Light cube module

Claim 1

An apparatus for collecting and directing light comprising: a high intensity light source; an enclosure substantially surrounding said high intensity light source, said enclosure including a sealed solid, high strength opaque body, said body operable at high temperatures enclosing a spherical cavity forming a housing, the high intensity light source being exposed inside the spherical cavity; and a plurality of light pipes disposed to extend through said solid, high strength opaque body each having a first end located inside the spherical cavity proximate the exposed high intensity light source and a second end extending to an exterior of said body, the light pipes carrying light from inside to outside the cavity, wherein the exposed high intensity light source comprises an electrically powered plasma device, and the apparatus further includes positive and negative electrodes extending through the body into the cavity, said cavity containing a gas which produces plasma between the two electrodes when energized, and wherein said first ends project inside the cavity in close proximity to the plasma, wherein said gas, electrodes and light pipes are all integral within said cavity and said light pipes extend into said gas.

Claim 2

An apparatus for collecting and directing light comprising: a high intensity light source; an enclosure substantially surrounding said high intensity light source, said enclosure including a sealed solid, high strength opaque body, said body operable at high temperatures enclosing a spherical cavity forming a housing, the high intensity light source being exposed inside the spherical cavity; and a plurality of light pipes disposed to extend through said solid, high strength opaque body each having a first end located inside the spherical cavity proximate the exposed high intensity light source and a second end extending to an exterior of said body, the light pipes carrying light from inside to outside the cavity, wherein the exposed high intensity light source comprises an electrically powered plasma device, and the apparatus further includes positive and negative electrodes extending through the body into the cavity, said cavity containing a gas which produces plasma between the two electrodes when energized, and wherein said first ends project inside the cavity in close proximity to the plasma, wherein said gas, electrodes and light pipes are all integral within said cavity and said light pipes extend into said gas.

Claim 12

An apparatus for collecting and directing light comprising: a high intensity light source; an enclosure substantially surrounding said high intensity light source, said enclosure including a sealed solid, high strength opaque body, said body operable at high temperatures enclosing a spherical cavity forming a housing, the high intensity light source being exposed inside the spherical cavity; and a plurality of light pipes disposed to extend through said solid, high strength opaque body each having a first end located inside the spherical cavity proximate the exposed high intensity light source and a second end extending to an exterior of said body, the light pipes carrying light from inside to outside the cavity, wherein the exposed high intensity light source comprises an electrically powered plasma device, and the apparatus further includes positive and negative electrodes extending through the body into the cavity, said cavity containing a gas which produces plasma between the two electrodes when energized, and wherein said first ends project inside the cavity in close proximity to the plasma, wherein an internal surface of the cavity substantially reflects the light produced by said light source.

Claim 13

An apparatus for collecting and directing light comprising: a high intensity light source; an enclosure substantially surrounding said high intensity light source, said enclosure including a sealed solid, high strength opaque body, said body operable at high temperatures enclosing a spherical cavity forming a housing, the high intensity light source being exposed inside the spherical cavity; and a plurality of light pipes disposed to extend through said solid, high strength opaque body each having a first end located inside the spherical cavity proximate the exposed high intensity light source and a second end extending to an exterior of said body, the light pipes carrying light from inside to outside the cavity, wherein the exposed high intensity light source comprises an electrically powered plasma device, and the apparatus further includes positive and negative electrodes extending through the body into the cavity, said cavity containing a gas which produces plasma between the two electrodes when energized, and wherein said first ends project inside the cavity in close proximity to the plasma, wherein an internal surface of the cavity substantially reflects the light produced by said light source.

Claim 14

An apparatus for collecting and directing light comprising: a high intensity light source; an enclosure substantially surrounding said high intensity light source, said enclosure including a sealed solid, high strength opaque body, said body operable at high temperatures enclosing a spherical cavity forming a housing, the high intensity light source being exposed inside the spherical cavity; and a plurality of light pipes disposed to extend through said solid, high strength opaque body each having a first end located inside the spherical cavity proximate the exposed high intensity light source and a second end extending to an exterior of said body, the light pipes carrying light from inside to outside the cavity, wherein the exposed high intensity light source comprises an electrically powered plasma device, and the apparatus further includes positive and negative electrodes extending through the body into the cavity, said cavity containing a gas which produces plasma between the two electrodes when energized, and wherein said first ends project inside the cavity in close proximity to the plasma, wherein the spherical cavity surface is coated with a material which reflects visible light and transmits infrared light.

Claim 15

An apparatus for collecting and directing light comprising: a high intensity light source; an enclosure substantially surrounding said high intensity light source, said enclosure including a sealed solid, high strength opaque body, said body operable at high temperatures enclosing a spherical cavity forming a housing, the high intensity light source being exposed inside the spherical cavity; and a plurality of light pipes disposed to extend through said solid, high strength opaque body each having a first end located inside the spherical cavity proximate the exposed high intensity light source and a second end extending to an exterior of said body, the light pipes carrying light from inside to outside the cavity, wherein the exposed high intensity light source comprises an electrically powered plasma device, and the apparatus further includes positive and negative electrodes extending through the body into the cavity, said cavity containing a gas which produces plasma between the two electrodes when energized, and wherein said first ends project inside the cavity in close proximity to the plasma, wherein the spherical cavity surface is coated with a material which reflects visible light and transmits infrared light.

Claim 16

An apparatus for collecting and directing light comprising: a high intensity light source; an enclosure substantially surrounding said high intensity light source, said enclosure including a sealed solid, high strength opaque body, said body operable at high temperatures enclosing a spherical cavity forming a housing, the high intensity light source being exposed inside the spherical cavity; and a plurality of light pipes disposed to extend through said solid, high strength opaque body each having a first end located inside the spherical cavity proximate the exposed high intensity light source and a second end extending to an exterior of said body, the light pipes carrying light from inside to outside the cavity, wherein the exposed high intensity light source comprises an electrically powered plasma device, and the apparatus further includes positive and negative electrodes extending through the body into the cavity, said cavity containing a gas which produces plasma between the two electrodes when energized, and wherein said first ends project inside the cavity in close proximity to the plasma wherein said cavity is coated with a reflective coating on a side opposite said light pipes and wherein incident light which is normal to said reflective surface will be reflected into said light pipes.

Claim 17

An apparatus for collecting and directing light comprising: a high intensity light source; an enclosure substantially surrounding said high intensity light source, said enclosure including a sealed solid, high strength opaque body, said body operable at high temperatures enclosing a spherical cavity forming a housing, the high intensity light source being exposed inside the spherical cavity; and a plurality of light pipes disposed to extend through said solid, high strength opaque body each having a first end located inside the spherical cavity proximate the exposed high intensity light source and a second end extending to an exterior of said body, the light pipes carrying light from inside to outside the cavity, wherein the exposed high intensity light source comprises an electrically powered plasma device, and the apparatus further includes positive and negative electrodes extending through the body into the cavity, said cavity containing a gas which produces plasma between the two electrodes when energized, and wherein said first ends project inside the cavity in close proximity to the plasma wherein said cavity is coated with a reflective coating on a side opposite said light pipes and wherein incident light which is normal to said reflective surface will be reflected into said light pipes.

Claim 18

An apparatus for collecting and directing light comprising: a plurality of light modules, each module including an exposed high intensity source of light; an enclosure at least partially surrounding said exposed high intensity light source, said enclosure including a sealed high strength opaque body operable in high temperatures enclosing a spherical cavity, said high intensity light source being inside said cavity, a plurality of light pipes each disposed to extend through said body having a first end located inside the cavity proximate said exposed high intensity light source and a second end extending outside the body, the light pipes carrying light from inside the cavity to outside the cavity, wherein the light source comprises an electrically powered plasma device, and the apparatus further includes positive and negative electrodes extending through the body into the cavity, said cavity containing a gas which produces plasma between the two electrodes when energized, wherein said first end projects inside the cavity in close proximity to the plasma, wherein said gas, electrodes and light pipes are all integral within said cavity and said light pipes extend into said gas; a combiner and randomizer means for receiving the second ends of each of the light pipes and for mixing and directing the light from each light pipes into an output port; and a light pipe coupled to said output port for receiving light originating from each of the light sources.

Claim 19

An apparatus for collecting and directing light comprising: a plurality of light modules, each module including an exposed high intensity source of light; an enclosure at least partially surrounding said exposed high intensity light source, said enclosure including a sealed high strength opaque body operable in high temperatures enclosing a spherical cavity, said high intensity light source being inside said cavity, a plurality of light pipes each disposed to extend through said body having a first end located inside the cavity proximate said exposed high intensity light source and a second end extending outside the body, the light pipes carrying light from inside the cavity to outside the cavity, wherein the light source comprises an electrically powered plasma device, and the apparatus further includes positive and negative electrodes extending through the body into the cavity, said cavity containing a gas which produces plasma between the two electrodes when energized, wherein said first end projects inside the cavity in close proximity to the plasma, wherein said gas, electrodes and light pipes are all integral within said cavity and said light pipes extend into said gas; a combiner and randomizer means for receiving the second ends of each of the light pipes and for mixing and directing the light from each light pipes into an output port; and a light pipe coupled to said output port for receiving light originating from each of the light sources.