Patent ID: 6703771
Filing Date: 2004-03-09
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
A light source comprising;a sealed, light-transmissive tube containing gases or gas mixtures at a high pressure; an array of microhollow cathode discharges comprising multiple microhollow cathode discharges, wherein each microhollow cathode discharge comprises a first electrode mounted within said light-transmissive tube, said first electrode consisting of a conductor having a single hole or a plurality of holes therein, each of said holes having an arbitrary shape and an area in the range from 0.001 mm2 to 1 mm2; an anode comprising a distributed resistive ballast comprising a semi-insulating material mounted within said light-transmissive tube and spaced apart from the adjoining first electrode of the microhollow cathode discharge array by an insulator which has a hole or holes similar to the hole(s) in the first electrode; and electrical means for coupling electrical energy to said first and second electrodes for producing discharges in each of the holes in said first electrode; and an insulating spacer.