Abstract:
A high intensity discharge lamp includes an electrically insulating arc tube including a central portion with an interior discharge region and two legs each extending from an end of the central portion. The central portion is a larger size than the legs. Electrical conductors extend through each of the legs and are spaced apart from each other in the discharge region. A light transmitting envelope encloses the arc tube. A frame member is electrically attached to one of the conductors. An ignition aid includes an electrically conductive foil disposed around one of the legs and in electrical contact with the frame member. An electrically conductive crown disposed in electrical contact with the foil is located on or near the central portion.
Abstract:
A lamp includes a discharge vessel with electrodes extending into the discharge vessel and an ionizable fill sealed within the vessel. The fill includes a buffer gas, optionally mercury, and a halide component. The lamp includes available oxygen, sealed within the discharge vessel, at a concentration of at least 0.1 μmol O/cc.
Abstract:
A first exemplary embodiment of an automotive discharge lamp assembly includes an integrated high intensity discharge lamp and driver assembly having a high voltage starter/igniter and a ballast unit contained in a common housing with a high intensity discharge lamp burner extending therefrom. A separate automotive headlamp optical assembly is mechanically and electrically joined to the integrated high intensity discharge lamp and driver assembly. The joining assembly includes snap-fit clamps received on one of (i) the headlamp assembly and (ii) the integrated lamp and driver assembly, and received in a recess/groove on the other of (i) the headlamp optical assembly and (ii) the integrated lamp and driver assembly. Another exemplary embodiment includes at least one bayonet pin extending outwardly from one of (i) the integrated lamp and driver assembly and (U) the headlamp optical assembly for operative receipt in a recess or groove formed in the other component.
Abstract:
A high intensity discharge lamp comprises an arc tube (1) terminated by at least one sealed portion (3) , enclosing an electrode assembly. The electrode assembly comprises an electrode (14) , a lead-in wire (5) and an electrically conducting foil (6) . At least one of the electrodes is provided with surface irregularities (8) in a region between the foil and the arc chamber in order to control shape and size of cracks (17) in a seal wall surrounding the electrodes. In the method, an electrode (14) of predetermined geometry and structure is provided with at least one artificial surface irregularity (8) . Subsequently, an electrode assembly comprising said electrode, a seal foil (6) and a lead-in wire (5) is introduced into an arc chamber (2) and the is sealed therein, so that the irregularities (8) of the electrode are formed in a region between the foil and the arc chamber. The electrodes may be provided with artificial surface irregularities (8) also after preparing the electrode assembly.
Abstract:
A lamp includes a discharge vessel; electrodes spaced apart in the discharge vessel comprising tungsten or tungsten alloy; and a fill sealed within the vessel having a pressure between 50-200 mbar. The fill includes: a starting gas which comprises: xenon, krypton, argon or combinations thereof with the exception of pure argon; optionally radioactive Kr 85 with a maximum activity level of 0.124 MBq/1 as part of the starting gas; and a metal halide component. The lamp includes an active tungsten regeneration cycle wherein the fill comprises a species of the tungsten or tungsten alloy of material of the electrodes during lamp operation, wherein the solubility of tungsten or components of tungsten alloy in the tungsten or tungsten alloy species is lower in a gas phase adjacent to the electrodes than at close proximity of the wall of the discharge vessel.
Abstract:
An improved light collecting efficiency in a projector type automotive headlamp (200) is achieved by including a curved mirror (250) to re-direct light otherwise absorbed by a rear surface of the blocking cut-off shield (222) in "low beam" operating mode of the headlamp (200). When the shield (222) is moved to a second non -blocking position, a mirror segment conforms to the curved surface (250) of the substantially ellipsoidal reflector (210) to maximize lumen output in "high beam" operating mode of the headlamp. In addition, auxiliary mirror segments (270,272) may be used to provide a more complete substantially ellipsoidal reflector configuration that maximizes the light collection efficiency. Preferably, the cap holder (300) is purposefully offset in order to position the centerline (CLA) of the bowed arc of the arc discharge light source (202) in alignment with the optical axis (OA) of the optical system in order to maximize light collection efficiency.
Abstract:
A method of forming a discharge lamp and the resultant discharge lamp include providing an arc tube having first and second ends offset from a central arcuate or curvilinear portion of the discharge chamber formed between the arc tube ends. Electrodes extend from the first and second ends and at least partially into the discharge chamber which is locally substantially rotationally symmetric, i.e., substantially circular cross-section over a length thereof. Preferably, the arc tube and discharge chamber have a curvilinear conformation where the first and second ends are located below the central portion of the arc tube and associated discharge chamber in horizontal orientation during operation. Terminal ends of the electrodes preferably follow a local axis of the curvilinear conformation. The wall thickness of the discharge chamber may be alternatively constant or non-constant along a longitudinal extent thereof.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to high intensity discharge ("HID") lamps which have an electrically insulating arc tube 14 including a central portion 38 with an interior discharge region and two legs 42 each extending from an end of the central portion, the central portion being a larger size than the legs. Electrical conductors extend through each of the legs and are ending in electrode components which are spaced apart from each other in the discharge region. A light transmitting envelope 12 encloses the arc tube, and a frame member 16,18 is electrically attached to one of the electrical conductors. An ignition aid 73-76 is provided which includes an electrically conductive element 73 disposed on one of the legs. The ignition aid includes a conductive layer 74-76 that extends from the electrically conductive element to the central portion 38.
Abstract:
This disclosure features a high intensity discharge lamp (10) comprising an electrically insulating arc tube (14) comprised of light trans-missive material. Electrical conductors (28, 30) or electrodes are each spaced apart from each other inside the arc tube. A shroud (12) comprised of light transmissive material encloses the arc tube. An electrically conductive frame member (16, 18) is disposed in an interior of the shroud and is electrically connected to one of the electrical conductors. An ignition aid (75) is electrically attached to the frame member and comprises a coil of electrically conductive wire that is disposed around the arc tube.
Abstract:
A high intensity discharge light source includes an arc tube having a longitudinal axis and discharge chamber formed therein. The light source includes first and second electrodes having inner terminal ends spaced from one another along the longitudinal axis. Each electrode extends at least partially into the discharge chamber. The discharge chamber is deformed so that its internal geometry is substantially rotationally asymmetric about its longitudinal axis, and is substantially mirror-symmetric relative to a plane spanned by the longitudinal axis and by another transverse axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and is vertical in a horizontal arc tube orientation, as well as substantially mirror-symmetric relative to a central plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. In a preferred embodiment of the disclosure the discharge lamp is of a single ended construction and the arc tube of the lamp is of double ended configuration, the discharge lamp having proximal and distal end electric lead wires to connect the arc tube to the lamp base, and the distal end electric lead wire is running below and parallel to the longitudinal discharge chamber axis in a horizontal lamp orientation, and its lateral direction coincides with the lateral direction of the central convex portion of the laterally complex concave-convex-concave deformed surface portion all along the longitudinal axis of the discharge chamber.