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Microwave-driven bulb is far from dim

Posted June 26, 2007 4:27 PM

From SCI FI Tech:

Look out, compact fluorescent. There's a new kid on the block, and compared to him, you're a dim bulb. Ceravision, a British company, has developed a lamp that uses no filaments or electrodes. Instead, the Continuum 2.4 generates a concentrated electric field by bombarding a small lump of aluminum oxide with microwaves (diagram after the jump). Using the microwave tech, the continuum converts more than half of the power feeding it into light. Not perfect, but way better than the 15% efficiency of fluorescents or the pathetic 5% for incandescents. Unlike a fluorescent, the Ceravision lamp uses no mercury, and the developers say it lasts thousands of hours. There's no word on when the product will come to market, but when it does, it just might ace out LEDs as the successor to the compact fluorescent.

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The Engineer
Engineering Fields - Engineering Physics - Physics... United States - Member - NY Popular Science - Genetics - Organic Chemistry... Popular Science - Cosmology - New Member Ingeniería en Español - Nuevo Miembro - New Member

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#1

Re: Microwave-driven bulb is far from dim

06/26/2007 4:52 PM

This is remarkable considering that an LED bulb at best today has efficiency of 22%. Thats twice as efficient as an LED bulb. I'd love to have more details on this like the color temperature produced (monochromatic?) or the cost.

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Power-User
United States - Member - Donald here, Campbell Lighting Co. Engineering Fields - Retired Engineers / Mentors - New Member

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#2
In reply to #1

Re: Microwave-driven bulb is far from dim

06/26/2007 11:31 PM

Very similar bulb out there already called induction/Electrodless lamps

No filiment to burn out, and basically energized by a ballast similar to microwave energy..

We sell them.

You can get the full range of white spectrum, and the wattages range from 15 watts up to over 400 watt's

Donald

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Guru

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#3
In reply to #1

Re: Microwave-driven bulb is far from dim

06/27/2007 3:30 AM

Yes, certainly looks good. Since it's a bit of matter that's been heated, I'd guess that it has a typical Black Body radiation curve. So a nice color. Jeff

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Associate
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#6
In reply to #1

Re: Microwave-driven bulb is far from dim

12/22/2008 12:03 AM

See here: www.elecosn.com

Here are dimmable LED Bulb, and LED incandescent bulb

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Guru
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#4

Re: Microwave-driven bulb is far from dim

06/27/2007 4:36 AM

Brilliant!

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Anonymous Poster
#5

Re: Microwave-driven bulb is far from dim

06/27/2007 8:15 AM

About 10 years ago Philips Lighting developed a similar lamp that uses "A" bulb shaped double walled envelope that slipped over an RF generator to produce light. The RF amplifier was remoted from the lamp about 10". The life expectancy was about 100,000 hours with about 5% light lost. they did become commercially available in 85 and 150 watt versions. If my memory serves me right. They produced about 115 lumen's per watt which is on par with some contemporary HID lamps and fluorescents.

I bought one back then...the cost to me, because I was in the business, was around $300.00. I believe Philips still makes them.

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