldest portion of said arc chamber is greater than 500° C. during operation of said lamp.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
75 words
An electrodeless metal halide arc discharge lamp having a hermetically sealed, vitreous, light-transmissive arc chamber in which is disposed an arc-sustaining fill essentially free of mercury and which comprises a buffer gas and a halide of neodymium, said arc chamber having its coldest portion at a temperature greater than 500° C. during operation of said lamp and said lamp further including means for applying RF energy to said fill to produce a light-emitting, torus-shaped arc.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
75 words
An electrodeless metal halide arc discharge lamp having a hermetically sealed, vitreous, light-transmissive arc chamber in which is disposed an arc-sustaining fill essentially free of mercury and which comprises a buffer gas and a halide of neodymium, said arc chamber having its coldest portion at a temperature greater than 500° C. during operation of said lamp and said lamp further including means for applying RF energy to said fill to produce a light-emitting, torus-shaped arc.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The lamp of claim 17 wherein said buffer gas comprises at least one noble gas.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
The lamp of claim 18 wherein said buffer gas is selected from the group consisting essentially of Kr, Xe, Ar and mixture thereof and wherein said halide is selected from the group consisting essentially of iodide, bromide, chloride and mixture thereof.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
11 words
The lamp of claim 19 wherein said halide includes an iodide.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The lamp of claim 19 wherein said arc chamber also contains a halide of Na, Cs or mixture thereof.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The lamp of claim 19 wherein said arc chamber contains a halide of at least one additional rare earth metal.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The lamp of claim 22 wherein said mercury, if present, is present in an amount less than 1 mg per cc of arc chamber volume.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
77 words
An electrodeless, metal halide arc discharge lamp having a hermetically sealed, light-transmissive fused quartz arc chamber having disposed therein an arc-sustaining fill essentially free of mercury and comprising (i) a buffer gas at a pressure of at least 50 torr selected from the group consisting essentially of Kr, Xe, Ar and mixture thereof and (ii) a halide of Nd, said lamp further including means for applying RF energy to said fill to produce a light-emitting, torus-shaped arc.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
77 words
An electrodeless, metal halide arc discharge lamp having a hermetically sealed, light-transmissive fused quartz arc chamber having disposed therein an arc-sustaining fill essentially free of mercury and comprising (i) a buffer gas at a pressure of at least 50 torr selected from the group consisting essentially of Kr, Xe, Ar and mixture thereof and (ii) a halide of Nd, said lamp further including means for applying RF energy to said fill to produce a light-emitting, torus-shaped arc.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
The lamp of claim 24 wherein said halide is selected from the group consisting essentially of an iodide, bromide, chloride and mixture thereof.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
The lamp of claim 25 wherein the coldest portion of said arc chamber is greater than 500° C. during operation of said lamp.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
The lamp of claim 26 wherein mercury, if present in said lamp, is present in an amount less than 1 mg per cc of arc chamber volume.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
The lamp of claim 27 wherein said RF energy is inductively coupled to said arc.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
The lamp of claim 28 wherein neodymium iodide is present in said arc chamber.
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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) | 1998-12-25 | 1999-06-26 | 1999-12-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-12-25 | 2003-06-26 | 2003-12-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-12-25 | 2007-06-26 | 2007-12-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |