Lamp filament and lamp filament assembly

A method and device which includes the integration of a left directed lamp filament connected electrically parallel to a right directed lamp filament, wherein the filaments coils are formed in mirror image symmetrical relationship with each other to increase radiating surface skin and to balance electromagnetic signature, thereby constructively improving lamp performance.

This Application is based on the Disclosure Document No. 378,142 filed with 
the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Jun. 14, 1995 which is 
incorporated in its entirety as if fully set out herein. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
As is known, a traditional electrified filament is a light bulb component 
that emits light which is measured in lumens. The lamp filament winding is 
usually formed with many coils to increase the filament surface area in 
order to emit a desired amount of light when the filament is electrified. 
It is also known that a lamp filament is surrounded by a transparent or 
translucent jacket or envelope which maintains a vacuum around the 
filament. Traditionally, where a single light bulb is required to supply a 
large amount of light, similar filaments in varying arrangements are 
mounted inside the evacuated envelope, and the filaments are electrically 
connected in parallel. 
It is also well known that when two or more coiled filaments may be 
arranged in a single light bulb assembly, the coils of the filaments are 
formed in the same direction. The coil-forming-direction is also known as 
the pitch direction, which can be left or right. Furthermore, the pitch 
creates an angle of inclination. Flat spiral filaments which generally are 
wound in a single plane are also known. The number of coils over a given 
length, or the number of rotations for a flat formed spiral architecture, 
typically depends upon desired performance or design constraints. 
Furthermore, the integration of two or more lamp filaments possessing the 
same pitch direction is known, and the electric energy, light output and 
the assemblies dimensions of such devices are also known. Each 
similar-pitch filament that is circuit integrated will experience mutual 
induction, as is also known. 
Given the known technology regarding light bulb in lamp filaments, it is 
very desirable to provide a longer life, more energy efficient filament or 
light bulb. Even small increases in efficiency can give rise to large 
overall energy savings, given the pervasiveness of light units in the 
world today. 
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,584,438 and 4,806,834, which are both hereby incorporated 
by reference in their entirety, describe "mirror image symmetry" wherein 
an electric coil forms architecture that possesses an electromagnetic 
signature that is balanced for the two windings. 
However, in the present invention, the balance results from the left pitch 
angle of inclination of the first circuit canceling the right pitch angle 
of inclination of the second circuit, wherein the angle of the inclination 
relates to distortion created by the coiling. Moreover, the present 
invention does not require a core disposed within the coils of a filament. 
Furthermore, the '438 and '834 patents are directed to configurations 
related to transducers or inductive devices. 
One object of the present invention is to constructively improve lamp 
performance, including improvements in the life of the filament which 
result from an integration of two filaments that possess a balanced 
electromagnetic signature. 
Another object of the present invention is to increase the amount of light 
produced by a lamp filament for a given amount of input energy. 
Another object of the present invention is to create a condition whereby 
the motion force caused by the electromagnetic signature of a first 
electrified filament is balanced by the motion force caused by the 
electromagnetic signature of a second filament. 
The citation of any references herein should not be deemed as an admission 
that such reference is available as prior art to the invention. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Thus, an object of the present invention is to construct a lamp filament 
for less cost, last longer, is brighter and does not consume as much 
energy as prior art. 
The present invention improves filaments life by addressing vibration and 
torque motion which contribute to filament material fatigue, which, when 
substantial, will promote premature filament failure. Thus, the 
electromagnetic signature of a first electrified filament is balanced by 
the motion force caused by the electromagnetic signature of a second 
filament. 
The present invention also addresses the brightness of light produced by an 
amount of filament material and increasing that brightness of light from 
the same amount of energy by increasing radiating surface area of the 
filament without changing the filament material cross section area and 
characteristic impedance. The characteristic impedance of a material is a 
condition that results from electrical resistance and counter 
electromotive force also known as back EMF. The back EMF is influenced by 
the electromagnetic signature of a circuit and the integrating of a first 
electric circuit with that of a second electric circuit. 
For example, a one inch square cross section area has a perimeter or 
circumference skin dimension four (4) inches. If the one inch square cross 
section area is split into two one half inch square cross section areas, 
the perimeter or circumference skin dimension has a six (6) inch 
dimension. Thus, the surface skin area increases 50% when a material's 
cross section area is split in half and then integrated. 
With regard to increasing filament brightness, an additional improvement 
results when the cross section shape of the filament is changed from the 
traditional round or cylindrical shape to a shape that is open from a 
centrally inner location to the outside. The shape may be generally by the 
letter "U", i.e. a U-Shaped filament. The "U" cross section shape has more 
radiating surface skin when compared to alternative shapes possessing 
identical cross section area. 
The "U" shape filament material is applicable for a coil from as well as 
for a flat spiral form. The manufacturing methods and techniques to 
produce lamp filaments for light bulbs are well known to those skilled in 
the art. 
Lamp filament material and performance is constructively improved by 
providing a "mirror image symmetry" integrating circuit architecture for 
supporting two electrically parallel connected circuits that compliment 
each other's winding angle or inclination distortion, and further 
increases radiating surface skin for producing an increase in light output 
without increasing the electric energy output and, in a particularly 
preferred embodiment, utilizes an "U" cross section filament material 
shape that improves lumen radiating surface area.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Reference should now be made to the drawing figures, on which similar or 
identical elements are given consistent identifying numerals throughout 
the various figures thereof, and on which parenthetical references to 
figure numbers direct the reader to the view(s) on which the element(s) 
being described is(are) best seen, although the element(s) may also be 
seen on other views. 
FIG. 1 illustrates a first coiled left pitch filament 1 with a starting end 
3 and a finishing end 5 positioned next to a second coiled right pitch 
filament 2 with a starting end 4 and a finishing end 5. 
The electromagnetic signature that results from the integration of, for 
example, a first left pitch filament winding with a second left pitch 
filament winding, as shown in FIG. 6, is not as efficient when compared to 
the electromagnetic signature that results from the integration of, for 
example, a first left pitch filament winding with a second right pitch 
filament winding. 
FIG. 2 depicts a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention 
comprising an electric circuit integration of a first coiled left pitch 
filament 1, north pole location 12, consequent south pole location 13 with 
left pitch electromotive force direction 14 electrically connected in 
parallel by terminal 6 positive and terminal 7 negative to a second coiled 
right pitch filament 2, north pole location 12, consequent south pole 
location 13 with right pitch electromotive force direction 15. 
The electromagnetic signature for integrating the balanced left pitch 
filament with a right pitch filament, as shown in the parallel electric 
connection in FIG. 2 has been found to be more efficient than for the 
parallel electric FIG. 11 connection. 
FIG. 3 shows another aspect of the present invention comprising a support 
mount 8 integrating a first coiled left pitch filament 1 to a second 
coiled right pitch filament 2 with a terminal 6 positive and a terminal 7 
negative. The electrical circuitry connecting the terminals 6, 7, also 
referred to as taps, to the filaments 1, 2 is imbedded or surrounded by 
the mount 8, also referred to as a base, and is not shown in the Figure. 
The coils are preferrably enclosed within a light transmissible envelope 
8a. 
FIG. 4 demonstrates the center plane 16 midway location between a left 
electromagnetic angle of inclination distortion 9 and a right pitch 
electromagnetic angle of balanced inclination distortion 10. 
FIG. 5 shows a first coiled left pitch filament 1 with north pole location 
12, consequent pole location 13 wound in mirror image symmetry 
relationship to a second coiled right pitch filament 2 with north pole 
location 12, consequent pole location 13 formed on a mandrel 11, as would 
occur when the left pitch filament 1 and the right pitch filament 2 are 
electrically connected as shown in FIG. 2, according to the present 
invention. 
FIG. 6 illustrates a prior art integration having a first coiled left pitch 
filament 1 with left pitch coiled filament starting end 3 next to a 
similar second coiled left pitch filament 1 with a left pitch coiled 
filament starting end 3. 
FIG. 7 shows a flat filament spiral formed architecture 17 according to the 
present invention where two starting leads 18, 18' are connected to the 
starting end of the spiral 17 whereby one starting lead 18 is led to the 
magnetic north pole location 12, and whereby the other starting lead 18' 
is led to the opposite magnetic south pole location 13. The two starting 
leads 18, 18' are joined together to become positive electric terminal 
filament circuit connection 6. Flat filament spiral finishing end 19 
becomes negative electric terminal filament circuit connection 7. Thus, a 
filament material, such as tungsten, may be looped in the form of a flat 
spiral possessing two inner integrated electric contacts that 
simultaneously electrify and magnetically polarize the spirals magnetic 
north pole face location and magnetic south pole face location for a 
synchronized magnet pole signature. 
FIG. 8 shows a filament material cross section shape 20 according to the 
present invention having an open end 22 that is open from a central inner 
location 21 to the outside 23. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the 
cross section shape is generally U-shaped. 
FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate increasing the circumference skin dimension or 
surface area while keeping cross-sectional area constant. 
FIG. 9 illustrates a material cross section area 24 of one inch square 
possessing a perimeter or circumference skin dimension 25 of four inches. 
FIG. 10 illustrates a material cross section area 24 of a first one half 
inch square including a material cross section area 24 of a second one 
half inch square possessing an integrated perimeter or circumference skin 
dimension 25 of six inches. 
Thus, FIGS. 9 and 10 roughly illustrate the increase in surface area that a 
lamp filament cross section as seen in FIG. 8 would have over conventional 
circular or bar-shaped filaments. The increased surface area results in 
more light radiating capacity for a given cross sectional area of 
impedance of a filament. Thus, the more skin surface area available, the 
greater the luminous output. 
FIG. 11 depicts an electric circuit integration comprising a first coiled 
left pitch filament 1, north pole location 12, south pole location 13 with 
left pitch electromotive force direction 14 electrically connected in 
parallel by terminal 6 positive and terminal 7 negative to a second coiled 
right pitch filament 2, north pole location 12, south pole location 13 
with a right pitch electromotive force direction 15. 
The filaments or strand material may be made of tungsten or some other 
material known in the art. The filaments in a lamp or light bulb would 
typically be surrounded by a vacuum or partial vacuum in order to enhance 
performance, as is known in the art. 
The filament may be formed around a mandrel so that a first lamp filament 
has a left directed angle of inclination pitch and the second lamp 
filament has a right directed angle of inclination pitch so that the two 
filaments may be electrically connected in parallel so that a consequent 
magnetic pole exists between the two filaments, thereby creating a 
balanced electromagnetic signature. 
Table I lists the reference numerals found in the Figures. 
TABLE 1 
______________________________________ 
REFERENCE NUMERALS USED IN DRAWINGS 
______________________________________ 
1,1': left pitch filament 
2: right pitch filament 
3,3': left pitch coiled filament starting end 
4: right pitch coiled filament starting end 
5: left pitch coiled filament and right pitch coiled filament 
finishing 
ends 
6: positive electric terminal filament circuit connection 
7: negative electric terminal filament circuit connection 
8: support mount for filaments and electric terminals 
9: left pitch electromagnetic angle of inclination distortion 
10: right pitch electromagnetic angle of inclination distortion 
11: filament coil-forming mandrel 
12: magnetic north pole face location 
13: magnetic south pole face location 
14: left pitch electromotive force direction 
15: right pitch electromotive force direction 
16: center plane midway location between filaments 
17: flat filament spiral formed architecture 
18,18': 
flat filament spiral starting ends 
19: flat filament spiral finishing end 
20: filament material cross section shape and characteristic 
impedance 
21: central inner location 
22: opening 
23: outside location 
24: material cross section area 
25: perimeter or circumference skin dimension 
______________________________________ 
In an exemplary embodiment, a comparison condition was measured using 
circuit connection as shown in FIG. 2 to that of circuit connection as 
shown in FIG. 11. 
A left pitch lamp filament in a first General Electric (H3, 12V. 55 Watt 
Halogen Bulb) was positioned in axial alignment to a right pitch lamp 
filament in a second narva (H2, 12V. 55 Watt Halogen Bulb) as close to 
each other as the bulbs class envelopes would allow. 
An electrical reversing switch was inserted into the circuit so that when 
an electric alternating current or an electric direct current source 
illuminated the electrically parallel connected bulbs, the filament 
brightness was noticeably brighter with the circuit connection of FIG. 2 
as compared to FIG. 11. 
An electric volt meter was placed in the circuit to identify which 
connection used the least amount of electricity and produced the most 
amount of light. Measurements were made in a dark environment to detect 
differences when the first sign of light was observed. In a comparison 
test, the circuit connection of FIG. 2 used less electricity and produced 
more light than the circuit connection of FIG. 11. 
It should be noted that, in FIG. 11, the magnetic pole configuration from 
left to right along the axis of the coils is N-S-N-S. Thus, the left pitch 
electromotive force direction 14 is the same as the right pitch 
electromotive force direction 15 in FIG. 11. However, the left and right 
pitch electromotive force directions 14, 15 are oppositely directed in the 
configuration shown in FIG. 2. 
Most preferably, the north and south poles generated in the symmetric 
magnetic signature according to the present invention should be of 
substantially equal strength. Both poles are preferably polarized 
simultaneously. 
Thus, as in the particularly preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the 
torque and twist imparted to the spiral are minimized by providing equal 
and oppositely directed electromotive forces. 
Moreover, the prior art integration, as shown in FIG. 6, provides two 
similar-pitched filaments that produce parasitic distortion to one 
another. 
It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the 
illustrations described and shown herein, which are deemed to be merely 
illustrative of the best modes of carrying out the invention, and which 
are susceptible of modification of form, size, arrangement of parts and 
details of operation. The invention rather is intended to encompass all 
such modifications which are within its spirit and scope as defined by the 
claims.