Luxim
Luxim is a privately owned high-tech company based in Sunnyvale, California, which was founded in 2000.
Luxim has developed the LiFi(r) solid state electrodeless lamp lighting system.
Their electrodeless Light Emitting Plasma(tm) lamp (ie before electrical losses) is able to operate up to 50% more efficiently than conventional HID (High-intensity discharge lamp) lamps and is able generate over 19000 lumens at 160 watts of RF power. Their technology has the potential to radically change the lighting industry and significantly reduce carbon emissions with the adoption of their lamp.
Luxim's ownership of IP has been disputed by Ceravision Limited [1]. In 2009 a number of the core patents were assigned to Ceravision [2] [3].
Luxim's lamp was first introduced in Panasonic's LiFi line of rear projection televisions.
The LiFi system works as follows:
The bulb sub-assembly where a sealed bulb is embedded in a dielectric material. This design is more reliable than conventional light sources that insert degradable electrodes into the bulb. The dielectric material serves two purposes; first as a waveguide for the RF energy transmitted by the PA and second as an electric field concentrator that focuses energy in the bulb. The energy from the electric field rapidly heats the material in the bulb to a plasma state that emits light of high intensity and full spectrum.
References
- "New Lamps for Old", Projection, Lights and Staging News, December 2008.
- "Luxim dazzles with solid-state light" Financial Times, September 9, 2008.
- "Big dollars power little lamps", Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, May 26, 2008.
- "Venture capitalists see the light", Seattle Times, May 19, 2008.
- "Video", CNET TV, March 7, 2008.