Combination lamp and integrating sphere for efficiently coupling radiant energy from a gas discharge to a lightguide

Abstract

A .[.collimated.]. light source is provided which combines the functions of lamp and integrating sphere into one unit for efficiently coupling radiant energy from a gas discharge to a lightguide. The light source is electrodeless and comprises an integrating sphere coated with a light-reflective material and containing a gaseous fill. To excite a discharge current in the fill, the sphere is encircled by a coupling coil driven by an RF power source, or the sphere is enclosed in a microwave cavity. Light exits from the sphere through a light-transmissive window to a lightguide.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An illuminated liquid crystal display system, comprising: a flat panel liquid crystal display;   an electrodeless discharge lamp positioned to illuminate one side of said display, said lamp comprising a light integrating, closed container having an interior surface and an exterior surface, at least one of said surfaces being coated with a light-reflective material, said container enclosing a gaseous fill and having a light-transmissive window formed therein for permitting light to exit form said container;   RF excitation means coupled to said integrating container for electrically producing a field to establish a discharge current in said fill; and   an elongated .[., tapered.]. lightguide means for emitting light from said container, .[.said lightguide means having a narrow end and a wide end, the narrow.]. .Iadd.one .Iaddend.end of said light-guide means being in registry with said window to intercept light exiting from said container, the .[.wide.]. .Iadd.other .Iaddend.end of said lightguide means being positioned adjacent to said liquid crystal display, whereby the light exiting form said container is guided from said container by said lightguide means and is emitted from the .[.wide.]. .Iadd.other .Iaddend.end thereof to illuminate said liquid crystal display.   
     
     
       2. The liquid crystal display system of claim 1 wherein said container comprises an integrating sphere. 
     
     
       3. The liquid crystal display system of claim .[.16.]. .Iadd.1 .Iaddend.wherein said excitation means comprises: a coupling coil wrapped around said container; and   a radio frequency power source coupled to said coil for producing a current in said coupling coil.   
     
     
       4. The liquid crystal display system of claim 1 wherein said excitation means comprises: a microwave energy source; and   means for coupling said microwave energy source to said fill for driving said discharge current.   
     
     
       5. The liquid crystal display system of claim 4 wherein said means for coupling said microwave energy source to said fill comprises a resonant microwave cavity and means for coupling said cavity to said microwave energy source. 
     
     
       6. The liquid crystal display system of claim 5 wherein said means for coupling said cavity to said microwave energy source comprises a microwave waveguide. 
     
     
       7. The liquid crystal display system of claim 4 wherein said lightguide means further comprises an electrically conductive casing surrounding said lightguide means, the narrow end of said lightguide means having a width less than half the wavelength of said microwave energy source. 
     
     
       8. The liquid crystal display system of claim 1 wherein said fill comprises mercury. 
     
     
       9. The liquid crystal display system of claim 1 wherein said fill comprises sodium. 
     
     
       10. The liquid crystal display system of claim 1 wherein the interior surface of said sphere is coated with said light-reflective material. 
     
     
       11. The liquid crystal display system of claim 1 wherein the exterior of said sphere is coated with said light-reflective material. 
     
     
       12. The liquid crystal display system of claim 1 wherein said light-reflective material comprises magnesium oxide. 
     
     
       13. The liquid crystal display system of claim 1 wherein said light-reflective material is selected from the group of metals consisting of aluminum, copper, silver, and gold. 
     
     
       14. The liquid crystal display system of claim 13 wherein said coating comprises a plurality of substantially parallel strips of said light-reflective material, each of said strips encircling said sphere, said coating further comprising electrically insulating gaps between each of said strips, said gaps and said strips being substantially parallel to each other said substantially orthogonal to said electric field. 
     
     
       15. The liquid crystal display system of claim 13 wherein the thickness of said coating is less than one skin depth of said light-reflective material at the operating frequency of said excitation means. 
     
     
       16. A .[.collimated.]. light source, comprising: a light integrating, closed container having an interior surface and an exterior surface, at least one of said surfaces being coated with a light-reflective material, said container enclosing a gaseous fill and having a light-transmissive window former therein for permitting light to exit from said container:   an elongated .[., tapered.]. lightguide means for emitting light from said container, .[.said lightguide means having a narrow end and a wide end, the narrow.]. .Iadd.one .Iaddend.end of said light-guide means being in registry with said window to intercept light exiting from said container, whereby the light exiting from said container is guided from said container by said light-guide means and is emitted from the .[.wide.]. .Iadd.other .Iaddend.end thereof; and   RF excitation means coupled to said container for electrically producing a field to establish a discharge current in said fill.   
     
     
       17. The light source of claim 16 wherein said container comprises an integrating sphere. 
     
     
       18. The light source of claim 16 wherein said excitation means comprises: a coupling coil wrapped around said container; and   a radio frequency power supply coupled to said coil for producing a current in said coupling coil.   
     
     
       19. The light source of claim 16 wherein said excitation means comprises: a microwave energy source; and   means for coupling said microwave energy source to said fill.   
     
     
       20. The light source of claim 19 wherein said means for coupling said microwave energy source to said fill comprises a resonant microwave cavity and means for coupling said cavity to said microwave energy source. 
     
     
       21. The light source of claim 20 wherein said means for coupling said cavity to said microwave energy source comprises a microwave waveguide. 
     
     
       22. The light source of claim 19 wherein said light-guide means further comprises an electrically conductive casing surrounding said lightguide means, the narrow end of said lightguide means having a width less than half the wavelength of said microwave energy source. 
     
     
       23. The light source of claim 16 wherein said fill comprises mercury. 
     
     
       24. The light source of claim 16 wherein said fill comprises sodium. 
     
     
       25. The light source of claim 16 wherein the interior surface of said sphere is coated with said light-reflective material. 
     
     
       26. The light source of claim 16 wherein the exterior surface of said sphere is coated with said light-reflective material. 
     
     
       27. The light source of claim 16 wherein said light-reflective material comprises magnesium oxide. 
     
     
       28. The light source of claim 16 wherein said light-reflective material is selected from the group of metals consisting of aluminum, copper, silver, and gold. 
     
     
       29. The light source of claim 28 wherein said coating comprises a plurality of substantially parallel strips of said light-reflective material, each of said strips encircling said sphere, said coating further comprising electrically insulating gaps between each of said strips, said gaps and said strips being substantially parallel to each other and substantially orthogonal to said electric field. 
     
     
       30. The light source of claim 28 wherein the thickenss of said coating is less than one skin depth of said light-reflective material at the operating frequency of said excitation means. .Iadd.31. The liquid crystal display system of claim 1 wherein said lightguide means is tapered. .Iaddend. .Iadd.32. The liquid crystal display system of claim 1 wherein said lightguide means comprises an array of light pipes. .Iaddend. .Iadd.33. The light source of claim 16 wherein said lightguide means is tapered. .Iaddend. .Iadd.34. The light source of claim 16 wherein said lightguide means comprises an array of light pipes. .Iaddend.