Plasma lamp with dielectric waveguide
A dielectric waveguide integrated plasma lamp (DWIPL) with a body consisting essentially of at least one dielectric material having a dielectric constant greater than approximately 2, and having a shape and dimensions such that the body resonates in at least one resonant mode when microwave energy of an appropriate frequency is coupled into the body. A bulb positioned in at least one lamp chamber in the body contains a gas-fill which when receiving energy from the resonating body forms a light-emitting plasma.
1. A plasma lamp comprising:
a waveguide body having a dielectric constant greater than 2;
a power source coupled to the waveguide body to provide power to the waveguide body at at least one frequency that resonates within the waveguide body;
a bulb containing a fill to form a plasma to emit light when the power is provided to the waveguide body, the bulb having a single axis of rotational symmetry and positioned proximate a central axis of the waveguide body; and
the waveguide body having a length substantially parallel to the central axis and a width transverse to the length, wherein the width of the waveguide body is greater than the length of the waveguide body.
2. The plasma lamp of claim 1 , wherein the bulb has a substantially cylindrical section.
3. The plasma lamp of claim 1 , wherein the bulb is contoured.
4. The plasma lamp of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the bulb is spaced apart from the waveguide body by a gap.
5. The plasma lamp of claim 1 , further comprising a bulb support, wherein the bulb is coupled to the waveguide body by the bulb support.
6. The plasma lamp of claim 1 , wherein
the waveguide body resonates when the power is applied to the waveguide body at a frequency in the range of 0.5 GHz to 10 GHz;
the bulb is positioned at a resonant field maximum; and
the width of the bulb is substantially smaller than one half of the wavelength of the power in free space.
7. The plasma lamp of claim 1 , further comprising a feed in contact with the waveguide body, wherein the feed is coupled to the power source to provide power to the waveguide body.
8. The plasma lamp of claim 1 , wherein the single axis of rotational symmetry of the bulb is aligned with the central axis of the waveguide body.
9. The plasma lamp of claim 1 , wherein the waveguide body is configured to provide an electric field maxima substantially parallel to the axis of rotational symmetry of the bulb.
10. The plasma lamp of claim 1 , wherein the waveguide body is configured to provide an electric field maxima substantially parallel to the central axis of the waveguide body.
11. The plasma lamp of claim 1 , wherein the bulb is elongated having a length that is parallel to the axis of rotational symmetry of the bulb.
12. The plasma lamp of claim 1 , wherein the bulb has a parabolic contour.
13. The plasma lamp of claim 1 , wherein the at least one frequency that resonates within the waveguide body is a fundamental mode of resonance.
14. The plasma lamp of claim 1 , wherein the waveguide body is a rectangular body.
15. The plasma lamp of claim 1 , wherein the waveguide body is a right circular cylindrical body.
16. The plasma lamp of claim 1 , wherein the waveguide body has an outer surface comprising a metallic coating.
17. The plasma lamp of claim 1 , comprising a first feed and a second feed both in contact with the waveguide body.
18. The plasma lamp of claim 17 , wherein the first and second feeds are configured to provide the power to the waveguide body.
19. The plasma lamp of claim 17 , wherein at least one of the first and second feeds is configured to provide feedback from the waveguide body.
20. The plasma lamp of claim 1 , comprising a probe configured to provide the power to the waveguide body, the probe being aligned parallel to the axis of rotational symmetry of the bulb.
21. The plasma lamp of claim 1 , comprising a probe configured to provide the power to the waveguide body, the probe being aligned parallel to the central axis of the waveguide body.