PLASMA LAMP WITH STABLE FEEDBACK AMPLIFICATION AND METHOD THEREFOR
First Claim
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1. A plasma lamp comprising:
- a lamp body and a bulb;
an amplifier having an output coupled to the lamp body to provide power to the lamp body;
the lamp body and the bulb having a load trajectory from start-up to steady state operation;
the amplifier having an unstable region of operation, wherein a phase exists such that the load trajectory would cross the unstable region of operation; and
at least one transmission line between the amplifier and the lamp body, wherein the transmission line is selected such that the load trajectory does not cross the unstable region of the amplifier.
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Abstract
A plasma lamp with a positive-loop feedback topology, having a resonating waveguide body and at least one amplifier critically coupled to the body which is stable under all operating conditions both before a plasma is formed and after the plasma reaches steady state. An iterative method for configuring the lamp circuit includes determining the load trajectory of each amplifier under all operating conditions, and overlaying it on a polar-plot showing regions of stability, conditional stability, and instability. If the load trajectory passes through an unstable region, circuit alterations are made to avoid that region.
387 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A plasma lamp comprising:
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a lamp body and a bulb;
an amplifier having an output coupled to the lamp body to provide power to the lamp body;
the lamp body and the bulb having a load trajectory from start-up to steady state operation;
the amplifier having an unstable region of operation, wherein a phase exists such that the load trajectory would cross the unstable region of operation; and
at least one transmission line between the amplifier and the lamp body, wherein the transmission line is selected such that the load trajectory does not cross the unstable region of the amplifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A plasma lamp comprising:
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a lamp body and a bulb;
an amplifier having an output coupled to the lamp body to provide power to the lamp body;
the lamp body and the bulb having a load trajectory from start-up to steady state operation;
the amplifier having an unstable region of operation, wherein a phase exists such that the load trajectory would cross the unstable region of operation; and
at least one phase-shifter between the amplifier and the lamp body, wherein the phase-shifter is configured such that the load trajectory does not cross the unstable region of the amplifier. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A plasma lamp comprising:
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a waveguide body comprising dielectric material having a dielectric constant greater than about 2;
a bulb adjacent to the body;
first and second probes positioned within the body;
an amplifier having an input port and an output port, the output port connected by a first transmission line to the first probe, the input port connected by a second transmission line to the second probe;
the amplifier having at least one unstable region of operation; and
means for ensuring amplifier stability under all operating conditions of the lamp. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of generating light comprising:
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providing a lamp body and a bulb, wherein the lamp body and the bulb having a load trajectory from start-up to steady state operation;
coupling power to the lamp body from an amplifier using feedback from the lamp body, wherein a phase exists such that the load trajectory would cross the unstable region of operation; and
adjusting the phase of the feedback such that the load trajectory does not cross the unstable region of the amplifier. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification