High-brightness high-uniformity HID light source, U.S. Patent 5,803,592, shown while under development in Buffalo.

Electronic Light

Lighting is one area where art and physics are routinely joined together. The high-brightness large-area source on the left was designed using computer modeling of diffuse reflection. In 2003, I approached a variational problem in diffuse reflection: solving for the optimal curve of a cove used for cove lighting. I sculpted this curve in plaster to provide cove lighting for my bedroom. I am pleased that the new curve does throw light out into the room better than others I have seen. The miniature power supply on the right was exciting when it was first produced. With one in my hand, I merely walked through the Chicago lighting show at McCormick Place and people rushed up to me with orders. More exciting still was the prototype low-cost miniature power supply for 100-watt xenon lamps that I made for Hammamatsu when they wanted to enter the interior lighting business. Hammamatsu hoped my employer would capitalize the resulting products. That was too tall an order. Xenon interior lighting still awaits commercial development.