Ultraviolet discharge lamp apparatuses having optical filters which attenuate visible light
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a u-shaped discharge lamp configured to emit ultraviolet light and visible light;
a power circuit configured to operate the u-shaped discharge lamp; and
an optical filter arranged adjacent to the u-shaped discharge lamp, wherein the optical filter is configured to attenuate a majority amount of visible light emitted from the discharge lamp, wherein the optical filter comprises multiple panels which attenuate visible light, wherein the multiple panels are fused together or joined by one or more support structures, and wherein a spacing between two parallel sections of the u-shaped discharge lamp is larger than a width of a fused area between two of the multiple panels or is larger than a width of one of the support structures; and
a support structure containing the power circuit and supporting the discharge lamp, wherein the apparatus is configured such that at least some ultraviolet light emitted from the discharge lamp and passed through the optical filter is propagated to a region which encircles an exterior surface of the apparatus, and wherein the ultraviolet light propagated to the encircling region during an operation of the apparatus collectively occupies the entirety of the encircling region.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The apparatuses disclosed herein include a discharge lamp configured to emit ultraviolet and visible light, an optical filter configured to attenuate visible light, and a power circuit configured to operate the discharge lamp. Some embodiments of the apparatuses are configured such that ultraviolet light emitted from the discharge lamp and passed through the optical filter encircles an exterior surface of the apparatus. Some cases of the apparatuses include a sensor system configured to monitor a first parameter associated with the operation of the discharge lamp and a second parameter associated with the transmittance of the optical filter. Some of the apparatuses include a means for moving the optical filter while the apparatus is in operation. In some cases, the apparatuses may be configured such that the optical filter may be arranged in and out of alignment with the discharge lamp. In some embodiments, the optical filter may be a multifaceted.
114 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a u-shaped discharge lamp configured to emit ultraviolet light and visible light; a power circuit configured to operate the u-shaped discharge lamp; and an optical filter arranged adjacent to the u-shaped discharge lamp, wherein the optical filter is configured to attenuate a majority amount of visible light emitted from the discharge lamp, wherein the optical filter comprises multiple panels which attenuate visible light, wherein the multiple panels are fused together or joined by one or more support structures, and wherein a spacing between two parallel sections of the u-shaped discharge lamp is larger than a width of a fused area between two of the multiple panels or is larger than a width of one of the support structures; and a support structure containing the power circuit and supporting the discharge lamp, wherein the apparatus is configured such that at least some ultraviolet light emitted from the discharge lamp and passed through the optical filter is propagated to a region which encircles an exterior surface of the apparatus, and wherein the ultraviolet light propagated to the encircling region during an operation of the apparatus collectively occupies the entirety of the encircling region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus, comprising:
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a discharge lamp configured to emit ultraviolet light and visible light; a power circuit configured to operate the discharge lamp; an optical filter arranged adjacent to the discharge lamp, wherein the emitted optical filter is configured to attenuate a majority amount of visible light emitted from the discharge lamp, wherein the optical filter comprises multiple panels of the same material which attenuates visible light and passes ultraviolet light; and a support structure containing the power circuit and supporting the discharge lamp, wherein the apparatus is configured such that at least some ultraviolet light emitted from the discharge lamp and passed through the optical filter is propagated to a region which encircles an exterior surface of the apparatus, and wherein the ultraviolet light propagated to the encircling region during an operation of the apparatus collectively occupies the entirety of the encircling region. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus, comprising:
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a discharge lamp configured to emit ultraviolet light and visible light; a power circuit configured to operate the discharge lamp; an optical filter arranged adjacent to the discharge lamp, wherein the optical filter is configured to attenuate a majority amount of visible light emitted from the discharge lamp, wherein the optical filter comprises multiple panels which attenuate visible light, and wherein the multiple panels are joined by one or more reflective support structures of a different material than the multiple panels; and a support structure containing the power circuit and supporting the discharge lamp, wherein the apparatus is configured such that at least some ultraviolet light emitted from the discharge lamp and passed through the optical filter is propagated to a region which encircles an exterior surface of the apparatus, and wherein the ultraviolet light propagated to the encircling region during an operation of the apparatus collectively occupies the entirety of the encircling region. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification