EMI from RF-Driven Lamps
From the files of the ARRL Automated Mail Server, (info@arrl.org):
Prepared as a membership service by the American Radio Relay
League, Inc., Technical Information Service.
file: rflamp.txt updated: May 28, 1993
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Information about RF driven lamps.
The ARRL Lab wants to test these devices for emissions and
susceptibility just as soon as we can get our hands on one
of them. They are (to be) made by:
Intersource Technologies
Tom Moore
130 Kifer Court
Sunnyvale CA 94086
(408) 732-6760
in partnership with:
Diablo Research Corp, same address, tel: (408) 730-9555
I was told that engineering samples are not available, and will
not be available for six months. (Long overdue - If any west coast folks
have an "in", I would love to speed that timetable up a bit. :-) ).
As of 10/19/92 they were still not available. Mr. Moore suggested we
contact them in a few months.
Mr. Moore sent me a few pages of technical information, although it
appears to be more of a marketing blurb than anything else. The reports
that the device operates on 13.58 MHz, crystal controlled, are accurate.
The sheet specifies that the device meets FCC Part 15 and Part 18
requirements. On 10/19/92 Mr. Moore informed me that they had indeed
passed the Part 15 and Part 18 tests performed by two independent
testing labs, but that neither the Part 15 nor Part 18 applications
were complete or FCC approved yet.
The two testing Labs are: EMI Measurements, Inc., 300 Maranatha Dr,
Hollister, CA 95023, (408) 636-2860 and Spectrum Measurement Corp,
2820 Grant St., Concord, CA 94520, (510) 687-7620.
To quote from the EMI Measurements report:
"The Intersource SE lamp was tested to determine if it complies
with the Class B radiated and conducted emission requirements of FCC
Part 15, Subpart B, and Part 18 (per sections 18.303, 18.305c and
18.307c) of the Rules and Regulations and was found to be compliant."
From the "Technology and Specifications" package supplied by Intersource
Technologies:
"... (the device) is best described as an RF excited electrodeless
fluorescent light source. ...
"The electronics package ... consists of a high efficiency power supply,
13.56 MHz crystal controlled oscillator, and RF power amplifier, and the
coupling antenna. ... The basic light source requires only one IC and
six transistors. ...
"The basic method used for generating light is the coupling of high
frequency electrical energy into a mercury vapor plasma. The plasma
becomes a conductive ring, located inside of the glass assembly,
which acts like the secondary of an air coupled transformer. ...
Since the plasma contains mercury, invisible light is created inside
the glass assembly. This is then converted to visible light by the
phosphor coating."
This is all the info we have. If anyone learns anything else,
please send it along to me here at ARRL HQ. I have a file specifically
set up for this product (so far rather thin. :-) ).
We will keep our membership posted through all the means available to us.
If anyone would like a copy of our paper file, send an 8X12 SASE with
98 cents postage to the Technical Department Secretary. Ask specifically
for the EMI/RFI RF Bulb Package.
The members and HQ staff would like to thank the following people for
their contributions to this information file:
W1RFI, Ed Hare, ehare@arrl.org
Tom Moore - Intersource technologies
Send any additional information or changes to mtracy@arrl.org.
73 from ARRL HQ.
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This information was prepared as a membership service by the American Radio Relay League, Inc., Technical Information Service, 225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111 (860) 594-0214. Email: tis@arrl.org (Internet). ARRL HQ is glad to provide this information on the Web free of charge as a service to League members and affiliated clubs.
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Page last modified: 10:45 AM, 19 Mar 2000 ET
Page author: tis@arrl.org
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