With the invention of the electric light bulb, life was changed for
countless people the world over. This remarkable, but simple, device
has remained much the same for the last century, with only minor changes
until recently. The original light bulb is known as an
incandescent bulb. It relies on a filament resisting
the flow of electricity that passes through it, consequently heating up
and glowing. To prevent this fine wire or filament from burning up,
it is enclosed in a glass bulb devoid of oxygen. Most residential
light fixtures and lamps use incandescent bulbs.
The next generation of bulb to gain popularity was the
fluorescent bulb. It relies on a high voltage generated by a
ballast to excite mercury vapor in an argon or neon gas-filled tube.
This results in plasma producing short-wave ultraviolet light that causes
phosphor to fluoresce. This "fluorescing" is what produces the
light, hence the name "fluorescent" bulb. These bulbs are energy
efficient and cool to the touch, making them the ideal choice for large
spaces such as office buildings and classrooms. A newer type of
fluorescent light bulb, the
compact fluorescent bulb, is attracting homeowners who wish to cut
their utility bills and make their home lighting more energy-efficient.
A third type of light bulb, the
halogen bulb,
uses a tungsten filament placed inside a quartz envelope. The gas
inside the envelope is from the halogen group, giving the light bulb its
name. Halogen bulbs also lose less energy through heat than
traditional incandescent bulbs, and are more efficient.
Another type of bulb is the high intensity discharge variety, also known
as HID. Voltage is amplified in a transformer and channeled
into the bulb where it jumps between two tungsten electrodes in a gas a
metal filled quartz or alumina tube. The light is given off by metal
that is heated to the point of evaporation. There are several
variations of HID bulb, including mercury vapor and metal halide as well
as high-pressure sodium and xenon short-arc bulbs.
Mercury vapor bulbs were the first commercially available HID lamps and
traditionally give off a bluish-green light that is now also available
in a color-corrected whiter bulb. However, they are often being
replaced by more efficient HID bulbs, such as high-pressure sodium
and metal halide. Metal halide bulbs produce a whiter, more natural
light than mercury vapor; high-pressure sodium light bulbs give off a
pinkish-orange glow, but are much more efficient and typically used in
areas where light pollution would be a problem. Xenon short-arc
bulbs provide a very focused light source but relatively small lumen
efficiency. They are often used in optical instruments, movie
projectors and other precision instruments, although this type of bulb
is being increasingly used in automotive headlights due to its clean,
bright, white light.
Other important light sources include the
neon bulb, which can be
shaped into curved tubes and is often used for retail signs, as well as
decorative fiber optic lighting, which is comprised of thin optical fibers
that transmit light very efficiently.
Light Bulb Suppliers
- GE Lighting
features consumer lighting products for the home as well as commercial
and industrial products for lighting distributors and designers.
- Philips Lighting
offers a broad selection of light bulbs and LED lights for home,
professional, and automotive use.
- Osram Sylvania,
one of the oldest lighting suppliers in the world, is a leading designer
and manufacturer of innovative lighting products and services.
LEDs and OLEDs
In recent years, efficient Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) have begun to
revolutionize the appearance and quality of lighting in our homes,
offices, and public spaces. These solid-state light sources are
illuminated by electrons moving through a semiconductor material.
A similar lighting technology, Organic Light-Emitting Diodes (OLEDs),
consists of carbon-based compounds, in sheet form, that glow when a
current is applied through transparent electrodes. In fact, the
days of traditional incandescent light bulbs may be numbered,
according to this April, 2006 BBC News article about energy-efficient
OLEDs.
Light Bulb Buying Guide
- This Light Bulb Guide, published by CNET,
features extensive information about current light bulb technologies, prices, and tradeoffs.
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