A Brief History of Induction Lighting
The induction light is a revolutionary breakthrough in the history of light. This new method of lighting does not use electrodes or heat filaments to produce light. Rather, induction lamps transmit energy through electromagnetic fields to simulate the atoms of the gas inside the glass tube and make them release a photon. The photon produces light. Induction lamps last much longer than fluorescent lamps.
While the fluorescent lamp can last an average of 15,000 to 20,000 hours, induction lamps can burn for 100,000 hours on an average. This makes the latter the popular choice of lighting in commercial spaces such as supermarkets, hotels, and theaters and also on streets and bridges.
The Father of Induction Lighting
Nikola Tesla is regarded by many as the Father of the Induction Light. Tesla has discovered many phenomena related to electricity and magnetism. His urge to understand the workings behind these phenomena and then apply these to come up with practical solutions to problems were the basis of his inventions and improvements upon existing technology. His work with the induction lamp began with his interest in understanding a physical phenomenon.
Although induction lights have started being commercially manufactured only since the 1990s, Nikola Tesla had tinkered with the technology way back in the 1890s. In fact, it is interesting to note here that Tesla stumbled upon the phenomenon of generating light without using electrodes during the same time when Thomas Alva Edison was concentrating on improving the operational efficacy of the incandescent bulb.
Thomas Alva Edison’s groundbreaking work to produce the very first commercially feasible electric lamp opened the floodgates to a host of technological innovations in lighting, like the development of discharge-type lighting devices. It is interesting to note here that Nikola Tesla was actually not working with the goal of producing a light bulb.
While studying how alternating currents (AC) behave at high frequencies, Canadian scientist Nikola Tesla stumbled upon the idea of transmitting AC power inside a sealed glass tube without using cumbersome wires and electrodes. But in order to show that power has been transferred from one medium to another wirelessly, Tesla had to illuminate the sealed glass tube. Tesla's experiments with how energy can be transferred from one medium to another without using wires and electrodes thus paved the way for the development of the induction lamp.
The Development of the Induction Lamp for Commercial Use
Phillips was the first commercial lighting manufacturer to build an induction lamp for mass consumption. The QL induction lighting system was introduced in Europe in 1990 and in the United States in 1992. The QL lamp by Phillips came in three operational types: 55 watts, 85 watts, and 165 watts.
The OSRAM Sylvania Icetron was the second commercial induction lamp to hit the market, in 1996.
Since developing the first commercially viable induction lamp, Phillips has ushered in numerous other breakthroughs in induction lighting devices. For instance, in the years 2004, 2005, and 2006, Phillips developed 85 watts, 55 watts, and 165 watts induction lamps in compact sizes. The lighting giant also developed the twist base induction system in 2006 and went on to manufacture the dimmable QL induction lighting system in 2011.
The Research and Development team at Phillips has continuously strived to develop induction lamps that can be switched on and off instantly, are easy to install, have longer lifespans, and produce a wider range of color temperatures. It has succeeded in doing so with every new version of induction lamp it has produced.
Incidentally, the QL company has acquired the QL line of induction lamps and other associated products from Phillips in 2011.
The Latest Development in the Field of Induction Lighting
Induction lamps are right now one of the most energy-efficient lighting devices in the market. So it is not surprising that manufacturers and researchers are teaming up in larger numbers to produce more efficient lamps with longer lifespans. For instance, a company is collaborating with the University of California Lighting Technology Center at the University of California Davis campus to develop a bi-level induction lighting technology. In such a system, the light is half bright when there is no movement in the vicinity (read: occupants in the area) and becomes full bright when someone comes within a particular zone around the light. This light is fitted with occupancy sensors that can detect human presence. This induction lighting system follows the working principle of a dimmable light.
Induction lighting devices have various advantages over the conventional fluorescent and incandescent bulb. Apart from being extremely energy efficient, these lights have longer lifespans, produce flicker-free illumination, can be fully dimmed, and come in a variety of types to illuminate spaces of various sizes. These advantages make these lamps ideal for use in a commercial space.