Patent ID: 7728500

Claim:
An electrodeless discharge lamp, comprising: a power coupler; and a lamp assembly detachably attached to said power coupler, wherein: said lamp assembly includes: a discharge container made of a light transparent material, with a substantially tubular hollow portion in a vicinity of a central area thereof, into which a discharge gas is filled therein; and a coupler fixed on said discharge container in a vicinity of an opening of said substantially tubular hollow portion, said coupler having a cylindrical portion, a flange being formed proximate an end portion of said cylindrical portion, a first coupling portion being formed on said flange to be coupled with said power coupler; and said power coupler includes: an electromagnetic field generator fitted into said substantially tubular hollow portion of said discharge container to generate a high-frequency electromagnetic field; a metallic heat conductor that radiates heat generated by said electromagnetic field generator; a second coupling portion coupled with said first coupling portion of said coupler; and a plurality of metallic elastic members each provided on protrusions of said metallic heat conductor protruding outward to engage with an outer surface of said cylindrical portion of said coupler to press said coupler toward said power coupler by elastic force thereof, wherein said electromagnetic field generator includes a coil wound around an outer periphery of a substantially cylindrical shaped bobbin, and a core fitted to an inner periphery of said substantially cylindrical shaped bobbin, said electromagnetic field generator being fitted into said substantially tubular hollow portion by moving said lamp assembly toward said power coupler under a state where said substantially tubular hollow portion of said lamp assembly faces said electromagnetic field generator, said first coupling portion and said second coupling portion being coupled by subsequently turning said lamp assembly relative to said power coupler about a central axis of said substantially cylindrical shaped bobbin.