Induction rf fluorescent lamp with helix mount

Abstract

An induction RF fluorescent lamp, comprising: a lamp envelope with a re-entrant cavity and evacuation tube; a power coupler, wherein the power coupler is located inside the re-entrant cavity; an electronic ballast, wherein the electronic ballast provides appropriate voltage and current to the power coupler; and an amalgam held within a capsule located above the power coupler within the lamp envelope, wherein the capsule is positioned with a mount comprising at least one wire attached to the capsule and having at least two wire ends extending from the capsule into the evacuation tube with contact made between the wire ends and the interior surface of the evacuation tube of the re-entrant cavity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An induction RF fluorescent lamp, comprising:
 a lamp envelope having a re-entrant cavity and evacuation tube;   a power coupler extending along a primary axis, wherein the power coupler is located inside the re-entrant cavity;   an electronic ballast electrically coupled to the power coupler, wherein the electronic ballast provides appropriate voltage and current to the power coupler; and   an amalgam held within a capsule located within the lamp envelope in a space extending substantially along the primary axis, wherein the capsule is positioned with a mount comprising at least one wire attached to the capsule and having at least two wire ends extending from the capsule into the evacuation tube with contact made between the wire ends and the interior surface of the evacuation tube.   
     
     
         2 . The lamp of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two wire ends bow out from the capsule to provide a pressure on the surface of the evacuation tube. 
     
     
         3 . The lamp of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two wire ends extending into the evacuation tube are twisted in opposing loops entwined to form an approximately helix shape of between two and three turns. 
     
     
         4 . The lamp of  claim 3 , wherein the at least two wire ends are twisted together for two and a half turns. 
     
     
         5 . The lamp of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one wire is one of molybdenum, stainless steel and tungsten. 
     
     
         6 . The lamp of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one wire is on the order of 0.30-0.045 mm in diameter. 
     
     
         7 . The lamp of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one wire is approximately 0.38 mm in diameter. 
     
     
         8 . The lamp of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one wire is attached to the capsule by being heat sealed into the material of the capsule. 
     
     
         8 . The lamp of  claim 1 , wherein the capsule comprises one of borosilicate glass, soft glass, fused silica, aluminosilicate glass, and ceramics. 
     
     
         9 . The lamp of  claim 1 , wherein the capsule comprises a small opening in the surface of the capsule. 
     
     
         10 . A method, comprising:
 providing an induction RF fluorescent lamp comprising a lamp envelope having a re-entrant cavity and evacuation tube, a power coupler extending along a primary axis located inside the re-entrant cavity, an electronic ballast electrically coupled to the power coupler and providing appropriate voltage and current to the power coupler, and an amalgam held within a capsule located within the lamp envelope in a space extending substantially along the primary axis; and   mounting the capsule in the space, wherein the capsule is positioned with a mount comprising at least one wire attached to the capsule and having at least two wire ends extending from the capsule into the evacuation tube with contact made between the at least two wire ends and the interior surface of the evacuation tube.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least two wire ends bow out from the capsule to provide a pressure on the surface of the evacuation tube. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least two wire ends extending into the evacuation tube are twisted in opposing loops entwined to form an approximately helix shape of between two and three turns. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least two wire ends are twisted together for two and a half turns. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one wire is one of molybdenum, stainless steel and tungsten. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one wire is on the order of 0.30-0.045 mm in diameter. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one wire is approximately 0.38 mm in diameter. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one wire is attached to the capsule by being heat sealed into the material of the capsule. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the capsule comprises one of borosilicate glass, soft glass, fused silica, aluminosilicate glass, and ceramics. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the capsule comprises a small opening in the surface of the capsule.