ELECTRODELESS FLUORESCENT LAMP HAVING AN IMPROVED PHOSPHOR DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENT AND A METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME

An electrodeless fluorescent reflector lamp includes a housing arrangement having a threaded screw base for receiving line power and a lamp envelope mounted on the housing arrangement. A ballast circuit is disposed within the housing arrangement and is effective for converting line power into an RF signal which excites a fill contained within the lamp envelope to a discharge state thereby resulting in the production of visible light. The lamp envelope is constructed having an upper curved face portion and a lower tapered portion which extends partly within the housing. A reflective coating is applied to the lower tapered portion of the lamp envelope. A phosphor coating distribution is applied to the interior surface of the lamp envelope in a manner so as to maximize the light output from the reflector lamp. The phosphor coating distribution is such that a first thickness of phosphor material is disposed on the lower tapered portion whereas a second thickness of phosphor material is applied to the upper curved face portion of the lamp envelope. The thickness of the phosphor material applied to the lower tapered portion is substantially greater than that applied to the upper curved face portion thereby resulting in improved light output characteristics for the reflector lamp.