Single-dielectric excimer lamp systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021393837-A1
Application number	US-202117352796-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 21, 2021
Priority date	Jun 23, 2020
Publication date	Dec 23, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

An excimer lamp includes a dielectric tube, an end cap, a conductive hollow tube, and an electrode grid. The dielectric tube has a closed end and an open end, and defines a cavity. The end cap sealingly covers the open end. The conductive hollow tube passes through the end cap and into the cavity of the dielectric tube, with a volume defined between an exterior surface of the conductive hollow tube and an interior surface of the dielectric tube. The volume is configured to hold a gas. The electrode grid is disposed on an exterior surface of the dielectric tube.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An excimer lamp comprising:
a dielectric tube having a closed end and an open end, the dielectric tube defining a cavity; an end cap sealingly covering the open end; a conductive hollow tube passing through the end cap and into the cavity of the dielectric tube, a volume defined between an exterior surface of the conductive hollow tube and an interior surface of the dielectric tube, the volume configured to hold a gas; and an electrode grid disposed on an exterior surface of the dielectric tube.

2 . The excimer lamp of claim 1 , wherein the dielectric tube is made of a quartz material.

3 . The excimer lamp of claim 1 , wherein the end cap is brazed to the dielectric tube.

4 . The excimer lamp of claim 1 , wherein the end cap has a thermal coefficient of expansion that corresponds to a thermal coefficient of expansion of the dielectric tube.

5 . The excimer lamp of claim 1 , wherein the conductive hollow tube is made of stainless steel.

6 . The excimer lamp of claim 1 , wherein the conductive hollow tube is closed on at least one end.

7 . The excimer lamp of claim 6 , wherein the conductive hollow tube comprises a sleeve that comprises circulation holes passing through the sleeve.

8 . The excimer lamp of claim 7 , wherein the conductive hollow tube is configured to allow passage of a cooling fluid.

9 . The excimer lamp of claim 8 , further comprising a cooling tube disposed within the conductive hollow tube.

10 . The excimer lamp of claim 9 , wherein the cooling tube has an open distal end.

11 . The excimer lamp of claim 9 , wherein the cooling tube comprises a cooling sleeve, the cooling sleeve comprising coolant openings passing through the cooling sleeve.

12 . The excimer lamp of claim 1 , wherein the electrode grid is coupled to a ground conductor, and the conductive hollow tube is coupled to a positive conductor.

13 . The excimer lamp of claim 1 , wherein the electrode grid comprises printed wires applied to the exterior surface of the dielectric tube.

14 . The excimer lamp of claim 1 , wherein the electrode grid comprises a sleeve disposed around at least a portion of the exterior surface of the dielectric tube.

15 . The excimer lamp of claim 1 , further comprising a band pass filter disposed proximate the electrode grid.

16 . A method for providing an excimer lamp comprising:
providing a dielectric tube having a closed end and an open end, the dielectric tube defining a cavity; affixing an end cap to cover the open end; introducing a conductive hollow tube into the cavity, the conductive hollow tube passing through the end cap and into the cavity of the dielectric tube, a volume defined between an exterior surface of the conductive hollow tube and an interior surface of the dielectric tube; disposing an electrode grid on an exterior surface of the dielectric tube; and introducing a gas into the volume.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the gas is introduced into the volume via the conductive hollow tube.

18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising closing the conductive hollow tube on at least one end.

19 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising positioning a cooling tube within the conductive hollow tube.

20 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
coupling the electrode grid to a ground conductor; and coupling the conductive hollow tube to a positive conductor.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Brockschmidt Jr Arthur Edward
• Callahan Kevin S

Classifications

• A61L2103/75

  Room floors or walls · CPC title

• H01J9/00

  Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture {, installation, removal, maintenance} of electric discharge tubes, discharge lamps, or parts thereof; Recovery of material from discharge tubes or lamps · CPC title

• H01J65/042 Primary

  by an external electromagnetic field · CPC title

• H01J61/52

  Cooling arrangements; Heating arrangements; Means for circulating gas or vapour within the discharge space {(heating or cooling arrangements to promote ionisation for starting H01J61/54)} · CPC title

• A61L2/10

  Ultraviolet [UV] radiation · CPC title