Polarized light producing lamp apparatus that uses low temperature polarizing film

• US 6,005,332 A
• Filed: 12/20/1996
• Issued: 12/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fusion Lighting, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fusion Lighting, Inc.
• Inventors: Mercer, William Burton
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Nimeshkumar D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US08/771,326
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 313/113, 313/112, 313/161, 313/231.31, 313/570, 313/571, 313/573, 313/580, 313/594, 313/607, 313/231.61, 315/248, 345/41, 362/216
• US Class Current: 313/113
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/3025 Polarisers, i.e. arrangements capable of producing a definite output polarisation state from an unpolarised input state G02B5/3008, G02B5/3016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 61/025 Associated optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 61/12 Selection of substances for gas fillings; Specified operating pressure or temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 65/046 the field being produced by using capacitive means around the vessel

Abstract

A high efficiency lamp apparatus for producing a light beam of polarized light includes an electrodeless lamp body that defines a chamber. A gas is contained within the chamber such as sulfur or selenium or a compound thereof that can be excited to form a plasma. Electrodes are positioned externally of the lamp chamber for producing radio frequency energy that excites the gas, forming a plasma light source of intense heat that emits a light beam. Electrodes are not subjected to the intense heat generated by the plasma as they are placed externally of the lamp body. A reflector is positioned next to the lamp body for redirecting some of the light emitted by the light source back to the lamp using the reflector so that the lamp reabsorbs light energy to intensify the light source. The reflector includes a polarizing filter that is positioned to receive and polarize the light beam. An insulator prevents heat intensity of the plasma from damaging the polarizing filter as it has a low operating temperature range.

Claims

1. A high efficiency lamp apparatus for producing a light beam of polarized light comprising:

a lamp body that defines a chamber;

a fill adapted to form a light source contained within the chamber;

a reflector attached to the lamp body and adapted to redirect some light emitted by the light source back to the lamp apparatus so that light energy is reabsorbed to intensify the light source;

wherein the reflector is adapted to reflect light with non-desired characteristics and to transmit light with desired characteristics; and

an insulator adapted to prevent heat intensity of the light source from damaging the reflector.

2. The lamp apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

electrodes for exciting the fill to form a plasma, wherein the electrodes are not subjected to the intense heat generated at the plasma.

3. The lamp apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

electrodes for exciting the fill to form a plasma wherein the electrodes are positioned externally of the lamp chamber for producing radio frequency energy that excites the fill, forming a plasma light source of intense heat that emits a light beam.

4. The high efficiency lamp apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reflector comprises a film.

5. The high efficiency lamp apparatus of claim 4, wherein the film comprises double brightness enhancement film.

6. The high efficiency lamp apparatus of claim 1, wherein the insulator comprises a layer of material positioned in between the light source and the reflector.

7. The high efficiency lamp apparatus of claim 6, wherein the layer of material is a glass plate.

8. The high efficiency lamp apparatus of claim 6, wherein the layer of material is quartz.

9. The high efficiency lamp apparatus of claim 6, wherein the layer of material is sapphire.

10. The high efficiency lamp apparatus of claim 1, wherein the insulator comprises an infrared reflector.

11. The high efficiency lamp apparatus of claim 1, wherein the insulator comprises an enlarged gaseous space positioned in between the light source and the reflector.

12. The high efficiency lamp apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reflector is positioned at one end of the lamp body and the insulator is positioned within the lamp body in between the light source and the reflector, the light source comprising a plasma light source.

13. The high efficiency lamp apparatus of claim 1, wherein the insulator comprises an air gap positioned externally of the lamp body and the reflector comprises a film layer positioned opposite the air gap from the light source, the light source comprising a plasma light source.

14. The high efficiency lamp apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reflector is a polarizing reflector that transmits light of a first polarity and reflects light of a second polarity.

15. The high efficiency lamp apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reflector is a frequency selective reflector that reflects radiation of non-desired frequencies and transmits radiation of desired frequencies.

33. The high efficiency lamp apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a plasma light source.

34. The high efficiency lamp apparatus of claim 1, wherein the insulator is adapted to retain the light source.

35. The high efficiency lamp apparatus of claim 1, wherein the insulator spans an opening of the chamber.

16. A system for providing light, comprising:

an energy source providing a signal;

a lamp, comprising;

a lamp body that defines a chamber;

a fill adapted to form a light source contained within the chamber;

a reflector attached to the lamp body and adapted to redirect some light emitted by the light source back to the lamp apparatus so that light energy is reabsorbed to intensify the light source;

wherein the reflector is adapted to reflect light with non-desired characteristics and to transmit light with desired characteristics; and

an insulator adapted to prevent heat intensity of the light source from damaging the reflector.

17. The system of claim 16 farther comprising:

a reflector housing situated adjacent said lamp for directing the light from said lamp.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

a second reflector positioned in said reflector housing adapted to pass light with desired properties and to reflect light with non-desired properties back to the lamp.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the reflector comprises a film layer.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the film comprises double brightness enhancement film.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the insulator comprises a layer of material positioned in between the light source and the reflector, the light source comprising a plasma light source.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the layer of material is a glass plate.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the layer of material is quartz.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the layer of material is sapphire.

25. The system of claim 18, wherein the insulator comprises an infrared reflector.

26. The system of claim 18, wherein the insulator comprises an enlarged gaseous space positioned in between the light source and the reflector, the light source comprising a plasma light source.

27. The system of claim 18, wherein the reflector is positioned at one end of the lamp body and the insulator is positioned within the lamp body in between the light source and the reflector.

28. The system of claim 18, wherein the insulator comprises an air gap positioned externally of the lamp body and the reflector comprises a film layer positioned opposite the air gap from the light source, the light source comprising a plasma light source.

29. The system of claim 18, wherein the reflector comprises a polarizing reflector adapted to transmit light of a first polarity and to reflect light of a second polarity.

30. The system of claim 18, wherein the reflector comprises a frequency selective reflector adapted to reflect radiation of non-desired frequencies and to transmit radiation of desired frequencies.

31. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

electrodes adapted to excite the fill to form a plasma, wherein the electrodes are not subjected to intense heat generated at the plasma.

32. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

electrodes for exciting the fill to form a plasma wherein the electrodes are positioned externally of the lamp chamber for producing radio frequency energy that excites the fill, forming a plasma light source of intense heat that emits a light beam.

36. The system of claim 16, wherein the light source comprises a plasma light source.

37. The high efficiency lamp apparatus of claim 16, wherein the insulator is adapted to retain the light source.

38. The high efficiency lamp apparatus of claim 16, wherein the insulator spans an opening of the chamber.