This invention relates generally to miniature cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) and other miniature lamps, associated devices and methods of use, and more specifically, to protected lamp modules which could be used to provide new and unique lighting devices and methods of using them, all of which offer significant savings in cost, operating expense, power consumption and retrofit convenience.
Electrically powered exit signs, traffic signals, task lights and other devices are widely used. Fluorescent lamps are used to provide illumination in typical electrical devices for general lighting purposes because they are more efficient than incandescent bulbs in producing light. A fluorescent lamp is a low pressure gas discharge source, in which light is produced predominantly by fluorescent powders activated by ultraviolet energy generated by a mercury plasma forming an arc. The lamp, usually in the form of a tubular bulb with an electrode sealed into each end, contains mercury vapor at low pressure with a small amount of inert gas for starting. The inner walls of the bulb are coated with fluorescent powders commonly called phosphors. When the proper voltage is applied, the plasma forming an arc is produced by current flowing between the electrodes through the mercury vapor. This discharge generates some visible radiation. The ultraviolet in turn excites the phosphors to emit light.
Two electrodes are hermetically sealed into the bulb, one at each end. These electrodes are designed for operating as either “cold” or “hot” cathodes or electrodes, more correctly called glow or arc modes of discharge operation. Electrodes for glow or cold cathode operation may consist of closed-end metal cylinders, generally coated on the inside with an emissive material. Conventional cold cathode lamps operate at a current on the order of a few hundred milliamperes, with a high cathode fall or voltage drop, something in excess of 50 volts. CCFLs are not appreciably affected by starting frequency because of the type of electrode used CCFLs emit light in the same way as to standard hot electrode lamps. The latter type operate as normal glow discharges and their electrodes are uncoated hollow cylinders of nickel or iron. The cathode fall is high and to obtain high efficacy or power for general lighting purposes, conventional lamps are made fairly long, about 2–8 feet, with a diameter of about 25–40 millimeters. About 2000 volts is required for starting these conventional lamps and about 900 to 1000 volts for running.
The advantages of CCFLs, compared with the hot electrode fluorescent lamps are that they have a very long life (usually) 15000 hours or more) in consequence of their rugged electrodes, lack of filament and low current consumption. They start immediately, even under cold ambient conditions. Their life is unaffected by the number of starts. Also, they may be dimmed to very low levels of light output.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,440,467 issued Aug. 8, 1995 to Lautzenheiser teaches a task light. The light assembly is provided for illuminating a work surface below and in front of the light assembly, and includes a housing configured for mounting over the work surface with an elongated linear light source supported in its housing. A tubular lens is built into and part of the housing, and includes prism-shaped triangular rings on its inside surface for controlling the light from the light source onto the work surface therebelow.
Other electric light sources currently include incandescent, compact and tubular fluorescent lamps, plasma arc lamps, neon lamps, electroluminescent (EL) lamps and light emitting diodes (LEDs). The fluorescent, plasma and neon lamps all require a voltage differential which may be achieved with electrodes in the interior of the tube or with conductive coatings or elements on the tube exterior that are adapted to be coupled to a source of electrical energy. High frequency energy fields, such as are generated by tesla coils or the like, can also cause a radiating ionization of the gases without the need for a direct connection to a source of electrical energy.
The present invention is a protected lamp operating off a main source of electrical power. The lamp has a predetermined length with a first end and a second end. There is a first electrode at the first end and a second electrode at the second end. An essentially transparent outer tubular housing has a first end and a second end with a predetermined length essentially the same as that of the lamp. The tubular housing has a central hollow opening and the lamp is disposed within the tubular housing. The lamp combination also has two end fittings, the end fittings each having a small central opening axially therethrough, the end fittings each comprising a lamp side and a contact side The lamp side is designed to receive a first end or a second end of the lamp within the small central opening. The end fittings each have a radially spaced lip around the small central opening, shaped to receive the first end or the second end of the outer tubular housing for holding the tubular housing radially spaced from the lamp.
In a preferred embodiment the end fittings are made of a resilient material such as rubber. It is also possible to utilize a grommet or o-ring to float the lamp within the tubular outer member. A conductive coating on the exterior surface of the outer tube may be adequate to provide electrical energy to the lamp tube within the outer protective tube using a conductor between the inner and outer members.
Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims and from the accompanying drawings in which the details of the invention are fully and completely disclosed as a part of this specification.
End wall assemblies 50 serve to support and maintain the lamp assembly 40 integrity and will be present on either end of the elongated unit. Either opaque, essentially transparent, or colored transparent protective panels 52 can be placed on one or more sides of the essentially cubic rectangular or tubular assembly which is held together by attachment to the end wall assemblies 50.
These panels 52 could also be coated with a reflective coating, film or other material. They might also serve as diffuser panels to soften or otherwise alter the nature of the radiating light. It will be understood that the outer tubular housing 44 will be present in the case of a particularly fragile lamp structure, but may not be necessary in an embodiment in which the protective panels 52 afford substantially the same protection.
Electrical contacts at either end 54 of the light assembly 40 will serve as inputs to power the light assembly 40. It will be understood that while the end wall assembly might have a plastic construction, an electrical contact will be provided. This may be a layer of conductive material or some other electrical contact means which could be placed on the larger structure 48 that supports both the lamp 42 and the outer tubing 44.
The protected lamp assembly (or lamp module) of the present invention is a novel and remarkable device. As an integrated unit, the assembly can be manufactured in a variety of different standard sizes and shapes. They can be round, hemispherical, square or other shape in cross section. These protected lamp assemblies will be lightweight, weather and water proof, durable and economical. They form a sealed chamber which contains the light source and which is sealed from the exterior or ambient atmosphere in which the light operates. As the standard becomes more widely used, consumers will find it very convenient and economical, as well as inherently energy saving, to replace the entire integrated light assembly whenever an individual lamp fails.
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Thus, there has been shown and described, a protected lamp element especially useful for cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) but equally useful for any tubular lamp which is to be used in a hostile environment where the relative fragility of the lamp would be a disincentive for its use. The protected lamp element could be an “off the shelf” module suitable for use in a variety of applications. Embodiments include applications with wired contacts to lamp electrodes or conductively coated enclosure ends which can supply electrical energy to the lamp.
Further, while the illustrated embodiments show the protected lamp element with electrical contacts at opposite ends of the structure, it is within the scope of the invention to have a conductor coupling the lamp electrode at one end to the opposite end of the structure so that both electrodes can be energized from the same end. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should only be limited by the claims appended hereto.
This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/598,009, filed Jun. 20, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,616,310, issued Sep. 9, 2003, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/630,361, filed Apr. 10, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,620, issued Oct. 24, 2000.
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3358167 | Shanks | Dec 1967 | A |
4352539 | Vest | Oct 1982 | A |
4449071 | Yokoyama | May 1984 | A |
4990821 | Blaisdell et al. | Feb 1991 | A |
5140216 | Darr | Aug 1992 | A |
5416676 | Carpenter | May 1995 | A |
5493167 | Mikol et al. | Feb 1996 | A |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20040056576 A1 | Mar 2004 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 09598009 | Jun 2000 | US |
Child | 10658248 | US | |
Parent | 08630361 | Apr 1996 | US |
Child | 09598009 | US |