5G Technology World

  • 5G Technology and Engineering
  • FAQs
  • Apps
  • Devices
  • IoT
  • RF
  • Radar
  • Wireless Design
  • Learn
    • 5G Videos
    • Ebooks
    • EE Training Days
    • FAQs
    • Learning Center
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Webinars/Digital Events
  • Handbooks
    • 2024
    • 2023
    • 2022
    • 2021
  • Resources
    • Design Guide Library
    • EE World Digital Issues
    • Engineering Diversity & Inclusion
    • Engineering Training Days
    • LEAP Awards
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

A Look At How Lighting Is Powered By RF Technology

By Michael Luciano | June 15, 2018

This week at IMS 2018 provided me with the opportunity to get updated on all the latest news and developments with anything having to do with microwave technology. It’s astounding how microwaves are pertinent and utilized across various industries and professions, which have found several different ways to make this section of the RF spectrum an efficient and innovative resource.

One of the more recent developments in this technology involves lowering the RF power levels and strongly increasing power density up to 1,000 W per single transistor device. This has led to a breakthrough light source technology known as RF plasma lighting, which Ampleon had on display during this week’s festivities. It uses a small electrodeless quartz lightbulb containing argon gas and metal halide mixtures that is powered by directed RF radiation. The radiation ignites the gas mixtures, which creates and powers a very bright plasma, whose color can be controlled by the composition of plasma constituents.

Unlike standard high intensity discharge lamps, RF plasma lighting works without additional electrodes in the bulb. The absence of electrodes means lengthy operating lifetimes because contamination and wire erosion that lead to lowered efficiency and eventual lamp failure are precluded. The RF light source can reach 50,000 hours compared to only 20,000 hours for typical high intensity discharge lamps (50 percent reduction in light output). Another strong point of plasma light is its efficiency, with 1 W of RF power being converted to 140 lm of light.

Simply put, the RF plasma light source effectively outshines most of its competitors.

Its high brightness per bulb is a significant facet of this setup, which is brighter than LEDs. LED luminaires for an operation like street lighting, for example, will be significantly larger than those for plasma light sources. Considering the high brightness per bulb, plasma light enters the market for applications that require more than 500 lm per luminaire like street and stage lighting.


Filed Under: RF

 

Next Article

← Previous Article
Next Article →

Related Articles Read More >

Butler Matrix
Butler Matrix drives Wi-Fi and other phased-array antennas
Long-wire dipole antennas: still viable after more than a century
RemCom Wireless InSite 4.0
Software simulates RF conditions from the Earth to the Moon
FAQ on the Butler matrix for beamforming: part 2

Featured Contributions

  • Overcome Open RAN test and certification challenges
  • Wireless engineers need AI to build networks
  • Why AI chips need PCIe 7.0 IP interconnects
  • circuit board timing How timing and synchronization improve 5G spectrum efficiency
  • Wi-Fi 7 and 5G for FWA need testing
More Featured Contributions

EE TECH TOOLBOX

“ee
Tech Toolbox: 5G Technology
This Tech Toolbox covers the basics of 5G technology plus a story about how engineers designed and built a prototype DSL router mostly from old cellphone parts. Download this first 5G/wired/wireless communications Tech Toolbox to learn more!

EE LEARNING CENTER

EE Learning Center
“5g
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, tools and strategies for EE professionals.

Engineering Training Days

engineering
“bills
5G Technology World
  • Enews Signup
  • EE World Online
  • DesignFast
  • EDABoard Forums
  • Electro-Tech-Online Forums
  • Microcontroller Tips
  • Analogic Tips
  • Connector Tips
  • Engineer’s Garage
  • EV Engineering
  • Power Electronic Tips
  • Sensor Tips
  • Test and Measurement Tips
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy

Search 5G Technology World