Patent ID: 6541924
Filing Date: 2003-04-01
Classification: H05B

Abstract:
A method of operating a system for providing emission of incoherent radiation, said system comprising an electrically impeded discharge lamp linked to an electrical energy supply, said lamp comprising:(a) a discharge chamber which is at least partially transparent to said incoherent radiation; (b) a discharge gas in said chamber; (c) two electrodes disposed with respect to said chamber for discharging electrical energy there between; (d) at least one dielectric barrier disposed between said two electrodes to electrically impede electrical energy passing between said two electrodes; (e) an electrical energy supply capable of providing fast risetime unipolar voltage pulses; (f) means of electrically linking said electrodes with said supply; said method comprising: providing a sequence of unipolar voltage pulses from said energy supply to said electrodes and controlling (i) interpulse period, and (ii) pulse risetime, whereby a substantially homogeneous discharge occurs between said two electrodes which causes emission of pulses of incoherent radiation from said lamp.