Acoustic resonance arc stabilization arrangement in a discharge lamp
First Claim
1. An arc stabilization arrangement for an arc discharge lamp having an arc tube containing a fill of materials excitable to a discharge state upon introduction thereto of an operating signal having a predetermined frequency associated therewith, said arc stabilization arrangement comprising:
- means for modulating said operating signal with a modulating signal having a frequency less than said predetermined frequency associated with said operating signal;
wherein an acoustic resonance is generated within said arc tube be such excitation of said materials to the discharge state, said acoustic resonance having an acoustic resonance frequency associated therewith; and
wherein said frequency of said modulating signal is set to approximately the same frequency value as said acoustic resonance frequency.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An arc stabilization arrangement for a discharge lamp having a light transmissive arc tube containing a fill of gas excitable to a discharge state upon introduction thereto of a drive signal having a predetermined frequency associated therewith, includes a modulating arrangement effective for providing a modulating signal which is imposed onto the drive signal. The modulating signal has a frequency associated therewith which approximates the acoustic resonance of the gases within the fill, such modulating signal frequency being less than the frequency of the drive signal. In one embodiment of the invention the modulating arrangement is an amplitude modulating scheme effective such that a modulating amplitude of greater than about 5% of the amplitude of the drive signal is achieved. In yet a further implementation of the present invention, the frequency of the modulating signal is swept about a range of frequencies so that a varying acoustic resonance frequency can be encompassed by the modulating signal.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. An arc stabilization arrangement for an arc discharge lamp having an arc tube containing a fill of materials excitable to a discharge state upon introduction thereto of an operating signal having a predetermined frequency associated therewith, said arc stabilization arrangement comprising:
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means for modulating said operating signal with a modulating signal having a frequency less than said predetermined frequency associated with said operating signal; wherein an acoustic resonance is generated within said arc tube be such excitation of said materials to the discharge state, said acoustic resonance having an acoustic resonance frequency associated therewith; and wherein said frequency of said modulating signal is set to approximately the same frequency value as said acoustic resonance frequency. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An electrodeless discharge lamp and energizing system therefor comprising:
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a light transmissive arc tube containing a gaseous fill; an excitation device disposed about said arc tube and energizable with an RF signal at a predetermined frequency, said RF signal being effective so as to develop an arc discharge in said gaseous fill upon a dielectric breakdown of said gaseous fill; means for energizing said excitation device with said RF signal; and means for modulating said RF signal with a modulating signal having a frequency associated therewith which is different than said predetermined frequency of said RF signal, said modulating signal frequency being approximately equal to an acoustic resonance frequency associated with the excitation of said gaseous fill. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of stabilizing an arc discharge of a discharge lamp having an arc tube containing a fill of material excitable to a discharge state upon introduction thereto of an operating signal having a predetermined frequency associated therewith, said arc stabilizing method comprising the steps of:
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measuring an acoustic resonance frequency associated with the excitation of the materials within said arc tube; and
,modulating said operating signal with a modulating signal having a frequency associated therewith which approximates said acoustic resonance frequency, said acoustic resonance frequency being different than said predetermined frequency associated with said operating signal. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification