Patent ID: 8035304

Claim:
A system, comprising: a high intensity discharge lamp, comprising: a ceramic arc envelope comprising a central portion and first and second shoulder portions disposed about the central portion, wherein the first and second shoulder portions each have a progressively varying diameter; first and second legs coupled to the first and second shoulder portions at first and second necks, respectively, wherein the first and second shoulder portions each comprise one or more cup-shaped geometries, or one or more curved funnel-shaped geometries, or one or more conical-shaped geometries, wherein the first and second shoulder portions each comprise at least two different geometries; and first and second electrodes extending inwardly from the first and second legs to respective first and second electrode tips spaced apart from one another by an arc gap within the ceramic arc envelope; wherein a tip-to-neck distance and a tip-to-wall distance are configured to maintain stress and temperature levels below threshold levels in the high intensity discharge lamp, the tip-to-neck distance extends from the first and second electrode tips to the respective first and second necks, and the tip-to-wall distance extends from the first and second electrode tips to respective first and second interior wall surfaces of the ceramic arc envelope in perpendicular directions relative to a longitudinal axis of the high intensity discharge lamp.