Inductively powered lamp assembly

• US 20030201731A1
• Filed: 04/26/2002
• Published: 10/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips IP Ventures B.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Inventors: Baarman, David W.
• Granted Patent: US 6,731,071 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/276
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/301 Details of removable closures, lids, caps, filter heads
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/34 Seals or gaskets for filtering elements for removable closures, lids, caps or filter heads B01D2201/304
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/283 using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/32 with ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/325 Irradiation devices or lamp constructions
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/006 Cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/3222 Units using UV-light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/3228 Units having reflectors, e.g. coatings, baffles, plates, mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/326 Lamp control systems
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 9/20 Portable or detachable small-scale multistage treatment devices, e.g. point of use or laboratory water purification systems
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/103 of streets or roads
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 5/50 Means forming part of the tube or lamps for the purpose of providing electrical connection to it
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 5/52 directly applied to or forming part of the vessel
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 5/54 supported by a separate part, e.g. base
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 61/56 One or more circuit elements structurally associated with the lamp
• CPC Class Codes: H01K 1/44 directly applied to, or forming part of, the vessel
• CPC Class Codes: H01K 1/46 supported by a separate part, e.g. base, cap
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/00 Circuit arrangements or apparatus for operating incandescent light sources structurally associated with the incandescent lamps H01K1/62
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/10 : magnetic only
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/24 : in which the lamp is fed by high frequency ac, or with separate oscillator frequencyH05B41/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/295 : with semiconductor devices and specially adapted for lamps with preheating electrodes, e.g. for fluorescent lamps
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/36 : Controlling
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/25 : Circuit arrangements for protecting against overcurrent
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/00 : Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps

Abstract

A lamp assembly configured to inductively receive power from a primary coil. The lamp assembly includes a lamp circuit including a secondary and a lamp connected in series. In a first aspect, the lamp circuit includes a capacitor connected in series with the lamp and the secondary to tune the circuit to resonance. The capacitor is preferably selected to have a reactance that is substantially equal to or slightly less than the reactance of the secondary and the impedance of the lamp. In a second aspect, the lamp assembly includes a sealed transparent sleeve that entirely encloses the lamp circuit so that the transparent sleeve is fully closed and unpenetrated. The transparent sleeve is preferably the lamp sleeve itself, with the secondary, capacitor and any desired starter mechanism disposed within its interior.

Claims

1. An inductively powered lamp assembly comprising:

an inductive secondary to receive power from an inductive primary, said inductive primary having a reactance;

a lamp disposed in series with said secondary, said lamp having an impedance; and

a capacitor disposed in series with said inductive secondary and said lamp, said capacitor selected to have a reactance that is substantially equal to or slightly less than said impedance of said lamp and said reactance of said secondary, whereby said capacitor, said lamp and said secondary operate substantially at resonance.

2. The lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein said reactance of said secondary is further defined as an operating reactance;

said impedance of said lamp is further defined as an operating impedance;

wherein said capacitor, said lamp and said secondary operate substantially in resonance when said lamp and said secondary are substantially at operating temperature.

3. The lamp assembly of claim 2 wherein said secondary is further defined as a coil of LITZ wire.

4. The lamp assembly of claim 2 wherein said secondary is further defined as a coil of magnet wire.

5. The lamp assembly of claim 3 wherein said lamp assembly includes a closed sleeve surrounding and fully enclosing said secondary, said lamp and said capacitor, said sleeve being unpenetrated.

6. The lamp assembly of claim 5 wherein said closed sleeve is substantially transparent to light of a desired wave length.

7. The lamp assembly of claim 3 wherein said lamp includes a lamp sleeve, said capacitor and said secondary being fully enclosed within said lamp sleeve, whereby said lamp sleeve is unpenetrated.

8. The lamp assembly of claim 7 wherein said lamp sleeve is substantially transparent to light of a desire wave length.

9. The lamp assembly of claim 8 wherein said lamp is further defined as an incandescent lamp.

10. The lamp assembly of claim 8 wherein said lamp is further defined as an electric discharge lamp.

11. The lamp assembly of claim 8 wherein said lamp is further defined as a light emitting diode.

12. The lamp assembly of claim 3 wherein said secondary is coaxial with said lamp.

13. An inductively powered lamp assembly comprising:

an inductive secondary to receive power from an inductive primary, said inductive secondary having a reactance;

a lamp disposed in series with said secondary, said lamp having an impedance that is substantially equal to said reactance of said secondary; and

a capacitor disposed in series with said secondary and said lamp, said capacitor having a reactance that is substantially equal to or slightly less than said impedance of said lamp and said reactance of said secondary.

14. The lamp assembly of claim 13 wherein said reactance of said secondary is further defined as an operating reactance;

said impedance of said lamp is further defined as an operating impedance;

wherein said lamp and said secondary operate substantially in resonance when said lamp and said secondary are substantially at operating temperature.

15. The lamp assembly of claim 14 wherein said secondary is further defined as a coil of LITZ wire.

16. The lamp assembly of claim 15 wherein said secondary is further defined as a coil of magnet wire.

17. The lamp assembly of claim 15 wherein said lamp assembly includes a closed transparent sleeve surrounding and fully enclosing said secondary, said capacitor and said lamp, said sleeve being unpenetrated.

18. The lamp assembly of claim 17 wherein said lamp includes a lamp sleeve, said lamp sleeve being substantially transparent to light of a desired wave length, said secondary being fully enclosed within said lamp sleeve, whereby said lamp sleeve is unpenetrated.

19. The lamp assembly of claim 18 wherein said lamp is further defined as an incandescent lamp.

20. The lamp assembly of claim 18 wherein said lamp is further defined as an electric discharge lamp.

21. The lamp assembly of claim 15 wherein said secondary is coaxial with said lamp.

52. The lamp assembly of claim 17 wherein said sleeve is a substantially flexible plastic tube, opposite ends of said tube being sealed to provide a fully sealed enclosure.

53. The lamp assembly of claim 52 wherein said opposite ends of said tube are crimped.

54. The lamp assembly of claim 53 wherein said plastic tube is further defined as a Teflon tube.

22. An inductively powered lamp assembly comprising:

a lamp circuit including;

an inductive secondary to receive power from an inductive primary; and

a lamp disposed in series with said secondary;

a transparent sleeve entirely enclosing said lamp circuit.

23. The lamp assembly of claim 22, wherein said sleeve defines a chamber surrounding said lamp circuit, said chamber being partially evacuated to insulate said lamp from the environment.

24. The lamp assembly of claim 22, wherein said sleeve defines a chamber surrounding said lamp circuit;

and

further including a gas filling said chamber, said gas selected to provide a desired level of heat conduction between said lamp and the environment.

25. The lamp assembly of claim 24 wherein said lamp circuit further includes a capacitor in series with said lamp and said secondary, said capacitor being entirely contained within said sleeve.

26. An inductively powered lamp assembly comprising:

an electric-discharge lamp having a pair of electrodes;

a secondary to receive power from an inductive primary, each of said electrodes including a first lead electrically connected to said secondary; and

a magnetic starter switch operable between open and closed positions in response to a magnetic field, each of said electrodes including a second lead electrically connected to said magnetic starter switch, said magnetic starter switch shorting said electrodes across said secondary when in said closed position to preheat said lamp.

27. The lamp assembly of claim 26 wherein said magnetic starter switch is operable in response to a magnetic field oriented substantially perpendicularly to a magnetic field powering said secondary.

28. An inductively powered electric-discharge lamp assembly comprising:

a lamp having a pair of electrodes and an electric-discharge gas contained within a lamp sleeve;

an inductive secondary to receive power from an inductive primary;

means for electrically connecting said secondary to at least one of said electrodes, whereby said secondary provides power to said electrode when subjected to an appropriate electromagnetic field generated by an inductive primary; and

wherein said secondary and said electrically connecting means are enclosed within said sleeve, whereby said lamp is self-contained with said sleeve being fully sealed and unpenetrated.

29. The electric discharge lamp assembly of claim 28, wherein said inductive secondary has a reactance, said lamp having an impedance that is substantially equal to said reactance of said secondary, said capacitor having a reactance that is substantially equal to or slightly less than said impedance of said lamp and said reactance of said secondary.

30. The electric discharge lamp assembly of claim 29 further comprising a magnetic starter switch being operable between open and closed positions in response to a magnetic field, said magnetic starter switch shorting said electrodes across said secondary when in said closed position to preheat said lamp.

31. An inductively powered incandescent lamp assembly comprising:

an incandescent lamp having a filament contained within a lamp sleeve;

an inductive secondary to receive power from an inductive primary;

means for electrically connecting said secondary to said filament, whereby said secondary provides power to said filament when subjected to an appropriate magnetic field by an inductive primary; and

wherein said secondary and said electrically connecting means are enclosed within said sleeve, whereby said lamp is self-contained with said sleeve being fully sealed and unpenetrated.

32. The electric discharge lamp assembly of claim 31 further comprising a capacitor connected in series with said inductive secondary and said lamp;

and

wherein said inductive secondary has a reactance, said lamp having an impedance that is substantially equal to said reactance of said secondary, said capacitor having a reactance that is substantially equal to or slightly less than said impedance of said lamp and said reactance of said secondary.

33. An inductively powered electric-discharge lamp assembly comprising:

first and second secondaries;

a lamp having first and second electrodes, said first electrode being electrically connected to said first secondary, said second electrode being electrically connected to said second secondary;

a capacitor connected in series between said first secondary and said second secondary; and

a starter means for preheating said electrodes, said starter means electrically connected in series between said first electrode and said second electrode.

34. The electric-discharge lamp assembly of claim 33 wherein:

each of said first secondary and said second secondary includes first and second leads;

each of said first electrode and said second electrode includes first and second leads, said first lead of said first electrode being electrically connected to said first lead of said first secondary, said first lead of said second electrode being electrically connected to said first lead of said second secondary;

said capacitor being connected in series between said second lead of said first secondary and said second lead of said second secondary; and

said starter means being electrically connected in series between said second lead of said first electrode and said second lead of said second electrode.

35. The electric-discharge lamp assembly of claim 34 wherein said secondaries have a combined reactance, said lamp having an impedance that is substantially equal to said combined reactance of said secondaries, said capacitor having a reactance that is substantially equal to or slightly less than said impedance of said lamp and said combined reactance of said secondaries.

36. An inductively powered electric-discharge lamp assembly comprising:

first and second secondaries;

a lamp having first and second electrodes, said first electrode being electrically connected to said first secondary, said second electrode being electrically connected to said second secondary;

a capacitor connected in series between said first electrode and said second electrode; and

first and second remotely operable switch means for preheating said electrodes, said first switch means electrically connected in series between said first electrode and said first secondary to selectively short said first electrode across said first secondary, said second switch means electrically connected in series between said second electrode and said second secondary to selectively short said second electrode across said second secondary.

37. The electric-discharge lamp assembly of claim 36 wherein:

each of said first secondary and said second secondary includes first and second leads;

each of said first electrode and said second electrode includes first and second leads, said first lead of said first electrode being electrically connected to said first lead of said first secondary, said first lead of said second electrode being electrically connected to said first lead of said second secondary;

said capacitor being connected in series between said second lead of said first electrode and said second lead of said second electrode;

said first switch means being electrically connected in series between said second lead of said first electrode and said second lead of said first secondary; and

said second switch means being electrically connected in series between said second lead of said second electrode and said second lead of said second secondary.

38. The electric-discharge lamp assembly of claim 36 wherein said secondaries have a combined reactance, said lamp having an impedance that is substantially equal to said combined reactance of said secondaries, said capacitor having a reactance that is substantially equal to or slightly less than said impedance of said lamp and said combined reactance of said secondaries.

39. An inductively powered electric-discharge lamp assembly comprising:

first and second secondaries;

a lamp having first and second electrodes, said first electrode being electrically connected to said first secondary, said second electrode being electrically connected to said second secondary;

a capacitor connected in series between said first electrode and said second electrode; and

first and second remotely operable switch means for preheating said electrodes, said first switch means electrically connected in series between said first electrode and said first secondary to selectively short said first electrode across said first secondary, said second switch means electrically connected in series between said second electrode and said second secondary to selectively short said second electrode across said second secondary.

40. The electric-discharge lamp assembly of claim 39 wherein:

each of said first secondary and said second secondary includes first and second leads;

each of said first electrode and said second electrode includes first and second leads, said first lead of said first electrode being electrically connected to said first lead of said first secondary, said first lead of said second electrode being electrically connected to said first lead of said second secondary;

said capacitor being connected in series between said second lead of said first electrode and said second lead of said second electrode;

said first switch means being electrically connected in series between said second lead of said first electrode and said second lead of said first secondary; and

said second switch means being electrically connected in series between said second lead of said second electrode and said second lead of said second secondary.

41. The electric-discharge lamp assembly of claim 40 wherein said secondaries have a combined reactance, said lamp having an impedance that is substantially equal to said combined reactance of said secondaries, said capacitor having a reactance that is substantially equal to or slightly less than said impedance of said lamp and said combined reactance of said secondaries.

42. An inductively powered electric-discharge lamp assembly comprising:

first and second secondaries;

a lamp having first and second electrodes, said first electrode being electrically connected to said first secondary, said second electrode being electrically connected to said second secondary;

first and second capacitors, said first capacitor connected in series between said first electrode and said first secondary, said second capacitor connected in series between said second electrode and said second secondary; and

first and second remotely operable switch means for preheating said electrodes, said first switch means electrically connected in series between said first electrode and said first secondary to selectively short said first electrode across said first secondary, said second switch means electrically connected in series between said second electrode and said second secondary to selectively short said second electrode across said second secondary.

43. The electric-discharge lamp assembly of claim 42 wherein:

each of said first secondary and said second secondary includes first and second leads;

each of said first electrode and said second electrode includes first and second leads, said first lead of said first electrode being electrically connected to said first lead of said first secondary, said first lead of said second electrode being electrically connected to said first lead of said second secondary;

said first capacitor being connected in series between said first lead of said first electrode and said first lead of said first secondary;

said second capacitor being connected in series between said first lead of said second electrode and said first lead of said second secondary;

said first switch means being electrically connected in series between said second lead of said first electrode and said second lead of said first secondary; and

said second switch means being electrically connected in series between said second lead of said second electrode and said second lead of said second secondary.

44. The electric-discharge lamp assembly of claim 43 wherein said lamp has an impedance, a combined reactance of said first secondary and said second secondary being substantially equal to said impedance of said lamp, a combined reactance of said first capacitor and said second capacitor being substantially equal to or slightly less than said impedance of said lamp and said combined reactance of said first secondary and said second secondary.

45. A method of manufacturing a lamp assembly comprising the steps of:

connecting a lamp to an inductive secondary,

connecting a capacitor in series with the lamp and the inductive secondary;

inserting the lamp, the capacitor, and the secondary into a structure; and

sealing the structure so that the lamp, the capacitor and the secondary do not penetrate the structure.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein the capacitor is selected to have a reactance that is substantially equal to or slightly less than the impedance of the lamp and the reactance of the secondary, whereby the capacitor, the lamp and the secondary operate substantially at resonance.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein said lamp connecting step includes the steps of:

connecting a first end of a filament wire to a first lead of the inductive secondary;

connecting a second end of a filament wire to a first lead of the capacitor; and

connecting a second lead of the capacitor to a second lead of the inductive secondary.

48. The method of claim 46 wherein said lamp connecting step includes the steps of:

connecting a first lamp electrode to a first lead of the inductive secondary;

connecting a second lamp electrode to a first lead of the capacitor; and

connecting a second lead of the capacitor to a second electrode of the inductive secondary.

49. A method of manufacturing a lamp assembly comprising the steps of:

connecting a lamp to an inductive secondary, the lamp having an impedance and the secondary having a reactance, connecting a capacitor in series with the lamp and the inductive secondary, the capacitor being selected to have a reactance that is substantially equal to or slightly less than the impedance of the lamp and the reactance of the secondary, whereby the capacitor, the lamp and the secondary operate substantially at resonance.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein said lamp connecting step includes the steps of:

connecting a first end of a filament wire to a first lead of the inductive secondary;

connecting a second end of a filament wire to a first lead of the capacitor; and

connecting a second lead of the capacitor to a second lead of the inductive secondary.

51. The method of claim 49 wherein said lamp connecting step includes the steps of:

connecting a first lamp electrode to a first lead of the inductive secondary;

connecting a second lamp electrode to a first lead of the capacitor; and

connecting a second lead of the capacitor to a second lead of the inductive secondary.

55. A lamp assembly for an inductively powered lamp comprising:

a base;

a lamp mounted to said base;

an outer sleeve mounted to said base about said lamp, said outer sleeve having a flange;

a flexible, resilient seal disposed between said base and said outer sleeve;

a locking ring fitted over said sleeve and secured to said base, said locking ring entrapping said flange to retain said outer sleeve in place on said base about said lamp.

56. The lamp assembly of claim 55 wherein said base defines an annular channel, said flange seated within said annular channel.

57. The lamp assembly of claim 56 wherein said seal is fitted about said base within said annular channel.

58. The lamp assembly of claim 57 wherein said locking ring includes a radial portion and an axial portion, said radial portion engaging said flange, said axial portion being affixed to said base.

59. The lamp assembly of claim 55 wherein said base includes a generally cylindrical portion having an outer surface, said outer sleeve having a generally cylindrical portion having an inner surface, said seal being disposed between and directly engaging said outer surface of said base and said inner surface of said sleeve.

60. The lamp assembly of claim 59 wherein said seal is an o-ring seal.