The advantages that the LightLab bulb offers over other energy-saving bulbs include the following:
- Totally mercury-free
- Can be equipped with dimmer function
- Possible to generate light immediately
- Field emission technology is totally independent of size and shape, which means that the bulbs can be adapted to fit a regular bulb socket.
The absence of mercury is a major selling point with manufacturers, distributors and purchasers and, in turn, with consumers. Dimmer function capability, immediate light generation and the fact that the bulb is free of size and shape constraints make it attractive from a consumer perspective. LightLab's mercury-free low-energy bulb thus has the potential to achieve success in markets where low-energy bulbs have previously had difficulty breaking through.
LightLab's technology is based on field emission, wherein electrons are emitted from a cathode to a surface that is coated with luminescent powder to produce light.
Unique technology
What makes LightLab's technology unique is that it makes it possible to generate a strong electron flow using a cold cathode. The electron flow transfers energy from the cathode to the anode, which consists of a glass surface covered with a thin layer of luminescent powder. The fundamental principle has long been known, but previous technologies have all been based on using a hot cathode, or light filament, to generate the necessary flow. This technology is used in devices such as television sets.
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The main advantage of using a cold cathode is that the amount of energy usually wasted in generating heat is reduced, which translates into reduced energy consumption overall. This also enables the bulb to be used in a host of other applications where heat radiation is undesirable.
The mercury-free low-energy bulb's energy consumption is minimized because the cold cathode counteracts energy losses due to heat radiation.