Plasma lamp
Technical field
The utility model relates generally to lighting technology, and provides a kind of use to have the method and apparatus of dielectric constant less than the electrodeless plasma lighting device of two dielectric waveguide.More specifically, the utility model provide a kind of have use the method and apparatus of dielectric constant less than the electrodeless plasma lighting device of two ceramic resonator structure.The utility model can be applied to various application occasions, comprising: the lamp in warehouse lamp, stadium lamp, the big or small building, front lamp of vehicle, aircraft landing, bridge, warehouse, ultraviolet water processing, agricultural, architectural lighting, stage illumination, lighting, medical illumination, microscope, projecting apparatus and display and these combination in any etc.
Background technology
From beginning very early, the mankind have used various technology to throw light on.When dark, the early stage human fire that relies on illuminates the cave.Fire usually can consume timber and be used as fuel.The candle that wood fuel is just derived from oil and grease soon replaces.After this candle is replaced by lamp at least in part.Some lamp fuels through oil or other energy.Gas lamp once was popular, and was still very important for outdoor activities (such as camping).In the 19th-century later stage, Thomas Edison, this is one of greatest inventor in history, has envisioned incandescent lamp, and incandescent lamp uses the tungsten filament that is in the bulb, is coupled to pair of electrodes.The building of many routines and dwelling house still use the incandescent lamp that is generally known as Edison's bulb.Although extremely successful, Edison's bulb can consume a lot of energy and efficient is low usually.
For some application scenario, fluorescent illumination has replaced incandescent lamp.Fluorescent lamp generally includes the fluorescent tube that gaseous material is housed, and it is coupled to pair of electrodes.Electrode is coupled to electric ballast, and this electric ballast helps to make the Discharge illuminating from fluorescent lighting device.Conventional fabric structure usually uses fluorescent illumination, but not relative white heat is thrown light on mutually.Fluorescent illumination is more efficient than incandescent lighting, but usually has higher initial cost.
Shuji Nakamura has started blue LED efficiently, and this blue LED is a solid state lamp.Blue LED is formed for the basis of white solid state lamp, and the white solid state lamp usually is the blue LED that is in the bulb that scribbles the yellow fluorophor material.Blue-light excited fluorescent material sends white illumination.Blue LED has made lighting industry that dramatic change has taken place, and has replaced the traditional lighting that is used for dwelling house, building and other structures.
Another kind of type of lighting is generally known as electrodeless lamp, and this electrodeless lamp can be emitted the light that is used for the high strength application occasion.Frederick M.Espiau is one of pioneer of the improved electrodeless lamp of development.This electrodeless lamp relies on the solid ceramic resonator structure, and this resonator structure is coupled to the filler that is encapsulated in the bulb.Bulb is coupled to resonator structure via RF loop (feeds), and this RF loop is passed to filler with power (power), so that filler discharge generation high intensity illumination.This solid ceramic resonator structure has limited dielectric constant.An instance of such solid ceramic waveguide is at United States Patent(USP) No. 7,362, is described in 056, and this patent is incorporated into this through quoting mode as proof.Although some success, electrodeless lamp still has many limitation.As an instance, electrodeless lamp is not successfully extensively carried out for general illumination application occasion.In addition, conventional lamp also adopts high-frequency and has big relatively size.Therefore, conventional lamp is usually heavy and be difficult to make and use.This specification in the whole text in and particularly can describe these and other limitation of conventional lights hereinafter.
Therefore, the improved lighting technology of high expectations.
The utility model content
The utility model provides a kind of use to have the method and apparatus of dielectric constant less than the plasma illuminating device of two dielectric waveguide.More specifically, the utility model provide a kind of have use the method and apparatus of dielectric constant less than the electrodeless plasma lighting device of two resonator structure.The utility model can be applied to various application occasions, such as: stadium, safety devices, parking lot, military affairs and national defence, street, big or small building, front lamp of vehicle, aircraft landing, bridge, warehouse, ultraviolet water processing, agricultural, architectural lighting, stage illumination, lighting, medical illumination, microscope, projecting apparatus and display and similar techniques.
In a specific implementations, the utility model provides a kind of electrode-less plasma lamps equipment.This equipment has waveguide body, and this waveguide body has at least the first material and second material.One of at least has a dielectric constant in these materials less than two.In a specific implementations, this equipment also has power supply, and this supply coupling to waveguide body is so that provide power to waveguide body with at least a frequency at the waveguide body interior resonance.This equipment has the bulb that comprises in order to the filler that forms plasma, so that when power being provided to waveguide body, cause the emission of light.In a specific implementations, bulb has single rotationally symmetric axis and is oriented to the central axis near waveguide body, and it has length that is arranged essentially parallel to said central axis and the width that is transverse to this length.In a preferred implementation, first material or second material are fluids, and this fluid comprises gas, air or other mixtures etc.In an alternate embodiments, fluid can also be any combination of liquid or steam or liquid entity.
According to the plasma lamp of the utility model preferred implementation, wherein, waveguide body comprises first material, and first material comprises the gas in order to the electric capacity that reduces waveguide body.
According to the plasma lamp of the utility model preferred implementation, wherein, one in first material and second material comprises air.
According to the plasma lamp of the utility model preferred implementation, wherein, width less than five inches and length less than five inches.
According to the plasma lamp of the utility model preferred implementation, wherein, further comprise the electric capacity of the characteristic of the resonator that sign is formed by power supply and waveguide body at least.
According to the plasma lamp of the utility model preferred implementation, wherein, the width of waveguide body is greater than the length of waveguide body.
According to the plasma lamp of the utility model preferred implementation, wherein, waveguide body further comprises the 3rd material.
According to the plasma lamp of the utility model preferred implementation, wherein, at least one in the material comprises fluid.
According to the plasma lamp of the utility model preferred implementation, wherein, fluid is air or inert gas.
According to the plasma lamp of the utility model preferred implementation, wherein, one in the material comprises conductive of material.
According to the plasma lamp of the utility model preferred implementation, wherein, conductive of material comprises metal.
According to the plasma lamp of the utility model preferred implementation, wherein, waveguide body comprises the coupling element that is coupled to RF source and reference potential.
According to the plasma lamp of the utility model preferred implementation, wherein, reference potential is a ground potential.
According to the plasma lamp of the utility model preferred implementation, wherein, bulb has the cross section of cylindricality basically.
According to the plasma lamp of the utility model preferred implementation, wherein, bulb is profiling.
According to the plasma lamp of the utility model preferred implementation, wherein, at least a portion of bulb is separated through a gap and waveguide body.
According to the plasma lamp of the utility model preferred implementation, wherein, further comprise the bulb supporter, wherein, bulb is coupled to waveguide body through the bulb supporter.
According to the plasma lamp of the utility model preferred implementation, wherein, resonance when waveguide body is applied to waveguide body at power with the frequency in 50MHz to 1GHz scope; Bulb is positioned at resonance field maximum place; And the width of bulb is half the less than the wavelength of power in free space basically.
According to the plasma lamp of the utility model preferred implementation, wherein, further comprise the loop that contacts with waveguide body, wherein loop is coupled to power supply so that power is provided to waveguide body.
According to the plasma lamp of the utility model preferred implementation, wherein, the single rotationally symmetric axis of bulb is aimed at the central axis of waveguide body.
According to the plasma lamp of the utility model preferred implementation, wherein, waveguide body is configured to provide the electric field maximum of the rotationally symmetric axis that is arranged essentially parallel to bulb.
According to the plasma lamp of the utility model preferred implementation, wherein, waveguide body is configured to provide the electric field maximum of the central axis that is arranged essentially parallel to waveguide body.
According to the plasma lamp of the utility model preferred implementation, wherein, bulb is elongated, has the length of the rotationally symmetric axis that is parallel to bulb.
According to the plasma lamp of the utility model preferred implementation, wherein, bulb has parabolic outlines.
According to the plasma lamp of the utility model preferred implementation, wherein, be the basic schema of resonance at least a frequency of waveguide body interior resonance.
According to the plasma lamp of the utility model preferred implementation, wherein, waveguide body is a rectangular body.
According to the plasma lamp of the utility model preferred implementation, wherein, waveguide body is the right cylindrical body.
According to the plasma lamp of the utility model preferred implementation, wherein, waveguide body has the outer surface that comprises metal coating.
According to the plasma lamp of the utility model preferred implementation, wherein, comprise all and contacted first loop of waveguide body and second loop.
According to the plasma lamp of the utility model preferred implementation, wherein, first loop and second loop are configured to power is provided to waveguide body.
According to the plasma lamp of the utility model preferred implementation, wherein, at least one in first loop and second loop is configured to provide the feedback from waveguide body.
According to the plasma lamp of the utility model preferred implementation, wherein, comprise being configured to the probe to waveguide body is provided that probe alignment becomes to be parallel to the rotationally symmetric axis of bulb with power.
According to the plasma lamp of the utility model preferred implementation, wherein, comprise being configured to the probe to waveguide body is provided that probe alignment becomes to be parallel to the central axis of waveguide body with power.
Utilize the utility model to obtain to be superior to the benefit of prior art.In a specific implementations; The utility model provides a kind of method and apparatus with structure of input coupling element, output coupling element and couples back element; Above-mentioned these coupling elements are electromagnetically coupled to bulb, and the power delivery of this bulb and frequency resonance characteristic depend on the waveguide body with at least two kinds of materials to a great extent.In a preferred implementation, the utility model provides a kind of method and structure with manufacturability and the improved layout of design flexibility.Other execution modes can comprise output coupling element and the integrated package of bulb and the correlation technique that is used for the street lighting application scenario that plays a role with existing coupling element structure with complimentary fashion.In a preferred implementation, waveguide body comprises that dielectric constant is at least a dielectric material below two, the overall dimensions that it increases the electric capacity of resonator and reduces the plasma lamp apparatus.For example, dielectric material constitutes (for example, have and be about 1 dielectric constant) by air basically.On the contrary, various types of conventional electrodeless lamps use high dielectric constant materials in waveguide, to reduce the size of waveguide.In some execution mode of the utility model, use dielectric material such as air or fluid.For example, part or whole wave guide are filled with air.To recognize that compare with the waveguide of being filled by high dielectric constant material, the part of the fills with air of waveguide is compared the RF waste (reaching about 1 decibel) with minimizing with the waveguide with high dielectric constant material of routine, improve performance thus.In addition, have high dielectric constant materials and come filling part or whole wave guide through substituting with air, the manufacturing cost and the weight of waveguide all reduce.Same other benefits in addition.In a specific implementations, for the manufacturing that is used for commercial applications, this method and the structure that obtains thus are simple relatively and with low cost.According to execution mode, can realize one or more in these benefits.This specification in the whole text in and particularly can describe these and other benefit hereinafter.
The utility model has been realized other benefits under these benefits and the known process technical background.But,, can realize further understanding to the essence and the advantage of the utility model with reference to the part and the accompanying drawing of this specification back.
Description of drawings
Through considering following description related to the preferred embodiment, and be combined in this accompanying drawing that provides and read, with obtaining more comprehensively understanding the utility model and advantage thereof.At accompanying drawing with in describing, label indicates the various characteristics of the utility model, and representes same characteristic at institute's drawings attached with in describing with same label.
Fig. 1 is the sketch of the electrode-less plasma lamps with RF coupling element and couples back element of the utility model execution mode.
Fig. 2 A is the having the RF coupling element of the utility model execution mode and do not have the sketch of the electrode-less plasma lamps of couples back element.
Fig. 2 B is having the RF coupling element and do not have the simplified perspective view of the electrode-less plasma lamps of couples back element shown in Fig. 2 A.
Fig. 3 is the sketch of the electrode-less plasma lamps of the utility model execution mode.Utilize collapsible resonator/waveguiding structure to obtain more compact structure.
Fig. 4 is the sketch of the electrode-less plasma lamps of another execution mode of the utility model.This figure is similar to Fig. 3, but resonator/waveguide form by multiple dielectric material and possible air, to improve the performance of this electrodeless lamp.
Embodiment
According to the utility model, the technology that is used to throw light on is provided.Particularly, the utility model provides a kind of use to have the method and apparatus of dielectric constant less than the plasma illuminating device of two dielectric waveguide.More specifically, the utility model provide a kind of have use the method and apparatus of dielectric constant less than the electrodeless plasma lighting device of two resonator structure.Only with the mode of instance; The utility model can be applied to various application occasions, such as: stadium, safety devices, parking lot, military affairs and national defence, street, big or small building, front lamp of vehicle, aircraft landing, bridge, warehouse, ultraviolet water processing, agricultural, architectural lighting, stage illumination, lighting, medical illumination, microscope, projecting apparatus and display and these any combination etc.
Those of ordinary skill in the art following description is provided, so that can make and use the utility model and the utility model is attached in the concrete application scenario.For a person skilled in the art, various modifications and the various application in the different application occasion will be conspicuous, and can be applicable in the execution mode of wide in the general principle of this qualification.Therefore, the utility model is not to be intended to be limited to given execution mode, but meet with at the corresponding to wide region of this disclosed principle and novel feature.
In following detailed description, many specific detail have been set forth, so that the more thorough understanding to the utility model is provided.Yet, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that also nonessential these specific detail that are limited to are put into practice the utility model.In other cases, well-known construction and device illustrates with the block diagram form, but not details is shown, so that avoid making the utility model unclear.
In this specification (comprising any accompanying claims, summary and figure) disclosed all characteristics all can be identical by being used for, be equal to or the replaceable characteristic of similar purpose replaces, unless expressly stated otherwise.Therefore, unless expressly stated otherwise,, otherwise disclosed each characteristic only is an instance of being equal to of universal serial or similar characteristics.
In addition, in the claim clearly statement carry out specific function " be used for ... device (means for) " or any statement of carrying out specific function " being used for ... step (step for) " should not be construed as " device " or " step " of regulation in the 6th section at 35U.S.C. the 112nd joint." step (step of) " of using in the claim here particularly, or " action (act of) " are not intended to quote the regulation of the 6th section at 35U.S.C. the 112nd joint.
Note that if use, descriptor left, right, front and rear, top, bottom, advance, retreat, clockwise and counterclockwise, only is to use for purpose easily, is not intended to hint any specific fixed-direction.On the contrary, use them to reflect relative position and/or direction between the various piece of object.In addition, term " first " and " second " or other similar descriptor must hint order, but should explain with its ordinary meaning.
Fig. 1 is the sketch of the execution mode of the utility model.This figure only is an instance, should not limit the scope of claim inadequately at this this figure.Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize other modification, modification and replacement.Resonator/waveguide 100 is processed less than two dielectric material 120 by dielectric constant.In a specific implementations, this dielectric material comprises air, and its dielectric constant is about 1.In various execution modes, resonator 100 comprises multiple dielectric material, such as air, fluid and other.The surface coverage of dielectric material has conductive layer, and perhaps replacedly, resonator/waveguide can and be filled with dielectric material by metallic enclosure system one-tenth.Gas filling containers (bulb) 130 partly inserts in resonator/waveguide through the hole in conductive layer and the dielectric.This gas filling containers is filled with inert gas (like argon gas or xenon) and luminous element (such as mercury, sodium, dysprosium, sulphur or metal halide salt (like indium bromide, scandium bromide, thallium iodide, Holmium tribromide, cesium iodide or other similar materials)), (perhaps it can contain multiple luminous element simultaneously).RF coupling element 150 inserts in resonator/waveguide through the hole in the conductive layer with couples back element 160.The couples back element is shorter than RF coupling element.To recognize that couples back element 160 has that to compare the short length of RF coupling element 150 be specially designed, so that suitable resonance frequency to be provided.
RF power amplifier 110 is connected between couples back element and the RF coupling element.Couples back element 160 is connected to the input 112 of RF power amplifier through RF connector 165.The output 111 of RF amplifier is connected to RF connector 155, and this RF connector 155 is connected to RF coupling element 150.Resonator/waveguide forms a resonant circuit with couples back element, amplifier and RF coupling element, and under appropriate oscillating condition, this resonant circuit will vibrate and the RF amplifier will provide RF power to resonator/waveguide.Resonator/waveguide is coupled to the gas filling containers with the RF energy, causes ionized inert gas and makes the luminous element vaporization, thereby cause from lamp 115 emission high lights.
Fig. 2 A is the sketch of another execution mode of the utility model.This figure only is an instance, should not limit the scope of claim inadequately at this this figure.Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize other modification, modification and replacement.This execution mode is similar to Fig. 1, except resonator/waveguide does not have the couples back element.Instead, RF source 105 is used for RF power is provided to resonator/waveguide and then provides to lamp with RF amplifier 110.
Fig. 2 B is having the RF coupling element and do not have the simplified perspective view of the electrode-less plasma lamps of couples back element shown in Fig. 2 A.Show columniform lamp body, but can use rectangle or other shapes.This figure only is an instance, should not limit the scope of claim inadequately at this this figure.Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize other modification, modification and replacement.
Fig. 3 is the sketch of electrode-less plasma lamps of another execution mode of the utility model.This figure only is an instance, should not limit the scope of claim inadequately at this this figure.Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize other modification, modification and replacement.This execution mode is similar to Fig. 2 A, uses collapsible resonator/waveguiding structure 300 but change into, obtains more compact structure to utilize dielectric constant less than two dielectric material 320.
Fig. 4 is the sketch of electrode-less plasma lamps of another execution mode of the utility model.This figure only is an instance, should not limit the scope of claim inadequately at this this figure.Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize other modification, modification and replacement.This execution mode is similar to Fig. 3, but resonator/waveguide 400 is made up of multiple dielectric material 420 and 430, to improve the performance of electrodeless lamp.The part of resonator/waveguide can be filled with air or vacuum, with total RF loss that reduces resonator/waveguide and the performance that improves lamp.According to this execution mode, other modification, modification and replacement can be arranged.
In a specific implementations, waveguide body can comprise some modification.That is to say that waveguide body can comprise first material, this first material is one or more gases, and it is configured to the electric capacity that reduces waveguide body.In a specific implementations, first material or second material comprise the air of certain volume.In other embodiments, waveguide body can comprise less than five inches width with less than five inches length.In addition, the width of waveguide body is greater than the length of waveguide body.Be still in other embodiments, waveguide body further comprises the 3rd material.In execution mode further, at least a material in these materials comprises fluid, for example, and air or inert gas.In other embodiments, waveguide body can comprise other materials.That is to say that a kind of material in these materials comprises conductive of material.In a specific implementations, conductive of material comprises metal.Certainly, other modification, modification and replacement can be arranged.
In another other execution modes, waveguide body comprises coupling element, and this coupling element is coupled to RF source and reference potential.In a specific implementations, reference potential is ground potential (ground potential).Further, lamp also comprises the electric capacity that embodies characteristic with the resonator that is formed by power supply and waveguide body at least.Certainly, other modification, modification and replacement can be arranged.
In other embodiments, bulb can have various structures.(contoured) of bulb can have cylindrical basically (cylindrical, cylindricality) cross section (for example, cross section) or profiling or association etc.In other embodiments, at least a portion of bulb is separated with waveguide body through a gap.In a specific implementations, light fixture has the bulb supporter, and wherein, bulb is coupled to waveguide body through the bulb supporter.Certainly, other modification, modification and replacement can be arranged.
Further, this bulb can be configured to according to specific implementations resonance.When with when the frequency of about 50MHz to about 1GHz scope is applied to waveguide body with power, waveguide body resonance.In a preferred implementation, the width that bulb is located in resonance field maximum place and bulb is half the less than the wavelength of power in free space etc. basically.In a specific implementations, lamp also has the loop (for example, rf loop) that contacts with waveguide body.In a specific implementations, loop is coupled to power supply to provide power to waveguide body.Again, modification can be arranged.
In further execution mode, lamp comprises the single rotationally symmetric axis of bulb, and it is aimed at the central axis of waveguide body.In a specific implementations, waveguide body is configured to provide the electric field maximum of the rotationally symmetric axis that is arranged essentially parallel to bulb.Waveguide body is configured to provide the electric field maximum of the central axis that is arranged essentially parallel to waveguide body.Bulb is elongated, has the length of the rotationally symmetric axis that is parallel to bulb, and bulb has parabolic outlines.In other embodiments, at least a frequency at the waveguide body interior resonance is the basic schema of resonance.Waveguide body can also have different shape, for example, and rectangular body, right cylindrical body and their combination.In other embodiments, waveguide body has the outer surface that comprises metal coating or other suitable materials or combination.
In other embodiments, waveguide body is also configurable has a plurality of rf loops.That is to say that according to a specific implementations, lamp can comprise first loop and second loop that all contacts with waveguide body.In a specific implementations, first loop and second loop all are configured to provide power to waveguide body.At least one loop in first loop and second loop is configured to provide the feedback from waveguide body.In addition, according to a specific implementations, plasma lamp also can comprise the probe that is configured to provide power to waveguide body.This probe alignment becomes to be parallel to the rotationally symmetric axis of bulb.In other embodiments, probe is configured to provide power to waveguide body, and this probe alignment becomes to be parallel to the central axis of waveguide body.Again, other modification, modification and replacement can be arranged.
Although illustrated and described the execution mode and the advantage of the utility model, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications are possible under the utility model notion prerequisite that does not deviate from here.That is to say that those of ordinary skill in the art can further revise, makes up, separate, or reset any element beyond described herein and the patent specification.Therefore, except the spirit of accompanying claims, the utility model is unrestricted.